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

The Fourth Sunday  of Lent

March 22, 2020     10:30 am

Meditation:
“There must be always remaining in every life, some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathless and beautiful.” ― Howard Thurman

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 Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed? Duana Funderbunk
Charles Hoffman, cello
The Call Beannacht John O’Donohue
On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance to balance you.
And when your eyes freeze behind the grey window
And the ghost of loss gets in to you, 
May a flock of colors – indigo, red, green, and azure blue –
Come to awaken in you a meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays in the curach of thought and a stain of ocean 
Blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters a path of yellow moonlight 
To bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
May the clarity of light be yours, 
May the fluency of the ocean be yours,
May the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow wind work with these words,
Of love around you, 
An invisible cloak,
To mind your life.
        Beannacht is Gaelic for “Blessing” Curach is Gaelic for a small boat
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 Beside Still Waters K. McChesney
Pearl Marshall, Handbells
Sung Psalm 23 Kent Gilbert, cantor
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, indicated by the R.
God restores my soul and leads me in right paths.

R God is my shepherd, I shall not want.
God makes me lie down in green pastures;
and leads me beside still waters;
God restores my soul.
and leads me in right paths
for the sake of God’s name.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of God
my whole life long.  R
Children’s Moment       
Epistle  Lesson              Ephesians 5:8-14
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light – for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Sermon A Cloak of Light 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.

• Hardly ever are we in either full sun or complete darkness. As humans we are always navigating some light and some shadow. How to be more light? How to avoid darkening ourselves or others? Stop now and notice where the light is.  Pray for all you need to go there and be that. Breathe slowly and steadily until it feels possible. 
• Embraced by blessings, mind how you are tending the holy needs of your life right now. Wrap the blessing of music, or nature around you like that “invisible cloak” the poet describes. For just a moment immerse, be surrounded, and be held in a shield of blessings. God is blowing like a cool wind, all around. 

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 Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia  and our brothers and sisters at First Church of the Nazarene, 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).
¨ For Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ George Mountjoy.
¨ Good news that Ed Waters’ diagnosis is actually histoplasmosis, and treatable!
¨ Cheryl Moore, whose brother has died.
¨ Kim Kobersmith’s parents; working on travel plans to get home from Africa.
¨ Melinda W., an old friend/college roommate of Sharona Nelson’s, who recently had heart surgery at The Cleveland Clinic. It’s possible she will need more surgery to correct the problem.
¨ An online friend named Leigh, who has a call to preach.
¨ 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.
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
Judy Hudson, Jonathon Pickow, Susie Ritchie, Patty Tarter
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.
 
In Worship Today…
Each week many elements come together to make our worship together rich and deep.
This week we are grateful for Don Cardwell, our worship leader, and Marty Hensley & Sayer Kobersmith, in the sound booth.
The bulletin covers for Lent will focus on the theme of “holy ground” in all the many ways we experience the sacred.
The Justice Candle today is lit in honor of Living Waters for the World. We believe all God’s children deserve clean water. Living Waters for the World (LWW) trains volunteers to establish  and lead water mission teams that partner with communities to implement and operate sustainable water purification systems and health education programs.  LWW Networks come alongside water teams and partners throughout every phase of a water project.  They provide essential support for sustainable water systems that produce clean water for a generation. We especially highlight Rubenia Sanchez, Living Waters’ Guatemala coordinator, who made this video on proper handwashing:  https://www.facebook.com/LWWmission/videos/160191741736131/
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
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).
Some of Union Church’s Support Groups are continuing in-person meetings, but please email the convener to be certain:
Monday AA Group—not meeting
Tuesday, 6:00 pm – AlAnon (unsure as yet, but still pursuing)
Wednesday, 7:00 pm – Narcotics Anonymous, Classroom. jessica23mph@gmail.com
Saturday, 10:00 am – Mental Health Support Group, Wayside Room. kellyjomadden76@gmail.com
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/?source_id=105561509581536
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
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.