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

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 29, 2019              10:30 am

Meditation
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.  —Marianne Williamson

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 Great Is Thy Faithfulness arr. Edwin Childs
The Call   When I Am Among the Trees   Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines, they give off such hints of gladness. I would almost say that they save me, and daily. I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness, and discernment, and never hurry through the world but walk slowly, and bow often. Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.” The light flows from their branches. And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say, “and you, too, have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.”
¨  Hymn #36 Black To God Compose a Song of Joy Richmond
¨  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 Make Me an Instrument Nathaniel Craddock
Lyrics att. St. Francis of Assissi
Berea College Choir & Union Church Choir
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, let me sow pardon. Where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sorrow, joy. O Divine Master! Grant me not so much to be consoled as to console! Grant me not so much to be understood as to understand! Grant me not such to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in loving we are loved.
Lesson from the Psalms  Psalm 146 (p. 750)
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.
Epistle Lesson 1 Timothy 6:6-19 (p. 1451)
The first letter to Timothy warns about the allure of riches and wealth. We are reminded that we came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing. Eschewing material goods, followers of Jesus should do good, be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.
Sermon Song from the Sidelines 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.
What is it that makes you shine like a child? Find a chance to share with someone else a time when God set you free from prison or opened your blind eyes. What do we actually worship? Are we using money to share passionate love, or are we loving the money itself? How do we harness the power that money represents to illuminate the world around us?
Prayer Corner: Here, you can approach the “light unapproachable” spoken of in the 1 Timothy epistle. What would you like to share with this great and brilliant God?
Bell Table: Write your fears and anxieties about money on the fake money. And about talking about money. Does it bother you? If so, why? Leave the fake money (and your real concerns) in the basket on the bell table.
Sharing Table: Today you are invited to place money in the basket, to be used in whatever loving ways Bereans United for Utility and Rent Relief finds necessary.
Children’s Fire: Gather around the pretend fire. Hold out your hands and imagine it’s really warm and bright. Then draw some of the ways God’s love warms you through the love of people around you.
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 #567 Black Stars and Planets Flung in Orbit Lauda Anima
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) An Irish Blessing arr. James Moore
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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 Colombia, Ecuador & Venezuela 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.
¨ 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.
¨ Steve Boyce, getting stronger and due to come home soon!
¨ 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. Her new address is English Meadows, 3400 South Point Dr.; Blacksburg, VA; 24060.
¨ Laura Robie, recovering at home from a fall.
¨ Dance community friend Wendy Graham Settle of Durango, CO, who has lost her husband Wayne Settle to a heart attack.
¨ Toby Wilcher, recovering at home after a stay in the hospital for breathing issues.
Announcements
Today: The Berea College Concert Choir and Union Church Choir join together to sing the Anthem “Make Me an Instrument,” composed by our own Rev. Nathaniel Craddock, and our Stewardship season kicks off  highlighting one of Union Church’s 5 Mission Values—Passionate Worship.
First Wednesday Potluck, October 2! 5:45pm in the Community Room. Students, you’re our guests – no need to bring anything.
October 2: Opportunity to volunteer with ACEky (Arts Connect Eastern Kentucky) in Pineville, Kentucky to prepare 2 classrooms on third floor of Bell County Jail where incarcerated women will engage in the arts and gain marketable skills and ready the RISE Youth Center where young people will engage in the arts and have access to after-school tutoring. Work will include carpentry, laying floor tile, painting walls. Tools & supplies will be ready on-site. Bring your own gloves, favorite hammer, knee-pads, safety glasses.  Reply to betty_hibler@berea.edu if you are interested in volunteering.
We’ll car pool from the church October 2 at 8:15 am and return about 6:00 pm.
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.
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.
Inmates at the Madison County Detention Center are in need of books. They are only allowed paperbacks delivered directly from Amazon.  If anyone is interested in sponsoring a book or two, please send $10 or $20 to the church (offering plate, mail, or easyTithe. If writing a check, put MCDC in the memo line) and we’ll place the order from the office. Rev. Nate has a list of requested titles. Thanks so much.
Coming up—Mark Your Calendars!
 
Tuesday, October 8
6:00 pm Fall Fiesta at Churchill’s. Fundraiser to benefit Berea Home Village. Reserve your spot – call 859-985-0099
Sunday, October 13
Celebration of Traditional Music Hymn Sing will be held in Cowan Chapel, 9:00—10:15 am. All welcome!
After church bring your lunch and come to the Community Room for a showing of the film “From Paris to Pittsburgh: the Climate for Change is Now.”
Sunday, October 20
Card Making Workshop – in the Training Room off the Community Room right after worship.
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. If you would like to volunteer, contact Tennant Kirk or Betty Hibler.

Around Town

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.
Photography Exhibit at Hutchins Library: When she wasn’t writing last spring and summer, Dodie Murphy was arranging a photography exhibit for Lexington art photographer Ray LeBlanc at Hutchins Library on the Berea College campus. An artist’s reception will be between 4 and 7 pm this Thursday, Oct. 3. Refreshments will be served. Ray has devoted his life and his art to finding beauty — not just nature’s flora and fauna, but weathered barns, fences and gates, rainbows, clouds, light and everything else that touches his heart. A story about Ray will be published Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the Richmond Register.
Expungement Fair October 1, 2:00-5:00 pm at Richmond First United Methodist Church, 401 W. Main St. Email laree.jacobs@goodwill.org or call 859-624-1394 for more info