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

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

October 9, 2016      10:30 am

Meditation
 “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”
— Marcus Tullius Cicero (Ancient Roman Lawyer, Writer, Scholar, Orator and Statesman, 106 BC-43 BC)

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  Suite Gothique, Mov. II, Prière à Notre-Dame L. Boëllmann
* Call to Worship  
One: One, two, three…
All: We count our troubles and try to work through.
One: Four, five, six…
All: Blessings pass all the time. We worry we’ve missed ours.
One: Seven, eight, nine…
All: We take strength from the community and from God’s presence coming over and over to us.
One: Ten times the love shines! Well past ten we count our blessings!  One tenth we return in thanks! Ten times ten times ten gather to worship God!
*Opening Hymn #42 O For a Thousand Tongues Azmon
*  Prayer of Approach and Confession 
One: Dear God, Sometimes we get so caught up in being a part of the Church that we forget your message. In our rush to feel like a member of something important, we miss the point and become exclusionary.
All: Forgive us for being a part of Jesus’s crowd and yet ignoring the crying needs of the sick and sad on the outskirts of our vision.
One: When we ignore suffering;
When we mistake our privileges for things we have earned;
When we claim exclusive ownership of the truth, or think we have earned your love… and that others have not:
All: Forgive us our ignorance and put in its place the wisdom to encourage and bring suffering people to you. Help us turn back in thanks, bringing with us those of us in need, those of us kept apart.
One: Give us faith in your healing and cleanse us of our wounds and wounding. Forgive us, so we may seek and serve your love always.
— Adapted from “Prayers from Morocco, Evangelical Protestant Church of Morocco, 2015
*  Words of Assurance
*  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 Pacem Lee Dengler
Union Church Choir; Robert Rorrer, soloist
Dona, nobis pacem. Et interra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Jeremiah 29:1,4-7
The prophet gives word to the people to make homes and settle into their exile for it will be long.
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, 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 17:11-19
Jesus heals a group of diseased outcasts, one of whom returns in thanks.
Sermon                The Right of Return   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 Irish Blessing J. Mansfield
*  Doxology Avery/Marsh

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 for 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 Closing Hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
*  Closing Hymn  An Outcast among Outcasts Tune # 390, Nyland

1. An outcast among outcasts, dismissed with double scorn,
   Belittled by the labels: “unclean” and “foreign-born”;
   Came back with thanks for Jesus, and then went on his way:
   An outcast among outcasts showed grateful faith that day.
2. An outcast among outcasts, where thee were crucified, derided by the others as they hung side by side- came back from death with power, God had the final say:  An outcast among outcast shows God to us today.
3. For outcasts among outcasts the boundaries are redrawn, by words, “Your faith has saved you,” by cross and Easter dawn. The distant longed-for centers of power, peace and care, where life is free to flourish, are found now everywhere.

*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.
* Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please  be  seated) Trumpet Tune J. Stanley
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 Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and our brothers and sisters at White’s Memorial Presbyterian 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.
¨ The people affected in Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the United States by Hurricane Matthew.  One Great Hour of Sharing is already on the ground helping with rescue efforts.  If you’d like to donate, go to “Donate” at www.union-church.org and choose “give online.” You’ll be taken to a page where you can choose “One Great Hour of Sharing.”  Or, write a check and put it in the offering plate with the note, “One Great Hour of Sharing.”  Thank you.
¨ Larry and Nancy Shinn, who lost their grandson (son of Robyn) to suicide last week.  The funeral was Wednesday in Maryland.
¨ Congratulations to former childcare worker Dorrie Isaacs in the birth of her third child, Aubree Fayeth Isaacs on Thursday, October 6th. Mom and baby are well.
¨ Dottie Blackburn, suffering from severe sciatica
¨ Nancy Hindman, recovering from  abdominal surgery at home.
¨ Dodie Murphy, recovering at home
¨ Blessings on the  new home of Rev. Rachel Small Stokes and her wife, Leslie! Their new address is: 568 Lin Wal Rd., Lexington, 40505.
¨ John Belanger & family, at the death of his father
¨ Shayne Confer, at the death of his father, in Pittsburgh, PA.
¨ George and Loretta Mountjoy, both in rehab facilities; George for knee replacement, Loretta after heart valve surgery
We’re Planning! October is the month we start a holy conversation every year, a conversation about how we can live faithfully and sustain a mission of relevant important work as a church. We’re talking about pledging funds for next year’s work, and hope you will join the conversation. What sustains you about this community? How could we help sustain others? What’s the right amount to contribute? What happens if someone is in need? All this month, pray with us, and be a steward of our journey. Let’s talk faithfully so we can grow by leaps and bounds!
October is Stewardship Month at Union Church! Many hands make possible every aspect of our church life: from worship services, to serving others in need. Union Church receives no grants, no outside support from Berea College, and only a few “legacy” dollars from trust or benevolence funds. It is supported by our gifts and tithes, and without the love and kindness of all, we couldn’t reach, serve, worship, or risk in God’s name the way we do. Can you help? Make an estimate of what you can contribute by the end of the month and we’ll be able to craft a responsive, effective budget. We can’t do it without you! (Consecration Sunday, when we receive all pledge cards is October 30).
Witness for Peace Program at WNL on October 12, 5:45 p.m. The Mission and Service and Community Life and Growth Boards are joining together to sponsor this year’s Witness for Peace Southeast program and speaker from Colombia, South America.
This year’s speaker is Marcia Mejia, an indigenous Nonam leader from the community of Santa Rosa de Guayacan, located along the San Juan River, a southwestern community of Columbia. Marcia is also a spokeswoman for the network CONPAZ(Communities Building Peace in the Territories), which has sent delegations to Havana  about the issues of victims’ rights and reparations. As is traditional, St. Clare’s Catholic Church and the Friends Meeting are invited to join us for the evening program. We will be inviting students for the evening, as well.
The meal will be rice and beans. CL&G will be cooking up a generous amount of both, but we also invite all of you, if you have a favorite rice and beans dish, to please bring it along. Desserts are also welcome.
http://witnessforpeace.org/
Celebration of Traditional Music October 13 – 16. The Celebration of Traditional Music strives to represent homemade music passed on from person to person in the Appalachian Region and the Represent musicians who play it.
The CTM features:

• Old time string band music
• Blues
• Traditional gospel singing
• Ballads
• Acoustic instruments.

All are featured in a family-friendly atmosphere. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the many jam sessions and opportunities to learn how to sing, play, and dance to this music. Hymn Sing Sunday, Oct. 16, in our Sanctuary.
T.R.U.T.H. Talk Oct. 18 (True Racial Understanding Through Honest Talks) regarding the 2016 Presidential Election: candidates, policies and voting mobility among the topics to be discussed. October 18, 5:30, Carter G. Woodson Center. T.R.U.T.H. Talks are designed to keep the campus talking about issues of race, diversity, and inclusion. All welcome. T.R.U.T.H. Talks are held the Third Tuesday of each month.
Liberty Place Tea November 5, 1 pm, at the First Christian Church in Richmond. Once again, we are blessed to have the Rev. Kent Gilbert as auctioneer. Each table seats eight and if there are particular people with whom you want to sit please let Dodie Murphy know when you buy your ticket. Oh…many of the silent auction donations are autographed books, CDs, jewelry and art by well known Berea artists. For questions or to buy tickets call Dodie Murphy at 859.200.7277.
Crocheters/knitters sought to make flowers for hand-knitted hats (already made) for Berea children. The school districts’ family and youth resource centers will distribute the headwear on behalf of No Child Cold/No Child Hungry in Berea. Union’s own Tennant Kirk already has made more than a dozen flowers and about 40 more are needed (between 2 1/2 and 4″ in diameter). This is a perfect use for leftover yard of any color or design. For information call Dodie Murphy at 859.200.7277. Flowers can be left in a bag with Dodie’s name on it outside the church office.