A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost August 3, 2014, 10:30 am
Meditation
A musical performance also softens hard hearts, leads in the humor of reconciliation, and summons the Holy Spirit.
—Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century
From there to Here
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude As Raindrops Wake the Sleeping Desert Markcus Kitchens & Bethany Pastore
Call to Worship Family of Woman and Man George Fouke
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.
Hymn Swimming to the Other Side Pat Humphries
Andy Blyth & Gina Chamberlain
Chorus: We are living ‘neath the great big dipper, we are washed by the very same rain. We are swimming in this stream together, some in power and some in pain. We can worship this ground we walk on cherishing the beings that we live beside. Loving spirits will last forever; We’re all swimming to the other side.
Prayer of Approach and Confession #544 Black Camacua
Si Fui Motivo de Dolor, O Dios
Jack Marshall, piano
The Pastors will sing verses 1,2 & 3. Please join in singing “Forgive me, God,” at the end of each stanza. The whole congregation will sing verse 4 in English.
Words of Assurance Leave It There Markcus Kitchens, piano
1. If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold, And you have to get along with meager fare, Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Refrain: Leave it there, leave it there, Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there; If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
2. If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain, And your soul is almost sinking in despair, Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. Refrain.
3. When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail, Don’t forget that God in Heaven answers prayer; He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. Refrain.
Breathing in The Living Word
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Genesis 32:22-31
Children’s Moment Love Grows—One by One
Affirmation of Faith I Believe that Peace Will Come (4x) Andy Blyth
I believe hope survives
I believe love will rise
Gospel Lesson Matthew 14:13-21
Reflections
Responding to the Word Light One Candle Peter Yarrow
Andy Blyth
Chorus: Don’t let the light go out It’s lasted for so many years; Don’t let the light go out Let it shine through our love and our tears.
Song of Celebration Oh Brother, Don’t You Weep
Chorus: Oh brother don’t you weep, Oh brother don’t you weep no more. The sun’s gonna shine on a golden shore. Oh brother don’t you weep,Oh sister don’t you weep, Oh sister don’t you weep no more. The sun’s gonna shine on a golden shore. O sister don’t you weep.
Sharing the Gifts of Love
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 Noways Tired Walk/Walk Around Heaven All Day
Markcus Kitchens
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
Being and Becoming One
Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: The spirit of the Lord is among us!
All: We wrestle and are blessed!
One: Abundance and joy are the fruits of the kin-dom.
All: These are the ways of God. These are the signs of God’s Jubilee!
One: As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is not the table of this congregation, nor is it the table of any particular denomination. It is the table of Jesus Christ, the family feast of the whole people of God.
One: The Kin-dom of God is a basket of plenty. Though we did not ask, even though we may have felt excluded, Jesus invites us here. When we may feel deserted, Jesus welcomes us and prepares the meal.
One: This is the heart of plenty, where the most ordinary harvest of grain and the smallest catch of fish becomes a feast. These baskets are the table of plenty offered by Christ. Our sharing is the promise and the picture of the realm of God made real. Come, all who hunger, come. There is plenty: for you and for all.
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 Prayer and Prayers of the Community
Communion Prayer
One: Gathered in the small groups of your congregations around the world, we seat ourselves on the ground of your love. We give you thanks for all that has made it possible for us to be together: the blessings of your creation…the teaching of your prophets…the discipleship of your Son Jesus who came to us humbly born, deeply wise, and truly loving. Standing with all who have known your touch through the centuries, and for decades in this place, we sing your praises.
Communion Sanctus
Words of Institution
One: On the day when so many thousands had gathered hot and tired, longing for salvation, Jesus saw them and had compassion upon them.
One: How will we feed them, his disciples asked?
All: “Don’t send them away. You give them something to eat,” Jesus said to them.
One: We remember that he asked the crowd to turn to one another and sit in groups on the green hillside.
One: When they had done so he asked what was at hand. They said to him:
All: “Only 5 loaves and two fish.”
One: Jesus took the loaves and looking up to heaven he blessed them and broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
One: In the same way he took the fish, blessed them, and divided them among the many thousands.
One: By this meal we remember the abundance of God’s love and the power of a community in Christ. Lord, send your holy spirit upon this bread and on these fish, that all our reticence may be turned to generosity, and that your grace may multiply in us and through us for all the hungry of your world.
All: Come Holy Spirit, Come!
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it. Bread and smoked salmon, evoking the lavish abundance of God’s grace in Christ will be our meal today. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher.
If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to serve others while joining in prayers for the unity of the Spirit and all people within your tradition.
Both the salmon and the bread are gluten free.
Communion Song Calling All the Children Home
Chorus: Home to the table and the big, black pot, everybody’s got enough, ‘though we ain’t got a lot. No one is forgotten, no one is alone, when she’s calling all the children home.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. The elements from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. If you would like serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (unison)
Most gentle God you have fed us this day with joyful music, with holy words, and with life-giving bread. May we discern your rhythms in our lives, our families, our communities over every kind, and in the beating of our own hearts. Help us keep time with your dance of grace as it weaves us through all time and space. Blessed be the name of the Lord, whose love never ceases, whose compassion never runs out. Amen.
From here to there
* Blessing the Way of the Sanctuary
* Closing Hymn Weave Rosemary Crowe
Chorus: Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together in unity and love. Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together, together in love.
Postlude Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Markcus Kitchens & Bethany Pastore
____________________________
* Please rise in body or in spirit
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 Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico and our brothers and sisters at Bearwallow Pentecostal Holiness 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, Ann Thomasson, Alva Peloquin
* Charlie Smithson, Paul’s brother, battling multiple myeloma.
* Janet Dailey-Hosp, who had a lung transplant on June 11, recovery is going
very well. Prayers also for the generous family that turned their tragedy into new life for others
* The Orwig family, at Elizabeth’s death. A service will be held here in Berea on August 30
* Sarah Rousey, Dana’s mother-in-law, who has broken some bones in a fall
* Mark Pettis & Elena Larssen, at the birth of their new baby boy, July 24! Welcome to the world, Thomas Edward Pettis Larssen!
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.
Office help needed – Our office administrator, Joan English, is going on vacation next week and we need some help staffing the office (answering the phone, taking messages, bulletin folding, pastor wrangling….). If you can help for a half day, or a full day, on August 7, 12 or 13, please call or email the office. Thanks!
Beginning August 10, Sunday Morning AND Evening worship in Cowan Chapel. While the sanctuary flooring is being renovated, services will be held in Cowan Chapel. Because the chapel is small, There will be TWO services per Sunday, one at the usual 10:30 am, regular time, and one at 7:00 pm. We encourage those who like to “sleep in” to attend the evening service.
August 10 Potluck Supper, 5:30! Hosted by the Sustainagility Task Force. Bring a dish to pass, and come for food and fellowship. All welcome!
Healing Anger Workshop New Union Church member Dodie Murphy offers a three-week class on healing anger, for three Mondays of August– the 11th, 18th and 25th at 7:00 pm in the Office Level Classroom at the church. Participants need to bring a pencil/pen and paper. Nothing that you write needs to be shared. This is process-oriented, not therapy. Dodie is a licensed clinical social worker living and practicing in Berea. Her treatment specialties include self-hate, rage, addiction, PTSD, and bereavement–all of which may have unhealthy anger components. Please call Dodie at 859-200-7277 if you plan to attend.
Invitation to Singers – The Berea Classic Chorale is open to new singers for its 2nd season. Interested singers are asked to schedule a 10-minute slot for a voice check. Please contact conductor Larry Brandenburg for a time. He will meet singers in the Choir Room of Union Church Mondays, Aug. 4 and 11 and Sunday, Aug. 10 – all from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. The Chorale rehearses on Mondays from 7 – 9 pm, beginning Aug. 18. The Fall Concert is set for Sunday, Nov. 23. Contact Larry at brandenburg_40403 @roadrunner.com or 859-353-2866.
Do you know who our next Childrens Church Director is? It could be you, or someone you know …check out the job description online at the church’s website www.union-church.org
Union Church Choir kicks off soon! We would love to welcome all current, old and new members, and anyone who is curious to join. We welcome all people, music readers and non-music readers, to be part of us. If you don’t know what an eighth note is, we will gladly teach you. Youth (high school and older), along with Berea College students, are strongly encouraged and invited to join. Practices will begin on a regular weekly schedule, Thursday, August 28 at 6:15pm, with our first anthem to be sung on September 7. To accommodate Berea students and members who may not be able to join on Thursday evenings, there will be an additional rehearsal that will meet outside of regular choir rehearsal time –TBA at a later time. If you would like to discuss an interest or have any questions about joining our musical family, please feel free to email Director of Music Ministries, Gabriel Evans, at gevans@union-church.org.
Co-Director Needed for Children’s Choir Do you enjoy our little ones singing for church? Why not join them? Our music program is looking for someone to help co-direct our Joyful Noise Choir (ages 4—1st grade) and our Jubilee Choir (grades 2nd—5th). This is awonderful opportunity to work with the little ones of our church and pass along a beautiful talent that richly blesses our services one Sunday a month. Scheduled rehearsals of these groups are on Wednesdays, 5:15—5:45 (Joyful Noise Choir) and from 6:30—7:15 (Jubilee Choir), with our Wednesday Night Live dinner and fellowship in between. If you are interested in co-directing this group (with Carrie Jadud), please contact Gabriel Evans for information. Choirs begin wit Wednesday Nite Live! — September 10.
Mini-Bazaar Saturday, August 23 10 am until 2 pm. Baked goods, jams & jellies, treasures, rummage, household items, books, baskets, plants…all kinds of items needed to sell (not clothing). Please price your items (in 25-cent increments, please, and no lower than $1). Check the sign-up sheet on the back bulletin board for ways to help.
McLains in Concert! Dodie Murphy is driving down to the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, VA, to see and hear Ruth McLain Smith and Raymond McLain belt them out! The performance is at 7:30 pm Friday, Aug. 8th, and she has room for three in her car. She plans to leave mid-afternoon and return to Berea after the concert. Tickets are $10. If you’d like to go along, call her at 859-200-7277.
Amazon Smile Donates to Union Church…When you can’t shop local for what you need, many turn to Amazon.com. Here’s a way to help locally even if you have to shop online. Amazon supports charities with a special program called “Smile.” By registering and choosing Union Church as your charity, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases the ministry of the congregation. While each contribution might be small, it all adds up, and your purchases can support the mission of peace and justice we all care so much about.
Already an Amazon customer? All you have to do is put “smile” before “amazon.com” in the address bar of your favorite browser, like this: https://smile.amazon.com/. Either sign in or register, and when prompted for the charity of your choice, pick “Church of Christ Union” in Berea. That’s it! There’s no cost to you, you can still use your Amazon Prime benefits, and Amazon will remember that you are a Smile user and help you maximize your contribution. However you choose to support good work, thank you!
Donate ONLINE or by TEXT, Now or Anytime! For online giving, Union Church uses EasyTithe, a completely secure contribution system. You can use Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express Credit and Debit Cards, or an E-Check from your checking account. Scan the code here to go right to the website on your smartphone, or visit www.union-church.org and click on the Donate button for instructions. You do not need to register to make a donation (just choose “Quick Give” ). If you do register, your information will be securely stored making future visits faster and giving you full control of your giving reports. Credit card processing does cost the church about 3.1% of your transaction. ACH (E-Checks) only incur a 1% fee. Please use whichever is best for you, but if you can, consider adding a little additional to help cover the bank fee!
Give By Texting 859-448-3403: Yes! You can give using your web-enabled phone. Text any amount to 859-448-3403. The first time you do–and just the first time–you’ll get a link to associate your phone and enter your securely stored credit or debit card. It doesn’t go on your phone bill, but only to a card you specify. After that, all you need to do is text the number with an amount and any designation. It’s fast and easy! Of course, like every credit card transaction the church pays a 3.1% fee. If you can include that little extra bit, it will make a big difference!
Examples: Text “$50.00” to contribute to today’s offering. Text “$200.00 Capital Campaign” to contribute to a building pledge, or substitute the designation of your choice (youth, missions, BFCO, etc. Amounts texted without a designation will automatically go to the Annual Ministry Budget and all giving will be included in your annual giving records.
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