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

First Sunday after Pentecost

June 7, 2020            10:30 am

Meditation
The Trinity proclaims a unity that in this fragmented world we desperately need. We are mortals who are male and female, and we need to know each other, love each other.  ― Madeleine Le’Engle

From there to here: we Gather

Welcome
A welcoming Spirit blows through us all! As the Berea community responds to the governor’s suggestion to avoid gathering in large groups, we worship online to limit the risk of exposure to Covid-19. We’re delighted to welcome you into this virtual circle of God’s healing love and light.
The Call Call to Creation Langston Hughes
Listen! All you beauty-makers, Give up beauty for a moment. Look at harshness, look at pain, Look at life again. Look at hungry babies crying, Listen to the rich men lying, Look at starving China dying. Hear the rumble in the East: “In spite of all, Life must not cease.” In India with folded arms, In China with the guns, In Africa with bitter smile– See where the murmur runs: “Life must not cease, Because the fat and greedy ones Proclaim their thieving peace.” Their peace far worse than war and death– For this is better than living breath: Free! To be Free! Listen! Futile beauty-makers–Work for awhile with the pattern-breakers! Come for a march with the new-world-makers: Let beauty be!
Passing the Peaceat Home
Building the Community: News that Connects Us

The Living Word among us

Hymn         Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness
Chorus: Spirit, spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness, calling and free,  Spirit, spirit of restlessness,  stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

1. You moved on the waters, you called to the deep, then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep; and over the eons you called to each thing; “Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.”

2. You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand and you goaded your people with a law and a land; and when they were blinded with idols and lies, then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes. 

3. You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill, then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still; and down in the city you called once again, when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind.

4. You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes. From the bondage of sorrow all the captives dream dreams; our women see visions, our men clear their eyes. With bold new decisions your people arise.

James K. Manley (20th century), hymn-writer. Published in Everflowing Streams (1981).                         “Spirit,” l. 1-4 (1978).
Hebrew Scripture Lesson, Childrens’ Moment             The Creation        James Weldon Jackson, 1871-1938                                   E.J. Stokes, Reader
And God stepped out on space, and he looked around and said: I’m lonely—I’ll make me a world.
And far as the eye of God could see darkness covered everything, blacker than a hundred midnights down in a cypress swamp.
Then God smiled, and the light broke, and the darkness rolled up on one side, and the light stood shining on the other, and God said: That’s good!
Then God reached out and took the light in his hands, and God rolled the light around in his hands until he made the sun; and he set that sun a-blazing in the heavens. And the light that was left from making the sun God gathered it up in a shining ball and flung it against the darkness, spangling the night with the moon and stars. Then down between the darkness and the light He hurled the world; and God said: That’s good!
Then God himself stepped down— and the sun was on his right hand, and the moon was on his left; the stars were clustered about his head, and the earth was under his feet. And God walked, and where he trod His footsteps hollowed the valleys out and bulged the mountains up.
Then he stopped and looked and saw that the earth was hot and barren. So God stepped over to the edge of the world and he spat out the seven seas—He batted his eyes, and the lightnings flashed—He clapped his hands, and the thunders rolled—and the waters above the earth came down, the cooling waters came down.
Then the green grass sprouted, and the little red flowers blossomed, the pine tree pointed his finger to the sky, and the oak spread out his arms, the lakes cuddled down in the hollows of the ground, and the rivers ran down to the sea; and God smiled again, and the rainbow appeared, and curled itself around his shoulder.
Then God raised his arm and he waved his hand over the sea and over the land, and he said: Bring forth! Bring forth! And quicker than God could drop his hand, fishes and fowls and beasts and birds swam the rivers and the seas, roamed the forests and the woods, and split the air with their wings. And God said: That’s good!
Then God walked around, and God looked around on all that he had made. He looked at his sun, and he looked at his moon, and he looked at his little stars; He looked on his world with all its living things, and God said: I’m lonely still.
Then God sat down—on the side of a hill where he could think; by a deep, wide river he sat down; with his head in his hands, God thought and thought, till he thought: I’ll make me a man!
Up from the bed of the river God scooped the clay; and by the bank of the river He kneeled him down; and there the great God Almighty who lit the sun and fixed it in the sky, who flung the stars to the most far corner of the night, who rounded the earth in the middle of his hand; this great God, like a mammy bending over her baby, kneeled down in the dust toiling over a lump of clay till he shaped it in is his own image; then into it he blew the breath of life, and man became a living soul. Amen.  Amen.
Gospel Lesson  Matthew 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’
Sermon The Winds of Change:Null and Void? 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.
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
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!
Offering Music
During this short musical piece let us prepare for our meal. Let’s make an offering and prepare these things:
If you can, find a special plate. On it put whatever bread or food you wish to use.
Find also a glass to use. If you have grape juice, or wine, set some close and then we can pour together.
If you don’t have the traditional elements at hand, remember that Jesus used
the elements of a common, everyday meal. You can too. Something to eat that you might share, and something to drink – whatever it is in your house.
If you can, find a candle or oil lamp that we can also light together.

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

Invitation to Communion
One: The Lord be with you!
All: And also with those you cherish.
One: Lift up your hearts!
All: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to God!
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
One: In this time of increased isolation, let us center ourselves in this moment of committed community. If you have a candle with you. Let’s light it now.
With those all over the world, we are remembering light in the darkness and the light of the World by this light.  Let us center ourselves now for 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.
Communion Prayer
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ,
Divine Goodness in the flesh come to love our flesh: all lives are your beautiful creation. Your Spirit anointed him for that love that preached good news to the poor, proclaimed release to the captives recovery of sight to the blind, setting at liberty those who are oppressed, and announcing that the time had come
To save the people…
He heals the sick! He feeds the hungry, He eats with those cut off from the fullness of life and love, He opens hardened hearts, and makes a Way out of no way.
With all in heaven and on earth who know your grace, we sing our unending praise:
Sanctus Please join in singing:
Santo, santo, santo, mi Corazon te adora! Me corazon te sabe decir; sant eres Dios. Holy, holy, holy, my heart, my heart adores you! My heart is glad to say the words; you are holy, God.
Prayer Continues
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to a new path of faithful life, and you  deliver us from our death-dealing preoccupations. You make with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. When Jesus breathed Spirit upon his beloveds, he promised to be with us always and so he is, and will be.  Each breath we take, each movement of breeze, reminds us of this beautiful truth, that by the power of your Word and Holy Spirit, we are not alone. We can breathe in the presence of your Christ.
Words of Institution
Let us pray:
One: On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
All: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
One: Take now your meal, and as you lift it to share: let us remember the long road through God’s gifts and people that bring this blessing to us: the blessing of water and field, of labor to plant and harvest, mill and bake, to carry, wrap, stock, sell, store and serve. Remembering our common lot and our mutual dependence on such gifts, take now this meal of long love and care. We eat and we remember: in Christ’s name.
Next we remember that Jesus took the cup. He poured, and again blessing it,  shared it with his disciples saying,
All: “This cup is my blood, my life, poured out in a new covenant for you. Take and drink it all of you.
One: As we pour we remember the life-giving elements that fill our cup. We remember the life poured into us by a loving Jesus who didn’t come to condemn but to fire us with love and blow the spirit through us to wider life and deeper peace.
A table is set before us in the presence of all our antagonizing anxieties: take and drink.  God is present, Christ is alive, and the Winds of The Spirit are blowing!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Our Lord’s Prayer
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.
Our Prayers for Others
You are very welcome to email or phone prayer requests to the office for the bulletin. Please do so by 10 am Thursdays, and be sure you have permission to share the information.
¨ 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 Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and our brothers and sisters at River of Life Foursquare Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ All those seeking a new and just society and those fearful that they will be supplanted, may god open their hearts and include them in grace.
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.
¨ Marlena Fry, continuing to recover from surgery.
¨ Guy Patrick, who had intestinal surgery on Friday.
” Jan Hamilton, who has moved to Morning Pointe
¨ Marie, Dorie Hubbard’s kindergarten aged great grand-niece, who has had a recurrence of cancer and is back in treatment.
¨ Emily Hoskins, who is pregnant and has gestational diabetes.
¨ Amanda Chao Benbasset and husband Maxi at the birth of Domenico!
¨ Corey Chao, whose family is expecting a baby this summer.
¨ Judy and all the family at the death of Rich Royalty.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller, Lois Morgan, Barb Smith.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ George Mountjoy, living with cancer.
¨ Those affected by the Covid-19 virus, their families and friends living with fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, may God bring peace to all who love them; and our wider community as we cope with the new realities of living.

From Here to There

Special Music For Everyone Born Shirley Erena Murray
For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread, a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead,
… and God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace: yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy!
For woman and man, a place at the table, revising the roles, deciding the share, with wisdom and grace, dividing the power, for woman and man, a system that’s fair.
For young and for old, a place at the table, a voice to be heard, a part in the song, the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled, for young and for old, the right to belong.
For just and unjust, a place at the table, abuser, abused, with need to forgive, in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy, for just and unjust, a new way to live.
The Sending & Blessing Rev. Kent Gilbert
Postlude Treacherous Nights Andre Lemos
Announcements
For the latest information regarding COVID-19 visit Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ website:   https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/pages/covid19.aspx (updated daily)  COVID-19 Hotline (800) 722-5725. The City of Berea has information at its website as well: https://bereaky.gov/covid19/
We light the justice candle today for Breonna Taylor, her mother Tamika Palmer, and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker.
Breonna, an African American woman, was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police Department after officers burst into her apartment in the middle of the night to execute a no knock search warrant. Her boyfriend Kenneth Walker was initially charged with attempted murder of a police officer after exchanging gunfire with police, however that charge has since been dropped.
Breonna is survived also by her mother Tamika Palmer, who spoke at a special press conference hosted by Governor Andy Beshear. It is important to understand that while officers suspected there were drugs in the house, officers found no trace of anything illegal on the premises. Since this horrible atrocity occurred, Mayor Fischer of Louisville has fired Police Chief Steve Conrad. Mayor Fischer also announced that all “no-knock warrants” must be endorsed by the acting police chief or someone designated by the chief and body-cams must be worn while executing search warrants. There also is currently an FBI investigation into the incident.
Are you registered to vote in the Primary Election? If you have registered with a party, request your absentee ballot at https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/
Help Needed Prepping Lunches for Berea Kids! A group of hard-working volunteers prepare and hand out bagged lunches from 12 – 2 every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Berea Community School. They need help on those days between 11 and 12 to prepare the bags. It’s a labor-intensive job, so any volunteers need to be able to stay physically busy for an hour, and must not fall into any high-risk COVID-19 categories. (Over age 60, compromised immunity, etc). Can you help? If so, contact Laura at joyfulsunflower @gmail.com or 859-358-0106 (text or call).
Be a part of the Union Church “Share Force!” We are hoping to be a source of light and community to more and more people. You can help by simply reposting worship announcements, sharing that you are watching (or about to watch), or posting clips from Union Church services that were meaningful to you. Post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Thank you!
Thank you to all who have written and commented! We have received so much support and comments on the church work of recent weeks. Union Church viewership is growing substantially, and so are the wonderful comments and notes people are sending. Rev. Kent is trying to get back to everyone just as soon as possible with many apologies for any delay. If you have an urgent need, don’t hesitate to call the church office or put “Urgent” in your email subject line! We want to connect!
More Inclusion of More Union Church Family! To build and support our sense of community with each other we would like to invite you and any other members of your household to be a part of leading worship through video. We would like to showcase as many as 3 households per service. You record a video in your house of a scripture or prayer provided by Rev. Kent, then we will use it in our broadcast! All instructions provided! Use the comment form on the website to indicate your interest and someone from worship board will be in touch! Musicians this can include offerings from you, too! We are all in this together.
Tune in! Union Church is sponsoring the ringing of 10 am bells for Kentucky on 100.7fm the Coyote and 106.7fm the Pinnacle! #teamkentucky!
Thanks for those who are making facemasks! We now have a supply we can make available by mail to anyone who needs them. Please contact the office if you would like to have one or more sent to you, and if you would like to join in making some. We’d love to have pictures of our makers. Please send us a photo to share with and inspire others!
Nightly Live Story! Join Rev. Kent and Rev. Diana on Facebook for a story and song every night. In these hard times, and maybe stuck at home, here’s a chance to gather around a story. They are good for any of us, young or old. So grab your blanket, favorite stuffed animal, and snuggle in!  Use this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/UCstorytime/
Digital Deacons and Tech Operators needed:  Can you help on Sunday mornings? We need folks to help with our online ministry — audio, video, and to serve as “social media host” – to respond online during the service to people who check in. Also needed – a person with video editing skills. Let Rev. Kent know! kgilbert@union-church.org. Also, with fewer announcements the service begins promptly at 10:30. Tune in early so you don’t miss anything!!!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/UnionChurchBerea/ , unionchurchbereaky on Instagram, and on twitter: @UnionChurchKY This is a great way to get the latest news and inspiration as we care for one another.