A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost September 15, 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
I do not understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.
-– Anne Lamott
Gathering to Worship
Welcome & Announcements
Hymn Sing Choose Your Favorites!
Prelude Dear God, Embracing Humankind (Rest) A.P. Van Inderstine
Dear God, embracing humankind, forgive our foolish ways. Reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer live your service find, In deeper reverence, praise
* Call to Worship
One: When the lost are found,
All: there is joy!
One: When hope overcomes despair,
All: there is joy!
One: When we seek and find God’s faithfulness,
All: there is joy!
from www.ministrymatters.com
* Hymn #459 Black Come, O Fount of Every Blessing Nettleton
* Call to Confession
* Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Gracious and loving God, we find it difficult at times to place our trust in you. Too often we look at the world, and see only violence, pain, destruction, and signs of hopelessness and despair. Too often we rely on our own strength, our own plans, our own devices, rather than trusting in your hand to hold us, your love to sustain us, and your wisdom to see us through.
All: Forgive us, Holy One.
One: Help us turn to you when we are lost, that we might find our way home. Help us navigate the treacherous waters of this world, that we might experience your abundant grace, mercy, and love. Help us put our trust in you, that the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus may shine in our lives for all to see.
All: Guide us now, Holy One, as we bring our thoughts and confessions into your pasture.
Silence is kept
One: In the name of the Good Shepherd we pray,
All: Amen. adapted from www.ministrymatters.com
* Words of Assurance
One: The pasture of the Good Shepherd knows no bounds. Wherever we wander, we will be sought after like precious gold. The rejoicing of our God when we return to God also knows no bounds. We are celebrated like a lost sheep reunited with the flock. Let us celebrate and rejoice together!
All: 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
Anthem Come Unto Christ Sally DeFord
Women of the Union Church Choir
1. Come unto Christ, ye penitent and meek, Seek this Jesus of who the prophets speak, Seek this Jesus whose mercies never cease, Come unto Christ and find in Him eternal peace.
2. Come unto Christ who bore our griefs alone, Who will carry our burdens as His own, Seek this Jesus, and by His love be blessed, Come unto Christ and find in Him eternal rest.
3. Come unto Christ ye sorrowful and frail, Seek this Jesus whose comfort cannot fail, Seek this Jesus and triumph in His might, Come unto Christ. Come unto Christ.
4. Come unto Christ, abide in Him and live. He will bless you with every perfect gift, Seek this Jesus amid a world of strife. Come unto Christ and find in Him eternal life.
God Speaking through the Epistles 1 Timothy 1:12-17 (p. 1447)
“I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,” says Paul of his former life. “But for that very reason I received mercy.”
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. There are activity clipboards, books and toys are available for children in the back of the sanctuary.
God Speaking through the Gospels Luke 15:1-10 (p. 1257)
Jesus’ critics grumble against him, “this fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Sermon Reforming the Penitentiary Rev. Rachel Small Stokes
Song #544 Black If I Have Been the Source of Pain Camacua
Prayers of the People
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 Kiyosato, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community
Our Lord’s Prayer
One: ….Our Maker, our Mother,
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.
Offering Our Gifts
Call to Offering
Offertory Antiphon V Marcel Dupre
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
Walking Forward in Faith
* Closing Hymn #303 Black Rejoice, Give Thanks and Sing Darwall’s 148th
* Benediction and Sending Forth
Postlude Finale on Darwall’s 148th Charles Callahan
_____________________________
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 Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania and our brothers and sisters at Wayside Christian 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. We pray especially for peace and justice in Syria as the world deliberates.
* Michelle Tooley
* Sally Zimmerman, undergoing testing for breast cancer
* A friend of many in the congregation who is dealing with many losses at once
* Abi Dietz, now a year into her recovery, and for those supporting her
* Patti Smithson, recovering well at home after successful surgery on her neck
* 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
* For our wonderful volunteers and teachers who shape God’s work in this place!
Assisting in Worship
Worship Leaders today is Elizabeth Crowe. Next week: Merlin Kindel.
Flowers today are given by Carla Gilbert, in honor of her late mother, Helen Lujin, on her birthday.
Announcements…
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.
There’s still time to join in on The Trade Game! Join us at 9:30am on Sundays for the next five weeks as we explore the ethics of international trade through a role playing game – kind of like a murder mystery dinner theater about world events! Contact Kim Kobersmith to play at kim.kobersmith@gmail.com.
The Gospel According to Macklemore (and other musical social critics) Come explore Macklemore and other musicians’ take on social justice, and how our biblical faith lines up (or doesn’t) with these social movers and shakers.
The tentative topics and Macklemore songs are below. If you have musicians to suggest who also address these topics, we want to hear about them. Post below and we’ll use them in the study. We’ll meet in the Fellowship Hall, 7:00 pm, downstairs unless you hear otherwise…
- Sept. 19: Consumption: “Thrift Shop” and “Wing$”
- Sept. 26: Faith and Idols: “Neon Cathedral,” “Gold,” “Make the Money”
- Oct. 3: Justice: “Same Love,” “A Wake,” and “Jimmy Iovine”\
- Oct. 19: Going Against the Grain: “Ten Thousand Hours” and “Can’t Hold Us.”
- Oct. 17: Grace: “Starting Over”
Invite your friends!
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!
Thank you to everyone who helped with greeting, offering and communion this summer! Your willingness (and sometimes eagerness) to help is greatly appreciated. You have helped to show the unbounded hospitality of Union Church.
Parents of Youth: Grace & Chris McKenzie, Youth Directors, invite you to a meeting right after the worship service in Room 301.
Join Bereans for Fairness at the Berea City Council Meeting, Tuesday, September 17, 6:30pm (304 Chestnut St). A Time to Remember: Two years ago on September 20, 2011, hundreds of people rallied and marched in Berea in support of an anti-discrimination Fairness ordinance, which would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. That same day, the Berea City Council voted to establish a local Human Rights Commission. Help us mark this anniversary and show your support for a Fairness ordinance by attending the Berea City Council meeting on the 17th. Wear your blue Fairness t-shirt or a shirt that designates you as part of another supportive organization or group, such as Union Church. Berea College students will gather outside Woods-Penn at 6pm to walk over together.
Share the love – and hospitality! We need people to be on the Worship Team for the months of September & October. If you can help with greeting, offering and communion, pleases sign up on the bulletin board at the back of the sanctuary and help to show the Unbounded Hospitality of Union Church. If you have questions, see Dorie Hubbard, 986-0839, or Carla Gilbert, 985-1144. Worship Leaders also needed — sign up on the sheet.
To parents of pre-schoolers: Our pre-school Sunday School class this year will meet only on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month; other days, pre-schoolers will be in the Nursery. We haven’t had the volunteers we needed to get a full teaching schedule going, so we’re offering a half-time Sunday School instead. If you are interested in volunteering so that we can offer Sunday School on other days, please talk to Rev. Rachel as soon as possible (rsmallstokes@union-church.org).
12 Step program for Food & Eating. A new meeting of Overeaters Anonymous (OA) will meet in Union Church every Sunday from 5:30-6:30pm. Questions? Contact Les Small Stikes at lesstokes@gmail.com or 859-868-8754.
Bloodmobile Tuesday, in the Community Room! 11:00 am—5:00 pm!
Wednesday Nite Live! Has its first program of the year this week! Come meet and hear Deborah Payne and David Nakabaale share about the Katosi Women’s Development Trust in Uganda.
Poetry Reading Friday! Steve Rhodes and Chicago poet Susanna Lang will read from their new poetry collections at the Berea Arts Council, 116 Main Street, at 5:30 pm, Friday, September 20th. Refreshments will be served. Steve will be reading from What Might Not Be, the sequel to his first collection. He will also readfrom They Speak Your Language, his collection of children’s animal poems illustrated by our own Amanda Chao. Some of Amanda’s drawings will be available for viewing during the reading.
Newcomers and Prospective Members Meeting September 25 — If you want to know more about membership at Union Church or just find out what we are about, plan now to come to Wednesday Nite Live on Wed., Sep. 25 at 5:45 p.m. for dinner in the Community Room, and then meet in the Wayside Room (just off the sanctuary on the street side) for an informal meeting with pastors and members of the Community Life and Growth Board. All are welcome.
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.
How Bazaar!
You are all invited to the annual Union Church Bazaar on Saturday, Sep. 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Bargains galore, a quilt and afghan raffle, silent action, bake sale, and more!!
All proceeds support local, regional, and global mission and service projects. Union Church — where all are welcome!
And please bring your stuff to sell by Friday, September 20. We need goods of all kinds, but no clothing.
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.
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