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

Epiphany Sunday

January 5, 2020       10:30 am

 
Meditation
There are vows that only you will know; the secret promises for your particular path and the new ones you will need to make when the road is revealed by turns you could not have foreseen. —excerpt from Jan Richardson For Those Who Have Far to Travel, An Epiphany Blessing

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 As with Gladness arr. Albert Beck
The Call For Those Who Have Far to Travel Jan Richardson
¨  Hymn  #163 Black Many Are the Lightbeams Lightbeams
¨  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 For Such a Time  as This Joseph Martin
Union Church Choir
For such a time as this we are called to service. For such a time as this we are called to grace. For such a time as this  we are called to worship. This is the day that God has made and for such a time we are called to praise.
For such a time as this we are called to purpose.  For such a time as this we are called to care.  For such a time as this we are called to worship .
For everything there is a season, a time when God’s purpose is fulfilled. May heaven always find us faithful, always find us grateful, when God’s call to service is revealed.
For such a time as this we are called to mission. For such a time as this we are called to work.  For such a time as this we are called to worship.
This is the day that God has made and for such a time we are called to praise!
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 60:1-6 (p. 877)
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 2:1-12 (p. 1138)
Sermon On the Edge of What’s Next Rev. Kent 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.
One: Friends, we may not have traveled as far as the magi.  We may not bring gifts befitting a king or queen.  Yet before this sacred feast and within the arresting presence of the Christ, we are left with the same choices: to return to our homes unaffected or to be changed forever by the piercing light of ingathering love.
Let us now still our hearts and sit with mystery and with grace.
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: Gracious God, who quickens the faith that brought Magi from the east, who kindles the hope that brought captives from exile, and who inspires the love that brings strangers together, we thank you for the light that guides all who are searching for your way.
One: When we faltered, when we lost that path, you sent prophets and teachers, some poor as shepherds, others wise as Magi to aid us on our journey.
One: We give you great thanks for the light that shines through Jesus,  who is true light and the bright morning star, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, to whom we sing for joy.
Communion Sanctus Please join in singing: 
Communion Prayer
One: We give thanks that Jesus dwelled amongst us, and not just those who were ready, or well-to-do, or educated, but spent his life in the company of common folk, seeking and speaking of your love.
One: On the night when he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and, when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
All: “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: “This cup is the new covenant of my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One: God of all, awake to the dawning light of this Epiphany season, we gather around your table, mindful of both consequence and conviction.
One: For this unveiling, this seeing, cannot leave us the same as we were.  The gods we have clutched, and the dominions of self-service we have built, fall and dissolve into shallow trivialities alongside the deep ways of humility and mercy, that is the gift and ministry of Christ in our midst.
Come then, O Holy One.  In the breaking of this bread;
All: be our nourishment and generosity.
One: In the sharing of this cup;
All: be our joy and courage on the hard paths homeward.
One: Claim our vision,
All: enflame our hearts for a renewed and just world
One: and be a true and guiding light for all.
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.
“Epiphany” means “appearance,” or “in-breaking.” What epiphanies have you had this year? What do you know now that you didn’t before? 
 What “calls” have come to you this last year? What different paths will you take this coming year? 
When you come forward for communion, choose a star with a meditation word. Allow this word to guide your thoughts for a time, or even the whole year. What paths are illuminated for you by this word?
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 #164 Black  Arise Your Light is Come Festal Song
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated)   This Little Light of Mine
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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  Iran, Iraq and Syria and our brothers and sisters at Calvary Apostolic 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 those working with Room in the Inn, Berea’s cooperative housing effort, which began this month.
¨ Mary Lou Wiese and all the family, at the death of her brother, brother, Dean Jacobs, who died on January 2.
¨ Toby Wilcher, recovering from surgery on her fibula and ankle, injured in a fall.
¨ George Mountjoy.
¨ Larry Brandenburg’s mother, recovering from hip surgery.
¨ Barb Smith, anticipating arm surgery.
¨ Lisa Vaughn’s mother, whose husband is on hospice care.
¨ Peggy Coyne, recovering from knee surgery.
¨ Dodie Murphy, with the concern of a return of cancer.
¨ The family of John Capillo, who died New Year’s Eve. A service in celebration of his life will be held here Saturday, January 11 at 10 am. Visitation Friday 3-5 and 6-8.
¨ Myrt Wilson, raffle winner of the Union Church Sesquicentennial quilt, made by Ramona Culp, is very ill and has donated the quilt back to Union Church.  Notes appreciation as well as words of  comfort would be kind. Her address is 192 Laurel Drive.
¨ The husband and entire family of Jenny Wicker Weill, Sarah Belanger’s sister, at her death.
¨ Critley King & Scott Smith, who suffered a miscarriage and lost their baby, Rozlynn Rose King Smith.
Announcements
Can you set up for Coffee Hour after worship? It’s a joy to gather and reflect on the service, catch up with friends and visit BUT – we need someone to help with that by setting up treats (which the church will purchase) and making coffee (we’ll show you how). Sign up at the website—union-church.org, under the Volunteer tab. Thanks!!
Volunteer for “Room in the Inn,” a warm place to sleep, which operates through the winter. Room in the Inn provides dinner, a warm place to sleep and breakfast to those without shelter in the winter months. Inns rotate locations in Berea during the week and Union Church is the Sunday Inn.  Registration is every evening between 5 & 6 p.m. at 138 Mary Street. After 6 p.m. there will be no one accepted into the program for that evening. You do not need a photo ID or any ID to register. If you would like to volunteer with RITI, contact Shirley Carlberg at nonesuch_1998@yahoo.com.
Thank you for your generous Christmas Eve donations! $2748.59 was collected to help Berea Faith Community Outreach (BFCO) with its good work!
Potluck Wednesday! Our monthly potluck will be at 5:45 pm this Wednesday (8th) in the Community Room. Bring a dish and come on down! Students—you are our guests, no need to bring anything.  See you then!
Beautiful 2020 Calendars for a Donation: By a lucky accident, Jennifer Melton has extra copies of the gorgeous 2020 calendars she makes using her own photographs. She’d like to offer them to any who’d like them – for a donation in any amount to Union Church (sugg. $10). Pick up at Wednesday’s potluck the 8th or in the office.
Saturday Movie Sing-along! January 18, 4 pm, in the Community Room. Our Community Life & Growth Board has come up with a great idea for getting through the winter doldrums. Sing along together with the movies Frozen and Mama Mia! There will be a cash snack bar available.
Help on the US-Mexico border: Carla Gilbert will travel next Saturday to the Tucson area to participate in activities at the Arizona border which include working in a migrant shelter in Nogales. White socks of all sizes( including children’s) are needed as well toiletries and funds to build another shelter.  If you wish to contribute in any way, please be in touch with  her (phone 859-985-1144). Articles can be brought to the church and will be mailed  on Thursday.  Any cash donations will travel with her. Checks can be made out to Good Shepherd UCC with the notation “Samaritan” on the check.  Thank you!
Union Church’s Annual Meeting will be March 15, 2020. Board chairs, please start thinking about your 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.
Sustainable Berea Annual Meeting January 11. Community Sustainability Awards will be given to the Lazy Eight Stock Farm, Mary and James Kniskern, and Scott Anderson at the Sustainable Berea annual meeting and auctions, Saturday, January 11, 2020 at the First Christian Church,  6 – 8 pm, 206 Chestnut, Berea. All proceeds from the auctions will support the Harvesting Hope  Opioid Job-training program.  Join us and show your support for women who want a second chance.