Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the

Church of Christ, Union

All Saints Sunday 

November 5, 2017   10:30 am 

Meditation  
“To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love.  Love is my true identity.  Selflessness is my true self.  Love is my true character.  Love is my name.”
—Thomas Merton, in A Book of Hours

From there to Here

Welcome & Announcements
Welcome to this service of worship!  During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “ ”.”
Please sign in using the pew folder, passing it back down the row so all can greet one another by name, and place the sheet in an offering plate. We’re glad you’re here!
Prelude Now Let the Vault of Heaven Resound David N. Johnson
¨  Call to Worship
One: The sainthood of all is achieved by the love of one.
All: In Christ are we blessed, in Christ we serve, In Christ we rest.
One: Let us worship with all the saints, past and present, who love and serve the Lord!
¨ Opening Hymn How Lovely, Lord, How Lovely (opposite) Merle’s Tune
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession 
One: In beauty we would rest, in love would we linger! We would surround ourselves with comforts and graces. But when we use beauty to keep us from seeing our neighbor, and when our love becomes addiction and distraction, and all our comforts are but anesthesia to numb us to the work needed for those who suffer, then we need your help. Forgive us our short sightedness and heal the wounds that cause us to wound others. We pray in Christ’s name.
All: Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One:      Hear these words from the first letter of John:
             “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.”
God is ever working for our salvation through grace.
All: Thanks be to God! Amen.
¨  Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day! You are invited to turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace and joy. 

The Living Word among us

Anthem In Our Day of Thanksgiving D. Busarow
Union Church Choir
In our day of thanksgiving one psalm let us offer. For the saints who before us have found their reward; when the shadow of death fell upon them we sorrowed, but now we rejoice that they rest in the Lord.
In the morning of life, and at noon, and at even, He called them away from our worship below; but not ‘til His love, at the font and the altar, had gird them with grace for the way they should go.
These stones that have echoed their praises are holy, and dear is the ground where their feet have once trod; yet here they confessed they were strangers and pilgrims, and still they were seeking the city of God.
Sing praise, then, for all who here sought and here found Him, whose journey is ended, whose perils are past; they believed in the Light, and glory is around them, where the clouds of earth’s sorrows are lifted at last.
Epistle Lesson Revelation 7:9-17
Children’s Moment                                as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s presence guard, protect and guide you.  God bless you, God bless you. Our savior’s loving arms be ever ’round you. God bless you, God bless you.
Following the Children’s Moment, children kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to Children’s Church in Cowan Chapel. They are also welcome to stay in the service if they prefer. The Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary has toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or parents) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool age & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs in Room 104 off the playground.
Gospel Lesson Matthew 23:1-12
Sermon The Lamb at the Center Rev. Kent Gilbert

GIfts Given for Love to Flow

Our gifts help sustain this particular community of caring by sustaining the building, pastors and staff, and all the materials that make our ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need. In addition, a good portion of our contributions flows out to aid to those in need via many external agencies.
This can now be done online or by text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering” to contribute to the ongoing ministries, or add “youth,” or “missions” or designation of your choice to benefit one in particular.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offertory                    Blessed You, Who Live in Faith Unswerving J. Brahms
¨  Doxology  We give thee but thine own, what e’re the gift may be,  Schumann
        All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O God, from thee!  

Being and Becoming One

¨  Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift our hearts in prayer.
One: Let us give thanks to God.
All: It is good to give God thanks and praise.
Ringing of the Peace Bell
The Union Church Peace Bell was created by Jeff Enge in honor of Union Church member Carl Eschbach (1904-1998).  A twin bell hangs in Berea’s sister province in Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community
One: Remembering All Saints Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate and remember those in our lives who have gone before us.  Their presence in our community has contributed to and shaped our work, our life, character and story.
One: We remember those whose faithful witness proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ in words loud and soft, in actions great and small.
All:       We gather before God, and remember the saints who have told the stories of God’s people, and witnessed to their faith in times gone by.
[The Peace Bell will be rung as the names of members of the church who have died in the past year are read.  In addition, we hold in our prayers the memory of each and every loss suffered by members as we commend them to God.]
We remember:
Andy Blyth
Kevin Burke
Dorothy Grossman
Loretta Mountjoy
Dave Napier
Steve Parks
Don Robertson
One: We remember those known in our lives who have died in this last year.  Please stand and remain standing if you have lost a grandmother or grandfather in this last year.  Your mother or father.  A spouse or partner.  A child.  A brother or sister.  An aunt or uncle.  A close relative.  A classmate, teacher or mentor.  A dear friend.  A member of your work or school community.
One: We hold space for our sorrow, but let us not grieve as those without hope. The Spirit intercedes for us, and Christ is Lord of the Living and of the dead.  For all the saints who went before us, who have spoken to our hearts and touched us with your fire, we praise you, O Lord.
All: They will hunger no more and thirst no more, and every tear shall be wiped from their eye.
[All may be seated.]
Communion Prayer
One: Like others who have gone before us, we hear Jesus calling us to change and be changed, to reform and be reformed, to challenge the church, and to allow ourselves to be challenged, that we might better serve you as the Body of Christ.  For all the saints who live beside us, whose weaknesses and strengths are woven with our own, we praise you, O Lord.
One: You sent Jesus to share our life and journey with us, to show us how to live as you want.  With his words and actions, Jesus taught us that the ways of God are different from the ways of the world.  We are called to be your peacemakers, to hunger and thirst for what is right, and to show mercy to others.  For all the saints who live beyond us who challenge us to change the world with them, we give you thanks, O Lord, and acknowledge your call:
All: Here we are; send us.
One: Jesus invited saints and sinners to dine with him and be his friends.  And Jesus invites us – saints and sinners – to this meal, in which we can taste and see, experience and remember the goodness of our God.  We give you thanks and praise as we sing:
Communion Sanctus please join in singing:
Words of Institution
 One: We remember that on the night in which he died, Jesus sat at table with his friends, took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
All: “Take and eat,
One: this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
One: After supper he took the cup of wine and, after giving thanks, gave it to them and said, 
All:       “Drink this, all of you:
One:      this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and many for  the forgiveness of sins.  Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One:      God of heaven and earth, bless what we do here.  Send your Holy Spirit upon us and our world that we may live to see your law and your way become our reality.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it.  We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. All the bread is gluten-free, and the chalices are filled with non-alcoholic grape juice.
If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit and all people, within your tradition.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. The elements from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. If you would like serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer.
Prayer of Thanksgiving

From Here to There

¨  Hymn #299 Black For All the Saints Sine Nomine
The conclusion of our service will be held in the Memorial Garden (weather permitting).  When invited, please proceed directly to the garden through the door near the Peace Bell and gently tie your names as directed. Please bring your bulletin with you. For those who wish to remain in the sanctuary, the sound system will remain on so you can hear and participate. Please assist any in need in your row as we minister to each other.
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
One: For those who walked with us,
All: this is a prayer.
One: For those who have gone ahead,
All: this is our love.
One: For those who touched and tendered us, who lingered with us while they lived,
All: this is a thanksgiving.
One: For those who journey with us still, for those we’ll never know, for those who gather here today, for those saints yet to come,
All: this is a blessing.
One: Go in peace, all you saints.
—adapted by Rev. Ben Groth from an anonymous source
¨ Sung Postlude
Especially in our prayers
Each week we join millions of Christians who pray for one another through the ecumenical prayer cycle and, locally, the Berea Ministerial Association’s prayer cycle.  Let us hold the people of Oceania: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (Maohi Nui), Kanaky, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and our brothers and sisters at River of Life Foursquare Church in our hearts, and pray for them.
Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week. Prayer requests to be printed may be sent to the office anytime before 10:00 am Fridays.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Nanacy Hindman, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ The family and many friends of Kevin Burke, whose life was celebrated at a service here yesterday.
¨ Our church family members in grief; Carla Gilbert at the loss of Kevin, Hazel Morris at the loss of her sister, Phyllis, and those who are remembering and holding the death of loved ones close to their hearts
¨ Celebration of John McWilliams’ cancer remission
¨ Jackie Perman, mother of Kelly Madden and grandmother to Colin and Cadence Perman, in ICU.
¨ Delores Carpenter’s mother, in her recent move the Brodhead Nursing Home
¨ Mim Pride, recovering well at home from her hip surgery.
¨ LaRee Jacobs, getting better from her fall and subsequent sprains and breaks.
¨ The Berea College community, grieving the deaths of two students and praying for the recovery of two more after two car accidents last week.
¨ The peoples of Puerto Rico, the Caribbean islands, Houston, Florida, Mexico City, and all places affected by disaster. May we be filled with compassion and motivated to act. Donations to Church World Service will help! cwsglobal.org/
¨ Neighbors and friends in fear of ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) raids in our area, and for DACA students and their families. May we all strive for a safe and respectful path forward to be good neighbors.
¨ Rusty Mullins’ father, Tony Irelan
¨ Rev. Rachel’s cousin, Jeff Small, father of two small kids, who had a heart transplant and is now healing well!! Hallelujah!
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church.  Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Join the church next week!  Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy! New members are received every second Sunday of a month. YOU are welcome here!
Soup needed for Wednesday Nite Live! All you souper cooks are invited to sign up to bring a pot of soup to feed about 20-25 for Wednesday Nite Live in November/December! Sign up on the sheet in the kitchen. Thanks!
We are very sorry to report that this year’s Berea College Christmas concert tickets have sold out.
Songs of the Shakers Sat. Nov. 11, 6:30-8:30 pm, in the Parlor. Learn and sing 19th-century Shaker songs about love and community. We will learn in the tradition-al “knee-to-knee” sing and repeat style in a welcoming learning environment. No previous experience necessary!
 
Who are the Shakers? What about their beliefs made them live in separate communities throughout the eastern U.S.? Where are they now? Long associated with furniture, celibacy and dance, the Shakers of the last 260 years are so much more, including prolific songwriters who have contributed much to the American repertoire. In this workshop, we’ll explore historic Shaker culture by learning 19th-century Shaker songs with their universal messages of love, humility and community. We will teach several melodies, a few lovely harmonies, and also play with “layering” song parts on top of each other to create interesting polyphonies. Cost: Sliding scale $10-25 Questions? Email vocesdelex@gmail.com
Free diabetes screenings and info at First Christian Church in Richmond (412 West Main St.) Saturday Nov. 11, 8:30—12:30. 
Concert Choir’s Annual Fall Concert  Sunday, November 12, 3 pm, in Gray Auditorium. The Berea College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Stephen Bolster conductor, will present their 2017 fall concert “Bach, Brahms, and Bluegrass.”  All welcome, no charge.  The choirs will be joined by special guest performers the Clavere Piano Duo (Javier and Lindsay Clavere) and the Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble lead by Al White.  The concert begins with a sacred motet for double choir, “Ich lasse dich nicht,” by Johann Sebastian Bach, accompanied by Lindsay Clavere, piano, and Charles Hoffman, cello.   
The centerpiece is Come Away to the Skies:  A High, Lonesome Mass by Wes Ramsay and Tim Sharp.   This composition is a winsome set of folk-hymn arrangements originating in the mid-nineteenth century collections of the Sacred Harp and Southern Harmony, and organized around the ordinary of the Mass— a significant liturgy of the church. The hymnbooks in which the music is found were unique to the southern region of the United States.  Pre-existing tunes that are featured include Come Away; to the Skies; Brethren, we have met to worship (Holy Manna); Do Lord, oh do Lord, oh do remember me, Brightest and best; Star in the East; and What wondrous love is this? 
Images of Ghana exhibit downstairs in the Pross Gallery. The Feminist Artists of Kentucky present the Third Annual “Images of Ghana” Art Exhibit Fundraiser, on display at the Union Church Pross Gallery during the entire month of November. 100% of proceeds and donations benefit school children in Komfenku, Ghana, and hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico.
Friends of the Madison County Public Library “Little Library Quilt Show and Silent Auction” is now showing in both branches of the public library until December 9.  This fundraiser supports the staff and programming throughout the year.  You can view all 43 book inspired textile creations on line and make a bid at that time.  Bidding is online this year.  Website for the auction  http://madisonlibrary.org/app/auction/. 
Save-these-Dates
December 10 — Meeting to consider the proposed 2018 budget, Community Room. After worship and lunch, meeting time approx. 12:15