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

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

October 13, 2019           10:30 am

 
Meditation
The root of joy is gratefulness… It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful. —Brother David Stendl-Rast OSB

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 Lord, Here I Am Jay Althouse
Madelynne Benderman, vocalist
The Call   R. S. Thomas
I have seen the sun break through
To illuminate a small field for a while,
And gone my way and forgotten it
But that was the pearl of great price,
The one field that had the treasure in it.
I realize now that I must give all that I have to possess it.
Life is not hurrying on to a receding future,
Nor hankering after an imagined past.
It is turning aside like Moses
To the miracle of a lit bush,
To a brightness that seemed as transitory as your youth once,
But is the eternity that awaits you.
¨  Hymn #533 Black Children of God Welwyn
¨  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 Go Out with Joy Hank Beebe
Union Church Choir
For you shall go out with joy, be led forth with peace, the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees shall clap their hands. Pine trees shall shoot up in place of the camel thorn, myrtles instead of briars; all this shall win the Lord a great name. a sign for all time.   You shall go out with joy!
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Jeremiah 29:1,4-7 (p. 926)
Jeremiah speaks a word of encouragement and hope to the exiles of Israel.
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 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 Luke 17:11-19 (p. 1261)
Jesus is approached by ten lepers who beg him to heal them.
Sermon Here for a Reason Rev. Nate Craddock
Countdown to Community Risk-Taking Mission and Service Betty Hibler

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.
Acts of Reflection and Prayer
Some resources for reflection and prayer provided. You are free to use  – or ignore –  these prompts as you find helpful. In whatever prayer manner you adopt, please hold the concerns of those listed, and those you know about, in God’s peace-giving light.
What do you feel you would risk by asking for help? What are we willing to risk to serve those in our community who most need help? What are we, as a church, willing to risk to help build the beloved community?
Prayer Corner: This week we have a complete prayer for you to contemplate and use if it speaks to you. You will also find this prayer in its entirety printed in your bulletin if you would like to keep it to pray with at home.
Bell Table: At the font, contemplate the power you received at your baptism (whether or not you remember it!) to join with Christ in healing the world through risk-taking service.
Sharing Table: Pick a card, any card! You will find a basket of challenge cards. Choose one without looking. Are you up to the risk of carrying out the challenge on your card? (If you feel bold, take more than one card!)
Children’s Fire: Give a hug or high five to someone at church who you think might need it.
A Chance for Generosity: Offering Baskets in the Aisles
Offering baskets are placed in the aisle, and can also be brought to your seat. 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 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!
Please sing when invited: Rejoice, You Pure in Heart  (tune #55, black hymnal)
Bright youth and seasoned age, strong souls and spirits meek,
raise high your free exulting song, God’s wondrous praises speak. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing.
Praise God who rules all worlds; the risen Christ adore.
Praise God the Spirit, Holy Fire, one God for evermore!                  Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing.
Pastoral Prayer and Our Lord’s Prayer
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

¨  Hymn #309 Black We Are Your People Whitfield
Introduction and Invitation to Membership
Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy, and are welcome to come forward when invited. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
¨  Questions of the Congregation and New Members
¨  Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that  you, and we, may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) 23 Psalm arr. Jay Althouse
Madelynne Benderman, vocalist
_________________________________
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 Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, and our brothers and sisters at Berea United Methodist 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.
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound.
¨ For Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon. 15,000 are now detained in the US.
¨ In thanksgiving for those students, teachers, parents, lawmakers, and citizens who are witnessing and working to end gun violence in our society. May laws that help be passed; may hearts that are broken be healed; may all who are in danger be kept safe.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Edith Hansen, Joyce Henderson, Nancy Hindman, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller.
¨ For those who are without homes and safe places, that we may work together for solutions.
¨ Dean Jacobs, Mary Lou Wiese’s brother, recovering at home.
¨ Steve Boyce, who is recovering at home.
¨ Toby Wilcher, who has broken her fibula and ankle in a fall. Surgery has been delayed, will report when we know more.
¨ Janet Northern and family, at the death of Janet’s father, George A. Howard, on October 1. The evergreen on the altar is in his memory.
Announcements
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. Today, and every second Sunday of the month, 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.
After church bring a sack lunch (drinks provided)  and come to the Community Room for a showing of the film “From Paris to Pittsburgh: the Climate for Change is Now.”
Do you get the church’s Monday announcements? If you’d like to, please send your email address to office@union-church.org. We send the bulletin announcements and other news.
Inmates at the Madison County Detention Center are in need of books. They are only allowed paperbacks delivered directly from Amazon.  If anyone is interested in sponsoring a book or two, please send $10 or $20 to the church (offering plate, mail, or easyTithe. If writing a check, put MCDC in the memo line) and we’ll place the order from the office. Rev. Nate has a list of requested titles. Thanks so much.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to card making supplies for the children and youth of Union Church. If you would like to join in the one-hour “how to” session after church at 11:45 on October 20, there are a few spots left. Jeff Carpenter from Berea’s Arts Accelerator Program will lead the group. Have fun learning to make cards for those in our congregation who may be the recipients of the care-cards. Email Teri Mehler at teri@kellymehler.com to sign up or for more information.

Coming Up – Mark Your Calendars

Sunday, October 27
Bring your pledge card and Participation Challenge Calendar to church with you! Stay for the Celebration of Community and Generosity Feast after Church!
Saturday, November 9
The Mission and Service Board has scheduled a visit to the Red Bird campus to hear about all their wonderful work.  We will assemble to car pool from church at 8:45 a.m.  We have an hour and a half tour and then we will stop for lunch.  We anticipate returning to Berea by 3 or 3:00.
Saturday, November 23
Celebration of Giving  9 a.m. to 3 p.m. At Acton Folk Center.  (Previously known as Alternative Christmas Market). Local non-profits can reserve a table by contacting: cheyenne @sustainable berea.org. Instead of another sweater or tie, give a donation to your favorite non-profit in your loved one’s name. Union Church organizations (e.g. Youth Group) can reserve a table for no charge, as we are one of the sponsors of the event. If you would like to volunteer, contact Tennant Kirk or Betty Hibler.