Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
All Saints Day
November 1, 2020 10:30 am
Just east of Eden But there’s heaven in our midst And we’re never really all that far From those we love and miss Wade out in the water There’s a glory all around And the wisest say there’s a thousand ways To kneel and kiss the ground. — Carrie Newcomer, from “The Gathering of Spirits”
From There to Here: We Gather
Welcome
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.
Special Music Keeping Watch Anthony Smallwood, Dean Rogers
The Call Invocation of the Saints
Bridegroom of poverty, our brother Francis, follower of Jesus and friend of creation: Stand here beside us.
Apostle of nonviolence, Gandhi the Mahatma, reproach to the churches: Stand here beside us.
John XXIII, Pope and friend of the poor, who longed for the unity of all people: Stand here beside us.
Peacemakers in the world, Dag Hammarskjold and Desmond Tutu, called children of God: Stand here beside us.
Mask of the Christ, Gautama the Buddha, and Mother Teresa, fountains of compassion: Stand here beside us.
Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, and all fighters for freedom: Stand here beside us.
Students of the earth, Charles Darwin, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Margaret Mead, voyagers in the past and in the future: Stand here beside us.
Children of the Synagogue, Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud, divers in the sea of humanity: Stand here beside us.
Confessors in chains, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the Berrigans, war resisters: Stand here beside us.
Confessor to Africa, Augustine of Hippo, city-planner for God’s people: Stand here beside us.
Innocents of Wounded Knee and My Lai, God’s wheat ground in the mill of war: Stand here beside us.
Martyrs of Africa, Perpetua, mother; Felicity, slave; and all your companions: Stand here beside us.
Martyr in Colombia, Camilo Torres, priest and revolutionary: Stand here beside us.
Unwed mother, Blessed Mary, fair well-spring of our liberation: Stand here beside us.
Our leader and Lord, Jesus the Son of God, bright cornerstone of our unity in a new Spirit: Stand here beside us.
Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of these your servants, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last, with all your saints attain to your eternal joy: Through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
from The Covenant of Peace – A Liberation Prayer Book
Passing the Peace at Home
Building the Community: News that Connects Us
We light the Justice Candle today for Ivan Villasboa and the organization he served and led for nearly 30 years, Companion Communities Development Alternatives (CoCoDA). Ivan is an Argentinian native, and came to the States to pursue his undergraduate degree, with an avowed goal of becoming a rich neoliberal banker. All that changed during his senior year at DePauw University, when he went on a student trip to El Salvador, which was still reeling from the 10+-year civil war. That trip turned his life around and has defined his life’s work.
Ivan has been a daring and unselfish visionary in acting out his commitment to El Salvador and more recently Nicaragua in Central America. At times almost the sum total of CoCoDA, through financial crises, political upheavals and unrest in the host countries, Ivan and CoCoDA have worked with local communities to provide clean piped water for households (some recently converted to solar power); to build schools for early education; to provide free housing in San Salvador for rural university students; and to develop medical and dental clinics in several locations. The communities themselves decide on their greatest needs, and provide “sweat equity” through their own labor on building projects.
Ivan has been tireless in raising funds for CoCoDA, including grants from Rotarian Clubs and others, and for some years climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and other peaks to elicit pledges of support. He has done all this at no small cost to himself, both financially and personally.
Now Ivan has retired from employment with CoCoDA, as of yesterday, October 31st. He will certainly remain active in the organization and will continue as a member of the board. We in Berea and Union Church are indebted to Ivan for helping us learn about and act upon the many physical and societal needs in Central America. We are proud to honor Ivan in this small way by lighting this candle in honor of his service.
The Living Word Among Us
Special Music For All the Saints D. Wagner
Union Church Handbell Ensemble; Bernardo Scarambone, Organ
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 Jane Warth, Reader
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town. He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in; they sow fields, and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest.
Children’s Moment Please join in singing as we bless children everywhere:
May God’s blessing 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.
Gospel Lesson Matthew 5:1-12 Bob Boyce, Reader
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Sermon The Shalom Tree Rev. Kent Gilbert
Living Prayer
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!
Offertory
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: Remembering All Saints Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate and remember those in our lives who have gone before us. Their presence in our community has contributed to and shaped our work, our life, character and story.
We remember those whose faithful witness proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ in words loud and soft, in actions great and small.
All: We gather before God, and remember the saints who have told the stories of God’s people, and witnessed to their faith in times gone by.
Gabriel Lashley Barlow Cleo Charles, Corban Goble, Edith Hansen Joyce Henderson, Randy Osborne, Joseph Peacock, Rich Royalty, Tom Warth
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
One: With the prophets of the bible and the prophets of our own shalom, we stand here beside all these saints and sing the neverending of God’s glory:
Sanctus Please join in singing:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.
Words of Institution
Gathered with friends, we remember that Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to the disciples saying “Take, eat. This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Remembering all the tables we have shared life and laughter, strength and sorrows, hopes and joys, and all the saints who ever fed us: 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 “this cup is my blood, my life, poured out in a new covenant for you. Take and drink it all of you.
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 love and shepherd us to wider life and deeper peace. Take and drink of this bold promise made new.
Prayers of the People
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 Oceania: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (Maohi Nui), Kanaky, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu; and our brothers and sisters at St. Thomas Lutheran 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.
¨ The Barlow family, at the loss of Gabe. A memorial service will be held on November 7, and will be viewable online.
¨ Carol Lamm’s family, at her death this week.
¨ Sharona Nelson’s daughter, Melinda, with medical difficulties.
¨ Cron Carpenter, recoving from a serious fall.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller, Lois Morgan, Barb Smith, Jan Hamilton.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ 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, including the over 1000 Kentucky residents, and thirteen Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.
Our Lord’s Prayer Eef Fontanez, Prayer Leader
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
Ofrenda Music and Love There’s a Gathering of Spirits
Used with the kind permission of Singer/Songwriter Carrie Newcomer
The Sending and Blessing
Postlude Behold the Host Norwegian Folk Tune
Behold a host, arrayed in white, Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright; With palms they stand. Who is this band Before the throne of light? These are the saints of glorious fame, Who from the great affliction came and in the flood Of Jesus’ blood are cleansed from guilt and blame. Now gathered in the holy place, their voices they in worship raise. Their anthems swell Where God does dwell Mid angels’ songs of praise. Despised and scorned, they sojourned here; But now, how glorious they appear! Those martyrs stand, A priestly band, God’s throne forever near. So oft in troubled days gone by, in anguish they would weep and sigh; at home above The God of love fore’er their tears shall dry. They now enjoy the Sabbath rest, the heav’nly banquet of the blest; the Lamb, their Lord, At festive board Himself is host and guest.
Come to Coffee Hour after worship! Let’s visit a bit!! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761?pwd=aU5QcGt3RnRrVGRCZkZlWnFHRU9PQT09
In Worship Today…
Each week many elements come together to make our worship together rich and deep.
This week we are grateful for those reading, playing and singing; and Marty Hensley, Jeff Hutton, Sayer Kobersmith, Sean Mack and Rina Tanaka, our gifted AV crew.
Many thanks to the Worship Team who crafted this service: Debbonnaire Kovacs, Jennifer Melton and Sharona Nelson.
Flowers today are graciously donated by Joyce Henderson’s family, in her memory, and are arranged by Bob Boyce.
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