Meditation
Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
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 in D Minor, BWV 538 J.S. Bach
• Call to Worship
One: When our hearts are troubled, let us draw near to a mothering Spirit …
All: Who shelters us with love and protects us.
One: When others disappoint and leave us, let us turn to a fathering Spirit …
All: Who takes up the cause of those who suffer and defends the sorrowing.
One: As we enter this shelter of love, let us take heart in a nurturing God…
All: Who is our light and salvation.
One: Today, tomorrow and the next day, let us be ever refreshing our spirit in the praise of God!
• Opening Hymn #20 God of Abraham and Sarah CONSTANTINE
• Prayer of Approach and Confession
“Kyrie eleison” is Greek for “Lord have mercy,” and is an ancient petition in prayers of confession. When invited, please sing the refrain through twice, and hum while the worship leaders interweave the prayers between our singing.
All: Kyrie Refrain (sung twice)
One: Calling to all people, O God, you yearn for us to make a home in the shelter of your love, but we often resist and push you away.
All: Kyrie Refrain (sung once)
One: We seek belonging in soul-less places and are too often content to merely exist in the chaos of our scattered lives.
All: Kyrie Refrain (sung once)
One: In still moments, when we become aware of our deepest selves again, we dwell in the heart of your imagination and are sustained with your constant presence. Surround us as we pray and draw nearer to you.
All: Kyrie Refrain (sung twice)
• 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 Sizohamba Naye trad., arr. Terry Taylor
Union Church Choir and Jubilee & Joyful Noise Choirs
Sizohamba naye, wo, sizohamba naye. We walk the Lord’s road.
Sizohalalisa, wo, sizohalalisa. We sing the Lord’s praise.
Sizohlabelela, wo, sizohlabelela. We live the Lord’s word.
Epistle Lesson Philippians 3:17-4:1
Children’s Moment
As the children return to their seats or move to children’s church, 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-5 are invited to Children’s Church, which takes place in Cowan Chapel. Otherwise, children are welcome to 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 & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room. Please pick up your children in the Chapel or Nursery after the service.
Sung Psalm 27 p. 637
The Psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form with congregational responses. Please sing the response when invited.
Gospel Lesson Luke 13:31-39
Sermon The Body of Our Humiliation 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 Gigue D. Wagner
• Doxology
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
• Closing Hymn #415 God’s Actions, Always Good and Just WAS GOTT TUT
• Benediction & Sending Forth
• Benediction Response
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me; Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Postlude (please be seated) Toccata Pontificale D. Wood
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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 peoples of Ireland and the United Kingdom and our brothers and sisters at First Baptist Church of Berea at Middletown in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
For refugee families and individuals seeking shelter and safety, and for all who are working to provide it: May God magnify our efforts.
Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin
George Oberst
Sheila Johnson, facing breast cancer
Marlene Payne and her family
Kelly Ambrose and family
Terry Allen Watts, NoraRuth Jenkins’ cousin
Alvera Perman’s nephew Kendrell Marshall and his family as he fights non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Dana Rousey and family in the death of her mother, Averill Kilbourne
George & Elsie Hardman, struggling with health issues. Elsie has a heart catheterization on Wednesday.
David and Lisa Shroyer have a new grandson, Theodore David, born in New Orleans, weighing 9 lbs, 3 oz! Congratulations!
Welcome to our new members Mary Lou Wiese and Donna Eder & David Duffee!
Chris McKenzie, recovering from a hand injury.
Betty Wray, who has been ill with strep throat and flu
Announcements
Next week Fourth Sunday New Membership Info: 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 after lunch for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.
New members will be received each Second Sunday of the month at the close of worship.
We Need YOUR PICTURE for a New Church Directory! We’re coming up with a plan for taking photos BUT if you’ve got one you’d like to use, please send it to the office. Also — if there’s a chance we don’t have your address, phone, email address, anniversary, or birthday(s)—please send that info on as well: office@union-church.org. There will be a draft available at Lenten lunches and WNL for you to check and correct if needed. If we left you out — we don’t mean to!! Please add your info! Also, if you happen to know that someone has moved or attends church elsewhere, let us know that too.
Want to Chime In? The Union Church Handbell Ensemble is seeking $450 in donations to acquire one more octave of handchimes. We’ve all greatly enjoyed the warm, rich sound of our first two octaves of chimes, and would now like to expand the set to three octaves to match our current three octaves of bells. If you would like to contribute any part of this amount, please contact Pearl Marshall, Director, or drop your clearly marked contribution in the office.
Special Lent Opportunities
Calling All Knitters, Needle-workers, Crafters, Crocheters and More! Sunday mornings of Lent, 9:45am-10:15am, bring your own creative project to work on, and join others for relaxed and unstructured conversation, community-building, and coffee before the church service begins. Led by Ashley Cochrane.
Let’s Do Lunch! Lenten lunches through March 13 Each year the Boards work together to provide lunch for the Sundays of Lent (through March 13, which is our ANNUAL MEETING!) and the income from these lunches helps
to fund the budgets of our Boards — suggested donations of $5.00/single or $15.00/family.
TODAY’s MENU:
Chili! Salad! Desserts!
Prepared by the Administration & Nurture & Care Boards
Next week: the Faith Development and Mission & Service Boards will serve us some yummy brunch dishes!
Tonight! Dances of Universal Peace Tonight 5-7pm, Community Room. Light supper at break! Join a worldwide movement for peace through dance. Led by Carla Gilbert and others, the gathered group will be taught sacred steps from around the world, sharing as we do in prayers of peace and harmony. Created by a Sufi teacher and Zen master, the Dances set scriptures and sacred phrases from the world’s spiritual traditions to music and movement. They are transformative spiritual practice, invoking an embodied sense of unity, presence and compassion and touching the spiritual essence within ourselves.
Tuesday Evenings in Lent: Walking Meditation Please join us and meet at 5:45 at Alumni Field. Walks will be led by David Bellnier and will be a chance to revel in nature and inspiration, while enjoying exercise and new friends. Listen together to a reading, then walk together in meditation!
Story time! Wednesdays, 6:30 pm, Community Room. After Wednesday Night Live supper, we’ll have a different member of the community tell a story. Have a story you’d love to tell? Contact Rev. Rachel.
Book Study America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America Wednes-days, 7pm, Classroom. Rev. Kent and Rev. Rachel will lead a discussion of this new book by Sojourners executive director and long-time Civil Rights ally Jim Wallis. This will be a time of non-judgmental, thoughtful, and prayerful study as we try to learn more how to be effective advocates for racial justice. (If you can’t attend the class, you can read along with us; discussion guides available online.)
Other Highlights
ABLE (Achieving and Building Life Equally) will meet on Tuesday, February 23 (and every 4th Tuesday), at 5:30pm in Room 101ABLE is a support group/network for those who self-identify as differently-abled: to inspire, encourage, and empower one another, and to make Berea a more accessible community.
Board Annual Reports Are Due Soon! Reports from all boards are due in the office by March 1. If you’d like to consult previous Annual Reports, several years of Board minutes and/or newsletters, those are all available on the church’s website, union-church.org. Call the office if you need a hand navigating. Our Annual Meeting will be March 13, Board retreat and orientation will be April 16.
Festival of Spirituals writen by African American Composers Saturday, Feb. 27. This concert will be held in the sanctuary, 7:00 pm. All welcome! Concert participants include our own Choir, Liza & AJ, and other soloists and local choirs!!
Music, music, music!! Sunday, Feb 28 8:00 – 9:30 Tri-State Duets: An Evening of Fiddle & Banjo with Dave Bing & Ben Townsend (appetizers from the College Farm Store start at 7:30)Loyal Jones Appalachian Center Gallery, Free & open to the public.
Sustainable Berea’s Annual Meeting March 14 at First Christian Church. Join us at the meeting to hear about Sustainable Berea’s upcoming projects for 2016. 6:30 pm for desserts and 7:00 pm for the meeting, followed by the baked goods auction at 8:00 pm.
Lisa Hilgenberg, Horticulturist of the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, will be the featured speaker. Lisa supervises four employees and 30 volunteers and grew 55,000 plants that yielded three tons of food in 2015.
She will talk about Edible Landscaping: Beauty and Bounty in Your Yard. We are looking for people to donate a baked item for the event, either to be in the auction or to feed people in the dessert-meal, prior to the meeting. If you are interested, please contact Cheyenne Olson at 859-893-4590.
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