Sunday, December 3, 2021, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

Epiphany Sunday

January 3, 2021 10:30 am 

Meditation

Salvation means that there is respite from whatever oppresses in the community that hears, and lives, the Gospel. Men and women, slaves and free people, all come together to say, “In our midst, we have a savior.” — Amy-Jill Levine  

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 The Work of Christmas Howard Thurman Adria Sutherland, Reader
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.
Love demands, friends. Love demands.

Passing the Peace at Home

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

Today we light the Justice Candle in honor of the Union Church staff, to all those who serve on Boards or Committees, to all who volunteer throughout the year for special projects — especially our tech crew, and to so many whose small acts of kindness spread light and love throughout our community and beyond. May this Justice Candle burn brightly throughout the New Year.

The Living Word Among Us    

Special Music I Saw Three Ships arr. Eithun/Lamb Pearl Marshall, handbell solo

Hebrew Scripture Lesson  Isaiah 60:1-6 John Payne, Reader

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. 

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  2:1-12 Sharona Nelson, Reader

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Sermon                   Rev. Kent Gilbert

Living Prayer

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

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

Invitation to Communion

One:  The Lord be with you!

All:   And also with those you cherish.

One:  Lift up your hearts!

All: We lift them to the Lord.

One: Let us give thanks to God!

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

One: In this time of increased isolation, let us center ourselves in this moment of committed community.

If you have a candle with you. Let’s light it now.

As the disciples saw Christ coming from a distance across the water, we can allow the flame to be a reminder of strong love coming to us.  Let us center ourselves now for prayer. As we do, Please put in the comments or in the chat, what you are most hoping to be in touch with: the people, the ideas, the struggles. Com-Union. By this act together, add in what and who you are praying for.

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.

Communion Prayer

Sanctus     Please join in singing:

Santo! Santo! Santo! Mi Corazon te adora! Mi corazon te sabe decir; santo eres Dios. Holy, holy, holy, my heart, my heart adores you! My heart is glad to say the words; you are holy, God.

Words of Institution

We remember that Jesus gathered with friends, in the upper room before his death. We remember the resurrection road to Emmaus when we thought all was lost.  We remember his reconciling meal with Peter on the beach. We remember that he was made known to us in the breaking of the bread.

He took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to the disciples saying “Take, eat. This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Take now your meal, and as you lift it to share: let us remember the long road through God’s gifts and people that bring this blessing to us: the blessing of water and field, of labor to plant and harvest, mill and bake, to carry, wrap, stock, sell, store and serve. Remembering our common lot and our mutual dependence on such gifts, take now this meal of long love and care. We eat and we remember: in Christ’s name.

Next we remember that Jesus took the cup. He poured, And again blessing it,  shared it with his disciples saying “this cup is my blood, my life, poured out in a new covenant for you. Take and drink it all of you.

As we pour we remember the life-giving elements that fill our cup. We remember the life poured into us by a loving Jesus who didn’t come to condemn but to love and shepherd us to wider life and deeper peace.

A table is set before us in the presence of all our antagonizing anxieties: take and drink of this old promise made new.

Prayers of the People Ally Nurre, Reader

Let us pray: Lord of every season, you who are the author of our days, carry us now into this new year with all that might need for the long journey toward your light. Like the wise of bygone years, grant us patience and persistence. With the vigor of youth, may we never tire of doing what is right as love demands. With the skill of years and experience, may we enter each season ready to seek you and serve your vision in every time and place. As it took years for those first wisdom-seekers to reach the rising light of your Christ, we know we may have some way to go before we, too, can offer the gifts we have carried. Sustain us on our way and hear our heartfelt prayer.

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.   

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 Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine; 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.

¨ 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.

¨ Robert Rorrer, undergoing medical tests.

¨ 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

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

¨ Jeff & Reda Hutton and all their families at the sudden death of Jeff’s sister’s husband, Ed Rosenfield; and at the death of Reda’s cousin, Ralph Roberson.

” Peggy, Anna and Gina, and all the family; and the wider community he loved and served, at the death of Guy Patrick.

” Tennant Kirk and family, at the death of her brother, Mickey.

¨ Elsie Hardman, Joan English’s mom, in Berea Hospital for evaluation after falls over the holidays.

¨ 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 2000 Kentucky residents, and thirty-five Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

From Here to There

Singing Together Brightest and Best trad. Deborah Payne & Robert Rorrer

1. Hail the bless’d morn, see the great Mediator down from the region of glory descend! Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger,  lo, for a guard the bright angels attend.

Refrain: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid; star of the east, the horizon adorning, guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

2. Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining; low lies his head with the beasts of the stall; angels adore him in slumber reclining, Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.

Refrain: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid; star of the east, the horizon adorning, guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

3. Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion, odors of Edom, and offerings divine, gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean, myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine? Refrain.

4. Vainly we offer each ample oblation, vainly with gifts would his favor secure: richer by far is the heart’s adoration, dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. Refrain.

The Sending & Blessing

Postlude We Three Kings trad. LaRee Jacobs, piano

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

News & Announcements at union-church.org/news