A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union

22nd Sunday after Pentecost November 9, 2014, 10:30 am

Meditation“The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope.”

—Barbara Kingsolver

From there to HEre

Welcome and Announcements               Prelude     Prelude and Fugue In F Major           J.S. Bach Bell Introit            A Festive Intrada         Cynthia Dobrinski Union Church Handbell Choir *  Call to Worship *  Opening Hymn #303       Rejoice, Give Thanks and Sing           Darwall’s 148th *   Prayer of Approach and Confession *  Words of Assurance One:    All our worship and pretty songs make no difference if our actions and attitudes are empty gestures. But when the smallest change for good is undertaken in God’s name, the Spirit rolls down like mighty waters, rippling forgiveness to the sea of Grace. God’s forgiveness is for all and flows free. All:      By Christ’s grace we are forgiven and made whole. Thanks be to God! *  Passing the Peace of Jesus ChristAll 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    O Clap Your Hands    Ralph Vaughan Williams

Berea College Homecoming Choir  Stephen Bolster, conductor

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with a voice of triumph! For the Lord most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God. Sing praises unto our King. For God is the King of all the earth; sing ye praises, everyone that hath understanding. God reigneth over the heathen, God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       Amos 5:18-24 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 Children’s Moment, children grades K-3 are invited to Children’s Church, which takes place in the chapel.  If this is your child’s first time attending Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form.  Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces. For children preschool & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room. Please pick up your children in the Chapel after the service. Gospel Lesson                  Matthew 25:1-13 Sermon     Come, Lord Jesus! (But not just yet…)            Rev. Kent Gilbert

Gifts given for Love to flow

Call to Offering 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! Consecration One:     We gather today in the solemn act of consecrating our pledges to this church, and to its work in our community and the world.  We gather to ask God’s blessing on this work, and guidance its vision and action.  We gather to give thanks for all God has given us, and to return to God gratitude in the form of commitments to serve and love all that God serves and loves.  Would you join me as we proclaim our hopes and prayers for this commitment today? One:     We give of ourselves that our gifts might enter the streams of justice and righteousness. One:     We give of ourselves because we want to be ready – ready to be witnesses to your love. One:     We give of ourselves because God first gave to us. All:      With these pledges, we commit ourselves to serving and loving together. One:     We give of ourselves because our gifts are worth far more when they work with the gifts of others. One:     We give of ourselves because there is nothing better on earth than a beloved community that serves and loves together. One:     We give of ourselves, O God, because it brings us closer to your kin-dom. All:      With these pledges, we commit ourselves to serving and loving together. One:     Take these our commitments, God, and strengthen us to make them real.  Give us the wisdom to know how to give, and the courage to do it.  Grant us the faith and the remembrance that all we have is yours, and the way to retain your gifts is to give them away, to serve and to love together. All:      Take what we give, and multiply it, God; transform it into rivers of justice and fonts of love.                         In the name of Jesus the Christ, whose gifts of grace bless us continually. Amen. Offertory             Mountain Mist Meditation       Cynthia Dobrinski Union Church Handbell Choir *   Doxology We give thee but thine own, what e’er the gift may be.         Schumann                   All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee! *  Prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration

Praying it Forward

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 Our Lord’s Prayer          One:     Our Maker, our Mother, and …           Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;             Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.             Give us this day our daily bread,                         and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us;       And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:                                        For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

From Here to There

Introduction and Invitation to Membership     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, and are welcome to come forward during the hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us. Questions of the Congregation and New Members     *  Covenant of Welcome            And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant      to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that  you and we may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world,  and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service. *  Closing Hymn #565 Black          God Whose Giving      Austrian Hymn *  Benediction & Sending Forth *  Benediction Response     The Benediction                                Knut Nystedt

Berea College Homecoming Choir Stephen Bolster, conductor

The Lord bless thee and keep thee, the Lord make His face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee, the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen. Postlude    Toccata in F Major     C.M. Widor ——————————————— *  Please rise in body or in spirit 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 the Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Maldives and our brothers and sisters at West Side Church of Christ in your hearts, and pray for them. Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week: * Those in harm’s way in service of our country, and those who wait and worry for them * Our church family members in nursing homes:  Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin * Berea college alumni, friends and family. It is a joy to worship together! * Don Robertson, Bernice’s son and caregiver, has had a serious heart attack and is being treated at St. Joe Main. * Teri Van Pelt and Christine Ward and their family * Melissa & Susan Doring Zook’s family members, facing health crises * George & Loretta Mountjoy and the family, at the death of June Mountjoy, George’s sister-in-law 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 today! You are welcome here!  New members will be received today at the end of service, and the second Sunday of every month.

You are the SALT of the earth!  Pledge & help sustain our inclusive outreach and faithful service to make 2015 a year of Serving and Loving Together!

      Thank you for your prayerful consideration.  It may not easy to talk about giving,  but it is ever so important.  You are a vital to our mission, and your gifts are what make it possible.  You may use the pledge cards in the pews or go online to www.easytithe.com/union for easy access! Help for Ways to Give Register for Kroger Community Rewards AND Amazon Smile too! See Leslie Small Stokes & Dave Kobersmith— they have their laptops and will help you right after church.

6: 30 pm Potluck Tonight —Images of Ghana  Art Exhibit and Sale to benefit St. John Methodist Church in KomFueku, Ghana. Valerie Watkins will offer a presentation describing her experience in Ghana and sharing the images and stories of this life transforming experience.

      Photographs and original art work are on exhibit and are for sale in the Union Church Pross Gallery in the stairwell to the Community Room.

      Bring a dish to share (and enough extra for our students and friends who can’t cook). All are welcome!!

Nov. 16, 12-2pm, Christmas with a Conscience… What to buy for that friend or family member for the holidays? Why not give alternative gifts this year that reach toward your loved ones’ hopes and dreams for a better world? Maybe what your friends and family really want for this year is health care, food and housing for those in need, or disaster relief for the Philippines. Come and shop for that alternative gift for your loved ones AND share in a delicious soup lunch to benefit Berea Faith Community Outreach (BFCO). If you can provide soup for the luncheon, please contact Sarah Belanger at 986-1059 or Sarah12960@gmail.com Congratulations to Rev. Rachel Small Stokes, on the 5th anniversary of her ordination into ministry. Rev. Rachel has been serving as Union Church’s Associate Pastor since September 1, 2012, and we are so blessed to have her here!