A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost October 12, 2014, 10:30 am
Meditation
“All words are spiritual—nothing is more spiritual than words.—
Whence are they?
along how many thousands and tens of thousands of years have they come?
those eluding, fluid, beautiful, fleshless, realities,
Mother, Father, Water, Earth, Me, This, Soul, Tongue, House, Fire,
What beauty there is in words!
What a lurking, curious charm in the sound of some words!”
—Walt Whitman
From There to Here
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude What a Friend We Have in Jesus arr. Wood
* Call to Worship
One: The Word of God is among us!
All: The Word of God is a living word.
One: Let us worship the God of life and living!
* Opening Hymn #315 O Word of God Incarnate Munich
* Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Like Isaiah standing in the holy presence of God’s word, we who come have a thousand reasons to feel unworthy, unwelcome, unloved.
All: We have done and said things that have hurt others. We have been wounded ourselves. We doubt. We question. We lash out at the very love that sustains us.
One: For our hurts, we ask healing; and for our sins against you and against others we ask for transformation.
All: Help us act rightly, justly, and faithfully to heal our transgressions and become the people of your heart: beloved and loving, in Christ’s name. Amen.
* Words of Assurance
One: Rejoice, for the word of God is among you, and in you. It is neither a word of condemnation nor one of denial. It is a living word of redemption, of transformational grace and empowering love. For you! May this living word be beauty in your soul, may it free you to sin no more, and may you know the love of Christ written on the pages of your life this day.
All: Alleluia! 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.
Welcoming New Members
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. 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.
The Word in our Midst
Anthem Thy Word arr. Smith/ Grant
Union Church Choir
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Exodus 32:1-14
Epistle Lesson Philippians 4:1-9
Childrens 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, Little Church for children preschool & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room; and Children’s Church, for grades K-3, takes place in the chapel. If this is your child’s first time attending Little Church or Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form. Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces. Please pick up your children in the Chapel after the service.
Gospel Acclamation #319 v. 3 Sing Them Over Again to Me Words of Life
Gospel Lesson Matthew 22:1-14
Sermon Late to the Party 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!
Offertory The Peace Within Me Ritter
* Doxology Schumann
We give thee but thine own, what e’er the gift may be.
All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee!
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.
Blessing the Way
* Closing Hymn #332 As We Gather at Your Table Beach Spring
Congregational Meeting
Farewell to Steve and Ann Rhodes
With deep feeling, we commend you to your life and work in other places, taking with you our strong support and sincere prayers.
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano Side: In peace!
Bell Side: In love!
Piano: To teach!
Bell: To learn!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano: To preach!
Bell: To pray!
Piano: To heal!
Bell: To comfort!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano: To build!
Bell: To plant!
Piano: To grow!
Bell: To thrive!
All: Go forth into the world to love and serve the Lord.
* Benediction Response In God’s Hand Deborah Payne
Postlude Toccata Dubois
During the Postlude, all are invited to come forward and greet our new members, bid farewell to Steve and Ann, and view the St. John’s Bible.
____________________________
* 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 Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and our brothers and sisters at Berea Evangelistic Center 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, Virginia Piland, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin
* Naomi Brandenburg, Larry’s mother, who has been ill
* Bea Chasteen
* Neighbors of Hamrick Walters in Prescott, WA, who have experienced a death in the family, prayers especially for the caregiver of three small children
* Tom Frazier, who has had a successful pacemaker procedure
* Gloria VanWinkle, recuperating at Berea Health Care Center
* The Madison County delegation to our sister city, Hokuto, Japan. Rev. Kent is leading this delegation
Announcements
Today we are honored to have in worship the St. John’s Bible. We are grateful to Berea College and the Willis D. Weatherford Campus Christian Center for this opportunity! We welcome Rev. Gail Bowman, who accompanies the Bible this morning. In 1998, Saint John’s Abbey and University commissioned renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson to produce a hand-written, hand-illuminated Bible. It is the first hand-drawn Bible produced since the Middle Ages, and we invite you to explore this work of art that unites an ancient Benedictine tradition with the technology and vision of today, illuminating the Word of God for a new millennium.
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. Use the pew folder in your row, passing it back when all have signed. 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, October 12, and the second Sunday of every month.
Young Adult Group forming. A group of young adults is gathering to begin a time of reflection on spiritual practices. We’ll meet every few weeks and covenant together on this journey. If you’re interested, join us after church in the Community Room downstairs!
Celebration of Traditional Music next week The Celebration of Traditional Music strives to represent homemade music passed on from person to person in the Appalachian Region and the musicians who play it. Old time string band music, blues, traditional gospel singing, ballads, and acoustic instruments are featured in a family-friendly atmosphere. All are welcome to enjoy this festival of roots music and dancing. Bring your instruments, feet, and voices, and enjoy the many jam sessions and opportunities to learn how to sing, play, and dance to this music. The closing event of the Celebration is a Hymn Sing in Union Church’s sanctuary on Sunday at 9:00 am. For details visit www.berea.edu/ac/ctm & spread the word!
Jammin’ on the Porch has moved indoors, and into to our Community Room! Bring your instrument and join in the jam session Thursdays at 7:00 pm. Father and daughter duo Lewis and Donna Lamb host the event. All are welcome to join in the music, or join in the listening!
Sunday School Teacher and Little Church Volunteers Still Needed We need you! As part of our covenant of baptism, we promise to educate our children in the ways of God’s love. Our elementary students still need one more person to help them learn about this during Sunday School. Work with the creative and dynamic dream team of Alvera Perman and Maggie Park. You will not have to commit to every Sunday.
We’re also looking for 2 or more folks who might accompany our toddlers to Little Church in the nursery once a month and read stories, sing songs, or just play with the kids. Volunteer by talking to Rev. Rachel or Kim Kobersmith.
Kroger Community Rewards Giving More Back to the Community! Kroger is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations will earn millions of dollars through Kroger Community Rewards. If you have a Kroger Plus Card, go to kroger.com/communityrewards and register with Church of Christ, Union. Kroger Community Then all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card! You must have a Kroger Plus Card to register, they are available at any Kroger store.
Raffle tickets on sale From now until the November 16 drawing, Mission Board will be selling tickets for a beautiful Amish quilt and a coverlet crocheted Tunisian style. Single tickets are $1; $5 for six tickets; and $20 gets an envelope of 25 tickets. There will be two drawings: Red tickets are for the quilt. Blue ones for the coverlet. The proceeds will go to support the church’s mission outreach.
Liberty Place fundraiser tea and auction November 8, 1 pm. Tickets are $25 and are available from Dodie Murphy (859-200.-7277 or at Wednesday Night Live). Liberty Place is a 108-bed long term residential addiction recovery center for women and is part of Kentucky River Foothills.
The live auction will feature Rev. Kent’s auctioneering skills & themed tables decorated to the nines by the donors — and a silent auction featuring art, crafts, gift cards and services donated by generous supporters. Among the silent auction items are pottery by Bruce and Kelley Hoefer of Turning Wheel Pottery, jewelry by Diane Gilliam and Nora Swanson, glass by Michelle Weston, wrought iron by Jason Meeks, and a magnificent red quilt wall hanging by Kentucky women artists. Pam Gammon of Berea has hand built an incredible dollhouse, as she does every year, and antique table linens also will be put up for bid. The sweet and savories at the tea are prepared and served by the Liberty Place women.
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