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

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 24, 2017             10:30 am 

Meditation  
Divine Care supplies everybody with the means necessary for salvation, so long as one on one’s own part does not put up obstacles.     —Thomas Aquinas, 13th Century

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 Country Life
I like to rise when the sun she rises Early in the morning
I like to hear them small birds singing, Merrily upon their laylums
And hurrah for the life of a country boy, And to ramble in the new mown hay.
In spring we sow at the harvest mow And that’s how the seasons around they go
But of all the times if to choose I may I’d go rambling in the new mown hay.
In summer when the sun is high We sing and we dance ’til the night draws nigh
We spend all night in sport and play, And go rambling in the new mown hay.
In autumn when the oak leaves turn, We gather all the wood that’s fit to burn,
We cut and we split and we stow away And go rambling in the new mown hay.
In winter when the skies are gray We hedge and ditch our times away
But in the summer when the sun shines gay, We go ramblin’ in the new mown hay.
¨  Call to Worship
One: Imperfect, contentious, distracted, downcast, and worried:
All: We come as we are.
One: Curious, capable, eager for change, earnest in care:
All: We seek God’s hope, God’s vision, and ache to be a part of it.
One: Challenged, goaded, provisioned, graced:
All: We arise to work and worship. We lift our hearts and open our eyes!
¨  Opening Hymn  National Anthem: Arise! Arise! Jean Rohe
Atlantic and Pacific flow
The Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico
The land between sustains us all
To cherish it, our tireless call
CHORUS: Arise! Arise!
I see the future in your eyes.
To a more perfect union we aspire
And lift our voices from the fire.
We reached these shores from many lands
We came with hungry hearts and hands
Some came by force and some by will
At the auction block, in the darkened mill. CHORUS
We died in your fields and your factories
Strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees
With an old coat hanger in a room somewhere
A trail of tears, an electric chair. CHORUS
Our great responsibility
To be guardians of our liberty
‘Till tyrants bow to the people’s dream
And justice flows like a mighty stream.
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession 
One: We know we grumble too much, Patient God.  We are easily stampeded by the promises of those around us, only to wonder how we end up where we are.  We confuse and mistake  infinite information for wisdom, quantity for quality, and voyeurism for solidarity. Knowing more, we sometimes feel less, and become distant from the holy care you have for us and that we hope to bear for others.
All: Forgive us, holy one.  You are so slow to reject and so relentless in your care.  Sustain us, day by day, that we may seek faithfully to live in the way of justice, hope, and peace shown to us through Jesus, and all those whose hearts beat in you.
¨  Words of Assurance
One: Know now what the kingdom of heaven is like: It is steadfast love, joy and laughter. God chooses not anger, but mercy; not punishment, but peace with justice; not just what we earn, but abundance over our need. Turn, and be free of all that binds you.
All: Thanks be to God! Amen!
¨  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 joy. 

The Living Word among us

Anthem      Be Joyful in the Lord      J.S. Fearis
                    Union Church Choir; Susan Kramer and Paul Smithson, soloists
Oh, be joyful in the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before His presence with a song. Be ye sure that the Lord, He is God. It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of his pasture. Oh, go your way into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. 
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Exodus 16:2-15
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 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 Matthew 20:1-16
Sermon Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread 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                    Hunger Liam Robertson, Jean Rohe
We were children then. We drove across this country with the windows down. We stopped for gas and ice cream in these reservation towns the curving mountain lanes and the asphalt arrow running through the plains.
We were lovers then. We drove across this country with the windows down. We touched those heavy stones that hold this nation to the ground. The rocks that have endured; great paperweights for freedom’s written word.
But these awesome peaks are not monument enough for our hungry thoughts – we must raise a stone for each brave act, for each war fought as if memory’s great ship without these tethered weights would set adrift.
And we wondered if our love would endure the certain pain and if this land could withstand the crimson stain of our hunger.
We were dreamers then. We drove across this country with the windows down. We stopped for gas and coffee in these migrant worker towns. We touched those heavy stones and the greatest lakes this ancient Earth has known.
But these torrent streams cannot cool the burning of our open pores we must turn our greedy mouths up to the drinking gourd from sea to thirsty sea, these mighty rivers yearning to be free.
And we wondered if our love would endure the certain pain and if this land could withstand the iron chains of our hunger.
Oh the hunger. Of our hunger, oh the hunger.
We are older now, We drive across this country with the windows down. We stop for gas and bathrooms in these slag heap company towns. We buy some pretty stones and fill our tank with prehistory bones.
These fossil lakes are the inkwells for a novel of our times. We scratch with furious hands to soothe our feverish minds though the ink is running dry, we still insist to write upon the sky.
Oh, this spacious sky is not poetry enough for our swelling lungs. We must write a thousand songs to carry on our tongues.
Our thoughts will burn so bright we can white the stars out from the sky at night and we wonder if our love will endure the certain pain and if this land can withstand the endless strain of our hunger.
Oh the hunger. Of our hunger, oh the hunger.
Will we be lovers then? Will we move across this thirsty land of trading posts? And stop to stretch our tired legs among the hungry ghosts? As o’er the Earth we roam, the past will live inside these heavy stones.
But these pilgrim rocks are not elegy enough for our aching hearts. We must plant a stone for every soul when it departs until every shady grove is a grinding mouth of molars set in rows.
And we’ll wonder at how our love endured the certain pain as we are swallowed by the land again.
Oh the hunger. Oh the hunger, oh the hunger, oh the hunger.
¨  Doxology                                        Avery/Marsh

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 Prayer 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

¨  Closing Hymn   I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me I’m Gonna Live
¨  Blessing the Way of Debra Taylor
With deep feeling, we commend you to your life and work in other places, taking with you our strong support and sincere prayers.    
All:       Go forth into the world!
Piano Side:    In peace!
Bell Side: In love!
Piano: To teach!
Bell: To learn!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano:  To preach!
Bell: To pray!
Piano: To heal!
Bell: To comfort!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano: To build!
Bell: To plant!
Piano: To grow!
Bell: To thrive!
All: Go forth into the world to love and serve the Lord.
¨  Benediction Response In God’s Hand Deborah Payne
Postlude Processional in C H. Hopson
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church.  Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Learn more about the church today! 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, are invited to come to the Classroom two doors past the church after worship for conversation with the Pastor and the Community Life & Growth Board.
Buy a quilt raffle ticket today! $1 each, $5 for 6, $20 for 25. Drawing Oct. 8. Money goes to support Mission Projects.
Get your FLU and/or PNEUMONIA  SHOT today from noon—1 pm in the Classroom. (note time change—just one hour). Staff from Rite Aid will give flu shots today.
Nurture and Care Board will meet TODAY at 3 pm at Mary Lou Wiese’s home, 127 Holly Hill Drive.
Now is your chance to shine in the kitchen!  If you’d like to see what it takes to feed our stalwart Wednesday Night crew, Shirley Carlberg would love your help!  She is looking for someone to help shop for and/or prepare next week’s WNL meal as our wonderful sous chef, Katie Litteral, will be out of town.  Kitchen skills are not required; Shirley can tell you everything you need to know and do to produce a fabulous meal.  Contact her at 859-985-501 or nonesuch_1998 @yahoo.com if you’d like to help.
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 St. Thomas Lutheran Church 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.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ The peoples of the Caribbean islands, Houston, Florida, Mexico City, and all places affected by disaster. May we be filled with compassion and motivated to act. Donations to Church World Service will help!
¨ Neighbors and friends in fear of ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) raids in our area, and for DACA students and their families. May we all strive for a safe and respectful path forward to be good neighbors.
¨ LaRee Jacobs, recovering at home from a serious fall resulting in a broken ankle and other injuries.
¨ Debbonnaire Kovacs, with heart concerns.
¨ Nancy Hindman, recovering from surgery at the Terrace, and for Doug caring for her.
¨ Debra Taylor, as she moves to Columbia, South Carolina.
¨ Chris McKenzie’s grandmother Zane Brown, recovering from a ruptured aorta. Prayers also for the rest of the family, whose home was struck by lightning.
¨ Rebecca Bradshaw-Cates, recovering from surgery for ovarian cancer.
¨ Amy Williams, recovering from a car accident. She would appreciate some help with meals and rides as she recovers: www.mealtrain.com/trains/4d7r22.
¨ Rev. Rachel’s cousin, Jeff Small, father of two small kids, who is on a heart transplant waiting list.
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ Hazel Morris’ sister, Phyllis, approaching the end of life.
 
Next Week is World Communion Sunday!  Each year churches around the world celebrate World Communion Sunday as a deliberate way to recognize God’s work in all its many forms. Union Church and First Christian Church have a long tradition of celebrating our unique common heritage (both churches were founded by Rev. John G. Fee) by holding a joint worship service on this day.
We will worship together and celebrate communion with our sister church, First Christian Church, as we pray for and with Christians all around the world. This year, we will host our brothers and sisters from First Christian, and their pastors, Mark and Lisa Caldwell-Reiss. The vocal choirs and handbell ensembles from both churches will sing & play together as well.
Another tradition: loose plate offering will be given to Berea Faith Community Outreach (BFCO) to assist their vital work.
Cowan Chapel windows will be removed and repaired soon, thanks to a generous bequest from the Kindel family. The stained glass will be repaired off-site, leaving clear glass in place. Usual operations should not be affected, just FYI.
Learn to make stock from a local chef September 26, 6:30 pm: Sustainable Berea event at First Christian Church. Fee $25. Also learn Food Safety 101 and knife skills. Call 985-1689.
Our faith in action in the wider world: As our elected officials consider the end of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and another attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) – THIS WEEK – remember that you can make YOUR voice heard! Call both Senators McConnell (202) 224-2541 and Paul (202)-224-4343 , and Rep. Barr (202)-225-4706.