A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 29, 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
“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”
— Buddha (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta) 563-483 B.C.
Gathering to Worship
Welcome & Announcements
Introit O Come, Let Us Sing Unto the Lord Emma Lou Diemer
Berea College Chamber Singers
Stephen Bolster, conductor Lindsay Clavere, piano
Text: Psalms 95 and 96 (excerpts)
Prelude The Church of Christ in Every Age (St. Denio) David N. Johnson
The church of Christ in every age, beset by change, but Spirit led,
Must claim and test its heritage and keep on rising from the dead.
* Call to Worship
One: In this time, in every time, God calls to us.
All: We are the ones to bury clay jars of hope, now and for future promise.
One: In resting, in working, in setting out, in settling in, God comes close to us.
All: We are the ones to journey toward sisters and brothers with justice and with joy.
One: Alone and together we know the generous spirit of a loving God. Rejoice, God is with us!
All: We are the ones to love and labor, to pray and invest, to worship and sing! Alleluia! Amen!
* Hymn #408 Black All My Hope on God Is Founded Michael
Prayer of Approach and Confession Carla Gilbert and Deborah Martin
Today’s prayer of confession is an anonymous dramatic meditation in story form presented by Deborah Martin and Carla Gilbert. The poem was written by a working class Chilean woman in 1973, shortly after Chile’s president, Salvador Allende, was overthrown. A US missionary translated it and brought it back when she was forced to leave Chile.
“Two Women”
Silence is kept
One: Even the powerless are powerful in God, and even the powerful who feel helpless can change. We turn from hurting to healing by the power of Christ, in whom we invest our trust. We confess, own, and regret our complicities and complacencies, and ask forgiveness for our blindness. Open our eyes to see those who weep by our front door, and reach to us a merciful hand as we turn toward them and you once more. Amen.
Words of Assurance
One: Hear and believe the good news of the gospel, spoken in and spoken to a world in need of healing: It is not yet too late to make a kin-dom from our jealous fiefdoms. As we open eyes minds and hearts to Christ we restore what has been taken and relight the lamps of peace in our hearts. God offers us forgiveness and the chance to see, act, and become bearers of grace. In Christ’s name we are forgiven and freed.
All: Thanks be to God. Hallelujah. 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
Gift of Music I See the Heaven’s Glories Shine Andrea Ramsey
Berea College Concert Choir
Stephen Bolster, conductor Lindsay Clavere, piano
No coward soul is mine, no trembler in the world’s storm-troubled sphere: I see Heaven’s glories shine, and faith shines equal, arming me from fear.
O God within my breast, almighty, ever-present Deity! Life—that in me has rest, As I—undying Life—have power in thee!
Vain are the thousand creeds that move men’s hearts; unutterably vain; worthless as withered weeds, or idlest froth amid the boundless main.
To waken doubt in one holding so fast by thine infinity; so surely anchored on the steadfast rock of immortality.
With wide-embracing love Thy spirit animates eternal years, pervades and broods above, changes, sustains, dissolves, creates, and rears.
Though earth and man were gone, and suns and universes ceased to be, and Thou were left alone, every existence would exist in Thee.
There is not room for Death, nor atom that his might could render void: Thou—Thou art Being and Breath, and what Thou art may never be destroyed.
Poem by Emily Bronte
God Speaking through the Hebrew Scriptures Jeremiah 32:1-3a,6-15 (p. 932)
Despite the fact that Babylonians were laying siege to Jerusalem and Israelites were about to be hauled off to exile, Jeremiah purchases property from his cousin with the sure and certain hope that the God of Israel would once again restore God’s people to the land.
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, Little Church for children Preschool & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Fellowship Hall, 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.
God Speaking through the Gospels Luke 16:19-31 (p. 1259)
Following on his discussion of the appropriate use of possessions and the impossibility of serving God and wealth Jesus, speaking to “money-loving Pharisees,” tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, shows roles are reversed after their deaths.
Sermon “There and Back Again” Rev. Kent Gilbert
Offering Our Gifts
Offertory Hymn to the Eternal Flame Stephen Paulus
Berea College Concert Choir
Stephen Bolster, conductor Lindsay Clavere, piano Kiersten White, soprano
Ev’ry face in in you, ev’ry voice, ev’ry sorrow in you, ev’ry pity, ev’ry love, ev’ry memory Woven into fire.
Ev’ry breath is in you, ev’ry cry, ev’ry longing in you, ev’ry singing, ev’ry hope, ev’ry healing woven into fire.
Ev’ry heart is in you, ev’ry tongue, ev’ry trembling in you, ev’ry blessing, ev’ry soul, ev’ry shining woven into fire.
Poem by Michael Dennis Browne
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
Prayer & Promises for the Journey
Commissioning Mr. Merlin Kindel, Moderator of the Church
Moderator: The poet T.S. Eliot wrote, “We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started… and know the place for the first time.” Starting in October we begin a period of such exploring and today we ask God’s blessing on that journey.
In order to refresh and renew our ministry, after a period of 5 years the congregation releases a pastor from the day to day ministries of the church and charges him or her to take sabbath rest. The congregation also takes this time to examine the call of God and to understand our ministry in new ways. Both pastor and people then come together in order share what they have learned and recommit to their mutual work, renewed and re-invigorated. After much preparation, today we commission our pastor, our sabbatical pastor, and ourselves for this journey of faith.
Do you, Rev. Kent Gilbert receive this gift of this Sabbath time? Will you promise that you will return to ministry here after 4 months, and serve for at least one year after that time? Will you promise to rest and release yourself from the burdens and responsibilities of your call here? Will you strive to seek peace and pursue it, and promise to make yourself available to God in ways not possible in the routines of regular service.
Rev. Gilbert: I do so promise, with God’s help. I will pray for you, hold God’s work for you in my heart, and rejoice for the time when we come together again to share all that God is doing.
Moderator: Do you, the staff, members, and friends of the Church of Christ, Union, receive the gift of this Sabbath time for Rev. Kent and for our church community? Will you promise to bond and work together with our associate pastor and other leaders as we fulfill God’s call in this place? Will you promise to journey together into new patterns of grace? Will you step in, step up, and step aside as needed in the service of serving? Will you strive to seek peace and pursue it, and promise to make yourself available to God in ways not possible in the routines of regular service?
All: We do so promise. We release Kent Gilbert from the responsibilities of shepherding Union Church for this time of renewal. We will pray for you, hold God’s work for you in our hearts, and rejoice for the time when we come together again to share all that God is doing. We send you with our blessing, our love, and our prayers for a safe return.
Moderator: As a congregation we are also on a journey, one that requires movement of will and thought and of care. Part of our guidance on this journey will be a temporary position of Pastoral Care Trainer, who will work with us to build a network of caring shepherds who will work with the pastor and Nurture and Care board to make sure the spiritual needs of members and friends are attended. Leslie Small Stokes has been duly interviewed and hired by Church Council to be our trainer. As a sign of your acceptance of this position, Leslie, we ask you to come forward?
[To Leslie] Thank you for lending your considerable expertise in the field of pastoral training. We value your ministry among us and look forward to learning from you how we can care for each other in good way.
[To the Congregation] Will you covenant with one another to become better acquainted in strong and loving fellowship, to seek ways to better care for one another as Christ would lead, to renew your responsibility in the ministry and service of this church during our pastor’s absence, each as you are able, and will you support and sustain the work of Leslie Small Stokes, our Pastoral Care Trainer, as she teaches and leads us in such care?
All: We do so covenant, asking God’s blessing on our journey to learn, to serve, to love and to lead. We promise to shepherd and care for one another deepening our skills and methods. We promise to support Pastor Rachel, our staff and our missions that together we may continue to bless God’s world in ways old and new.
Exchange of Symbols and Gifts:
The Moderator removes the stole from Rev. Kent symbolizing release from his responsibilities. Symbols of pilgrimage are then passed to the congregation: A walking staff for assistance, a drinking cup for refreshment, a stone to keep and mark the path, and a shell for grace and beauty. Please pass these through your section of the pews from front to back. The ushers will collect them at the rear and they will be placed near the peace bell for the duration of our sabbatical pilgrimage.
Pastoral Charges Rev. Rachel Small Stokes
Joys and Concerns, Silent Prayer and Prayer
All: Most holy God, we await the touch of your Spirit with eagerness. We ask that you enter the lives of each one of us today, refreshing and renewing and healing us with the power of your loving Spirit. Bless this pilgrimage we undertake, bless the sabbath rest we claim, that we may live with purpose, enthusiasm and courage after the manner of Jesus, who walked in faith, served in truth, and lived through love. Amen.
Walking Forward in Faith
* Closing Hymn #495 Called as Partners in Christ’s Service Beecher
* Benediction and Sending Forth
* Benediction Response Blessing Round
* Sung Postlude #526 Black Siyahamba Siyahamba
_____________________________
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 Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan and our brothers and sisters at Kirksville 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.
* New babies!! The rosebuds on the altar celebrate the birth of Michael Trey David Hutcheson, son of Loriel Warren’s son Cody & his wife, Megan., and Eleanor (Ella) Annette Jenkins born September 17th, the daughter of Christopher & Erin Jenkins, and granddaughter of Marvin & Nora Ruth Jenkins.
* Judy Rowell
* Gail Wolford, recovering at home
* Peggy Coyne’s daughter’s future mother-in-law, with serious lung problems
* Michelle Tooley
* Sally Zimmerman, undergoing testing for breast cancer
* Peggy Baker, recovering at UK Hospital
* 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
* Klara Welsh, at the Berea Health Care Center
* Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
Assisting in Worship
Worship Leaders today is Grace McKenzie
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.
Countdown to Sabbatical: Rev. Kent will begin his 4 month sabbatical with a preparatory retreat beginning October 1. Today we bless his journeys as well as the congregation’s time of supporting and sustaining each other under the leadership of our boards, our officers, and of course, our Associate Pastor Rachel. Sabbatical is meant to be a fruitful time for pastors and parishes, so there will be many special opportunities during this period while Rev. Kent is absent. On October 6th, World Communion Sunday, Rev. Kent and Rev Ed McCurley of First Christian Church will “tag-team” preach for the 14th and last time (Ed is retiring from the ministry in December). After that, Kent will travel to Japan, Europe, and Northern California to rest, renew, and recharge.
Pastoral Care and Shepherd Teams: With Rev. Kent away on sabbatical the Nurture and Care Board with the approval from Church Council have devised a plan to help us all keep up with and care for a growing congregation.
We are looking for a few good shepherds… and a lot of great sheep! Union Church has contracted with Leslie Small Stokes, a professional pastoral care trainer, to help us form a team of 10-12 church members who would volunteer to “shepherd” 10-12 union church families each, divided roughly by neighborhood, keeping in regular touch with individual prayer and care needs in each household. That way if a family has a need, a shepherd can also help coordinate the neighborhood group as a first line of love and care. Examples include visiting members in their homes, calling to check up on people, helping the neighborhood members to provide a few meals for someone who is sick or coming home from a surgery. In short, we hope to help everyone do a little in order to help a lot!
Rev. Rachel (and Rev. Kent when he returns) will continue to be available for pastoral care, especially for emergencies. Shepherds will be a vital link in communicating needs to the pastors, as well as being an additional prayer and support partner for any family in need.
So You Want to Help… In the coming days and weeks look for the application to be a Union Church Shepherd, because we’ll want to start our program as soon as possible. Look in this month’s newsletter for more details and a Shepherd Job Description. Shepherds will be chosen on the basis of temperament, their ability to attend to their families and training with regularity (particularly through the sabbatical time), and ability to work well as a member of a team. Contact the church office at office@union-church.org or 986-3725 to put your name on the contact list and we’ll be off to a great start.
Berea Celebrates Solar 2013 How sustainable is your lifestyle? Ever wonder how much fun you could have making your household and community more resilient? Find out how to take that next step on October 5 at Sustainable Berea’s 2013 Solar Tour and Resilient Community Fair.
Join us at the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center at 8:30 a.m. to begin the Solar Tour, which will explore the steps taken by several community buildings and private homes to harness solar energy. A guided bus tour ($5) will head to the Berea Solar Farm and the Mark Jeantheau house.
Then bring your whole family for the Resilient Community Fair, beginning at noon at the Berea Tourism Center in Old Town. Bid in the silent auction and pie auction. Watch celebrity chefs cook on rocket stoves. Taste the Edible Streets Cake! Paint horses, and bring your own pets for blessing by our very own Rev. Rachel! Come with your own ideas as we discuss Berea’s sustainable future–where do we go from here? Find out more: sustainableberea.org.
Do you or someone you know need help in navigating the options under “kynect” — the new health care insurance options in Kentucky under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)? Anyone can call the White House Clinic in Berea (986-2323) for a personal appointment with a knowledgeable kynect staff person.
Want to experience worship with our wise and fun kids? Sign up to volunteer as an assistant to Anna Kate one Sunday for Children’s Church! A sign-up sheet will be passed around during the service, or you can sign up online by clicking on “Faith Development Opportunities” on our website.
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…
- 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!
Two house concerts coming up at the Carlbergs’!
Wednesday Oct. 2 The celebrated Sarah McQuaid. Come play, sing, or listen. She’s been here before, lovely singer, guitarist, only $3 at the door. Music is slated for 7:00, come after WNL. phone 985-5501 or www.sarahmcquaid.com
Sunday Oct. 6 Concert with potluck supper (Yup! Another one!) this time by guitarist Claude Bourbon. Claude is French-Swiss and plays a wide range of music from medieval tunes to blues and jazz. 5:30 potluck supper this time, or come for the concert at 7:00. phone 985-5501 www.claudebourbon.org
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