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

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 28, 2014, 10:30 am

Meditation
“Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor;                      act as if you did.”

—C.S. Lewis

From there to Here

Welcome and Announcements              
Prelude     Prelude in Classical Style        G. Young
*  Call to Worship
One:    Jesus invites us to a way of celebration, meeting and feasting with the humble and poor.
All:      Let us walk his way with joy.
One:     Jesus beckons us to a way of risk, letting go of our security.
All:      Let us walk his way with joy.
One:     Jesus challenges us to listen to the voices of those who have nothing to lose.
All:      Let us walk his way with joy.
One:     Jesus points us to a way of self-giving, where power and status are overturned.
All:      Let us walk his way with joy.
One:     Jesus calls us to follow the way of the cross, where despair is transformed by the promise of new life.
All:      Let us walk his way with joy.                           — from  Rex A.E. Hunt
*  Opening Hymn #304 Black           All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name  Coronation
*   Prayer of Approach and Confession
One:     Called to follow Christ, we are called to a life of humility.  But what does that even mean?
Do we seek to exalt ourselves – to be lifted above others?
Does our sense of success depend on someone else’s failure?
Does our love of God entirely guide our relationships?
Do we twist service into convenience and leisure, ignoring the idea that to serve is to be a servant?
[a brief silence is kept]
One:     Let us pray:
All:      Disturb the habits of our sin, O God.  Rouse us from the sleep that cradles sin’s embrace. 
One:     In the name of Jesus, we pray – reveal to us your ways. Show us what we can                             change.
All:      And change what we cannot.     — by Rev. Kaji S. Douša
*  Words of Assurance
One:     Good friends: God is at work in you!  God is alive in us! God lives – but sin is dead.  And our sins are forgiven, through Christ, our Savior.
All:    Alleluia!  Amen.
*  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.
Anthem    How Great Thou Art & Majesty          J. Raney
Union Church Choir
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed: then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.
Majesty, worship his majesty; unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise. Majesty, kingdom authority.
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, Jesus who died, now glorified; his name be praised.
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration, and there proclaim, My God, how great thou art!

Breathing in The Living Word   

Epistle Lesson                  Philippians 2:1-13

Childrens 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, Little Church for children preschool & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room; and Children’s Church, for grades K-3, takes place in the chapel.  If this is your child’s first time attending Little Church or Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form.  Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces. Please pick up your children in the Chapel after the service.
Gospel Lesson                  Matthew 21:23-32
Sermon     Doing and Not Doing             Rev.  Kent Gilbert

Sharing the Gifts of Love

Call to Offering
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             Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Is Calling  D. Wood
*   Doxology             Avery/Marsh
*  Prayer of Thanksgiving

Being and Becoming One

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 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 #18 Black             Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer    CWM Rhondda
*  Benediction
Postlude    Rondeau          Mouret
____________________________
*  Please rise in body or in spirit
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 Wallace Chapel 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 service of our country, and those who wait and worry for them
* Our church family members in nursing homes:  Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Virginia Piland, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin
* Janet Dailey Hosp
* Bob Bates, recovering from open heart bypass and valve replacement surgery.
* Naomi Brandenburg, Larry’s mother, who has been ill
* Betty Hibler, recovering well from knee replacement surgery
* Bea Chasteen, who will have surgery next week to repair a break in her arm
* Hamrick Walters, who has moved to Washington State for an AmeriCorps position—new address 112 North F Street  Prescott, WA, 99348
* Elsie Hardman, Joan English’s mom, who broke 2 ribs in a fall
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.  Use the pew folder in your row, passing it back when all have signed. Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Can you help staff the office? Joan English, Office Administrator, is going to visit her parents October 2-8. If you can help, please call the office. Rev. Kent will be away as well, help especially needed!
Newsletter folding, spindling & mutilating help needed If you can help process the October newsletter, Consider,  for mailing, that will be very much appreciated! Monday afternoon, about 1 pm in the Conference Room. Thanks!
Fourth Sunday Membership Info Session: 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 office immediately following worship for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.
Light refreshments will be offered.  New members will be received each Second Sunday of the month (October 12 this month) at the close of worship.
Young Adult Group forming. A group of young adults is gathering to begin a time of reflection on spiritual practices.  We’ll meet every few weeks and covenant together on this journey.  If you’re interested, join us after church in the Community Room downstairs!
Are you interested in knowing more about the language of the Old Testament? Join Abigale Embry and Sharona Nelson to learn how to read and write the Hebrew alphabet, as well as study some lectionary texts in their original language. The class begins TONIGHT at 5 PM, in the conference room and goes for three to four weeks. This is a quick introduction to the language and each class will be about an hour and a half long. Please come join us!
Joint Worship with First Christian Church for World Communion Sunday October 5!!  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. This year, we will visit our brothers and sisters from First Christian, and their new pastors, Mark and Lisa Caldwell-Reiss. Rev. Rachel and Rev. Lisa will preach!  As in years past, if you have a national costume, or a piece of clothing from a country you have visited or lived in, you are invited to wear it!  Sunday School will meet at Union as usual and we’ll process to First Christian for their 10:40 service (they have child care and Childrens Church available, too). AND we’re invited to join them for lunch after the service: soups, sandwiches & desserts!
Raising the Roof!   Dinner next week, Oct. 5, 5:00 pm at St. Clare. Habitat for Humanity will soon start building a new home in Berea (on Washington Street) for the Reynolds Family, a young couple with four children, whose already inadequate mobile home was destroyed by fire last spring.  As part of the effort to get their new home “off the ground,” St. Clare Church is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner in the Fellowship Hall in hopes of raising enough money to pay for the roof of the house.  In the tradition of St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi, we hope to be able to reach out to those in need by giving financial assistance to the Reynolds family as they begin work on their new home.
When ground is broken for the new home, we will have the further opportunity, as/if we are able, to actually work on the home!   This will provide us with an occasion to work together as a faith community to provide a family with a home.
$10 per person (or $20 per family).  Additional donations cheerfully accepted!!
Zhineng Qigong classes Joan Moore will offer ongoing Zhineng Qigong classes/practice sessions every Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. in the classroom past the church office. Classes will last about an hour and are especially meant for those who want to continue and go deeper with their ongoing practice! All are welcome to come and observe or try it out!
Mission and Service Board information is now available online! You can see the volunteer opportunities, events, and even submit Fund Requests online all via the church’s website: https://union-church.org/mission-and-service-board/ PDF and word document resources/downloads are also available. Any questions and feedback, or to simply find out more ways to be involved in Mission and Service related activities in the upcoming months – contact Mission and Service Board Chair,  Jessica Holly at jessicadholly@hotmail.com.
Sunday School Teacher and Little Church Volunteers Still Needed We need you!  As part of our covenant of baptism, we promise to educate our children in the ways of God’s love.  Our elementary students still need one more person to help them learn about this during Sunday School.  Work with the creative and dynamic dream team of Alvera Perman and Maggie Park.  You will not have to commit to every Sunday.
We’re also looking for 2 or more folks who might accompany our toddlers to Little Church in the nursery once a month and read stories, sing songs, or just play with the kids.  Volunteer by talking to Rev. Rachel or Kim Kobersmith

The Nurture and Care Board is currently a small group of people who meet monthly to consider how to be a loving and nurturing presence for our church community. We presently send greeting cards for grief and illness. We help get warm food to families that have experienced recent death, illness, or those with new family additions. We are working on a few pilot projects which may include providing transportation needs and we hope to collaborate with parish nurses to craft a few upcoming health projects. We would love to know how to help you! Please don’t hesitate to contact us! Rebekah Easton-Hogg, rebekaheaston@gmail.com  

Raffle tickets on sale  From now until the November 16 drawing,  Mission Board will be selling tickets for a beautiful Amish quilt and a coverlet crocheted Tunisian style.  Single tickets are $1; $5 for six tickets; and $20 gets an envelope of 25 tickets.  There will be two drawings: Red tickets are for the quilt.  Blue ones for the coverlet.  The proceeds will go to support the church’s mission outreach.