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

The Third Sunday of Lent

March 15, 2020    10:30 am

Meditation:
Each one of us can make a contribution. Too frequently we think we have to do spectacular things. Yet if we remember that the sea is actually made up of drops of water and each drop counts, each one of us can do our little bit where we are. Those little bits can come together and almost overwhelm the world. Each one of us can be an oasis.  —Desmond Tutu

From there to here: we Gather

Welcome & Announcements
Welcome to this service of worship!  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.
Prelude  
The Call
A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years, this went on daily. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. ‘I want to apologize to you. For these past two years I am able to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. 
As they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it somewhat. 
The bearer said to the pot, ‘Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this.
Prayer of Confession
One: Before God, with the people of God, I confess to my brokenness: to the ways I wound my life, the lives of others, and the life of the world.
All: May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the Spirit enable you to grow in love.
One: Amen.
All: Before God, with the people of God, we confess to our brokenness: to the ways we wound our lives, the lives of others, and the life of the world.
One: May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the Spirit enable you to grow in love.
All: Amen. In your mercy, help us tend to this holy ground.

The Living Word among us

Special Music Autumn from Suite in Season Melody Bober
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Exodus 17:1-7
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?”
So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Children’s Moment                        
Sung Psalm 95
The psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form. Rev. Kent will lead and you are invited to sing the response when invited.
Let us make a joyful noise to God with songs of praise!

Gospel Lesson John 4:5-42
So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’ Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.’
Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come back.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking to you.’
Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him.
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.’
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.’
Sermon How to Dig a Well 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!
Center yourself, either now or sometime today, and breathe deeply and peacefully.

•  As you consider the living water you are seeking for your life, for your world, what wells are you drawing from? From what aquifers are your blessings coming from right now? Name them, and hold them firmly in your mind.  
•  As you pray and breathe, what holy ground are you tending with these living waters? What is worth digging a well for? Hold these needs in the living water of your prayers and God’s intent. 

Like the woman at the well, we can find unexpected insights when we are  confronted by Spirit and Truth. And like the woman discovers, not all insights are comfortable. What uncomfortable truth might set a part of your heart free? As you breathe, in and out, surrounded by God’s love, try to dig deeper until you get to the living water. Ask for all the help you need.
Pastoral Prayer and Our Lord’s Prayer
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 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and our brothers and sisters at Farristown Baptist Church, in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ For Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound.
¨ 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, Lois Morgan, Barb Smith, Tom Warth.
¨ Victims of the recent tornadoes in Nashville, Tennessee. How to help: Donate to Hands On Nashville (hon.org), the Gideons (gideons.org), and Church World Service (cwsglobal.org). The Gideons may be collecting some specific items in the future, we will pass on more info as we get it.
¨ For Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ George Mountjoy.
¨ Ed Waters, recently diagnosed with cancer.
¨ Marie Grace, in need of better and safer housing, and health for her family, prayer request received online.
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

¨  The Blessing and Sending
¨  Benediction Response Now Is the Cool of the Day Jean Ritchie
Deborah Thompson
Please join in singing the chorus:
Now is the cool of the day. Now is the cool of the day.
O the earth is a garden, the garden of my Lord.
And he walks….in his garden, in the cool….of the day.
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
Bloodmobile Tuesday, 11-5, Community Room.
Need some assistance with technology? This might be a good time to explore options of grocery pick-up services, online ordering, e-books, face-to-face video communications, and connecting to Union services remotely. If you are interested in volunteering to help with technology please email Laura Nagle at joyfulsunflower@gmail.com or text at 859-358-0106.
If you need help getting technology set up please contact Sharona Nelson at sharonan@gmail.com or (856) 499-4116 (The 856 area code is correct! Her phone will go right to voicemail, she’ll return your message) to be connected with a volunteer who will come to your home.
Rentals available! Ideal for a student couple or two friends, Victoria Bordelon has a couple of rooms/apartments available in Berea, walking distance to Berea College. Call her at 859-314-4363.
InFaith Community Foundation Scholarships: two $5,000 scholarships!
The InFaith Community Foundation Scholarship was established in 2013 to benefit students who are members of churches that have an active church endowment fund at InFaith Community Foundation. Applicants must be high school graduating seniors seeking a four-year undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university.
Through this scholarship award, we hope to provide educational opportunities to an individual who demonstrates financial need, high academic achievement and a commitment to sharing their blessings with the world. This scholarship program is made possible through an InFaith Field of Interest Fund, a collaborative fund made possible by InFaith donors to serve our shared community.
WomenLead Scholarship  – Two $3,000 scholarships! WomenLead recognizes the need for diverse leadership in ministry, nonprofits and civic organizations, and seeks to accelerate the extraordinary leadership of women to lead change using their talents to educate, advocate and activate. The WomenLead Scholarship was established in 2017. Two educational scholarships in the amount of $3,000 will be awarded to women of Christian faith seeking a Masters or Doctoral level degree that will prepare them to serve in public service, non-profit leadership and/or in Christian ministry. Women of diverse backgrounds (race/ethnicity, age, faith) eager to lead through bold action, innovative vision and faith-inspired passion are encouraged to apply. https://www.infaithfound.org/newsgrants/scholarships
Thanks to all the letter writers last Sunday following the Lenten Lunch. The Mission & Service Board mailed 91 letters to Senators McConnell and Paul and Representative Barr. This may be an all-time high for Union Church! If you had intended to bring letters this coming Sunday, please go ahead and mail them, since worship will be “on-air” and not “in person”.
Wondering how to spend those long afternoons or evenings at home?  Rick Steves — noted guidebook author, travel TV host, and longtime Bread for the World member — has a newly released hour-long special “Hunger and Hope: Lessons from Ethiopia and Guatemala” now available to watch on-line: bread.org/hungerandhope. Steves explores the role that nutrition, education, empowering women, and smart development play in ending hunger.
Of Interest and Around Town:
Reproductive Rights Faith Forum at 5:00 pm on Saturday, March 28, at the Cozy Corner Bookstore in Whitesburg. All are welcome to this evening of food, fellowship, and dialogue on the intersection of faith and reproductive rights.  please RSVP to liztate94 @gmail.com by March 21. You are encouraged to invite anyone you know who would be interested in joining this conversation! We’ll be joined by Carol Savkovich, co-chair of KRCRC’s board.
The Board of Directors of the Berea Faith Community Outreach (BFCO) is looking for new board members. This board oversees the following programs, Berea Food Bank, Bereans United for Utility & Rent Relief (BUURR) and the Frank Gailey Transient & Emergency Assistance Fund. The board meets six times a year. If you are interested contact Dave Kobersmith by email, kdkobersmith @gmail.com or call 859-302-0575.
Victory Garden Blitz, April 3-4, 2020 Order your raised garden beds at: sustainableberea.org/garden-blitz And contact Sustainable Berea to volunteer!Cell/Text – 859-893-4590
Office – 859-985-1689
Rachael White photo exhibition at Saint Joseph Berea through April 15. 21 of Rachael’s photos will be exhibited and sold. The 15 16″x20″ canvas prints are selling for $65 and the 6 8″x10″ prints are $45.  Exhibit located in the Physical Therapy Department—stop by!! anyone wanting to purchase a print should contact Alice White at adwhite@windstream.net.