December 26, 2021, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

10:30 am

Meditation

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.

From There to Here: We Gather

Welcome

Hymn Now Is the Time Approaching

1 Now is the time approaching, by prophets long foretold, when all shall dwell together, secure and manifold. Let war be learned no longer, let strife and tumult cease, all earth one blessed garden, that God shall tend in peace.
2 Let all that now divides us remove and pass away, like mists of early morning before the blaze of day. Let all that now unites us more sweet and lasting prove, a closer bond of union, in blessed lands of love.
3 O long expected dawning, come with your cheering ray! Yet shall the promise beckon, and lead us not astray. O sweet anticipation! It cheers the watchers on, to pray, and hope, and labor, til Christ’s new realm is come.

Passing of the Peace          

The Living Word Among Us

Special Music God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Epistle Lesson Colossians 3:12-17

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Hymn Let Us Put on the Clothes of Christ

Refrain: Let us put on the clothes of Christ and live as equals with everyone. Let us put on the clothes of Christ and reunite the family of God.

1. Jew and Greek will live side by side with the garments of justice on. And every door will be open wide in that sweet and delightful dawn. Hate and fear shall not come between. Oh, let us unite in love! We’ll celebrate our diversity as we welcome the reign of God.

2. All the captives will be set free, with … Discrimination will cease to be, in that …. To the poor we will bring good news. Oh let us … Our faith will travel beyond the pews,  as we welcome

3. Men and women will live as one, With equal privilege for everyone Domination will finally end. The pains of history we will mend

4. Let us rise up completely new living fully in Christ, we’ll bloom like the threads of a tapestry, and weave a joyful community

Gospel Reading Luke 2:41-52

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Sermon Rev. Kent Gilbert

Living Prayer

Special Music Encantamento

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.

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 Whence Is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing Pearl Marshall and Susan Stephens, Handbells

Prayers of the Community

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.

Special Music “Where Is It Now” by Ruth McLain Smith, McLain Family Music, BMI Used by kind Permission of the Artist and performers.

From Here to There

Benediction 

Postlude

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.”

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 Japan, North Korea and South Korea and our brothers and sisters at Wayside Christian 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, Lois Morgan, Jan Hamilton, Laura Robie, Tom & Dorie Hubbard, Sally Zimmerman

¨ 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.

¨ 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 12,000 Kentucky residents, and 212 Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

Dalton Singleton, friend of Claudia Munson-Schrumpf, who is ill and trying a new medication with potential side effects, and his wife.

¨ John & Shelly McChesney, and all those touched by her  love of music, children and teaching, at Mary Miler’s death.

¨ The family, many friends and colleagues of bell hooks, at her passing.

Joan English’s dad, George Hardman, who spent several days last week in Baptist Health Richmond Hospital, being treated for a nasty UTI.

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

Birthdays coming up: Dec. 27-Sue Peterson Blyth; 28-Iris Bailey; 29-Paul Smithson;30-Joseph Jacobs; Jan. 1-Jerry Cooper

Anniversaries: Jan. 3-Thomas & Sarabeth Brownrobie