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

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 2, 2020      10:30 am

Meditation
“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”
—from the Talmud

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 Eagle’s Flight Melody Bober
The Call
One: We gather from East and West, from North and South, we gather young and old, men and women, documented and undocumented.
All: Crossing borders, we encounter God.
One: We gather to worship the God of all nations and peoples, we gather to praise the One whose love knows no borders.
All: Crossing borders, we encounter God.
One: We gather to be strengthened as we work for justice and peace. We gather with the faith and hope that one day the love we carry in our hearts will matter more than the documents we carry in our hands, and that one day the walls will come tumbling down and all God’s people shall live together in peace!
All: Crossing borders, we encounter God.
¨  Hymn  For Everyone Born Shirley Erena Murray
¨  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 Keep Your Lamps Andre Thomas
Union Church Choir
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning, the time is drawing nigh. Children, don’t get weary ‘til your work is done. Christian, journey soon be over, the time is drawing nigh.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Micah 6:1-8 (p.1098)
The prophet Micah says that God has a controversy with God’s people. The people have strayed from God’s ways. What does the Lord require? “To do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly with your God.”
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 5:1-12 (p. 1142)
Jesus opens his sermon on the mount with a series of blessings.
Sermon Embracing Hopelessness Rev. Carla Gilbert

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you.
All: And also with you!
One:   Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift our hearts in prayer.
One: Let us give thanks to God.
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise, for God has always shown us what is good and what is required of us.
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 Prayers and Prayers of the Community
Communion Prayer
One:  God of Creation, you laid the foundations of the earth and the mountain and hills witness to your justice. You redeemed your people from the house of slavery and called us to remember your saving acts that we might know your ways and live our lives in justice, kindness, and humility.
One:  When our own wisdom and discernment failed to bring us near to you, you sent prophets and you sent Jesus to us, the source of our life and hope, teaching us the way of mercy, peace, and righteousness.
One:  Therefore, with our hearts lifted high we offer you thanks and praise at all times through Jesus Christ our Lord,  who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Communion Sanctus #793 Black Please join in singing 
Communion Prayer
One:  We give thanks that Jesus dwelt amongst us, and not just with those who were ready, or well-to-do, or educated,
One:  On the night when he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said:
All:  “Take and eat. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
One:  In the same way, also the cup, after supper, saying.
All:  Take and drink. This cup is the new covenant of my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One:  Come then, O Holy One, in the breaking of this bread,
All: be our comfort and strength.
One:  In the sharing of this cup,
All:  be our courage and commitment.
One:  Lead us in paths of righteousness, we pray.
All: Amen.
Serving Each Other
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it.  We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. 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. All the bread is gluten-free, and the chalices are filled with non-alcoholic grape juice.
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 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!
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.
How do you hold the enormity of the world’s grief?
 What border crossings lead you to God?
 What borders have you been prevented from crossing?
Prayers 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 to serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer.
Prayer of Thanksgiving

From Here to There

¨  Hymn We Are Called (opposite) David Haas
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated)    Christ Has Broken Down the Wall Mark Miller
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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 Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Vatican City  and our brothers and sisters at Mt. Zion Christian 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 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: Alva Peloquin, Edith Hansen, Joyce Henderson, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller, Tom Warth.
¨ For Room in the Inn, Berea’s cooperative housing effort. Union Church will host tonight.
¨ George Mountjoy.
¨ Barb Smith, recovering from surgery at Berea Health Care Center.
¨ Dennis Jacobs, recovering from successful kidney surgery.
¨ Bob Boyce, recovering from shoulder replacement surgery.
¨ Lois Morgan, who has moved to Somerset to be nearer her daughter.
¨ Anthony Smallwood, and all the family, at the death of his brother, Dean Horn.
Announcements
 Rev. Kent is on a preaching retreat through Feb. 5. We welcome Rev. Carla Gilbert to the pulpit, reflecting on her recent experience with migrants and refugees on the Arizona-Mexico border.
Next Week—new members welcomed. 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. Next Sunday, and every second Sunday of the month, there will be 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.
Thank you for your donations! We mailed two large boxes of socks and toiletries, and Rev. Carla delivered checks totaling $1610.25 to Good Shepherd UCC Samaritans to be used for a new migrant shelter in Nogales, Mexico. Many thanks for such generosity, as well as the many prayers and blessings sent along for Carla’s experience at the Arizona border, and other aspects of immigration and meeting migrants from countries in Central America seeking asylum and refuge in the US. She will give a program reporting more in the near future.
Potluck Feb. 5! First Wednesday-of-the-Month Potluck, 5:45 pm in the Community Room. Martina LeForce will talk to us about Berea Kids Eat, the summer program ensuring that all our kids have the opportunity to have breakfast & lunch all summer while school’s out. Students – you’re our guests, no need to bring anything.
Deck and Ramp Projects Made Possible: Union Church in Chicago is again coming down to Berea for a work experience. They are looking for households in need of accessibility ramps, decks to improve their homes, and other construction projects that would benefit those who could not otherwise afford the work. If you or someone you know has such a need, please contact Rev. Kent or Guy Patrick (859-986-7942) before April 19, when site evaluations will be considered.
 Union Church’s Annual Meeting will be March 15, 2020. Board chairs, please start thinking about Annual Reports. They’re due in the office February 26 and we plan to have them available at worship on March 8. Thank you! If you need copies of previous years’ reports for reference, I can them send to you. Joan English, Office Admin. PLUS if you have any photos of church life in 2019, send ‘em along. We’d love to include them.
From our Nominating Board: Its that time again! Union Church can only be the church with the excellent leadership of its members. The Nominating Board is seeking to fill positions on  all Union Church’s Boards to be elected at our Annual Meeting in March. Worship, Faith Development, Nurture and Care, Finance, Properties, Mission and Service, Adminis-tration, Community Life and Growth, and Pastoral Relations all have space for you. Job descriptions are printed in the front of our directory. Regular terms are three years, but there are many which are less due to persons unable to fill their term. Please consider where God may calling you to serve and let that be known to Carla Gilbert, Kim Kobersmith, and/or Rachel Lakes who are seeking your gifts.
Upcoming Construction: Berea College is demolishing Kettering Hall, beginning in the next couple of weeks. Traffic and parking will be affected for the span of the demolishing and rebuilding (a year +). Use extra caution, especially when pulling in and out of the parking lot.
From Lois Morgan: I thank everyone who signed loving messages on my prayer shawl. It was great to worship in Union Church last Sunday. My love to all!
Lois’ new address is
The Neighborhood
100 Neighborly Way, Rm. 308
Somerset, KY 42503
Save the Date & Watch for Details
Feb. 11 – Union Church Day at the Legislature.  Join Rev. Kent, and the Mission and Service Board, for a chance to Learn, Pray, and Act with our faith. We’ll join with the Kentucky Council of Churches “Prayer in Action” day opposing gun violence, then have a chance to meet with Madison County lawmakers. Our youth group will also be joining us. We will return to Berea mid-afternoon. Come learn about and participate in the conversations that affect millions!