Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the

Church of Christ, Union

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

All Saints Sunday

November 6, 2016     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  Leibster Jesu, Wir Sein Hier J.S. Bach
*  Call to Worship
One: We are surrounded by clouds of witnesses!
All:     Graces gathered like polished stones come from those who have blessed our way.
One:     Friends, the Lord of living love suffuses creation with the power of life, the power of life stronger than death.
All: Even in the valley of shadows, God whispers: Holiness is the presence of Love in the Living.
*  Opening Hymn #70  God Is Here! As We Your People Meet Abbot’s Leigh
*  Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: We often think God is ‘out there’ somewhere, distant and uncaring. But God hears our hearts, God shares our struggles, God walks with us as we try our faith, fail, and try again.  Let us come to the One who is as close as the very breath we take in this moment to confess the brokenness in our lives and living. Please join me as we pray:
One: We are so easily confused by what the world tells us, Watching God, that we forget the narrative of faith we seen and known all through our lives. We are so fearful of tomorrow, we are not aware of your Spirit with us today. We are so busy wondering ‘what if?’ or ‘suppose?’ – we cannot hear the promises you whisper to us when the call to change, risk, serve, deepen or grow comes to us.
All: So once again, Gracious God, have mercy on us.  You know our hearts so well – touch them with your grace. You see our deepest fears – heal them with your peace. Let no one suffer because of them. You hear our secret longings – speak to them of your hope. Help us strive for that which truly satisfies, for self and others. Forgive our trespasses on your kindness, our debts to your mercy. Teach us to walk forward, better than we have been.
[Silence is kept]
*  Words of Assurance
One: The One who searches our broken hearts has found the way to mend them and make us new people. The good news is that everything God has done in Christ is for us, that we might be made whole. Saints of God, forgiveness is given by God and cemented in our loving actions.
All: With kindness and with justice, God makes us new people. We will sing our thanks through all eternity. Great is God and greatly to be praised!  Amen!
*  Passing the Peace of Jesus 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 Word in our Midst

Anthem God be in my head Andrew Carter  Union Church Choir
God be in my head and in my understanding, God be in mine eyes and in my looking, God be in my mouth and in my speaking, God be in my heart and in my thinking, God be at mine end and my departing.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson               2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
Children’s Moment
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, or are welcome return to their seats or visit the Children’s Worship Center, where there are 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 off the Community Room.
Gospel Lesson  Luke 20:27-38
Sermon   Second Hand Theology 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  “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” arr. J. Wayne Kerr
*  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:

Averill Kilbourne, Lester F. Pross, Nancy Jones, Marlene Ellis Payne, Anne Weatherford, Thomas Kelly Ambrose, Frances Graham

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.
Communion Music Simple Gifts arr. John G. Barr
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.
*  Processional/Postlude Saint Anthony Chorale att. to Haydn
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
One:      The Scriptures tell us that… “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
All: We stand together at this crossroads of time moving from mourning to dancing.
One: Let us remember the words of Paul… “So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
All: We are all children of God, tied together by the ever-present, sustaining Spirit of the Lord of Life.
One: Today we remember that it is from God that we come, and it is to God that our spirits return.  God is our dwelling place in all generations.  In God we find our comfort and our strength.  And in God’s Holy Spirit we shall remain connected forever.
All: Amen.
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 India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and our brothers and sisters at Wayside Christian Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ The healing of families, communities, and our nation and world, wracked by violence and murder, may we be agents of transformation.
¨ Refugees around the world.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Elizabeth Barrett, suffering seizures.
¨ Dottie Blackburn, suffering from severe sciatica
¨ Blake & Rachel Cathron, with a very sick baby.
¨ Also holding in our hearts the families to whom Rev. Kent or Rev. Rachel have represented our love outside our church family, but still part of God’s community: we remember Bryan Coleman, Rosemary Deremo, Ilse & Lester Hopper, Rodney Liebhart, and Mary Ann Linder.
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!
Thanks for a  wonderful evening at our Fall Fling at Rev. Kent’s house on Friday night. Thanks to all who worked hard and made it fun!
VOTE!! Voting is not only a right for which many have died, it is the only way a democracy can truly represent all the people. If you need help getting to the polls, please call the church office. If you have rides to offer, please check with others in your pew, your household, your workplace, your neighborhood. Our goal is EVERY registered voter voting! Polls are open 6am to 6pm Tuesday.
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth voter guides are available in the narthex.
In the Pross Gallery: An exhibition to honor the Wylie sisters:  Sally Wiley, Ruth Eschbach, and Martha Pride.  The exhibition will be up for the first three weeks of November, all art/artifacts are for sale and all proceeds will go to Missions.
Next week is Berea College’s Homecoming! Black Music Ensemble’s Homecoming Concert will be in the sanctuary Saturday at 1:30 pm, the Homecoming Choir will sing the anthem at worship on Sunday, and Andrew Baskin, class of ‘73, will bring us the Word.
Youth Group Fundraiser this fall in partnership with Equal Exchange, a fair trade chocolate and coffee company. Our Community Life & Growth Board purchases the coffee used for church coffee hours, WNL and other events from Equal Exchange.
The money we raise will go toward getting youth to camp next summer at “Passport Choices” in North Carolina.   Thank you all for your support!
Alternative Giving Christmas Market November 20 – 12-2. Once again we will host the Alternative Giving Christmas Market after church Sunday, Nov. 20.  Also, a soup and bread fundraiser lunch for BFCO (BURR, Food Bank, etc).  Come and get your choice of several homemade soups and take time to shop for the perfect gift for your family and friends.
The perfect gift is often the one that reflects our hopes and dreams for our community and world and with many community-wide nonprofit organ-izations, there is something for everyone.   If you want to include a display for nonprofit that you are supporting, you can contact Gina Chamberlain at jakeberea@ yahoo.com or Jessica Holly at jessicadholly@hotmail.com
Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers for a building group on Wednesdays — an” Old Timers Group”… If you have an occasional Wednesday free, call Guy Patrick, 986-7942 or the office,625-9208.