December 12,2021, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

Third Sunday of Advent  10:30 am

Meditation “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” –Thich Nhat Hanh

From There to Here: We Gather

Gathering Music

Welcome

The Call Baruch 5:1-9 Paul Jacobs, Reader

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Lighting the Advent Wreath LaRee Jacobs

The Advent Wreath tradition reaches back to pre-Christian northern Europeans who lit candles awaiting the winter solstice. By the 1500s, both Lutherans and Catholics had adapted the Advent Wreath as a devotional way to prepare for the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. Each week as we wait through Advent, we light a new candle representing an aspect of the light God intends for all people. This Sunday the candle of JOY is lit.  

Song           Joy Waits for Us at Advent        Amanda Udis-Kessler

One:  As John baptized in the wilderness, he invited people to live with “changed hearts and lives.” These changed hearts ensure the no one is left without the basic necessities of life, including the right to not be harassed. A full life of joy, which the prophet Isaiah describes as an everflowing spring, is the birthright of all children of God. May we act to make it so.

One: Today we offer the Light of Joy to illumine the Door of Welcome. If you are lighting your candle at home, join us now and offer this blessing:

All: May this light shine in our hearts, in our lives, and in this church community. May Joy awaken us to possibilities and lead us to greater hospitality.

One: Thanks be to God: There IS room in this Inn, a House for the Holy.

Song Joy waits for us at Advent…

Passing of the Peace         

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

Lighting the Justice Candle

This third Sunday in Advent we are focusing on JOY. The Justice Candle is being lit in honor of The Christmas Basket Program and the joy of providing food and toys to members of the community through the partnership between Union Church and St. Clare Catholic Church here in Berea.  We also honor Dennis Jacobs, member of St. Clare who has spearheaded this  program which,  began many many years ago at St. Clare.  Union Church joined that program in 2015.  Early on, folks could sign up and shop for the actual food in the baskets, but  this has been simplified through the assistance of Meijer, which will take the donations and purchase the food at much better costs than we can do so individually.

The Living Word Among Us

Hymn Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates

Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 12: 2-6 Paul Jacobs, Reader

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say on that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

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 Luke 21:25-36

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’ And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’ As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Sermon Candles in the Window of Joy Rev. Kent Gilbert

Living 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.

Hymn #116 O Come ,O Come, Emmanuel (v. 3,5,7) Veni Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Child of God appear. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O come, O Adonai, who came to all on Sinai high, and from its peak a single law proclaimed in majesty and awe. Refrain.

O come, O Dayspring come and cheer, Our spirits by your advent here! Love stir within the womb of night and death’s own shadows put to flight.  Refrain.

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     Prepare the Way, O Zion       K. Wissinger

Steve Bolster and Laura Nagel, handbells

Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near! Let every hill and valley a level way appear. Greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story O blest is Christ who came in God’s most holy name. He brings God’s rule, O Zion; He comes from heaven above, His rule is peace and freedom, and justice, truth, and love. Lift high your praise resounding, for grace and joy abounding. O blest is Christ who came in God’s most holy name.

Prayers of the Community LaRee Jacobs, Reader

Giver of life and strong deliverer, you take no pleasure in suffering, no delight in hurt or harm. You joy is the right relationship of all created beings. Your call is to the joy that comes with abundant life, reconciled, restored, and redeemed. Prepare your people and call us to the window that we might see. Remind us when we forget. Heal us when we are hurting and broken. For this you sent Jesus into the world: that we might know joy and offer it to others. Thus help those of us who cannot remember how to rejoice, and those of us who cannot hear or see your hope and peace. Bring the light of joy into the darkness that all may trust and none be afraid. For surely, you are our strength and our might; and surely you bear our salvation.

[a brief silence is observed]

This we ask in the name of coming Christ, the first and last, the word made flesh, reaching 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

Benediction 

Postlude

Singing Together

Especially in Our Prayers…

Poinsettias are given …

 In memory of ….

Kevin Sean Burke and Helen Lujin by Carla Gilbert

Charles Murray by Theresa Scherf

Lois & Herman Lashley and Thelma & John Barlow by Rita & Dale Barlow

Gabriel Barlow by Rita & Dale Barlow

William Wray by Betty Wray

Guy Patrick by Kelly & Teri Mehler

Hugh Bosley, Betsy Livingston, Philip Livingston and Sally McCandless by Lisa Bosley & Reid Livingston

Stan, Betty and Greg Bolster and  John, Thelma and David Spearen by Steve & Sandy Bolster

Mary Ellen McNew by Eef Fontanez

Marie Gilbert, Helen Lujin, Kevin Burke, Gib Gilbert, Frank Hultgren and Heidren Hultgren by Kent Gilbert & Diana Hultgren

Barb Smith by Mary Lou Wiese

Pat Brunner by Martin & Gwen Hensley

Elsie Hardman by Joan English

Deborah B. Cummins “who first taught me hope,” by Jessica Cummins

Harvey & Janet Warner by Gail Wolford

Guy A. Patrick by Peggy Patrick

In honor of ….

Betty Wray by Theresa Scherf

Alva Peloquin’s 100th birthday by Kent Gilbert

Their children and grandchildren: Jason, Robin, Asa, Eli, Lisarose, Grant, & Cole by Kelly & Teri Mehler

Progressive educators everywhere by Courtney Parrish

As a gift from …

Paul & Patti Smithson

More about the Christmas Basket Program

Every year the Berea Community reaches out to our low-income neighbors to make the holidays a little easier. The Covid-19 infection makes our method very different this year. This year, Meijer will do all the grocery shopping and deliver to St. Clare. BUT if you feel like shopping – you can bring toys to Union Church between 10 am and noon weekdays until December 16. 

You can CONTRIBUTE groceries by selecting options below. Use the online form here or use the Easytithe.com/Union Page (selecting Mission and Service Fund, then putting Christmas Baskets in the memo, or you can mail a check.

All donations are greatly needed and truly appreciated. Family of (2 / $ 56) (4 / $ 60) (6 / $ 75) (8 / $ 86)

Thank you for showing the Love of Christ to those in need. This is our community reaching out. Thank you for being a part of the Christmas Light!