February 7, 2021, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 7, 2021 10:30 am 

God of the threshold, this we pray: that what comes in enters by consent, by invitation that what passes through crosses over with grace, with mercy that what dwells within resides in delight, in integrity that what goes forth emerges for peace, for blessings. – Jan Richardson, Night Visions

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.

The Call Eagle Poem Joy Harjo Laurinda Pool, Reader

To pray you open your whole self to sky, to earth, to sun, to moon, to one whole voice that is you. And know there is more that you can’t see, can’t hear; can’t know except in moments steadily growing, and in languages that aren’t always sound but other circles of motion. Like eagle that Sunday morning over Salt River. Circled in blue sky, in wind, swept our hearts clean with sacred wings. We see you, see ourselves and know that we must take the utmost care and kindness in all things. Breathe in, knowing we are made of all this, and breathe, knowing we are truly blessed because we were born, and die soon within a true circle of motion, like eagle rounding out the morning inside us. We pray that it will be done in beauty. In beauty.

Passing the Peace at Home

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

The Justice Candle is lit today to honor Carter G. Woodson. Berea College’s distinguished 1903 alumnus.  Dr. Carter G. Woodson is widely known as the “Father of Black History.” Woodson was born to formerly enslaved African Americans. He was determined to get an education and, through self-instruction, learned the fundamentals of common school subjects before attending Berea College. While at Berea College, Dr. Woodson attended Union Church. He committed himself to the field of African American history and diligently worked to make sure the subject was studied by scholars and taught in schools. He formalized that by establishing Negro History Week in February 1926 to promote the study of African American history. The program was later expanded and renamed Black History Month.

The Living Word Among Us    

Special Music A Festive Chime K. McChesney Handbell Ensemble

Hebrew Scripture Lesson         Isaiah 40:21-31       

Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth. It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

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 1:29-39 Doug Hindman, Reader

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Sermon     Upward and Outward            Rev. Kent Gilbert

Living Prayer

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

Responding to God’s Love In Communion

 Invitation to Communion

One:  The Lord Be with you!

All:   And also with those you cherish.

One:  Lift up your hearts!

All: We lift them to the Lord.

One: Let us give thanks to God!

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Gathered in the light of God’s care let us open ourselves to hope and healing.   If you have a candle with you let’s light it now.

Christ stands with us in every human circumstance, and attends us at every table. Today we remember that despite separation, still we are united. As we connect, please put in the comments or in the chat, what you are most hoping to be in touch with: the people, the ideas, the struggles. Com-Union. By this act together, add in what and who you are praying for.

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.

Communion Prayer

Sanctus     Please join in singing:

Santo! Santo! Santo! Mi Corazon te adora!
Mi corazon te sabe decir; santo eres Dios.
Holy, holy, holy, my heart, my heart adores you!
My heart is glad to say the words; you are holy, God.

Words of Institution

We remember that on the night of his betrayal, Jesus gathered with the disciples in an upper room. There he took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to the disciples saying “Take, eat. This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Take now your meal, and as you lift it to share: let us remember the long road through God’s gifts and people that bring this blessing to us: the blessing of water and field, of labor to plant and harvest, mill and bake, to carry, wrap, stock, sell, store and serve. Remembering our common lot and our mutual dependence on such gifts, take now this meal of long love and care. We eat and we remember: in Christ’s name.
Next we remember that Jesus took the cup. He poured, And again blessing it, shared it with his disciples saying “this cup is my blood, my life, poured out in a new covenant for you. Take and drink it all of you.
As we pour we remember the life-giving elements that fill our cup. We remember the life poured into us by a loving Jesus who didn’t come to condemn but to love and shepherd us to wider life and deeper peace.
A table is set before us in the presence of all our antagonizing anxieties: take and drink of this old promise made new.

Prayers of the People

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.   

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 Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, and Vatican City and our brothers and sisters at Faith Decision Baptist 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.

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

¨ 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 fifty-seven Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

From Here to There

Singing Together

The Sending & Blessing

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.”

Come to Coffee Hour after worship! Let’s visit a bit!!  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761