October 10, 2021, Worship Bulletin, Prayer Concerns, Zoom Coffee hour Link

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

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost   10:30 am

Meditation “The norms and institutions that order this world are not inevitable, but constructed, and therefore, can be changed.” — Valarie Kaur

From There to Here: We Gather

Gathering Music

Welcome

The Call Ally Nurre and Gail Wolford, Readers

One: There is no such thing as monsters in this world. There are only human beings who are wounded… When we cannot see that evil is driven by a person’s wounds, not their innate nature, we become terrified of each other.

One: But the moment we see their wounds, they no longer have absolute power over us. I could not see the wounds in them until I tended to the wounds inside me. And that required me to access my rage. —Valarie Kaur

Passing of the Peace at Home

Lighting the Justice Candle

Today we light the Justice Candle in honor of Rev. Ben Groth. Rev. Groth is pastor of  Bethlehem Lutheran Church in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Ben is an endlessly curious and brazenly optimistic person, and that makes him an amazing pastor, learner, parent, and partner. Those qualities give him the ability to dream way past what others deem reasonable, creating a vision for the church he leads that seeks to make the teachings of Jesus to feed the hungry and care for those who are most cast aside, and has helped to create a deep footprint in the local community, providing “no questions asked” free meals to the neighborhood and many resources that are missing otherwise. The research he is doing on race and religion in his Ph.D. reflects his hope that people and societies must consider their past as they envision a better future. Ben is playful, loyal, and engaged, and that makes him a wonderful father and partner. I’m not sure how it’s possible to be a nearly full-time Ph.D. student, a dedicated father, and a devoted member of the community, all in one body, but God has given Ben an endless zeal in this life, and I am humbled to get to be a part of it. Written by Chloe Groth.  

The Living Word Among Us

Hymn Somebody’s Hurting My Brother Yara Allen

Somebody’s hurting my brother & it’s gone on far too long
Gone on far too long, gone on far too long.
Somebody’s hurting my brother & it’s gone on far too long;
And we won’t be silent anymore

Somebody’s hurting my sister…

Somebody’s poisoning our waters…

Somebody wants to build a wall…

Hebrew Scripture Lesson Job 23:1-9, 16-17 Gail Wolford, Reader

Then Job answered: ‘Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge. ‘If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!

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 Mark 10:17-31

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.” ’ He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were greatly astounded and said to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.’ Peter began to say to him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’

Sermon All the Rage … for Revolutionary Love Rev. Kent Gilbert

Special Music Rise Up Maggie Wheeler

Living Prayer

Call to Prayer and Offering

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”)

You can also use US mail!  Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403

Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!

Offering Music Resounding Fury J. Krug Union Church Handbell Ensemble

Offertory 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 of the Community Ally Nurre, Reader

Driven by winds of pain and sorrow we rage like waves thrown against the rocks of the world. Our wounds bleed, our hearts break, our children suffer and we cry to you: How Long O, Lord? How long? When we are driven to rage by the madness of opposition, hear our prayer: that our rage be blessed and become a blessing. Turn fury into a furor for right-living, right-loving, right-acting, all-inclusive joy and may our anger never fail to protect that which you love. Keep us from the illusions of inaction and complicity, and focus your divine love through holy passion and a blessed rage for Christ’s will and way. So keep us angry at the right things in the right way, and give us shelter to rage safely until we can focus to move with resistless love into your revolutionary vision for us, for our enemies and opponents and all creation. We ask this in Jesus’ name, who taught us to pray saying…

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 Rooted and Grounded in Love Words and Music:                                                        Amanda Udis-Kessler; arr.  Bryan T. Johnson

1. In a time of disease, we are called to be healers embodying Love’s holy care. We follow the healer who tended the suffering, restoring the wounded, our work and our prayer. We are joyful and strong as our faith is revealed in the richest abundance of fruit that we yield.

Chorus: We are rooted and grounded in love. Like a tree by the river, we’re planted so deep. We are rooted and grounded in love with each gift that we bring and each promise we keep. As we birth a new world where we all have enough, we are rooted and grounded in love.

2. In a time of distrust, we are called to be teachers embodying Love’s holy grace. We follow the teacher who welcomed the stranger, enlarging Love’s realm with each sacred embrace. We are joyful and strong as our faith is revealed in the richest abundance of fruit that we yield. Chorus.

In a time of despair, we are called to be prophets, proclaiming all people as one. We follow the prophet who cried out for justice, our lives offered up so Love’s will can be done. We are joyful and strong as our faith is revealed in the richest abundance of fruit that we yield. Chorus.

Benediction

Postlude     Allegro, RV522        A. Vivaldi, arr. L. Sue Pearl Marshall & Susan Stephens, handbells

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! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761

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 Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela; and our brothers and sisters at Berea Church of God 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.

¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller, Lois Morgan, Jan Hamilton, Laura Robie

¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.

¨ Tom Hubbard

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

¨ Sharona Nelson, as she faces decisions regarding a difficult family situation.

¨ Dorie Hubbard’s great grand-niece, Marie, whose cancer has gotten worse.

¨  Sandy Mc Clure’s three year old granddaughter, Jaidyn Foley, who is recovering from open heart surgery.

¨ AnnaLou Ritchie’s family and friends, at her passing on Thursday.

¨ Prayers for those in danger from fires and flood, especially those in western wildfires and cleaning up after Hurricane Ida. 

¨ 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 now over 9000 Kentucky residents, and 144 Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

¨ Important dates—if we haven’t got yours, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!

Birthdays coming up: October 11, Katie Basham; 18, June Fish, AnnaBella Wescott

Zoom Opportunities

Sunday

9:30 am  See No Stranger discussion group led by Rev. Carla Gilbert. Join  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84000201117?pwd=ZFVjVkV0UUFjck5zNXhqcjF4cDJIQT09 Meeting ID: 840 0020 1117;  Passcode: 907994

10:30 am  Morning Worship. Facebook: simply go to Union Church Berea https://www.facebook.com/pg/UnionChurchBerea/ (and “Like” our page if you haven’t!). Scroll down a bit until you see the video! Turn up the volume and join us! We love it when you comment, greet each other and welcome newcomers!
Union Church’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbN9CCE4_RXv3pk43z3Xbig. Subscribe!
Union Church’s website: https://union-church.org/live-broadcast/

11:45 am or so (after Worship) Coffee Hour. Join https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761 Meeting ID: 873 8760 0761

6:00 pm See No Stranger discussion group led by Rev. David Andrew Jones https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82959785627?pwd=VDlpMVhtTEhiQ1QzY2VoSU1xb29HZz09 Meeting ID: 829 5978 5627  Passcode: 635707

Tuesday (2nd & 4th)

10 am Public Affairs Book Club  The group reads and discusses American and global public affairs from a variety of sources – printed articles, books. Starting on Oct 12.
Doug Hindman will handle the tech, John Culp will moderate the group. Contact John to join or find out more: 859-986-0521, 859-302-1406, or culp3qmdjohn@roadrunner.com

Wednesday

10 am Virtual Coffee Break https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84693318435?pwd=WGlZWFhPTjgrMnhRRFplQ2xkTVd0Zz09

7:30 pm See No Stranger discussion group led by Rev. David Andrew Jones
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83700091245?pwd=dkdvTVMza29VVGlySG5BLzd6Rzl5UT09 Meeting ID: 837 0009 1245  Passcode: 563807

Thursday

10:30 am  Bible Study led by Rev. Carla Gilbert  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84070810351?pwd=QjJVdUVtMjFOUzUxTFpDNlBaTDlVUT09  Meeting ID: 840 7081 0351 Passcode: 954506