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

Second Sunday of Easter

April 28, 2019      10:30am

Meditation
“If you have one chance to know God and many doubts, you must set your heart on fire.”  Freefall, by Mark Nepo

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 Presto Haydn
The Call      Freefall
If you have one hour of air And many hours to go, You must breathe slowly. If you have one arm’s length and many things to care for, You must give freely. If you have one chance to know God And many doubts, you must Set your heart on fire.We are blessed. Each day is a chance. We have two arms. Fear wastes air.
Mark Nepo
¨  Hymn #241 Black  Joy Dawned on Easter Day Puer Nobis Nascitur
¨  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 A Story of Easter
Union Church Choir
It was a sad and solemn night, when powers of earth in hell arose against the child of God‘s delight, whom friends betrayed to wicked foes.
Before the mournful scene began, our Jesus blessed and broke the bread; what love through all these actions ran, what wondrous words of love were said!
Christ  at table there with friends sharing bread and wine, and then speaking words of mystery thus remember me, thus remember me. At our table Jesus stands, word of God with nail scarred hands. Come, receive the mystery. Take this cup from me, take this cup from me.
O sacred head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighted down, now scornfully surrounded with thorns, your only crown, how pale you are with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn! How does your visage languish which ones was bright as morn.
Christ rose from the dead and God‘s grace will bear my spirit home They crucified my Savior upon a common cross and Joseph begged his body and laid it in the tomb.
An angel came from heaven and rolled away the stone, oh Mary she came running and found an empty tomb and God‘s grace will bear my spirit home
I serve a risen Savior, he is in the world today. I know that he is living, whatever others say. I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer, and just the time I need him he’s always near.
Rejoice, rejoice, o Christian, lift up your voice and sing eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the king! The hope of all who seek him, the help of all who find, none other is so loving, so good and kind.
He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus leaves today! He walks with me, and talks with me, along life’s narrow way. He lives, he lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know he lives, he lives within my heart!
Lesson from Acts Acts 5:27-32 (p. 1324)
Peter and the disciples, called before the temple authorities for interrogation, testify to their faith in the resurrection of Jesus.
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 John 20:19-31 (p. 1314)
The disciples of Jesus, hiding behind locked doors, are surprised by a stranger who comes and stands among them.
Sermon Peace and Pieces 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.
Acts of Reflection and Prayer
Some questions for reflection prayer are provided on the next page. 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.
Reread Freefall by Mark Nepo (below). What is wasting air for you, air that might be used for joy?
How are you going to set your heart on fire this week?
Our Offering
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Every gift helps power love: love for kids who have few other places to go, shelter in the storms of life provided by pastors and caring Stephen Ministers, and love in the form of physical spaces offered for overnight housing for those who have no homes, as well as education workshops, blood drives, recovery meetings, and many other community endeavors. Your gift today makes ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need. A portion of every contribution flows out to aid those in need in disasters and emergencies around the world, as well.
Thank you for  your gift and for all you are doing. Together we are rolling away the stones.
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)
When invited, please join in singing the familiar chorus: Alleluia!
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 #254 Black These Things Did Thomas Count Distress
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight Anthony Giamanco
___________________________
¨  You are invited to rise in body or in spirit
specially 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 Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and our brothers and sisters at Galilee Baptist 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 Victims of Disasters around the country and around the world, that God’s people may be angels of mercy to them.
¨ For Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon. 15,000 are now detained in the US.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin.
¨ For those who are without homes and safe places, that we may work together for solutions.
¨ For God’s guidance as the church undertakes our 3 great loves.
¨ Shirley Carlberg’s sister in her treatment for cancer.
¨ For Michelle Hayden’s sister-in-law in her treatment for cancer.
¨ Marie, great-great niece of Dorie Hubbard, battling cancer at 4 years old.
¨ Tonya, Judith Singleton’s daughter-in-law, sick with a bacterial infection.
¨ Michelle Hayden, as she heals.
¨ Paul Jacobs, recovering from arm surgery.
¨ Robert Rorrer and the family, at the death of his father, Robert Wayne Rorrer.
¨ David Duffee, recovering from spine surgery.
¨ Don Jiskoot, friend of the congregation, who has had a stroke.
¨ Mary Lou Wiese’s brother, Dean Jacobs, having pain and seizures associated with new clinical trials.
¨ Thomas Chapman and all the family, at the death of his brother, Charles.
¨ Shane, Luke, and all the family of Rochelle Combs Seals, at her death, after a long battle with cancer. A celebration of her life will be held May 2, 1 pm, at Acton Folk Center.
¨ Rev. Dr. Keila Thomas, hospitalized in Lexington with a serious infection.

 Announcements

Thanks to all who made Friday’s SaraCare Celebration a great success! Money raised (we’ll report the total when it’s finalized) helps provide assistance and comfort to young patients affected by serious illnesses and their families.
We want to celebrate our graduates!! We will recognize our high school graduates on May 12. Please let us know if you are graduating so we can be sure to honor you! (Contact Laura: joyfulsun flowergmail.com or 859-358-0106 — call or text).
Wednesday Nite Live is a POTLUCK for the first Wednesday of the month! May 8 is the last WNL before a summer break.
The Properties Board thanks Donna Abner and Mary Lou Wiese for their time and effort in beautifying the flower bed outside the Office Entrance.  The Board has also had the southeast entrance and stairwell repainted and replaced a thermostat for the water heater.
Tupperware Birthday Bash, May 2,5:30 pm, Community Room. Quarter Auction, games, drawings, product demos, yummy samples, and exclusive Fundraiser products to benefit Union Church. Starts at 530. You’re invited! See Sara Murphy for details.
Memory Keepers May 7, 7:30 pm, Wayside Room. Pls note switch to Tuesdays. Memory Keepers is a support group for those caring for loved ones with memory loss. They now meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 pm in the Wayside Room. For more information or resources call Doug Hindman at 582-5806 or Carla Gilbert at 985-1144.
May 8 Author Talk and Lunch with Derek Penwell. Outlandish: An Unlikely Messiah, A Messy Ministry and the Call to Mobilize.  May 8, 11am-1pm. First Christian Church, 206 Chestnut Street, Office wing, basement level. RSVP to 859-986-4533  to order lunch or bring your own brown bag.
Rev. Derek Penwell is a colleague and friend of Rev. Mark and Lisa Caldwell-Reiss from seminary days. With his congregation, Douglas Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Louisville, KY, he engages in activist and prophetic ministries that fight injustice in their city and in our state. He speaks and writes in plain language while working from an extensive academic foundation.
Harvesting Hope: Drivers needed to pick up women in Richmond and bring them to Berea for the Harvesting Hope Opioid Addiction Job Training Program with Sustainable Berea.  Morning trips are at 11:30 am on Mondays & Wednesdays,  and 8:30 am Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. Afternoon return trips are around 3:30 and  4:00 pm.  If you can do one or two trips per week, (or more!) that would be a great help! Contact Cheyenne at:  859-893-4590  or email:  cheyenne@sustainable berea.org.
The Census Bureau is hiring now and up to the 2020 Census. You must be 18 years old or older, a US citizen, have transportation, an email address, internet access to apply (you can use a computer here). Pay is $14 an hour + 58 cents a mile driven for the job. Part time, flexible hours. Paid training for 3-5 days.  2020census.gov/jobs.
Your Mission Dollars at Work!
Union Church’s contribution to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, received on Palm Sunday, was $3424.40!
Funds directly support flood relief in the Midwest and anti-poverty initiatives around the world in a time of desperate need.
Thank you!

Every Week—you’re invited!

Zen Meditation every weekday, 8:00 am. Join us for 20 minutes of unstructured quiet meditation in beautiful Cowan Chapel, on the Scaffold Cane Road side of the church.
Zen Teaching Mondays at 6:30 pm, Cowan Chapel. David Parks will offer Zen teaching: Meditation, Koans, Conversation, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Cowan Chapel.
Wednesday Nite Live: The Union Church community gathers for a simple supper at 5:45 pm, September through May, in the Community Room (basement level, handicap accessible by ramp near the playground).  After a few announcements, recognition of birthdays and prayer, it’s supper time! No need to call ahead – you, your friends, neighbors, college students, visitors to Berea, are welcome to come for food and fellowship – whether once, once in a while, or every week. It’s a potluck this week for the first Wednesday of the month! May 8 is the last WNL before a summer break.
· Youth Group (grades 6-12), 6:30 pm. Want to know more? Contact Chris McKenzie, Youth Director at mckenziec@berea.edu.
· Handbell Choir rehearsal, 7 pm. Want to know more? Contact Pearl Marshall, Handbell Director at pmarshall@union-church.org.
Occasional presentations & discussions around mission work and hot topics. Watch bulletins and email announcements for info.
Thursday Noon Bible Study. Meet with Rev. Carla in the Classroom at noon to reflect upon the Scripture for the week and issues of the day.
Thursdays — our Music Director, Bernardo Scarambone, will teach a very basic music reading class right before choir (5:45 pm). Everyone is welcome to join them — no pressure to stay for choir at 6:30 pm – but you’d be welcome!
Fridays – Bridge Club, 1:30 pm in the Classroom. Call Doug Hindman, 582-5806 if interested.