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

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Youth Sunday

September 22, 2019       10:30 am

Meditation
When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover that you cannot eat money. —Cree Prophecy  

From there to here: we Gather

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 4    Villa Lobos
The Call   Pueblo Blessing
Hold on to what is good, even if it is a handful of dirt. Hold on to what you believe, even if it is a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do, even if it is a long way from here. Hold on to life, even if it is easier to let go. Hold on to my hand, even if I have departed.
¨  Hymn #350 Black Now in the Days of Youth Diademata
¨  Passing the Peace of 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 hospitality.

The Living Word among us

Anthem Sonata 10 Mov. 3 Giustini, arr. Scarambone
Epistle Lesson  Amos 8:4-7 (p. 1085)
A condemnation of practices that hurt the needy.
Middle-aged Moment                         As our beloved elders 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. They are also welcome to stay in the service if they prefer. The Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary has 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 in Room 104 off the playground.
Gospel Lesson Luke 16:1-13 (p. 1258)
Jesus delivers a challenging parable about the shrewdness of a dishonest servant and follows it with several sayings about the nature of faithfulness
Sermon Tricky Business Rev. Nate Craddock

Living Prayer

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.
Acts of Reflection and Prayer
Some resources for reflection and prayer are provided. You are free to use  – or ignore –  these prompts as you find helpful. In whatever prayer manner you adopt, please hold the concerns of those listed, and those you know about, in God’s peace-giving light.
How are we using our resources to ensure the good of those who will come after us? What are you called to squander? What do you think Amos would say to the board of a Fortune 500 company? Where do you have opportunities to act shrewdly in your own life?
Prayer Corner: If a space alien watched a biopic of your life, whom would they believe your God was? Meditate on this as you pray.
Bell Table: Please take a moment to look at the exhibit and offer prayers of gratitude for Union Church’s ongoing historic witness to going against the grain.
Sharing Table: Gratitude is one of the most important ways to steward the gifts that we’ve received. On the sharing table, you’ll find blank thank-you notes and writing tools. Write a true thank-you note to a person who has been a gift to you and share it with them.
Children’s Corner: Care Cards [blank] The youth are working on a project in which they are creating handmade Care Cards. You can find blank cards in the children’s worship corner and make one or more cards, either for someone in particular, or a generic one for anyone who might need it. (You are welcome to take cards with you to make later, if you’d rather.)
A Chance for Generosity: Offering Baskets in the Aisles
Offering baskets are placed in the aisle, and can also be brought to your seat. 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 those in need via many external agencies.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. You don’t have to register to make a contribution, but if you do, it can make future generosity that much easier. You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Please sing when invited:  From All That Dwell below the Skies 
Pastoral Prayer and 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

¨   Hymn #564 Black We Are Not Our Own Yarnton
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) Minuet in G arr. Scarambone
_________________________________
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 Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Peru and our brothers and sisters at First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
Prayer requests to be printed may be sent to the office anytime before 10:00 am Fridays.
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound.
¨ For Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon. 15,000 are now detained in the US.
¨ In thanksgiving for those students, teachers, parents, lawmakers, and citizens who are witnessing and working to end gun violence in our society. May laws that help be passed; may hearts that are broken be healed; may all who are in danger be kept safe.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller.
¨ For those who are without homes and safe places, that we may work together for solutions.
¨ Marie, 4-year-old great grand niece of Dorie Hubbard, believed now to be cancer-free, and returning to preschool soon.
¨ Dean Jacobs, Mary Lou Wiese’s brother, recovering at home.
¨ Cheryl Moore, with family members struggling with health issues: Larry O’Hara in hospice care and Rob Unterberger with lung cancer.
¨ Larry Brandenburg’s mom, recovering at home from a broken hip.
¨ Al White, recovering well.
¨ Steve Boyce, undergoing rehab at Cardinal Hill.
¨ Peggy Coyne, recovering from surgery after removal of tumors on her salivary glands. Thankfully, they were benign.
¨ Joyce Henderson, as she settles in to her new home in Blacksburg, Virginia.
¨ Myrt Wilson, with Stage 4 cancer. Myrt has loaned us the sesquicentennial quilt hanging in the sanctuary.
¨ Laura Robie, recovering at home from a fall.
Announcements
Tonight Grammy Award Winning Violinist Mads Tolling In Concert, Sanctuary, 7:30 pm. Mads Tolling, a two-time Grammy Award winner,  who hails from Copenhagen, Denmark, will perform in concert with premier jazz guitarist Jacob Fischer. Adults $20, students $5, kids under 10 free. Tickets available at the door.
Next week:
· The Berea College Concert Choir and Union Church Choir will join together to sing the Anthem “Make Me an Instrument,” composed by our own Rev. Nathaniel Craddock.
· Our Stewardship season kicks off  highlighting one of Union Church’s 5 Mission Values—Passionate Worship.
It’s a Sunday you won’t want to miss!
Debbonnaire Kovacs invites you to celebrate her birthday by coming to a picnic open house on Sunday, September 29, any time between 2 and 10 pm. Address is 773 Big Hill Rd, ½ mile down Prospect, red house on the right. Bring food, a chair, and a song or story to share. Come and go as you please. 859-779-0793.
Expungement Fair October 1, 2:00-5:00 pm at Richmond First United Methodist Church, 401 W. Main St. Services include

• info on offenses eligible for expungement
• copy of your criminal record
• free hepatitis A & TDAP vaccines and HIV & Hepatitis C testing
• support for alcohol & drug recovery
• job training assistance.

Email laree.jacobs@goodwill.org or call 859-624-1394 for more info.
The children and teens of Union Church will be making handmade care-cards as part of their nurturing and caring for others. YOU are invited to contribute some of the following materials that you may have on hand around your house. Please bring your materials to the donation table in the back of the church on Sunday mornings, or to the table in the hallway across from the office at any time. Thanks in advance for enabling the fun card making activities. Please email Teri Mehler with any questions: teri@kelly mehler.com

• construction paper and other colored papers
• plain white cards suitable for greeting cards
• cardstock weight paper
• plain or colored envelopes
• stickers, stick-on rhinestones, anything fun for cards
• glue sticks
• washable and permanent markers – wide tip and narrow tip for writing

• any other supplies for card making

Art Exhibition: “Music to My Eyes,” [Sept 13 – Nov 2] an exhibit at the Berea Arts Council, 444 Chestnut Street, has been partially sponsored by Union Church’s Music Ministries.  Please go for a visit.
Tour of Pre-Civil War Churches:  Ten Pre-Civil War churches of Madison County will host an open house tour on October 5, 10-4.  Members of Union Church will host the visitors and a photo and artifact exhibit will be staged at Union Church.
Coming up—mark your calendars!
Sunday, October 13:  Bring your lunch and come to the Community Room after church for a showing of the film “From Paris to Pittsburgh: the Climate for Change is Now.” This is a National Geographic Documentary Film and runs approximately 75 minutes. Rev. Carla and Betty Hibler viewed this film in Lexington and highly recommend it. “The film captures what’s at stake for communities around the country, and the inspiring ways Americans are responding.”
Saturday, November 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Celebration of Giving (Previously known as Alternative Christmas Market). Local non-profits can reserve a table by contacting: cheyenne @sustainable berea.org. Instead of another sweater or tie, give a donation to your favorite non-profit in your loved one’s name. Union Church organizations (e.g. Youth Group) can reserve a table for no charge, as we are one of the sponsors of the event. If you would like to volunteer, contact Tennant Kirk or Betty Hibler.