A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of theChurch of Christ, Union
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 1 2013
Welcome to this service of worship. We are glad that you are here today. You are invited to rise in body or in spirit as you are able and willing at points in the service marked *.
Hearing enhancement devices and large print bulletins are available in the vestibule. After checking in on FaceBook and Twitter, please silence your cell phone, pager, etc, so all may worship undistracted.
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.
Meditation
There is no labor a person does that is undignified; if they do it right.
— Bill Cosby
Gathering to Worship
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude Chorale Prelude on Mit Freuden Zart Larry Brandenburg
* Call to Worship
One: Sing aloud to God our strength!
All: Sing the story of our faith.
One: Sing of God’s providential care:
All: water in the desert, honey from a rock.
One: Sing of God’s sorrow at our wandering!
All: Sing of God’s love that calls us anew.
One: Sing aloud to God our strength!
* Hymn #22 Black Sing Praise to God Lobe den Herren
* Call to Confession
On this Labor Day Sunday let us, in a special way, lift up all people who labor, either for pay or as volunteers, in jobs or at school, at home or in the workplace, in the U.S. and around the world.
* Prayer of Confession
One: We are workers, God, just like you. But we confess that our actions do not always affirm and honor each other. Our work is not always done in a spirit that is pleasing to you. We do not always honor all work equally, taking for granted and calling some work “less” and those who do it “lesser.” We admit that we have remained stuck in unjust systems in which some workers have jobs that provide good wages and benefits while others may have no job, or one that pays little and provides few benefits, and we confess that we have not always done all we could to make it better for those who work with low wages, unsafe conditions, or with little honor.
All: Creator God, help us to be your people, working for a world where all workers are valued: A world where those who clean houses are also able to buy houses to live in. A world where those who grow food can also afford to eat their fill. And one where those who serve and care for others — in stores, schools, hotels, restaurants, nursing homes, and many other places — are, themselves, also served and cared for. It will be a world where all workers everywhere share in the abundance that you have given us. Forgive us, and help us heal ourselves.
* Words of Assurance
One: This is the good news: Our God is a God of grace and transformation. When we ask, God gives us the courage and strength to live out our faith in the workplace and the marketplace, as well as in the sanctuary. We are new people, graced and forgiven by our loving God.
All: Forgiven, embraced, welcomed by our God, we will offer open hearts and serving hands to everyone we meet. Thanks be to God. Amen.
* Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Hearing the Word
Gift of Music “Holy Women, Holy Men” A.J. Bodnar
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, child care for ages kindergarten & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Fellowship Hall. Activity clipboards are available at the altar for older children.
God Speaking through the Gospels Luke 14:1,7-14 (p. 1255)
Jesus, a guest at the table of a Pharisee, teaches about hospitality for the “poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.”
Sermon Carpe Monday Rev. Kent Gilbert
Offering Our Gifts
Call to Offering
Offertory They’ll Know We Are Christians Scholtes/Held
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
* Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you!
All: And also with you!
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to God.
One: Let us give thanks to God.
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
One: On this day, we celebrate Christ’s power to offer the church rebirth. We begin with food and drink at our spiritual homeland shared with all Christians: Christ’s Communion table.
One: All who seek a reminder of the Spirit’s animation of faith, breathed through Jesus’ upending life and death and Christ’s resurrection are invited to share this broken bread and poured cup.
One: Come all who seek closer communion with God. Come from east and west, north and south. Come to be challenged and changed, blessed and sent. For by taking this meal together we seek to boldly embody that which was important to Christ Jesus: justice for the forgotten, hope for the poor, service to God’s beloved creation, witness to the transforming love of God. Come be strengthened by this meal, for each here is the guest of Christ.
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 Kyosato, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community
Communion Prayer
One: As we gather at this meal, we pray:
All: Come, Spirit, come…
One: Like you came brooding over primordial waters to birth creation.
All: Come, Spirit, come…
One: Like you came in the yoke of prophecy down through the ages to redirect the path of your people.
All: Come, Spirit, come...
One: Like you’ve come at the Jordan River, in Galilee, at the pool of Siloam, and the table of Emmaus.
One: Come like you’ve come in the witness of Lydia and Peter, Julian of Norwich, and Ulrich Zwingli, John and Matilda Fee, Dorothy Day and Oscar Romero, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi and Rigoberta Menchu.
One: Come like you’ve come through our lives in grand times and troubled times. Come and make our refreshment here: the new day of the living church and hear us singing your unending praise with all of heaven…
Communion Sanctus Please Join in Singing
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
The Words of Institution
One: At the Passover table, Jesus took bread and broke it and gave thanks, and said,
All: “Do this to enact who I am.”
One: At the same table he took the cup and gave thanks saying,
All: “Take, drink, all of you, for this is the cup poured for the forgiveness of sins and the healing of the world. Remember me each time you drink.”
One: This is the meal of liberation lifted down through the ages that renews God’s pull toward justice each time we drink it.
One: Holy Spirit, come upon these gifts and each of us. Strengthen the church universal that it may be a sign of peace and justice in all the world. Restore the earth with your energy for healing, and anoint us with the gifts to help make it so.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this table and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling the usher. If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit within your tradition. You may remain in your seat, or you may come forward for a blessing, as you wish.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. The bread and juice from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. If you would like serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer with the Nurture and Care Board members or by contacting either of the pastors.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Walking Forward in Faith
* Closing Hymn #332 As We Gather at Your Table Beach Spring
* Benediction and Sending Forth
One: It’s time to go.
All: Time to re-engage with the secular world.
One: Time to put the faith into deeds .
All: Time to practice uncalculating love.
One: Time to meet the Christ who waits for you.
All: Time to share his boundless hope.
One: You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. With the blessing of God, in your mind and heart, let each morning be a joy to you, each path be a joy to you, each neighbor be a joy to you. Now and always..
All: Amen
Postlude Praeludium in A J.G. Walther
_____________________________
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 the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia and our brothers and sisters at Bethlehem 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 the service of our country and all those who wait and worry for them.
* Michelle Tooley
* Patti Smithson, recovering well at home after successful surgery on her neck
* The Cooper family, at the untimely death of Shannon’s sister
* Peggy Baker, recovering at UK Hospital
* Lori Wallhauser, daughter-in-law of John and Mary Wallhauser, recovering from a stroke, in Cincinnati
* Dawn Manor, Dot Kindel’s daughter, and the family. Dawn has recently had surgery and the family is moving to Berea
* Rose Brandenburg, Larry’s aunt, at Kenwood Nursing Home in Richmond
* Edith Hansen, at The Terrace
* Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
Assisting in Worship
Worship Leaders today is Alvera Perman .
Flowers on the altar are from Barb Smith and her sister, Marjorie Bonner, in memory of their father, Eric Linton, on what would have been his 100th birthday.
Our special thanks to Liza DiSavino and A. J. Bodnar for their musical leadership this morning.
Announcements…
Next Sunday: Rekindle the Spirit Day, Sept. 8th.
Formerly known as Rally Day, this is our kickoff to the fall Faith Development programs.
We’ll have a lunch after church and a chance for kids to get to know their teachers, and adults to learn and discuss what they might like to explore this year.
Are you the one our adorable preschool disciples are waiting for? One or Two Preschool Sunday School Teachers Needed. We will be implementing a rotation program this fall, in which teachers will teach 1-2 Sundays per month. All the curriculum is provided and you’ll have a great team to work with. All we need is your willingness to love and care for these kids. Interested? Talk to Rev. Rachel (859-312-1482) or rsmallstokes@union-church.org) or Kim Kobersmith.
You Matter! Please Sign In, Check in on FB/Twitter and Try a Name Tag! 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, and whether you are a first time visitor or a long-time member, a name tag helps everyone connect the dots. Mobile phone users can also check in on Facebook and Twitter.
Explore Union Church! This is a place where your faith can grow and deepen! We are actively looking for those who would like to explore discipleship with Jesus in this congregation. YOU matter, and so does YOUR faith journey. If you’d like to join Union Church in pursing the way of peace, justice, and hope, please call, email, or Facebook either pastor, or call the church office. YOU are welcome here!
Test drive the handbells. Wednesday Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. there will be opportunity for anyone (Grade 3 and up) to “test drive” the handbells. Larry will be there to introduce the basics and help you discover the fun of handbell ringing. Give it a “ring.”
Come make a joyful noise — with the Choir ! Our regular Thursday, 6:15 pm ADULT CHOIR rehearsals have begun. We are in “open-house mode” with the hope that new singers would come and try us out. If you are a tenor or bass, your presence would be a special gift to the choir. Childcare provide.
Rekindle Your Spirit and Shake Your Soul! Shake Your Soul® workshop on Sunday, September 8th. We will dance and move in the Community Room at Union Church from 4-5pm. Taught by Certified Instructor Kate Grigg, this workshop invites you to connect with the spirit within and move from the inside out. There is no right or wrong way, simply feel the music and let it guide you. Let your body express parts of you that words cannot. Free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
12 Step program for Food & Eating to begin Sunday, Sept 8th. A new meeting of Overeaters Anonymous (OA) will meet in Union Church every Sunday from 5:30-6:30pm. Questions? Contact Les at lesstokes@gmail.com or 859-868-8754.
Wednesday Nite Live will begin September 11! Supper, Youth Groups, Kids’ Choirs, Bell Choir…..Come on and join the fellowship, fun, and food!
Plans are “under-foot” to refurbish the sanctuary floor. It was such a joy to welcome the community into our remodeled space for Rev. Rachel’s installation, but not everything was as good as it should be. Now, thanks to some saved funds and a generous challenge grant, we are raising funds to finish the job! See September’s Consider for details.
Last Call for Back Bay Mission Volunteers This the Last Call for one or two more volunteers for the Sep. 15 – 21 Work Camp trip to Biloxi, MS. All levels of building/repair skills will be put to use, as well as volunteers for the Daytime Drop-in Center for the homeless or the Food Bank. Please contact the church office or betty_hibler@berea.edu ASAP. It will be an unforgettable experience.
Raffle Tickets for Afghan and Quilt Available on the Porch Following Worship Today Buy tickets for one or both of the beautiful items on display in the sanctuary that will be raffled at the Union Church Bazaar on September 21. All proceeds will benefit the Mission and Service Projects of Union Church.
John G. Fee Justice award to be presented: The public and all living members and their descendants of the group known as Concerned Citizens involved in healing the aftermath of the 1968 racial shooting are invited to attend the presentation of the first annual John G. Fee Justice award given to them by the Berea Human Rights Commission at the City Council Meeting, September 3 at 6:30 in the Municipal Building, 304 Chestnut.
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth Friend Raiser! All are invited to the Madison County KFTC Friend Raiser Saturday, September 14, 4:30 – 7:30, at HomeGrown Hideaways (500 Floyd Branch Road). Potluck at 5:00 pm, live music at 5:30 and a silent auction featuring contributed items. This is a free, very family-friendly occasion with food, music and lots of good conversation and spaces for people to learn about some of the social justice work happening in Kentucky. Please bring a dish to share, your own dinnerware, and a donated item for the silent auction. If you have questions contact Beth Bissmeyer at bethbissmeyer@kftc.org or (859) 314-2044. KFTC is 32 year old grassroots organization that believes in the power of people working together to challenge injustices, right wrongs, and improve the quality of life for all Kentuckians.
Come out and celebrate work for social justice in your community!
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