A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 8,2013
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
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
—Jimi Hendrix
(American Guitarist, Composer and Singer, 1942-1970)
Gathering to Worship
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude Take My Life and Let It Be (Hendon) James Pethel
*Opening Prayer and Call to Worship
One: As we gather in the midst of a world of conflict and rumors of war,
All: Re-kindle your spirit within us, O Lord.
One: As we wonder what to say to our children, and what to tell ourselves,
All: Re-kindle your spirit within us, O Lord.
One: As we come with lives that feel like blessings, and lives that feel cursed,
All: Re-kindle your spirit within us, O Lord.
One: We seek your fire in our bellies, your light in our hearts, your warmth in our souls;
All: Re-kindle your spirit within us, O Lord.
One: Let us each take up our small taper, and join together as we soak in the light of God’s love. Come, let us worship our God.
All: Amen.
* Hymn #436 Black God of Grace and God of Glory CWM Rhondda
* Call to Confession
* Prayer of Confession
One: Most merciful God, like clay we are shaped by the hands of time, by the wheel of fortune, by slip and glaze of unseen origin. World events, family crises, personal failures, all give us ample opportunity to do our worst and hurt the most.
All: Feigning impotence in the face of our consuming preoccupations, claiming apathy rather than stretching for what is right has too often been our way. Today we come confessing the help we need to realign, and be remade.
One: As a potter reshapes the twisted clay, reset us: balance the shape of our living, and raise the walls of strength so we can stand right when fired and tested. Remake what has slumped inside us and fashion us for love, for peace, and for the healing of your world.
Silence is kept
* Words of Assurance
One: The God who calls us is the God who created us; the God who formed us is the God who forgives us. This is the Good News – we are God’s new creation.
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, we are reshaped, renewed, forgiven. Thanks be to God. 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
Anthem “Instrument of Grace” Joseph M. Martin
Union Church Choir
Let the word of Christ dwell richly now within you. Teaching one another with psalms, Teaching one another with hymns of praise. Let your life be music, an instrument of grace. Let the word of Christ now dwell in you.
Clothe yourself with love and humility; Fill your heart with peace and with charity. In every word give thanks to God; With every deed give praise to God; With every song glorify the name of Jesus, Giving thanks to God, the Father. Let your every song give thanks. Let every alleluia give God glory, honor and praise.
God Speaking through the Hebrew Scriptures Jeremiah 18:1-11 (p. 913)
Jeremiah compares Israel’s situation with God to that of a potter and clay. God is continuing to shape God’s people.
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, child care for ages kindergarten & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Fellowship Hall. Activity clipboards, books and toys are available for children in the back of the sanctuary.
God Speaking through the Gospels Luke 14:25-33 (p. 1256)
Jesus turns to the large crowds who are following him and teaches about the rigorous demands of discipleship.
Sermon Gospel Freakonomics Rev. Kent Gilbert
Song Holy Women and Men A.J. Bodnar
Used by special permission for Union Church
Prayers of the People
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 Kiyosato, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community
Litany of Blessing for The Beginning of our Faith Development Year
All: Blessed are the Sunday School Teachers …
One: Who challenge us to learn about Jesus, for they will be called the teachers of God.
All: Blessed are the Preschool Teachers …
One: Who love and hug the children, for they will be embraced by God’s glory.
All: Blessed are the Little Church Teachers …
One: Who endure the talkative children and the ear-piercing screams of toddlers,
For they will hear God’s joyful laughter among them.
All: Blessed are the Youth Helpers…
One: Who use what they have learned to help those behind them, for they will find even greater learning in the act of love.
All: Blessed are the Elementary Teachers …
One: Who behave and play like the children around them,
For they will receive youthful vigor (for at least 10-15 minutes).
All: Blessed are the Children’s Church Teachers …
One: Who listen to the children’s concerns, for God will reveal God’s heart to them.
All: Blessed are the Children’s Choir Teachers…
One: Who encourage our children to make a joyful noise to the Lord, for their hearts will be full of joy.
All: Blessed are the Youth Leaders…
One: Who willingly walk with our youth through some of the toughest times of life, for they shall blessings in their own hard times.
All: Blessed are the Bible Study Teachers …
One: Who call on God for wisdom in teaching the Word, for the Holy Spirit will speak the truth in love through them.
All: Blessed are the Adult Sunday School Teachers …
One: Who encourage the questioning and experiencing of God in our world, for they will experience God’s power in unexpected ways.
All: Blessed are those who help develop our faith…
One: In many unseen and unplanned for ways, for they shall find their own hearts lifted.
All: Blessed are the Learners…
One: Who are all of us, developing our faith together, boldly and creatively, for we shall find among us the embodiment of Jesus Christ.
One: Bless us all, O God, as we rekindle our own spirits, and hold them up to the light of your ever-glowing, ever-beckoning flame of love. Be our guiding light as we embark on this journey of developing faith together this year. Illuminate us as a loving community amongst the gifts of differing traditions, opinions, and views. Help us bear your light in times of trial and rejoicing, actively and intentionally reaching beyond the walls that separate us.
Shine within us, God of Light, we pray. adapted from a prayer by Rhonda Barner
Our Lord’s Prayer
One: ….Our Maker, our Mother,
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.
Offering Our Gifts
Call to Offering
Offertory Trumpet Tune in C Michael McCabe
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
Walking Forward in Faith
* Closing Hymn #448 Black Take My Life, God, Let it Be Alternate tune: Hendon
* Benediction and Sending Forth
Postlude Chaconne Louis Couperin
_____________________________
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 Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia and our brothers and sisters at Berea Baptist 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.
* Michelle Tooley
* A friend of many in the congregation who is dealing with many losses at once
* Abi Dietz, now a year into her recovery, and for those supporting her
* Patti Smithson, recovering well at home after successful surgery on her neck
* Peggy Baker, recovering at UK Hospital
* Lori Wallhauser, daughter-in-law of John and Mary Wallhauser, recovering from a stroke, in Cincinnati
* 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
* Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
* For our wonderful volunteers and teachers who shape God’s work in this place!
Assisting in Worship
Worship Leaders today is Gail Wolford. Next week: Elizabeth Crowe.
Welcome back to the Union Church Choir after their summer vacation!
Thanks to our great musicians! “Like” Liza DiSavino and A.J. Bodnar on Facebook (Liza & A.J., https://www.facebook.com/pages/Liza-AJ/329379773864506) and check out their albums after church at lunch. We are so grateful.
Announcements…
To parents of pre-schoolers: Our pre-school Sunday School class this year will meet only on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month; other days, pre-schoolers will be in the Nursery. We haven’t had the volunteers we needed to get a full teaching schedule going, so we’re offering a half-time Sunday School instead. If you are interested in volunteering so that we can offer Sunday School on other days, please talk to Rev. Rachel as soon as possible (rsmallstokes@union-church.org).
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.
Raffle Tickets for Afghan and Quilt Available on the Porch Following Worship Today Buy tickets for one or both of the beautiful items on display in the sanctuary that will be raffled at the Union Church Bazaar on September 21. All proceeds will benefit the Mission and Service Projects of Union Church.
Rekindle Your Spirit and Shake Your Soul TODAY! Shake Your Soul® workshop at 4:00 pm. We will dance and move in the Community Room at Union Church from 4-5pm. Taught by Certified Instructor Kate Grigg, this workshop invites you to connect with the spirit within and move from the inside out. There is no right or wrong way, simply feel the music and let it guide you. Let your body express parts of you that words cannot. Free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
12 Step program for Food & Eating to begin TONIGHT. A new meeting of Overeaters Anonymous (OA) will meet in Union Church every Sunday from 5:30-6:30pm. Questions? Contact Les at lesstokes@gmail.com or 859-868-8754.
Wednesday Nite Live will begin September 11 with supper at 5:45! Supper, Youth Groups, Kids’ Choirs, Bell Choir…..Come on and join the fellowship, fun, and food!
Parents of Youth: Next Sunday, September15, Grace & Chris McKenzie, Youth Directors, invite you to a meeting right after the worship service in Room 301.
Newcomers and Prospective Members Meeting September 25 — If you want to know more about membership at Union Church or just find out what we are about, plan now to come to Wednesday Nite Live on Wed., Sep. 25 at 5:45 p.m. for dinner in the Community Room, and then meet in the Wayside Room (just off the sanctuary on the street side) for an informal meeting with pastors and members of the Community Life and Growth Board. All are welcome.
Plans are “under-foot” to refurbish the sanctuary floor. It was such a joy to welcome the community into our remodeled space for Rev. Rachel’s installation, but not everything was as good as it should be. Now, thanks to some saved funds and a generous challenge grant, we are raising funds to finish the job! See September’s Consider for details.
Health Insurance Questions? Come to the Berea branch of the public library to find out how to get affordable and quality health insurance on September 11 at 6:00 pm
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth Friend Raiser! All are invited to the Madison County KFTC Friend Raiser Saturday, September 14, 4:30 – 7:30, at HomeGrown Hideaways (500 Floyd Branch Road). Potluck at 5:00 pm, live music at 5:30 and a silent auction featuring contributed items. This is a free, very family-friendly occasion with food, music and lots of good conversation and spaces for people to learn about some of the social justice work happening in Kentucky. Please bring a dish to share, your own dinnerware, and a donated item for the silent auction. If you have questions contact Beth Bissmeyer at bethbissmeyer@kftc.org or (859) 314-2044. KFTC is 32 year old grassroots organization that believes in the power of people working together to challenge injustices, right wrongs, and improve the quality of life for all Kentuckians.
Come out and celebrate work for social justice in your community!
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