Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
November 8, 2020 10:30 am
Meditation
“Hope is holding a creative tension between what is and what could and should be, each day doing something to narrow the distance between the two.” — Parker J. Palmer
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.
The Call Thank You Ross Gay Karl Holland, Reader
If you find yourself half naked and barefoot in the frosty grass, hearing, again, the earth’s great, sonorous moan that says you are the air of the now and gone, that says all you love will turn to dust, and will meet you there, do not raise your fist. Do not raise your small voice against it. And do not take cover. Instead, curl your toes into the grass, watch the cloud ascending from your lips. Walk through the garden’s dormant splendor. Say only, thank you. Thank you.
Passing the Peace at Home
Building the Community: News that Connects Us
Today we light the Justice Candle in honor of the Central Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice (CKCPJ).
The CKCPJ is a coalition of peacemaking groups that was incorporated as a non-profit in 1984 and is composed of a variety of committees, as well as sharing information through the monthly newsletter of upcoming events sponsored by a variety of organizations in Central Kentucky.
One example of an ongoing event is the Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Peace every Thursday from 5:30 – 6:00 p.m. at Triangle Park in Lexington.
A monthly newsletter with articles on current concerns or opportunities for action is available on the CKCPJ website at www. peaceandjusticeky.org.
The Living Word Among Us
Special Music We Believe Gama Studio Productions
Lesson from the Psalms Psalm 70 Kim Kobersmith, Reader
Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me. Let those who say, ‘Aha, Aha!’ turn back because of their shame.
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’ But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!
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.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 Eef Fontanez, Reader
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac; ‘Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’
Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’
But Joshua said to the people, ‘You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.’ And the people said to Joshua, ‘No, we will serve the Lord!’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.’ And they said, ‘We are witnesses.’ He said, ‘Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.’ The people said to Joshua, ‘The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.’ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
Sermon Still Choosing 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!
Offering Music
Silent Reflection and Prayer
Today in prayer and meditation cast aside some of the holds the world has on us. Where you are now, or later in a quiet place or with a trusted friend, let us settle our spirits long enough to hear beyond the tasks and to listen deeply to the call of God. Breathing is the center of our work right now. Breath which is Spirit, In-spiring, In-dwelling. Allow the rise and fall of your breath to align you, to gentle your spirit, to connect you to the holy well-spring of purpose and strength, of rest and deeper peace. Once you are settled into this place, now let us place before God the hardness of our hearts and of our world.
What is fearful?
What is confounding?
What seems impossible?
Hold those things in the breath that you and God are sharing. Is there some attitude or action that you can choose this day to keep you closer to God as you deal with these in your week? What could you choose to do or not to do that would align you in a better way with God’s call, or God’s hope for you? Don’t worry if you can’t get rid of all the demands, voices, distractions. Give what attention you have to the life and meaning of your breaths. Surround your choices with God’s holy breath while continuing to breath in that loving presence yourself. When you are ready, open and return to centered attention here, but keep breathing with holy intent as your insight grows.
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 Fiji, Melanesia, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Polynesia and the Solomon Islands; and our brothers and sisters at Whites Memorial Presbyterian 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.
¨ Betty Wray, who will celebrate her 95th birthday on November 11th.
¨ Critley King and Scott Smith, at the birth of their daughter, Beatrix Rose, on Wednesday!
¨ Marie, Dorie Hubbard’s 5-year-old grand niece, receiving treatment for cancer
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.
Prayers of the People Jane Warth, Reader
God, jealous of our hearts and yearning for our attention, we confess our distraction by the events of the world. You have asked us to serve you, to choose your path of Life, of Love, and to look beyond the powers and principalities of this moment. So this day, we choose you. We choose your way of truth and hope, of service, and sacrificial love. Let the rulers of countries and officials of cities come and go. We would serve you and obey the laws of Love’s demand. Heal our hearts, and enliven our minds to meet the day with the sure knowledge of your great good will for us and all creation. Set our eyes on the prize of a people and a kin-dom of justice and joy. This we ask in Jesus’ name, who taught us to reach to you as …
Our Lord’s Prayer
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
Hymn Come We Who Love God’s Name
1. Come we who love God’s name and let our joys be known; Together God’s great love proclaim, together God’s great love proclaim And thus surround the throne and thus surround the throne!
Chorus: We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion! We’re marching onward to Zion, the beautiful city of God!
2. Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God; but we our thanks and praise will bring, but we our thanks and praise will bring for love so deep and broad, for love so deep and broad.
3. God’s grace on earth is found, the seeds of glory sown; Celestial fruits on earthly ground, celestial fruits on earthly ground from faith and hope have grown, from faith and hope have grown.
4. The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets before we reach the heavenly fields, before we reach the heavenly fields or walk the golden streets, or walk the golden streets.
5. Then let our songs abound, and every tear be dry; we’re travelling through Emmanuel’s ground, we’re travelling through Emmanuel’s ground to greater worlds on high, to greater worlds on high.
The Sending and Blessing
Postlude
Come to Coffee Hour after worship! Let’s visit a bit!! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761?pwd=aU5QcGt3RnRrVGRCZkZlWnFHRU9PQT09
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