November 7, 2021, Worship Bulletin, Prayer Concerns, Zoom Coffee Hour link

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

 Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am

Meditation

“Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgiveness is freedom from hate.” -Valarie Kaur

From There to Here: We Gather

Gathering Music

Welcome

The Call   Jen Eich and Doug Hindman, Readers

One: To push is to choose to enter discomfort, uncomfortable sensations, thoughts, emotions, perhaps grief, perhaps rage, perhaps trauma, all as part of a healing process, a liberation process.

One: Pushing requires us to discern the right times to breathe and rest, and the right time to push through those painful sensations, and emotions, and thoughts to birth new possibilities in ourselves and others.

—Valarie Kaur

Passing of the Peace at Home

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

Lighting the Justice Candle

In existence since 1993, the Guatemala Project is an informal partnership among the Mayan Communities of Population in Resistance of the Sierra [CPR-Sierra], Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, Tucson, and other friends in the U.S including Union Church. The founder, Ila Abernathy, accompanied indigenous mayans into resettlement communities in the northern regions of Guatemala following the end of the civil war. The people had experienced violent displacement by their government during the 30 years of the war and had taken refuge in southern Mexico and in very remote areas of the mountains. Having set up their own indigenous governmental structure as refugees, they desired international support in order to further develop their project of self government. The Guatemala project was formed to assist them in their plan to provide health promoters in each of the very rural communities. Over the past 27 years, small teams have traveled every year (except 2020) to meet with community leaders and health promoters. The project has supported educational materials and supplies for the promoters and also a small stipend over the years in a partnership with the CPR directors. Truly, the only way forward in these times when so many people from Central America are fleeing their homes is to support the local people who are trying to make their world a better place.

The Living Word Among Us

Hymn God Our Author and Creator Jefferson

1. God our Author and Creator, in whose life we find our own, make our daily witness greater, by our lives make your love known. Help us show how love embraces those whom fear and greed downtrod; in all yearning hearts and faces let us see a child of God.

2. Like those first apostles, Savior, give us strength to love and serve: when our fainting spirits waver, fire our hearts and steel our nerve. Teach us wisdom and compassion: bid our restless thoughts be still; by your guidance help us fashion lives conformed unto your will.

3. Keep us faithful, Holy Spirit, help us bear the message true, that at last all lands may hear it: “God is love; Christ died for you.” Join our lives in mighty chorus till we come from every place, with all those who went before us, to the fullness of God’s grace.

Hebrew Scripture Lesson Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Jen Eich, Reader

Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ‘My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing-floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.’ She said to her, ‘All that you tell me I will do.’ So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.’ Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

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 12:38-44

As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Sermon Revolutionary Love: The Pull of the Push 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 Passacaglia Valery Antonyuk

Offering 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 Doug Hindman, Reader

Author of love and bringer of Life, in the push to birth our transformations we lift our voices with laments: As women in labor, we cannot know if we have the strength; As those who parent, we fear we know NOTHING of what is needed; as those who have lived with no need we cannot see the harm; and as those who have been harmed pushing through rage to revolution is hard. And yet: Love demands. In our many moments of hypocrisy, forgive our blindness, and open our eyes. Remind us that Divine Love is what gives even weak spirits the strength to do what must be done. We confess that our ignorance has shed tears and blood. We confess that we have accepted gain while poisoning those we choose not to see or hear. This is not what we want and we need your help to be a revolution in loving change. Help us push through our own pain until we can see and sorrow in the pain of others. Help us speak the words that soften the world, and tend the wounds, and bring to birth the kin-dom, the power, and the glory that your love envisions for us all. This love, this way, this wisdom is shown in our brother Jesus, in whose name we pray, and who taught to 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

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.

Benediction

Postlude Encantamento         Suzana Sanchez, harp

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!

About our Guest Minister…

For 34 years Peter Ilgenfritz has served as a pastor in the United Church of Christ. A native of Massachusetts, he served for 25 years as pastor and member of the leadership staff at University Congregational Church in Seattle before following a call in 2019 to walk with communities and individuals through times of change and transition.

From February 1, 2020 to October 3, 2021 Peter served as the interim pastor at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor Maine, where Steve and Sandy Bolster are summer members. Peter has been a member of Cho Bo Ji, a Rinzai Zen community in Seattle and is a graduate of Colgate University and Yale Divinity School. Peter loves running, sailing, biking, conversations, writing and a new adventure, backpacking. He just finished a week-long backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in the Shenandoah Mountains last week.

Peter’s memoir of his journey of learning to sail, Testing the Wind, is available through Coffeetown Press and his book of poetry, Setting Sail, is available through Lulu Press. For more information on his ministry of coaching, spiritual accompaniment and retreat leadership contact him at Peter@navigatingthroughchange.com or
through his website, https://navigatingthroughchange.com.

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 Canada and the United States of America and our brothers and sisters at Whites Memorial Presbyterian 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.

¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.

¨ Dear friends of Union Church,  Michael Harrington and his husband, Matthew “Freddie” Frederickson, who is very ill at UK Hospital.

¨ 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 9900 Kentucky residents, and 163 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:  November 8 – Jo Wernegreen; Nov. 10 – Mary Robert Garrett; Nov. 11 – Betty Wray, Michelle Mecham