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

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 9, 2018           10:30 am 

Meditation
“Here and now we can be the beloved community, there is room at the table for everyone.”
—Carrie Newcomer, Room at the Table

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 Jubilation F. Gramann
Union Church Handbell Ensemble
The Call Cups of Light by Carrie Newcomer
Prayer for Approach, Confession & Release  
¨   Hymn  Gather Us In (opposite) Gather Us In
¨   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.

Commissioning of Our Stephen Ministers

Today we commission our Stephen Ministers: Jen Eich, Susan Kramer, John Payne, Amy Williams.  
Scripture Sentence Romans 12:12-13
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the             Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Introduction of Stephen Leaders Mary Lou Wiese, Jeff From, Betty Hibler
Presentation of Stephen Ministers                        Jen Eich, Susan Kramer, John Payne, Amy Williams  
Covenant and Blessings
       When asked and if willing please respond, “We will, with the help of God.”
Prayer

The Living Word among us

Anthem Like a River that Overflows Ken Medema
Union Church Choir
Like a river that overflows, bringing life to a dessert land; is the Spirit that lives within us that’s the reason we sing! Hallelujah! That’s the reason we sing!
Like the wind that is blowing free, bringing with it the rains of spring: is the Spirit that lives within us, that’s the reason we sing! Hallelujah! That’s the reason we sing!
Like a mother who feeds her young, so that they may grow brave and wise; is the Spirit that lives within us, that’s the reason we sing.
Hallelujah! That’s the reason we sing! Praise the One who has made all things; praise the One who gives love a name.  Praise the spirit that lives within us; That’s the reason we sing. Hallelujah! That’s the reason we sing!
Epistle Lesson  James 2:1-17 (p. 1479)
James relates the responsibilities of Christians directly to the concerns expressed in Proverbs, stressing charity as a sign of living faith.
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  Mark 7:24-37 (p. 1203)
Jesus is chastised by a Syrophoenician woman who earnestly beseeches him to heal her daughter. 
Sermon Called Out to Be In Rev. Kent Gilbert

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.
Prayers in Action and Reflections
You are invited to reflect and pray, either in your pew or at one or more of the 4 stations.  Some suggested prayer direction is on the reflection sheet in the bulletin, and at the tables you visit.  You are also free to choose to rest in private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts and in your pew. The reflection page is provided for your thoughts, notes, drawings or other meditations at any time during the service.
Martin Luther King spoke of building the “beloved community.” How do you imagine that community?
How does it get created?
Who are you Called out to Call in?
Who are the dogs under the table?
What are the crumbs?
Our Offering 
As a community we can do together for others what individually might be beyond us. We practice this kind of generosity of spirit and money as a way of bringing forth the best of our fellowship and opening our hearts to good and healing work. Today’s offering is especially centered on reaching to others with messages of hope, with counseling from our pastor and Stephen ministers, and through our web ministry. All of these touch lives and help people on the “outside” know they are truly “in” with us. Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and going 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)
Musical Meditation Meditation on “We Are Many Parts” Jeffrey Honore                                                We are many parts. We are all one body, And the gifts we have, we are given to share.May the spirit of love make us one indeed. One, the love that we share. One, our hope in despair. One, the cross that we bear.
When invited, please join in singing Hymn #188, “Give Me a Clean Heart”
Community Prayer & 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

Introduction and Invitation to Membership      
Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy, and are welcome to come forward during the Closing Hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
¨  Hymn #388 Black Help Us Accept Each Other Aurelia
¨  Questions of the Congregation and New Members
¨  Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that  you, and we, may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
The Sending and Blessing
 Postlude (please be seated) Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Diane Bish
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 Ghana and Nigeria and our brothers and sisters at Glades Christian Church 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.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin.
¨ Dan Rohrer, returning home to Berea after treatment for a severe liver disorder.
¨ Dave Wellinghurst, with a recurrence of glioblastoma. Hospice is involved now.
¨ Maurice Hibbard, still suffering from pancreatitis.
¨ For Jack Marshall, in the work to restore right relationship with self and others.
¨ For those imprisoned at the Madison County Detention Center and around the state.
¨ Emily Spires, daughter of Randy Stone, diagnosed with breast cancer.
¨ If you’d like to help Jennie Kiteck out with a meal on Friday evenings, use this MealTrain link: https://mealtrain.com/dwkg44 (the link will be live in the emailed Monday announcements).
Need an awesome water bottle? Water bottle fundraiser $10.00, $5.00 goes to support Faith Development programs!
Sermon Series “All In?” All This September. Union Church wants you to be “In”: In for work that matters, and In for transformative living. This month we’ll be exploring what’s “In” as we build a beloved community with the very people who may have thought they were “out.”
Rekindle and Renew and Restart! “Bring a friend, Bring Yourself, Get Back “IN” to Church Sunday!” You put the “U” in Union! Special events this morning:
· Childrens Church returns today! Our teaching team includes Ashley Cochrane, Jeff From, Maria Hartz, Melissa Neal, Mary Lou Wiese, and Laura Nagle. This year, our format for Children’s Church is changing from a curriculum-based model to a Learnshop model. We will spend each month focusing on a different topic and project, and then will present our projects to the congregation. During September, we will be exploring the art of Found Poetry, and the difference between Looking At and Seeing things in the world around us. We are looking forward to sharing our process with you as we proceed through this year together.

• New members welcomed today! As a family of faith committed to boldly and creatively embodying the life and ministry of Jesus, we would like to join with YOU. We’d like to be a context and inspiration for your own spiritual path, and work with you to make your heart, your world, your life more peace-filled and joy-full. Today you have an opportunity to covenant together. No prior action on your part is required, but if you have any questions at all, we’d like to help. Working together, we want to make God’s love visible and real to all.

· Stephen Ministers commissioned today! Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one lay caring ministry where trained and empower lay caregivers – called Stephen Ministers – provide high-quality, confidential, accepting, compassionate care to people who are going through a rough patch or transition in life. 
Today we commission our newly trained Stephen Ministers to serve our church and community. They are:
Jen Eich
Susan Kramer
John Payne
Amy Williams
This commissioning is a public acknowledgement of their commitment to serve as Stephen Ministers and an assurance to the quality of care they will give. Stephen Ministers go through fifty hours of training before commissioning. After commissioning they participate a bi-monthly peer supervision groups and continuing education to support them in their ministry. Please join Union Church in the celebration of the accomplishment and service of these wonderful servants.
Community Outreach! Union Church Ambassadors needed! Berea Business Fest (Sept. 13 – THIS Thursday) and Spoonbread Festival (Sept. 21-23) Folks are needed for staffing the Business Fest event for the 11-2 event (plus brief set-up and take-down) and Spoonbread Festival table for 2-hour shifts. Offer church brochures, postcards, and conversation. Photos of fellowship, mission, worship events needed too! Contact the office & we’ll get you the info.
Postponed — Psalm Study September 11, 4:00 pm, Classroom. You didn’t miss it last week! Source book will be Thomas Merton’s Praying the Psalms, available at Robie Books (or by order if not in stock). Regular meetings the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month.
Come to Wednesday Nite Live! All welcome for supper at 5:45 pm ($5 donation if able). Youth Group at 6:30, Handlbell rehearsal at 7.
Time to make a Joyful Noise! Handbell Choir meets Wednesdays, 7 pm. Vocal Choir meets Thursdays at 6:15 pm. Both in the 3rd floor Choir Room and YOU are very welcome to join them!
Thursday noon Bible Study resumes this week! Come to the Classroom on the Office Level to read, reflect upon and explore the text for the week.
Friends of the Madison County Public Library is a non-profit group that supports the programing and staff of Madison County Public Library.  This library has more than 65,000 active library card holders.  Funds raised by the Friends come from book sales, small quilt auction and annual membership fees. Become a member today or renew your annual membership by picking up an application in the narthex, at the library or go online to our website, Friends of the Madison County Public. 
Socks & underwear needed for kids 5 – 12 year olds, boys & girls, for back-to-school. Bring to the church office and Dodie Murphy will collect and deliver them. Or write a check to Union Church with “No Child Cold, No Child Hungry” in the memo line.
Please Sign up to Read Scripture or to Help Greet and Usher!  Please use our electronic sign up system, http://signup. com/go/xkdVtB, where you can pick a date that works for you and get reminders!  OR you can also call the office and we’ll get you on the lists.
Church Council Votes to Partner with Thrivent Financial. At the August Church Council Meeting, board members voted unanimously to accept the recom-mendation of the Finance Board to partner with Thrivent Financial and their affiliated agencies to create Union Church endowment funds and strategies for long term generosity.