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

Second Sunday of Easter April 12, 2015, 10:30 am

Meditation
“Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.”

                        —  Joseph Campbell  (1904-1987)

From there to here

Prelude     ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus            arr. L. Lawson
*  Call to Worship 
One:   Friends, let us gather that our joy may be complete!
All:      We meet in the midst of the world’s fears to sing of what is beyond.
One:     Together we receive a peace deeper than the despair. We shout alleluias louder than they can be drowned out.
All:      We are a risen and rising people, and we gather in grace to love and serve the Lord of Life!
One:     Let us worship together!
*  Hymn #241 Black           Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day      Puer Nobis Nascitur
*  Prayer of Approach
One:     How good and pleasant it was, Joyous God, when creation sprang forth: great power flinging stars into the blue-black skies; precious goodness dripping down the mountains into the valleys.
All:      We are created in your image, your breath filling us with your Spirit, your hopes leading us on journeys of struggle and grace.
One:     Though the doors of our hearts are sometimes locked for fear you would not condemn us.  Jesus comes into our midst, with words of peace on his lips. Speak peace to your people now and lead us past our destruction to our true life and living.
All:      We receive your blessing and put our hands in yours to know the truth of it. 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

Anthem    Praise the Lord           W.A. Mozart
Union Church Choir
Praise the Lord, Sing a new song. Tell God’s salvation, tell it day to day, Shout glory, shout it to all. Let the heavens be joyful, earth be glad; let the roaring sea give forth its praise; field and mountain join the song. All together sound the joyful praise.
Epistle Lesson                  1 John 1:1-2:2
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                  John  20:19-31
Sermon     Baptized by Joy      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.) If you give online, please place an Eastertide offering card from the red pew folder into the offering plate.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offertory              Simple Gifts     S. Widmar
*  Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow;    Old Hundredth
                  Praise God all creatures here below;
                  Praise God above, ye heavenly host:
                  Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.  

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 Closing Hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
*  Closing Hymn #308 Black         At the Font We Start Our Journey       Westminster Abbey
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)         At the Font We start Our Journey      H. Purcell
_____________________________
*   Those who wish to  may stand
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 Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore and our brothers and sisters at Harvest Missionary 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.
* For the victims of violence everywhere, and especially under the influence of racial prejudice and simmering fear. Peace to those everywhere our madness reigns.
* Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell, Kim Woolridge
* Kelly Mehler
* Mary K. Kauffman
* Michelle Tooley
* Debbonnaire Kovacs
* Ed Doty, Patty Boyce’s brother, as he awaits treatment for stage 4 bladder cancer.
* Elicia Holly, mother of Jessica Holly, who fell and broke both legs.
* Our Confirmation Class members and their mentors
* Tami Greenly, moving to Phoenix, AZ
* Tom Frazier, recently hospitalized
Thanks to our Faith Development Board for an extraordinary program of spiritual growth opportunities during Lent. There are other upcoming classes, book studies, and excursions. Explore and deepen your faith at Union Church!
You can join this movement! New members will be welcomed today! New members will be received the second Sunday of every month. Come, be part of this family working for Christ’s justice and joy!
Today, 2:00 pm – Church trip to see “Bonhoeffer: The Last Encounter” at Bunbury Theater, Louisville, April 12, 4:30 pm. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity’s role in the secular world have become widely influential, and his book The Cost of Discipleship became a modern classic. Talk to one of the pastors if you want to go today.
Concert today: Berea College Concert Choir & Chamber Singers Spring Concert today, 3:00 pm,  Presser Hall, Gray Auditorium. All welcome, no charge.
Thanks for all who made time for board orientation yesterday and special thanks to our chef de cuisine, Bob Boyce, who kept us fed and sustained!
SaraCare this Friday, 6-10 — SaraCare is a memorial fund honoring Sara Elizabeth Kennedy, who passed away from Rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 18 on March 23, 2005. Every year we have the opportunity to help in this good work by coming to a delicious supper, bidding on silent auction items and enjoying a very special concert in our sanctuary.
Next Week! Family Faith Day: Down on the Farm April 19, 3-5 pm.  All are invited to a spring tour of Debbonnaire Kovacs’ four-acre paradise at 773 Big Hill Rd, half a mile down Prospect from the church. There’s plenty of parking.
Hike along the creek (possibly play in it, weather permitting), check out new growth in the vegetable, herb, and flower gardens and in the orchard, walk the labyrinth, climb trees, hike the perimeter, and snack on the patio.
Most importantly, meet and pet SaraBeth the donkey, Willow, Holly, and Ivy, the goats (try goat milk!), Budai and Sapphire, the cats, and Fairywinkle and Pixie, the Chihuahuas. Throw grain to the chickens and watch the ducks play in their little pool. There will be baby chicks and, if we’re really, really lucky, there may be baby goats!
AIDS Walk April 19 Ashley Hammond is walking in the Lexington Aids Walk April 19th at 1 pm. AVOL provides many services such as housing, testing, prevention, and support services.  A donation of any amount would be most appreciated. You can donate at: avolky.org  Thank you all!
Shopping amazon.com for Mothers Day?  Remember: Amazon Smile will donate .5% of eligible sales to Union Church if you register. You can register at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/61-0444677. This is a great way to support Union Church.
Tom McClure, Union Church member from Corbin, is interested in renting a room or efficiency apartment for two months. He travels from Corbin for weekend church & other activities. Please contact him at tomm41@aol.com or 202- 246-1900 if  you know of something available.