November 11 bulletin

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

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost November 11, 2012

Meditation

“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

                                                                                    —Mitch Albom  

Gathering to Worship

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude     I’ll Praise My Maker (Old 113th)      Gerald Near

*  Call to Worship

One:     Let us come to the source of life, my friends. Let us come to the home of righteousness.

All:      God is as close as breathing, as near as a heart-beat.

One:     In God’s presence we can rejoice. In the presence of the people we can be glad!

All:     With heart and soul, with mind and body let us sing and worship the God who calls us home.

*  Opening Hymn  Come, Christians, Join to Sing            Madrid

*  Prayer of Approach and Confession 

One:     We bring our flawed lives to God, not so much to be made perfect, but to be whole. Let us confess our sins to God, trusting the One who builds joy from our despair. Let us pray…

All:      Bountiful Love: our self-focus causes us to imagine how poor we are. We are convinced we don’t have enough: enough honor, enough respect, enough recognition, enough to live on.  And so, in our poverty, we cannot trust you, we cannot see the emptiness of others, we cannot help but cling to more than we need. Forgive us, Bestower of Blessings. Tell us we can be more loving; whisper to us of how we can be more compassionate; sing to us of how we can serve others – all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

      [Silence is observed for reflection]

*Words of Assurance

One:     With loving arms we are made whole; not by our efforts, and not by any work we have done, but with Jesus’ transforming love. Out of the riches of grace, God pours forgiveness into our lives, so we might live in hope and joy.

All:      Thanks be to God! Amen.

*  Passing the Peace of Christ

All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.

Hearing the word

Anthem    Hallelujah       Ludwig van Beethoven  (from “Mount of Olives”)      

Berea College Homecoming Choir

Lindsay Clavere, piano                      Stephen Bolster, conductor

Hallelujah unto God’s almighty Son.  Praise the Lord, ye bright angelic choirs, in holy songs of joy.  Man, proclaim his grace and glory.  Hallelujah unto God’s almighty son.  Praise the Lord in holy songs of joy.  

Lesson from the Psalms              Psalm 127

The Psalm states that unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

Children’s Moment                                 As the children return to their seats we sing:

May God’s presence 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.

After Children’s moment our youngest members may return to their seats, go to the nursery in Knapp Hall Room 102 (Nursery is in the back left corner when entering the front of Knapp—ushers will be glad to direct you), or participate in Children’s Church on level 1a in Presser.

Epistle Lesson                  Hebrews 9:24-28

Jesus honors the poor in his society, those despised and abandoned, in the name of a love that cannot be oppressed.

Sermon    “Great Expectations”      Rev. Gail E. Bowman

Prayers of the People

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 Kiyosato, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.

Silent Prayers & Prayers of the Community 

Our Lord’s Prayer         

            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.

Offering Our Gifts

Offertory  Et in Terra Pax/Dona Nobis Pacem   Francois Couperin

*  Doxology             Avery/Marsh

*  Prayer of Thanksgiving

Walking Forward in Faith

*Closing Hymn  Great Is Your Faithfulness

*  Benediction and Sending Forth

*   Choral Response          The Lord Bless You and Keep You     John Rutter

                                Berea College Homecoming Choir                                 Text:  Numbers vi, 24

Stephen Bolster, conductor

The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.  The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace.  Amen.

    Postlude   Plein Jeu a la Couperin          Gordon Young

_____________________________

¨   Those who wish to  may stand