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

Second Sunday of Advent

December 8, 2019      10:30 am

Meditation
“Hope is a state of mind independent of the state of the world. If your heart’s full of hope, you can be persistent when you can’t be optimistic. You can keep the faith despite the evidence, knowing that only in so doing has the evidence any chance of changing. So while I’m not optimistic, I’m always very hopeful.” —William Sloan Coffin, Jr.

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 Prepare the Royal Highway arr. C. Moklebust
Union Church Handbell Ensemble; Rina Tanaka, clarinet
Prophetic Reading Isaiah 11:1-10 (p. 819)
“A little child shall lead them,” says Isaiah, speaking words of hope to Israel.
Advent Wreath Lighting   The Light of Hope Jennifer Melton
The Advent Wreath tradition reaches back to pre-Christian northern Europeans who lit candles awaiting the winter solstice. By the 1500s, both Lutherans and Catholics had adapted the Advent Wreath as a devotional way to prepare for the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. Each week as we wait through Advent, we light a new candle representing an aspect of the light God intends for all people. This Sunday the candle of Hope is lit.
Advent is a time of waiting.
Waiting in the dark, on the edge of the Light
that is coming.
Waiting on the edge of Hope.
As we wait for the presence of Christ,
what are we hoping Christ’s Light will bring?
What are we longing for that has yet to be?
When we look around in this darkness…
We see the transgender woman afraid of being mocked and beaten
Hoping to escape her angry assailants.
We see the gay man afraid he has no place in his Church
Hoping his fearful Church won’t barricade their doors.
We see the child whose parents won’t accept who she is
Hoping her parents will see the Light..
We long for the Light in this Darkness.
Restore us, O God.
We wait for you to shine your Light over here
Where we stand
On the edge of Hope.
¨  Hymn #108 Black Isaiah the Prophet St. Columba
¨  Passing the Hope 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      Creation Will Be at Peace             Williams, Page
Union Church Choir
In the holy mountain of the Lord all war and strife will cease; in the holy mountain of the Lord creation will be at peace.  The wolf will lie down with the lamb, the cow and bear will feed, their young will play together; a little child will lead. The leopard and goat will graze, the lion will feed on straw. They will war no more; a child will lead them all.
Epistle Reading   Romans 15:4-13 (p. 1380)
Paul writes words of hope and comfort to the church at Rome.
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 Matthew 3:1-12 (p. 1140)
John the Baptist appears in the wilderness calling Israel to repent.
Sermon On the Edge of Hope: The Broken Have a Gift 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.
Scripture affirms that isolation is hopelessness and hopelessness breeds isolation. In your prayers, connect those you know who are isolated to your heart and the heart of God. You might visualize this connection as you pray, then pray with a phone call, text, email, visit, or letter sometime this week. 
 When we are on the edge paralysis is prevalent. In the quiet light of your prayers see if you can identify “hope” that needs a concrete step to shine. What is that hope? What is that next step? Feel the strength of all those gathered in Spirit helping you.
Ego is a presence wrapped in itself. Better to be wrapped up in the things that bring Life, that speak of the Whole, not the part. Hold yourself in the healing presence of God as you pray.
Acts of Reflection and Prayer
Some resources for reflection and prayer are provided. 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.
Prayer Corner (Front Left)  Spend some time pondering the power of hope.
Bell Table (Front Right)  This week our Peace Bell is being rechristened our Hope Bell. Ring the bell for something that gives you hope or that you hope for the world
Children’s Corner (Rear Corner, Piano Side)  There are five more secrets in the pockets. Arrange the Advent scene however you like!
A Chance for Generosity: Offering Baskets in the Aisles
Offering baskets are placed in the aisle, and can also be brought to your seat. 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 those in need via many external agencies.
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)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Please sing when invited: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, Desire of Nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
Make envy, strife and quarrels cease;
fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Pastoral Prayer and 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         People, Look East (opposite)           Besancon
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 when invited. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
¨  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)   The Nutcracker Suite, overture Tchaikovsky
Desiree Scarambone, piano
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Bulletin cover art: Photos for our advent series come from Bethlehem, where more than 50% of the population, Christian and Muslim, is without work, and imprisoned behind Israeli walls and barbed wire.
They are the winning photos from the organization “Bright Stars of Bethlehem” an indigenous Palestinian Christian community offering dignity, education, and hope to the people of occupied Palestine. Third Place: Mustafa Ghrouz We Deem it Nearby depicts a lone man facing what lies beyond. This image can be seen in color at union-church.org, at the “Weekly Bulletins” tab.
We light our justice candle this week to honor an amazing project begun by a group of Oaxacan women in Mexico. Called La Manta de Curación, or the Healing Quilt, it is a giant quilt being stitched together of pieces sent in by women all over the world. Women were invited to create a piece of cloth, woven, stitched, painted, written on, or using any kind of art the creator wished, on the theme of iYa basta! Enough! in protest of violence against women and children. It is meant to be “a masterpiece of art for social justice, a peaceful demonstration protesting violence against women, children, and Mother Earth.
We are joining with women of all countries to heal and restore our world which is unbalanced, sick, and damaged by violence and corruption.” The completed Quilt will be unveiled in Mexico City on January 26, 2020. After that it will go to the US/Mexico border where they will drape it over the wall and on the other side people will receive it and then take it from there around the US and the world. You can follow it at  https://www.facebook.com/lamantadecuracion/
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  Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and our brothers and sisters at Kirksville Christian Church, in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound.
¨ For Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon. 15,000 are now detained in the US.
¨ In thanksgiving for those students, teachers, parents, lawmakers, and citizens who are witnessing and working to end gun violence in our society. May laws that help be passed; may hearts that are broken be healed; may all who are in danger be kept safe.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Edith Hansen, Joyce Henderson, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller, Tom Warth.
¨ For those who are without homes and safe places, that we may work together for solutions.
¨ Dean Jacobs, Mary Lou Wiese’s brother, approaching the end of life.
¨ Toby Wilcher, recovering from surgery on her fibula and ankle, injured in a fall.
¨ Kelly Mehler, recovering from liver surgery.
¨ EJ Stokes and all the family at the death of James Frank Kyle, Sr., EJ’s grandfather.
¨ Rachel Lakes and the family, at the death of her aunt Gini Hautau.
¨ George Mountjoy.
¨ Larry Brandenburg’s mother, recovering from hip surgery.
¨ Special blessings to Alva Peloquin, who just celebrated her 98th birthday!
¨ Joan English’s uncle, Bob Peterson, who had a stroke on Thursday.
¨ Friends and family of longtime member of the country dance community and former interim director of Country Dancers, Barbara Harding, at her death after a long decline.
Thank you to all who helped “Hang the Greens” last Sunday! What a great turnout – a fun time was had by all, and just look around—the results are wonderful! Thanks you for the cookies that fueled this endeavor as well! Also, it’s poinsettia time. Pick up a slip in the vestibule or order at the website—union-church.org, under the “Donate” tab.
Annual Budget Meeting after Worship. Why Come to a Budget Meeting? Our budget is a theological document that tells you where our values are and how we’ve decided to act those out. As the gospel of Matthew reminds us, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Please stay today for this yearly meeting to help decide where our hearts will be for 2020.
“An American Christmas” will be presented by the 30-voice Berea Classic Chorale on Sunday, December 15 at 2:30 pm in the sanctuary The program, comprised of music by American composers, will feature “Gloria” by Randol Alan Bass. Colonial American music will be represented by works of William Billings. Carol arrangements by Alfred Burt, Hal Hopson, Al Fedak, Dan Forrest and Edwin Fissinger are included. The audience will have the opportunity to join the Chorale in several familiar carols.
Admission is $5.00 per adult, children and students may attend free. A reception will follow. The Berea Classic Chorale is an adult mixed ensemble conducted by Larry Brandenburg. The singers, who are from Berea and Richmond, are beginning their 7th year of presenting quality choral music.
Can you help out by offering rides? Drivers are badly needed to help Nurture & Care get church family members to appointments.  If you can help—often or occasionally— please call Mary Lou Wiese at 260-571-4959.
St. Clare Christmas Basket Program! Each year we partner with St. Clare Catholic Church to help provide food staples and children’s gifts for the holidays. In the sanctuary, on the Community Sharing Table,  you will find information about how to provide food for families of various sizes, including a shopping list. Your items, put into a cardboard box (or boxes), along with any toys or children’s books, do not need to be delivered to St. Clare until December 20. We will collect toys and food baskets here if you wish, or would like help transporting your items.  If you wish to make a financial contribution in lieu of shopping yourself, here are the recommended donation amounts: 2 person family: $70; 4 person family: $80; 6 person family: $100; 8 person family: $115.
Room in the Inn is a community-based program that provides shelter to the homeless in the winter months. Several churches each take one night a week to become an “inn” by providing dinner, a warm place to sleep, and breakfast.
Union Church participated last year on Sunday nights and we’re going to do it again this winter. We can use all kinds of help, working with guests, but also with behind the scene activities like cooking, cleanup, laundry and transportation.
Volunteer training is being offered in December; shelters will run from January through mid-march.  If you’re interested in joining this effort, please contact Shirley Carlberg at nonesuch_1998@yahoo.com or 859-985-5501.
Justice Through Bail Reform: an Evening of Faith and Facts December 17, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Too many people in our community are being locked up before they are even found guilty of an offense, with bail set so high they can’t afford to get out of jail. The costs of pretrial incarceration are financial, physical, mental and emotional, and they take a toll on people, families and communities. Join us as we hear testimonials from people who have experienced our unjust bail system and people working to change it. Our faith and the facts point us in the same direction: It’s time for equal justice for all Kentuckians through bail reform.
Light refreshments and Q&A directly following the program. Episcopal Church of Our Savior, 2323 Lexington Rd., Richmond.
Coming Up – Mark Your Calendars
Saturday, December 21
Longnight Service, 7:00 pm, Cowan Chapel
Sunday, December 22
Christmas Caroling right after worship – Watch for details.
Tuesday, December 24
Candle-lit Christmas Eve Services at 5:00 pm in the sanctuary (finger food supper to follow) and 11:00 pm in Cowan Chapel