Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
All Saints Sunday
November 4, 2018 10:30 am
Meditation
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; and to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude; and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips. ― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
From there to Here: We Gather
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 and The Call Simple Gifts trad. Shaker
Please join in on the chorus if moved to do so:
When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to bend we will not be ashamed. To turn and to turn will be our delight till by turning, turning, we come round right.
Prayer for Approach, Confession & Release
¨ Hymn Swing Low/Swing Down Chariot, Let Me Ride
Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home; Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home!
Why don’t you swing down sweet chariot Stop and let me ride Swing down chariot Stop and let me ride! Rock me lord, rock me lord Calm and easy Well I’ve got a home on the other side!
¨ 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 hospitality.
The Living Word among us
Anthem Celebrate Life Ruth McLain Smith
Al, Alice & Ruth
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 25:6-9 (p. 834)
Children’s Moment & Special Music “Torsten’s Irish Blessing” by Al White
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 parents) 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.
Gospel Lesson Mark 12:28-34 (p. 1213)
Jesus notes a widow who offers all that she has for the temple treasury and sees her as an example of unrestrained generosity.
Sermon “Truly, Truly:”Loving God and Loving Neighbor Rev. Kent Gilbert
Living Prayer Remembering Life
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.
Musical Meditation
As the music begins to play, the Stephen Ministers will bring forward candles representing the light of God held in God’s creation, people, and places. Please pass these candles over and over as our remembrance continues.
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community
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.
One: 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.
[The Peace Bell will be rung as the names of members of the church who have died in the past year are read. In addition, we hold in our prayers the memory of each and every loss suffered by members as we commend them to God. As a name or relationship is read, whoever is holding a candle at that moment is invited to raise the candles high before passing it on.]
We remember:
Gloria Van Winkle Minerva Bobbit
And those who have died in the shootings in Louisville and Pittsburgh, and the more than 12,188 additional neighbors killed this year by guns.
One: We remember those known in our lives who have died in this last year. Please stand momentarily if you have lost a grandmother or grandfather in this last year. Your mother or father. A spouse or partner. A child. A brother or sister. An aunt or uncle. Another close relative. A classmate, teacher or mentor. A dear friend. A member of your work or school community.
One: We hold space for our sorrow, but let us not grieve as those without hope. The Spirit intercedes for us, and Christ is Lord of the Living and of the dead. For all the saints who went before us, who have spoken to our hearts and touched us with your fire, we praise you, O Lord.
All: They will hunger no more and thirst no more, and every tear shall be wiped from their eye.
Our Prayers In Action: Sharing God’s Love in Communion
Communion Music I Am a Pilgrim Trad.
Roll on Clouds in the Morning Jean Ritchie
Dancing with the Angels
Words of Invitation, Institution and Blessing
All who seek are welcome and are invited to freely receive! As the music plays, you are invited to use the time coming forward for personal meditation, for reflection and connection. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. There are 3 elements to today’s gathering:
¨ A Chance for Generosity: Offering Baskets in the Aisles
As a community we can do together for others what individually might be beyond us. We practice this kind of generosity of spirit and money as a way of bringing forth the best of our fellowship and opening our hearts to good and healing work. Today offering baskets will be passed down the lines leading to Communion stations. Today’s offering is especially centered on reaching to others with messages of hope, with counseling from our pastor and Stephen ministers, and through our web ministry. All of these touch lives and help people on the “outside” know they are truly loved as part of our love of God.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and going 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).
¨ Receiving Strength for the Journey: The Bread and Cup
We will share the elements today by intinction, which means dipping the bread in the cup. 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. Children of every age are welcome and encouraged to come forward, too. For those who need extra time to walk to the outdoor memorial garden where the service will conclude, you are welcome to leave after receiving if you would like.
¨ Prayers in Action and Reflections
Either while you are coming forward, or upon returning to your pew, you are invited to write the names of those who loved you and whom you are remembering on one or more of the red strips. Please tie these to any of the twine strings along the aisles. The strings will be taken to the garden to adorn the trees as the love the names represent is released into the world in wind, sun, rain, and snow. Also present on opposite the peace bell is a bowl of water and salt to give action to our sorrow and grief.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. The elements from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. 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 the pastor.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
From Here to There
¨ Hymn #299 For All the Saints Sine Nomine
On the last verse, the congregation is invited to follow the pastor and processional cross to the Memorial Garden where the names of those we are remembering will be blessed by God’s creation. The sending and blessing will take place there.
- For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who to the world their steadfast faith confessed,
Your name, O Jesus, be forever blest, Alleluia! Alleluia! - You were their rock, their refuge, and their might; You, Christ, the hope, that put their fears to flight;
‘Mid gloom and doubt, you were their one true light. Alleluia! Alleluia! - Still may your people, faithful, true and bold, Live as the saints who nobly fought of old, And share with them a glorious crown of gold. Alleluia! Alleluia!
- Ringed by this cloud of witnesses divine, We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet in your love our faithful lives entwine. Alleluia! Alleluia!
- And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and faith grows strong. Alleluia! Alleluia!
In the Garden
¨ Music The Garden Hymn
Al, Alice & Ruth
¨ Blessing and Sending Forth Rev. Kent
Sending Music When the Saints Go Marching In Trad.
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 of Canada and the U.S. and our brothers and sisters at White’s Memorial Presbyterian Church 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.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ The families of the victims of recent shootings: May God give them strength in their losses,
¨ For safe and fair elections on Tuesday, and for the good of all to be the work of all who serve as elected leaders.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin.
¨ Emily Spires, daughter of Randy Stone, continuing her treatment for breast cancer.
¨ Tina Parker, being treated for breast cancer.
¨ The Bolster family, at the death of Steve’s father, Stan Bolster.
Next Week: new members welcomed! As a family of faith committed to boldly and creatively embodying the life and ministry of Jesus, we would like to join with 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.
Two Hundred Strong: a Choral-Orchestral Collaboration. Today, 3:00 pm, sanctuary, in honor of the Spring, 2019 Retirement of Dr. Stephen Bolster.
Need a Ride to the Polls? Call the church office, 986-3725. Can you offer a ride? Call the office tomorrow & we’ll start a list of those willing to drive. Our Office Administrator will be out of the office working as an election officer on Tuesday, phone coverage may be spotty.
Church member David Parks will offer Zen teaching: Meditation, Koans, Conversation on Mondays 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Cowan Chapel. No experience necessary, all welcome. Experience the beauty of Zen, hearts opening to life just as it is.
Wednesday Nite Live supper is a potluck next week for the first Weds. of the month!
Resilient Kids, Connected Parents Parenting Classes Wednesdays in November (7th, 14th, 28th)! Come to a three-week group at Wednesday Night Live to support each other in the hard work of nurturing children in the 21st century. When we first have our children, it’s tempting to think that the job will get easier as our children sleep through the night, get out of diapers, and get past the tantrum stage. In reality, we find that each age and stage presents challenges and struggles, and we need support!
Led by Jenny Hobson from our Faith Development Board, this group will use excerpts from the work of Daniel Siegel and Tina Bryson as a jumping-off point to support each other and learn new strategies for dealing with the challenges that face our growing kids. Siegel and Bryson are pioneers in using new knowledge about neuroscience to craft everyday, practical strategies to help children become balanced, resilient, insightful, and empathetic. 6:30 -7:30pm on Wednesdays, after the meal, on November 7th, 14th, and 28th. In the Wayside Room. Childcare is provided. Call or text Jenny with questions or to sign up: 859-893-1075 or jennyhobsonschoice@gmail.com.
Betty Wray is having a birthday (11/11) and we want to celebrate her! Come to a special birthday coffee hour after worship on Nov. 11. Call Sarah Miller if you can bring something sweet! 859-544-3873.
Berea Classic Chorale Concert Nov. 11 at 2:30 p.m. Its fall concert is entitled “From Darkness to Light.” The opening section of the program will honor the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day at the end of World War I. The “darkness” of war memories will then be followed by a variety of pieces on the topic of “light.” Sacred and secular works celebrate both the Light of God as well as the natural light of the sun, moon, stars and even the Aurora Borealis (“Northern Lights”).
The featured work, “The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation,” by John Rutter will be accompanied by Chorale pianist, Laura Allnutt, clarinetist Nathan Ritchey and bassist Dustin Tenill.
Walk for Diabetes & Family Events, raffle, face painting, info booths! Nov. 10, 10—12. At Madison Southern High School, all welcome—free!
Everyone is invited to the Nov. 16th (Third Friday) SongFarmer Gathering in the Community Room. A community supper will begin at 5:30. Sign up to perform by 6 PM. A “SongFarmer” is any musician, songwriter and fan who use their music to make their families, hometown and lives better. The event runs from 5:30 – 8:30.
Meals for Jennie Kiteck. Friends, if you or your children ever played strings with Jennie Kiteck, now might be a nice time to reconnect briefly. She’s not doing much cooking these days and Union Church has set up a MealTrain to provide a home-cooked meal for her once a week on Friday evenings. She is an adventurous eater and does a great job washing up your containers! Use this MealTrain link: https://mealtrain.com/dwkg44
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.
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