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

Third Sunday of Lent   March 4, 2018  10:30 am 

Meditation
“Sometimes to change a situation you are in requires you to take a giant leap. But, you won’t be able to fly unless you are willing to transform.”    ― Suzy Kassem

From there to Here

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 Voluntary in A William Selby
¨  Call to Worship
One: One: We’ve come to be reminded.
All: Of peace in the storm, of storms that bring life.
One: God’s spirit blows through both. Let us center ourselves in the power of the Lord.
¨ Opening Hymn #286   Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness Spirit
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession
As we consider what needs to change in our lives we ask our selves hard questions. This Lent you are invited to engage these questions from Kentucky poet, Wendell Berry from his work “Questionnaire.” Both literally and figuratively, in the silence of truth, consider what the Spirit might be calling you to know, change, or acknowledge in your life.
From Questionnaire:
What sacrifices are you prepared
to make for culture and civilization?
Please list the monuments, shrines,
and works of art you would
most willingly destroy?
One:     We ask for your direction, your patience, your love and the strength to make changes that matter.
All:      Forgive us and place a new heart within us.
¨  Words of Assurance
 One:    The poet reminds us:
            “It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.”
            God is with you, knows the justice and mercy you need, and will help you practice resurrection.
All:      Thanks be to God!
¨  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 joy. 

The Living Word among us

Anthem    My Faith Looks Up to Thee    Daniel Kallman
                  Union Church Choir
My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away, O, let me from this day be wholly Thine!
May Thy rich grace impart strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire! As Thou hast died for me, O, may my love to Thee pure, warm, and changeless be, a living fire!
While life’s dark maze I tread, and griefs around me spread, be Thou my guide; bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away, nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.
When ends life’s transient dream, when death’s cold, sullen stream shall o’er me roll; blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove; O, bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       Exodus 20:1-17 (p. 87)
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 adults) 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.
Sung Psalm 19     Larry Brandenburg, cantor      p. 630
The Psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form with congregational responses. Please sing the response when invited.
Gospel Lesson                  John 2:13-22 (p.1281 )
Sermon     Tipping Point          Rev. Kent Gilbert

GIfts Given for Love to Flow

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 good portion of our contributions flows out to aid to those in need via many external agencies.
This can now be done online or by text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering” to contribute to the ongoing ministries, or add “youth,” or “missions” or designation of your choice to benefit one in particular.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offertory        Reflection Douglas Wagner
¨  Doxology   

Sharing 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 them up to God.
One:    Let us give thanks to God.
All:     It is right to give God thanks and praise.
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:     Covenanting God, you with a word spoke the world into being, gathered it into light and dark, sea and land, minerals and organisms.  You breathed life into the blood beating through every creature, and you called it Good.
One:     As our blood ran hot, so did our tempers and our temptations, and we turned from your loving embrace to destructive ways.  You called us back, you gave us consequences, you forgave us, and still we faltered. Ultimately, you made with us a covenant that your people would have you as their God always, no matter what.
One:     In your greatest act of generosity, you emptied yourself into human flesh, walked among us in the dirt and dust, taught and laughed and sang and felt. You called us to follow in your footsteps. Then, you gave up your life, in order that we might know the power of your resurrection, the power of your everlasting love. We give you thanks and praise for your grace as we sing of your glory:
Communion Sanctus                    John Bell
Words of Institution
 One:    We remember that on the night before he died, Jesus sat at table with his friends, took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
All:       “Take and eat,
One:     this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
One:     After supper he took the cup of wine and, after giving thanks, gave it to them and said,
All:    “Drink this, all of you:
One:     this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and many for the forgiveness of sins.  Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One: God of the new covenant, bless these gifts of bread and juice. As we take them into our bodies, may our souls be transfused with your love, our spirits renewed once more in your grace. Amen.
Serving One Another
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.
If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit and all people, within your tradition.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
If you would like serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer with the Nurture and Care Board members or by contacting Pastor Kent.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
One:     Eternal and gracious One, though we live in a world of need,
All:   here we have tasted your goodness and hungered for a world more just.
One:     Though afflicted by brokenness and division,
All:     here we have heard your call to be a covenant people of a healing community.
One:     Though daily we touch our limits,
All:    here we have received the fullness of your grace.
One:     Send us forth, O God,
All:   in faith, in hope, and in love. Amen!

From Here to There

¨  Closing Hymn  O Young and Fearless Prophet Llangloffan
¨ Sung Benediction             Bless the Lord My Soul    Taize
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 Ireland & the United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales and our brothers and sisters at the Holy Pentecostal Sanctuary 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.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ Judith Singleton, and her daughter, Stephanie.
¨ Toby Todd, recovering from gall bladder surgery in Georgia.
¨ Renee Wellinghurst’s father-in-law, Dave Wellinghurst, diagnosed with glioblastoma after surgery for a brain tumor.
¨ Gary Dillon, significant other of Betty Sarafin, critically ill with cancer.
¨ For Luke Woodie, recovering from bile duct cancer surgery at home.
¨ Carol Shaffer, whose shoulder surgery went very well.  Cards can be sent to her in care of Beth Schlitt, 113 Redman Ave., Haddonfield, NJ 08033.
¨ Steve Boyce, recovering at home.
¨ The family of Gloria VanWinkle, who has passed away and her son, John, recovering from heart bypass surgery. A memorial service will be held here March 17, at 2 pm.
¨ Jennie Kiteck, due to have colon cancer surgery next week. She would appreciate cards at 103 Crescent Dr., Berea.
¨ For those affected by violence in every form. May God soothe their spirits and heal them of all that harms them. May we be healed, too, of our complacency, of unhelpful habits of thought, deed, or speech, and of our unawareness so we can become agents of change and grace for a more beloved community.
¨ The family of Dodie Murphy’s uncle, Bill Valelly, at his passing.
¨ Alejandra Sanchez’s sister in El Salvador, Marco Amalia Sanchez, suffering the final stages of cancer.  Alejandra would like our prayers for Marco and the family.
Tom Hubbard, with heart complications
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church.  Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Older iPad Needed: Do you have an older generation iPad you no longer use? The AV system we use in the Community Room would benefit from a dedicated iPad  for church and rental use. It must have the older, wider power connection to work, but other than that, any iPad  will be more than enough to power the system. Contact the office or Rev. Kent if you can help!
We Want to Join YOU! Membership Sunday Next Week! As a family of faith committed to boldly and creatively embodying the life and ministry of Jesus, we would like to join 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 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. Please let us join with you!
Just fyi: Joan English, Office Admin, will be away Monday & Tuesday visiting family.
Congratulations to the Rev. Dr. Loretta Reynolds on her appointment as Dean of the Chapel at Berea College.
Wednesday Night Potluck, 5:45pm! Come join as we host 14 Habitat for Humanity volunteers on spring break working with our local chapter. We’re providing the food, so cook a little extra for those good workers making a difference in our community! Dinner starts at 5:45pm. See you there!
Let’s Do Lunch! Join us for 5 Sundays of lunch after church! This is a chance to get to know that new person you haven’t said hello to; it’s a chance to catch up with younger friends and surrogate grand parents. Lenten Lunches build community and are places for holy conversations. Suggested donation $5, or ½ hour of help cleaning up! Bring a friend! Today’s Menu is brunch foods — breakfast casseroles of many kinds, including low-carb and gluten free offerings and fruit salads.
All-Church Read: “An Other Kingdom” 1 pm, Classroom. “An Other Kingdom” presents an alternative to soul-crushing systems of consumerism and patriarchy that have wounded so many. Walter Brueggeman and 2 colleagues proposes another way drawing on the prophetic imagination of scripture and community.  Copies are available at Robie books, or online (kindle and audio versions available). Rev. Kent Gilbert  will host a weekly discussion Sundays at 1 pm in the Classroom — or read along on your own!
Rev. Carla Gilbert has been hired to offer part time pastoral care support by the Nurture & Care Board.
Maggie Park has been hired as Youth Assistant to help Chris McKenzie with the Youth Group.
The Admin position will be filled soon.
Stephen Ministry applications due March 11. Stephen Ministry is recruiting for another training class. Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one lay caring ministry where trained and empowered lay caregivers- called Stephen Ministers- provide high-quality, confidential, accepting, compassionate care to people who are hurting. The training for new Stephen Ministers will start in mid-April and continue through the summer until late August or early September. You can pick-up an application at the church office or contact Jeff From jeff.from@gmail.com. Applications are due on Sunday March 11th and interviews for applicants will be conducted in late March. Thank you for your prayerful consideration to becoming a Stephen Minister.
Looking for some community joy? The Stone Soup Uke Group is now meeting at Union Church on the second Sunday of each month from  1:30- 3:30 in Room 101 on the lowest level – handicap accessible. You don’t have to know a thing about music – we sure don’t! We are a bunch of beginners who are learning this thing together. You can check out a Ukulele from the library to try it out. Come at 1:00 if you want some help tuning and learning the basics. Kids are welcome. No pressure, just fun. See you on March 11th! Contact Laura with questions: joyfulsunflower @gmail.com
The Flying Solo widows’ group members are doing so well we have decided to go on hiatus until further notice. Anyone having troubles may call 859-779-0793 either to talk or to call a meeting, and of course we will keep a watchful eye out for any new widows, which we hope won’t be for a long time!
Please Sign up to Read Scripture or to Help Greet and Usher!  Please use our electronic sign up system, http://signup.com/go/xkdVtB, where you can pick a date that works for you and get reminders!  OR you can also call the office and we’ll get you on the lists.
Security Codes Changed March 1: Are you Affected? If you need to use the outdoor key box to get into the building for your group or meeting, drop us an email to request the new code. 
Post Pictures for The Lent Photo-a-day Project! One theme per day, and you can post them and share using hashtag “#UCLent2018”. Use the same code in facebook’s search box to view these visual prayers.
Official Record Book Still Missing :(. Have you seen the sign-in book we use to record new members’ joining dates and attendance at meetings? Did you look in your car? What about at home? It’s been missing since November and maybe some-one accidentally took it home or tucked it somewhere for safe keeping? It’s black padded leather, about 8 1/2 x 11. Help!
Fundraising Concert March 17: The Pennyloafers will join the Berea College Concert Choir in a fundraising concert for 2018 Balkans International Tour Saturday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Berea Baptist Church.
Berea United Methodist Church invites everyone to their Lenten Lunch series, Wednesdays at noon a their Parish House on Fee St. Lunch & a speaker, no charge. Schedule on the back bulletin board.
Berea Leadership Experience for Youth, July 16-20. Berea Leadership Experience will hold its camp for kids to learn skills of conflict resolution, media literacy, mindfulness, and appreciation of nature the week of July 16th -20th, 9 am – 2 pm for kids in incoming grades 2-8. We are also seeking sponsors for scholarships and other financial donations to make this camp possible for as many people as possible. Sponsorships are $60 to cover one student. Checks can be made or online donations can be designated to Union Church, memo line “Berea Leadership Experience.” Thank you!