October 31, 2021, Worship Bulletin, Prayer Concerns, Zoom Coffee Hour Link

And, when the work of grief is done, The wound of loss will heal And you will have learned To wean your eyes From that gap in the air And be able to enter the hearth In your soul where your loved one Has awaited your return All the time. -John O’Donohue

From There to Here: We Gather                  

Gathering Music         

Welcome

Special Music        Keeping Watch   Dean Rogers & Anthony Smallwood

The Call and Breath Prayer                   Maggie Park and Alvera Perman, Readers

One: Breathing is the practice of taking conscious, deep breaths. It is also the act of creating enough space in your life to slow down and care for your body, your mind, and your spirit…

One: When we breathe in, we’re giving our body what it needs. When we exhale, we send out what we no longer need. When we pay attention to in and out, let it come, and let it go, when we pay attention to that kind of rhythm, our minds are called to the present moment, not the past, not the future– just here and now. Let it come. Let it go. Breathing creates the space and time to be present– present to emotion, present to sensation, present to surroundings, present to one another, present to ourselves.

—Valarie Kaur

Passing of the Peace at Home

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

Lighting the Justice Candle

Imagine you inherit millions of dollars. Would you give it all away to charity and work to educate the poor and forgotten? That’s what Saint Katharine Drexel did.  Born Catherine Mary Drexel in 1858, she was the daughter of a successful and affluent banker and investor from Philadelphia. Only the second American-born saint, Saint Katharine was dedicated to the religious life, the Sisters of Mercy Convent and the education of Native Americans and African Americans. In 1885, she traveled West for the first time and met Native Americans in dire need of schools. After a meeting with Pope Leo XIII in Italy, in which she asked him for missionaries to teach the Native Americans, the pope actually recruited Saint Katharine to become a missionary herself. The meeting was a turning point in her life and despite inheriting an estate worth millions, Katharine Drexel chose a life of poverty and service. Saint Katharine helped to give voice to those who struggled to receive an education. Like a mustard seed, Saint Katharine’s dedication to the education of those less fortunate grew into a plentiful network of 145 Catholic missions and 62 schools. She also helped establish Xavier University of New Orleans, the first Catholic college in the United States for African Americans. 

The Living Word Among Us

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.

3.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.

Hebrew Scripture Lesson               Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Alvera Perman, Reader

Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, so that you and your children and your children’s children may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

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 12:28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Sermon All Our Breath, All Our Lives, All Our Love Rev. Kent Gilbert

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

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

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.

Invitation to Communion

One:  The Lord Be with you!

One:   And also with those you cherish.

One:  Lift up your hearts!

One:   We lift them to the Lord.

One: Let us give thanks to God!

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

One: With all our breath we both seek and give strength. Communion is connection, and the breath of God connects us all.  Today we are remembering all those who have been a part of our lives but who have died. And we are remembering that love transcends even death.  If you have a candle with you. Let’s light it now. And you may wish to gather whatever elements you will use for our eucharist today. You do not have to be a member of this church, OR ANY CHURCH, to participate in this blessing or be included in God’s loving care. You breathe, you matter, you belong in this world, and God’s love is meant for you, too.

All Saints Day Remembrance

Remembering All Saints Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate and remember those in our lives who have gone before us. Their presence in our community has contributed to and shaped our work, our life, character and story.

We remember those whose faithful witness proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ in words loud and soft, in actions great and small. And so e gather before God, and remember the saints who have told the stories of God’s people, and witnessed to their faith in times gone. Here on the altar we light a candle for those who have been part of the Union Church community who have died since the last All Saint’s remembrance. In addition we lift the names of all those who have been remembered here in services and in events of the world. At home, I invite you to lift those you have lost: say their names and place them in the conversations on screen. Remember them, and let us know them through the gifts they have left with you. Join us as we give God thanks.

Ann Bajwa Fred Brown  Helen Connelly  Karen Lee  Cecil Mink   Charles Murray  Guy Patrick  Peggy Pollard Glenna Rice  Heather Richardson  AnnaLou Ritchie   Barb Smith  Margaret Ricketts  Bill Wray 

Communion Prayer

Gathered with friends, we remember that Jesus 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.” Remembering all the tables we have shared life and laughter, strength and sorrows, hopes and joys, and all the saints who ever fed us: 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. Take and drink of this bold promise made new. With the prophets of the bible and the prophets of our own shalom, we stand here beside all these saints and sing the neverending of God’s glory:

Sanctus

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the  name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.

Breath Prayer

Prayers of the Community

There is a gathering of spirits whenever we commune with the Holy Spirit in God’s love. Let us hold in prayer all in need this week, and share the Lord’s prayer in our own gathering of Spirits.

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

Benediction and Breath Prayer

Postlude Prelude and Fugue in D Minor J.S. Bach

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

Congregational Budget Meeting will be December 12. Save the Date!

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: The Caribbean: Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Maarten, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago; and our brothers and sisters at  Bearwallow Pentecostal Holiness 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.

¨ 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, Tom & Dorie Hubbard

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

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

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

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

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

¨ The Bellnier family, at the death of David’s sister, Abby Rose Varner. 

¨ 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 9380 Kentucky residents, and 160 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: today, October 31 – Noah Cain; November 2 – Cheyenne Olson

Anniversaries coming up: November 5 – Melissa and Susan Doring Zook