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

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 16, 2018             10:30 am 

Meditation
“The secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they — at some distant point in the future — will take over the reigns. Yet the fact is that the society is not running itself nicely… because the rest of us need all the energy, brains, imagination and talent that young people can bring to bear down on our difficulties. For society to attempt to solve its desperate problems without the full participation of even very young people is imbecile.”— Alvin Toffler
“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. If you have come to because your liberation is bound up in mine, we can work together.”— Lilla Watson

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 The Lord’s My Shepherd arr. Ron boud
The Call May the Circle Be Unbroken
Prayer for Approach, Confession & Release  
¨  Hymn  Gather Us In (opposite) Gather Us In
¨  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. Each person will have received a stone today. Please exchange your stones with those you greet each time during the passing of the peace.  

The Living Word among us

Anthem      x            x
                     Union Church Choir
x
Special Reflection        Let Them Be Heard
Gospel Lesson               Luke 18:15-17 (p. 1262)
Jesus blesses the children.
Middle–aged Moment                  as the beloved elders 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 Middle-aged 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.
Epistle Lesson  James 3:1-12 (p. 1480)
James issues a passionate warning to those who teach, reminding them of the tongue’s power to lead and bless, but its tendency to damage and curse.
Sermon To Be More Inclusive MacGregor Lakes

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.
Prayers in Action and Reflections
You are invited to reflect and pray, either in your pew or at one or more of the 4 stations.  Some suggested prayer direction is at the tables you visit.  You are also free to choose to rest in private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts and in your pew. The reflection page is provided for your thoughts, notes, drawings or other meditations at any time during the service.
Our Offering 
Did you know that this place welcomes youth of every tradition, every gender ID, race, and sexual orientation? But that kind of welcome isn’t available everywhere. The welcome of a Christ-led community like Union Church matters, and every dollar contributed makes that possible. Thank you for your gift and for caring for them and their future!
Today the youth would like you to consider a special offering as well.  An over and above gift to the Sapling Centers,(http://www.krccnet.com/services/childrens-services/the-sapling-center/  ) will sustain youth drop-in centers, that are safe, welcoming, and inclusive places for all youth ages 14 to 25 across Eastern Kentucky. Each of the 6 locations have a goal to make a positive difference in the health and life of the region’s young people by teaching them to be self-sufficient, avoid risky behavior, and become capable adults. All services are free, and youth need not have any previous experience with mental health services to be a member.
Sapling Centers provide individual counseling, group therapy, life skills training, youth groups, and fun/educational activities. Additionally, Centers provide food, computer labs, lending libraries, games, and workshops on cooking, careers, job skills, finding housing, personal finance, and health. Our kids know the need. Let us be “Doers of the Word!”
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)
Musical Meditation
When invited, please join in singing “Give Me a Clean Heart”
Give me a clean heart so I may serve you. God, fix my heart so that I may be used by you. For I’m not worthy of all these blessings. Give me a clean heart and I’ll follow you.
Community Prayer & 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 #350 Black Now in the Days of Youth Diademata
The Sending and Blessing
All are invited to make a circle around the sanctuary for the Blessing.
Postlude (please be seated)   Psalm 19            Benedetto Marcello
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 Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, and our brothers and sisters at Berea Church of Christ 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.
¨ 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, returning home to Berea after treatment for a severe liver disorder.
¨ Dave Wellinghurst, with a recurrence of glioblastoma. Hospice is involved now.
¨ For Jack Marshall, in the work to restore right relationship with self and others.
¨ For those imprisoned at the Madison County Detention Center and around the state.
¨ Emily Spires, daughter of Randy Stone, diagnosed with breast cancer.
¨ If you’d like to help Jennie Kiteck out with a meal on Friday evenings, use this MealTrain link: https://mealtrain.com/dwkg44 
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.
Need an awesome water bottle? Water bottle fundraiser $10.00, $5.00 goes to support Faith Development programs!
Sermon Series “All In” All This September. Union Church wants you to be “In”: In for work that matters, and In for transformative living. This month we’ll be exploring what’s “In” as we build a beloved community with the very people who may have thought they were “out.”
Today’s service in our “All In” series was designed and is offered by the Union Church Youth Group. More than 27 (!) young adults participate in weekly fellowship and service, and include youth from many church and non-church backgrounds. The group meets on Wednesday nights and is led by Youth Leaders Chris McKenzie and Maggie Park. Together they have planned and written many of the elements of our worship this morning. We are honored by their work.
Union Church Ambassadors needed! Spoonbread Festival (Sept. 21-23) Folks are needed for staffing the Spoon-bread Festival table for 2-hour shifts. Offer church brochures, postcards, and conver-sation. Photos of fellowship, mission, worship events needed too! Contact Sally Zimmerman at 358-4617.  Thank you!!
Anybody Can Use a Stephen Minster.! Ever have a feeling that life is getting a bit too hard to handle? Would you like to be able to talk to someone regularly? Stephen Ministry just added four new caregivers. If you would like to talk to someone, please contact Mary Lou Wiese at 26-571-4959. If you have a friend with a need, let them know about Stephen Ministry at Union. They do not have to be church members. This can be either a short-term or a long-term match, so pass on the news.
Come to Wednesday Nite Live! All welcome for supper at 5:45 pm ($5 donation if able). Youth Group at 6:30, Handbell rehearsal at 7.
The nursery and children’s church are both in need of  volunteer substitutes for those rare occasions when our amazing nursery worker and children’s church teachers aren’t here. If you’re called to this way of serving the church family, please contact Laura Nagle (358-0106) or Jenny Hobson (893-1075) and we’ll get the process started.
Friends of the Madison County Public Library is a non-profit group that supports the programing and staff of Madison County Public Library.  This library has more than 65,000 active library card holders.  Funds raised by the Friends come from book sales, small quilt auction and annual membership fees. Become a member today or renew your annual membership by picking up an application in the narthex, at the library or go online to our website, Friends of the Madison County Public. 
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.
LifeLine is coming to Union Church October 5. Info in the vestibule. Union Church is pleased to offer a preventive health event. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount).  All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete.  There are three ways to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1-888-653-6441 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/or text the word circle to 797979