Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the

Church of Christ, Union

and

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost World Communion Sunday

October 1, 2017   10:30 am 

 
Meditation  
For the whole Church which is throughout the whole world possesses  one and the same God.   —St. Irenaeus

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 Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 557 J.S. Bach
¨  Call to Worship
Note:  For the call to worship, please speak with the voice of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or Union Church as you prefer. If you are not affiliated with either church, welcome! Please speak any lines you like!
One: To you, God of creation, we sing a new song of praise.
FCC: A song of trees planted by streams of living water,
UC: A song of mountains clapping their hands for joy,
FCC: A song of cities delighting in heavenly harmony,
UC: A song of people that were lost and have been found.
All: For the earth is the Lord’s and we shall be glad in it. Hallelujah! Let us worship the God of creation!
—  The people of Pitt Street Uniting Church, Sidney, Australia,                                                                   Prayers Encircling the World
¨  Opening Hymn #45  Cristo es la peña de Horeb Cristo es la peña
Anonymous hymn, sung since the 1930s in the Pentecostal churches of Puerto Rico.
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession 
One:      With people all around the world, we are broken and in need of repentance. Let us join the world in a prayer of confession.
All:       Lord, forgive us,
                  For we are fragmented persons.
We go many directions at once.
We seek opposite goals;
We serve contradictory causes.
We mouth liberation; we live oppression.
We shout peace; and we practice violence and anarchy.
We shout justice; we walk in injustice.
We preach love; we practice hate.
Through your compassion, have mercy on us and make us whole. Enable us to discern your voice among the dissonant voices. Amen.
— Unknown writer, the Philippines,  Prayers Encircling the World.
¨  Words of Assurance
One: We give thanks and praise to Almighty God for the work within this world through our Lord Jesus Christ, because even in our divided humanity, separated from each other, we experience now and then the reconciliation which comes from you; our thanks to you and praise can never end. Thanks be to God!
All: Thanks be to God! Amen!
— Janet Nyenda, Uganda, Prayers Encircling the World
¨  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 Sizohambe Naye arr. Terry D. Taylor
Choirs of First Christian and Union Churches
Sizohamba naye, wo, sizohamba naye. We walk the Lord’s road.
Sizohalalisa, wo, sizohalalisa. We sing the Lord’s praise.
Sizohlabelela, wo, sizohlabelela, wo, sizohlabelela. We live the Lord’s Word.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Exodus 17:1-7
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.
Sermon Questions of Faith: Matthew 21:23-32
Today we will be engaging the word in a practice known as “lectio divina.” We will hear the passage 4 times, with each pastor posing questions for meditation around these themes: Call,  Confirmation, Challenge, and Change.

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                    Come Let Us Eat B. Kwillia/arr. C. Moklebust 
Handbell Ensembles of First Christian and Union Churches
¨  Doxology                 Avery/Marsh

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

One:      The Lord be with you!
All:       And also with you!
One:      Lift up your hearts!
All:       We lift them up to God!
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord.
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
[Please be seated]
One: Today we gladly join with Christians of every nation, denomination, and background to affirm both the freedom of our particular customs and the spiritual kinship that we share with all who love and follow in the way of Christ.
One: This is the table of plenty, and it is set for all who hunger. You do not need to be a member of Union Church, or First Christian Church or ANY church to receive. We follow in the tradition of Jesus who freely fed all with daily bread and grace.
One: In prayer, in song, in silence and in actions we remember God’s saving actions through Jesus in this meal.
One: The hymn, found on page 341, will be part of our prayer. Please sing with us when indicated, remaining seated and prayerful, as we connect past with present, connect church with church, connect country with country, and all of us with God.
 Let us begin with silence to prepare.
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.
Communion Prayer Great Spirit God #341 Lacquiparle
Dakota hymn written by Joseph R. Reville, translated by Sidney H. Byrd, who recalls “This hymn was sung by thirty-eight Dakota Indian prisoners of war as they went to the gallows at Mankato, Minnesota, on December 26, 1862, in the largest mass execution in American history.”   
 Great Spirit God: verses 1 and 2
One: For your care of all creation everywhere, and for your provision to us and to all peoples of the earth:
All: We give you thanks.
 Great Spirit God: verses 3 and 4
One: You sent us prophets, apostles, teachers, and mentors who have changed us, and taught us your ways.
All: And you sent us Jesus to challenge and change us, to comfort and call.
Great Spirit God: verses 5 and 6
One: Jesus we receive this bread and this cup from your hands.
All: This we do in remembrance of you.
Great Spirit God: verse 7
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. 
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
One: Eternal and Gracious one, though we live in a world of need,
All: Here we have tasted your goodness and hungered for a world more just.
One: Though afflicted by brokenness and division,
All: Here we have heard your call to be a people of healing community.
One: Though daily we touch our limits,
All: Here we have received the fullness of your grace.
One: Send us forth, O God,
All: In faith, in hope, and in love. Amen.  — from the United Church of Canada

From Here to There

¨  Closing Hymn       For Everyone Born           For Everyone Born
¨  Benediction
One:      And the table will be wide. And the welcome will be wide. And the arms will open wide to gather us in. And our hearts will open wide to receive.
One: And we will come as children who trust there is enough. And we will come unhindered and free. And our aching will be met with bread. And our sorrow will be met with wine.
One: And we will open our hands to the feast without shame. And we will turn toward each other without fear. And we will give up our appetite for despair. And we will taste and know of delight.
One: And we will become bread for a hungering world. And we will become drink for those  who thirst. And the blessed will become the blessing. And everywhere will be the feast.        –  by United States writer Jan Richardson
Postlude Grand Choeur W. Spence
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 Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela and our brothers and sisters at Berea Untied Methodist 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, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Mary Miller, who just had a birthday!
¨ 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
¨ Nancy Hindman, recovering from surgery at the Terrace, and for Doug caring for her.
¨ Rebecca Bradshaw-Cates, recovering from surgery for ovarian cancer.
¨ Rev. Rachel’s cousin, Jeff Small, father of two small kids, who is on a heart transplant waiting list.
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ Hazel Morris’ sister, Phyllis, approaching the end of life.
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!
Buy a quilt raffle ticket today! $1 each, $5 for 6, $20 for 25. Drawing Oct. 8. Money goes to support Mission Projects.
Today is World Communion Sunday!  Welcome to the pastors and congregation of First Christian Church! Each year churches around the world celebrate World Communion Sunday as a deliberate way to recognize God’s work in all its many forms. Union Church and First Christian Church have a long tradition of celebrating our unique common heritage (both churches were founded by Rev. John G. Fee) by holding a joint worship service on this day.
Food Drive Today: Both congregations actively support the Berea Food Bank. We are making a special effort as construction near the food bank has disrupted contributions. If you brought food today, please place it near the peace bell so we can take it to needy families.
Wednesday Nite Live Supper is a POTLUCK this week — first Wednesday of the month!
Psalm Study Thursday, October 3, 4 pm., Classroom. Focus will be on Psalms 26 and 139. All welcome!
 One Great Hour of Sharing and Week of Compassion Disaster Relief: Our hearts are rent by the devastation in Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Texas, Mexico and all the places where disaster has struck our neighbors. OGHS and WoC are both working hard and will be there when the news crews leave. Disease is the inevitable second act in the Caribbean and your help to prevent water-borne illness is desperately needed. A check made to either church with “disaster relief” in the memo line will help in the months of recovery that will be needed.
Habitat’s Rent-a-Worker program is starting back up! Our program provides you with a few extra hands for any work that you may need done around your house and/or your property and operates on a strictly donation basis. During the Fall of 2017 our team members will be available on: Mondays 5:00 – 6:30 PM & Wednesdays 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Email habitat@berea.edu or call 859-985-3616. We look forward to hearing from you!
 
“Befriending the Wolf:  Blessing All God’s Creation” Tuesday, October 3 at 10:00 a.m., the Social Justice Committee of St. Clare parish will host a 90 minute prayer/discussion/action session in the Friendship Hall. The Program comes from the Catholic Climate Covenant and is based on Pope Francis’ teaching on the environment and on our responsibility toward all of God’s creation. A simple soup and bread lunch will follow.  We hope you will join us!
October 7 at Hummingbird Haven Greenhouse & Nursery: Fundraiser for the family’s son Daniel, scheduled for major knee surgery in Feb. Breakfast haystack meal, 8:00 – till supplies and auction.    7207 KY Hwy 643, Crab Orchard, KY 40419 606-355-0323
Cowan Chapel windows have been removed and will be repaired soon, offsite.  This work is being done thanks to a generous bequest from the Kindel family. While the stained glass is being repaired the clear glass will remain in place. Usual operations should not be affected, just FYI.
Music Theory: Oct 15, 12:00pm  Did you miss our first theory class during the summer? Well, you didn’t miss your chance to learn the basics of music theory! We will be hosting another one hour class after church on October 15, 2017 to help reinforce what we previously learned, and to learn some more!  Even if you weren’t at the first, this class will still teach you the basics.  Come right after church in the conference room.
Save-these-Dates
Oct. 15 Music Theory, 12 noon
Oct. 18 Insurance & Medicare info session, 6:30 pm
Oct. 22 KFTC Halloween Spectacular Friendraiser, 6-10 pm
Oct. 26 In These Fields, a folk opera, performed as part of the Celebration of          Traditional Music weekend, 8 pm
Oct. 29 Hymn Sing, 9 am
Oct. 29  40th Anniversary of the Organ is celebrated with a concert, 4 pm