A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost October 26, 2014, 10:30 am
Meditation
“We clasp the hands of those that go before us, And the hands of those who come after us. We enter the little circle of each other’s arms And the larger circle of lovers, Whose hands are joined in a dance, And the larger circle of all creatures, Passing in and out of life, Who move also in a dance, To a music so subtle and vast that no ear hears it Except in fragments”
—Wendell Berry
From there to HEre
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude Finlandia Sibelius
* Call to Worship
One: We are invited to share in Christ’s ministry of compassion.
All: We will widen our hearts so we might cradle the lost.
One: We are challenged to learn more about God each day.
All: We will open our minds so we might discern God’s dreams for us.
One: We are summoned to let the Spirit be planted within us.
All: We will deepen our souls so we might grow in love.
* Opening Hymn #89 Awake, Awake, to Love and Work Morning Song
* Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: We have been entrusted with the message of the gospel, but all too often act as if the memos from sin and death have more influence in our lives. Let us confess our sins, so we might know God’s great love for us.
All: As you know, God our healer, we stand on the edge of your promises and hopes, yet cannot seem to let ourselves cross over into the life you intend for us. We seek praise from our families, yet are unable to tell them how much we love them; we care more about our needs and desires than for the struggles of our neighbors; we think more about the trash we read and see than focusing on the Spirit of wisdom.
Forgive us, Everlasting God. Renew our lives with your grace; restore our hopes with your vision of tomorrow; refresh our spirits with your joy which comes to us new in each moment in the gift of your Child, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
[Silence is kept]
* Words of Assurance
One: This moment, this morning, this day, and in all the days to come, God’s compassion and hope fill our lives. What joyous good news!
All: Our hope is not in vain. God forgives our sins, and is the dwelling place for all people. Thanks be to God. 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
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Anthem Circle of Love Pepper Choplin
Union Church Choir
A circle goes ‘round and ‘round again. It has no beginning and no end for it will be spinning eternally. A circle was drawn by God’s hand. Filled with love, it will expand to welcome all who hear the call to join in love. Join in the circle of love.
God gives love and there’s enough for all who need a holy touch of love and care open hearts can share. God will touch many hearts, make us one from many parts and we will be joined in unity.
So share the circle of love we’ve found. God is the center and God surrounds us with His love, with His holy love. The circle of love goes ‘round again and its power shall never end, for love will be living eternally. Love is strong, love is great. Come together and celebrate and welcome all as we hear the call, to share the circle of love.
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, 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 22:34-46
Sermon Good, Better, Best 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 Gift of Love John Carter
* 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.
From Here to There
* Closing Hymn #498 Jesu, Jesu Chereponi
* Blessing the Way of David Milley
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.
* Sung Response please join the children in singing:
Go now in peace, Go now in peace.
May the love of God surround you,
Everywhere, everywhere you may go!
Postlude Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Joel Raney
____________________________
* 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 Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal and our brothers and sisters at Calvary Baptist Church 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
* Naomi Brandenburg, Larry’s mother, who has been ill
* Bea Chasteen
* Ruth Vallely, Dodie Murphy’s aunt, in hospice in Florida
* Sune Frederiksen and family, at the loss of his aunt, Thea Madsen, in Denmark
* Jimmie Lewis and family, at her father James Wallace’s death
* Hamrick Walters
* Teri Van Pelt and Christine Ward and their family
* Michelle Hayden’s friend, Stacy, who is very ill
* Akaki Matcharadze, one of our new Berea College student members, who has had to go home to the country of Georgia for the rest of the semester. Prayers for his safe travel and wellbeing
* Reid Livingston, Lisa Bosley and family, at the death of Reid’s father, Phil, at 93
* Naomi Schulz, whose Ecclesiastical Council to vote upon her ordination is today at 3:00 pm at Bluegrass UCC
* Virginia Piland’s family, at her death on Thursday morning
* Myrtle Davis, Back Bay Mission recipient, on dialysis
* Peggy & John Coyne’s niece, Michaela, and her fiancé Hillary for their upcoming wedding, and for Hillary’s father with kidney problems
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. 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.
Young Adult Lunch Bunch meets today. A group of young adults is gathering to share a time of reflection on spiritual practices. We’ll meet the second and fourth Sundays in October and November and covenant together on this journey. If you’re interested, join us after church for lunch in the Community Room downstairs!
New Membership Info Session today: Come One Come All! Each Fourth Sunday of the Month anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, as well as new members who have not been able to participate in a previous meeting, are invited to come to the classroom two doors past the church office immediately following worship for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.
Light refreshments will be offered and you are invited to pick up coffee or tea in the parlor on your way through the hall.
New members will be received each Second Sunday of the month (November 9) at the close of worship. Those joining may choose to attend the Fourth Sunday meeting prior to or after becoming members, whichever is more convenient.
Reminder…time is running out to submit your Pastoral Evaluation. Here’s the link if you haven’t had a chance to offer feedback about your experience of our pastors’ work and ministry. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/UCPastoralSurvey There are paper copies in the office too if you’d rather pick one up and return it.
The Habitat for Humanity Apostles Build starts soon! On October 29th, at Wednesday Night Live we’ll have the great honor to welcome Joey and Heather Reynolds and their four children to our table and hear their story first hand. Our church has committed 700 hours and $4,000 to accomplish the goal of getting this family into their new home. We appreciated the opportunity to attend and meet this family and greet them with the love that surrounds us all.
You are the SALT of the earth! Help us plan as we budget for 2015 as a year of Serving and Loving Together.
Today begins our three-week campaign to prepare for planning our 2015 budget. Over these three weeks, we ask you to pray for guidance as to how you might be able to pledge to give to this community in order to sustain its work and ministry. As a self-sustaining church, it is up to us to find ways to fund our vital ministries of unbounded hospitality; thoughtful, inspirational and intentional faith development; passionate worship; risk-taking mission and service; and extravagant generosity and care in stewardship.
If you are a church member or regular attender, you should be receiving a postcard in the mail very soon about the campaign. (If you don’t, let us know; we may have your address wrong in our computer!) Following that will be a letter from our pastors and information on our budget plans. You will also receive a pledge card, and we encourage you to fill it out and bring it to our service of dedication on November 9th. By doing this, you will help us plan for the ways in we can continue our service and love to our neighbors and to each other over the next year.
To help you in this, we have an electronic tool called easyTithe, through which you can set up automatic checking account withdrawals if that will help you. Dave Kobersmith will be available after church to help you with questions you might have about how to use easyTithe.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration. It is not easy to talk about how we give, but it is ever so important. You are a vital to our mission, and your gifts are what make it possible.
Other ways to give — There’s help available today! Register for Kroger Community Rewards AND Amazon Smile too! See Leslie Small Stokes, Bill Srsic & Dave Kobersmith— they have their laptops and will help you!
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. 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.
Amazon Smile -When you can’t shop local for what you need, many turn to Amazon.com. Here’s a way to help locally even if you have to shop online. Amazon supports charities with a special program called “Smile.” By registering and choosing Union Church as your charity, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases the ministry of the congregation. While each contribution might be small, it all adds up, and your purchases can support the mission of peace and justice we all care so much about.
Pearl Marshall is looking for a car to borrow from November 6 until the 17th. Jack will be out of town during this time and they’re only a one car family. He would be taking their car. She is looking for transportation to and from work, which is less than a half a mile from their house in Richmond, and then on 2 Sundays and 1 Wednesday to come from Richmond to Berea to attend Union Church, and direct the handbell choir. If you have a spare car or think you can help please give us a shout either at church or on the phone at 859-408-5508.
Christmas with a Conscience – Mark your Calendar! November 16, from noon—2:00 pm in the Community Room! What to buy for that friend or family member for the holidays? Does your sister really need another sweater? 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 your organization might like to participate, contact a member of the Mission and Service Board.
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, 1:30-3:30 pm at Liberty Place: 218 Lake St., Richmond. 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.
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