December 20, 2020, Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 20, 2020 10:30 am 

Meditation

The birth of Love into our lives increases our concern for the most challenging issues of our day. Justice and peace and community and care for creation–a more humane existence for all–take on heightened importance because of Love. —Kayla McClurg, “Waiting for the Light” 

From There to Here: We Gather

Welcome

As the Berea community responds to the governor’s suggestion to avoid gathering in large groups, we worship online to limit the risk of exposure to Covid-19. We’re delighted to welcome you into this virtual circle of God’s healing love and light.

Hymn People, Look East Ellacombe Betty Hibler; singer

1. People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today: Love the Guest, is on the way.

2. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim, shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Star, is on the way.

3. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth. Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way.

Lighting the Advent Wreath Carla Gilbert, Reader

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 Love is lit.  

Passing the Peace at Home

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

Today we light the Justice Candle in honor of the Christmas Basket project and its coordinator, Dennis Jacobs. St. Clare Catholic Church, Union Church, and the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) work together to contribute funds and people power to create food baskets and get them to families in need during the Christmas season. 

Christmas Pageant        Love Makes a Difference        Sue Hamilton, Used with permission

The Living Word Among Us    

Special Music The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came arr. Larry Sue Pearl Marshall and Susan Stephens; Handbells

Hebrew Scripture Lesson  2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Ally Nurre, Reader

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.’ But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.

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 1:24, 39-56  Greg Sutherland, Reader

After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, ‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’ In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.

Sermon                  Love Demands Voices of Love 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.

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”)

Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!

Offering Music

Our Prayers for Others

You are very welcome to email or phone prayer requests to the office for the bulletin. Please do so by 10 am Thursdays, and be sure you have permission to share the information.

¨ 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 Hong Kong, China and Macau; and our brothers and sisters at Kirksville 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.

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

¨ Hazel Morris, at the death of her sister-in-law.

¨ The Eschbach, Pride and Zimmerman families at Marilla Eschbach’s death.

¨ Susie Ritchie, Patty Tarter, Judy Hudson and all the family at Jon Pickow’s death.

¨ Robert Rorrer, undergoing medical tests.

¨ BG Hibbard, at the loss of her brother, Carl Hensley.

¨ Sharona Nelson’s daughter, Melinda, who is having medical difficulties.

”Karen Peterson, Joan English’s cousin, hospitalized on Long Island with Covid-19.

¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller, Lois Morgan, Barb Smith, Jan Hamilton

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

¨ 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  over 2000 Kentucky residents, and twenty-five Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

Prayers of the People Adria Sutherland, Reader

“Yes! A Thousand times Yes!” to all that your amazing love demands, Lord! Mary saw it and said “yes!” to a vision of justice and joy. Jesus saw it and said “yes” to everyone who had been told “no.” “Yes! to the outcasts, “Yes!” to the poor, the broken-hearted, the sick and the lame. “Yes” to the sinners looking for more, and “Yes,” even to those of us who think we don’t need it. May we magnify such love by whom we embrace. May your hope and joy show in our children, and your peace echo through their lives. With love, tend us, show us what is demanded of those who seek to bring about your vision. Help us now and every week to be ready to welcome a coming savior… as love demands.

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

As our service draws to a close an invitation for you to put some of your favorite hymns or carols in the chat and response boxes. Steve Bolster will start us off! After 2 or 3 of those, please join me for a zoom coffee hour! We’d love to have some real-time interaction. Pop in if you are able. We’re putting the links in the chat and comment boxes now.

Benediction

Singing Together One in Royal David’s City Irby Steve Bolster,  singer

1. Once in Royal Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her Baby in a manger for His bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child.

2. He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall; with the poor, and meek, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

3. Jesus is our childhood’s pattern, day by day like us he grew, he was little, weak and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew. And he feeleth for our sadness and he shareth in our gladness.

4. And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love; for that Child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above, and He leads His children on to the place where He is gone.

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! Let’s visit a bit!!  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761?pwd=aU5QcGt3RnRrVGRCZkZlWnFHRU9PQT09

News and Christmas Week schedule here:union-church.org/news