November 29, 2020, First Sunday of Advent, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

First Sunday of Advent

November 29, 2020 10:30 am 

Meditation

“The blessedness of waiting is lost on those who cannot wait, and the fulfillment of promise is never theirs. They want quick answers to the deepest questions of life and miss the value of those times of anxious waiting, seeking with patient uncertainties until the answers come. They lose the moment when the answers are revealed in dazzling clarity. The greatest, the deepest, the most tender experiences in all the world demand patient waiting.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Christmas Sermons

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.

Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Veni Emmanuel

1. O come! O come! Emmanuel! And ransom captive Israel; that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

2. O come! O Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge show, and help us in that way to go. Refrain.

3. O come, Thou shoot of Jesse! Free your own from Satan’s tyranny; From depths of hell your people save, And give them victory o’er the grave. Refrain

4. O come! Thou Day-Spring! come and cheer our spirits by your Advent here; love stir within the womb of night, and death’s own shadows put to flight. Refrain.

5. O come, Desire of nations bind all peoples in one heart and mind; make envy, strife and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Refrain.

Lighting the Advent Wreath

The Advent Wreath tradition reaches back to pre-Christian northern Europeans who lit candles awaiting the winter solstice. By the 1500s, both Lutherans and Catholics had adapted the Advent Wreath as a devotional way to prepare for the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. Each week as we wait through Advent, we light a new candle representing an aspect of the light God intends for all people. This Sunday the candle of Hope is lit.

Passing the Peace at Home

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

Today we light the Justice Candle for ACEky – Arts Connect Eastern Kentucky. The mission of ACEky is to bring the arts to women in jails and recovery centers in Eastern Kentucky. Brenda Richardson, Coordinator of the program who previously taught in the Education Department at Berea College, believes that art gives a person ways to connect the heart, mind, and body and that art gives a community ways to see its most vulnerable members and form relationships. Even in the midst of the pandemic, classes continue via Zoom/on-line and fill an even more important role as in-person visits from family or friends are not possible.

The Living Word Among Us    

Special Music God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Carlie Geyer, violin; Caroline Geyer, cello; Bernardo Scarambone, piano

Hebrew Scripture Lesson  Isaiah 64:1-9 Carla Gilbert, Reader

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider, we are all your people.

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 13:24-37 Karl Holland, Reader

But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

Sermon                     What Does Love Demand? 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

In prayer today what do you hope for? Give yourself permission to explore what love demands of the world, of your life, of your passions. Together, in silence or with words, we pray to be able to meet love’s demands with all the hope pent up in our heart.

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 Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore; and our brothers and sisters at Ransom Baptist 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.

¨ Linda Parsons, and all the family, at the death of her grandson, Lucas Parsons, age 10.

¨ Jo Wernegreen, who has broken her femur.

¨ Ashley Hammond,  recovering from ankle surgery.

¨ Sharona Nelson’s daughter, Melinda, who is having medical difficulties

¨ 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, Betsy Hoefer.

¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.

¨ 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 eighteen Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

Prayers of the People Triss Holland, Reader

Living Hope, you who lights the candle in the window for the weary, you who knows our struggles, your love kindles our hope. 
We pray for all the weary hearts, worn down by the world. We ask for you to offer them true hope, and to help us lift our voices to carry hope on the wind, as love demands. 
Teach us patience, but help us wait with watchful intensity. Quicken our hearts and help us make ready the path for your Christ in every moment. Help us prepare the way, prepare our world,, and prepare our hearts to raise our praise and lift our voices, in hope, in peace, in joy and in love. 
These things we pray in the name of our coming savior, 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

The Sending and Blessing

Singing Together

Postlude Angels We Have Heard on High Gloria

Maria Hartz, singer

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains; and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. Gloria! In excelsis Deo.

Shepherds why this jubilee, why your joyous strains prolong? Say what may the tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing. Come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

OUR FELLOWSHIP PRINCIPLES: “Union Church welcomes all followers of Christ and works with all who work with Him; respecting each person’s conscience; working by love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”

Come to Coffee Hour after worship! Let’s visit a bit!!  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761?pwd=aU5QcGt3RnRrVGRCZkZlWnFHRU9PQT09