January 31, 2021, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

January 31, 2021 10:30 am 

Meditation

Loving God, help me be the face of joy to someone who might be struggling today. If I am facing struggles of my own, gently guide my thoughts toward gratitude, that I may rejoice always in you. Amen.   — Beth Richardson

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 from Where Is God? Mark Nepo Doug Hindman, Reader

It’s as if what is unbreakable—the very pulse of life—waits for everything else to be torn away, and then in the bareness that only silence and suffering and great love can expose, it dares to speak through us and to us. It seems to say, if you want to last, hold on to nothing. If you want to know love, let in everything. If you want to feel the presence of everything, stop counting the things that break along the way.

Passing the Peace at Home

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

The Justice Candle for today is lit for the Kairos Center for Religion, Rights and Social Justice which works to strengthen and support transformation movements for Social Change that can draw on the power of Religions and Human Rights.  It seeks to raise up generations of religious and community  leaders committed to the unity and organization of the poor to end poverty— a vision based on everyone’s human right to the things we all need to survive.

We honor Rev. Dr.  Liz Theoharis, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian USA and is the Director of the Center and founder and Coordinator of the Poverty Initiative.  Together with Dr. William Barber II, she has Co-Chaired the Poor Peoples Campaign- a National Call for a Moral Revival which has prepared a Moral Agenda from which to work.

The Living Word Among Us    

Special Music River Pam Perry

Hebrew Scripture Lesson Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Laurinda Pool, Reader

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: ‘If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.’ Then the Lord replied to me: ‘They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.’

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 1:21-28

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Sermon W.I.S.E. Teaching 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

Silent Reflection and Prayer

As we pray today, or later when you have a minute to yourself: laundry, doing dishes, or quietly meditating: let us hand over any dis-ease we detect to the healing hand of God. Hold gently the places you feel fragile, not well, or not quite right. Breathing in the experience of those who stood with Jesus, surround those places, those feelings, those distresses with the authority of healing that love demands. Allow the loving will of God to separate you from anxiety and to open you to new support. Strive to be WISE in your well-being, and WISE for the well-being of others. As the holy one welcomes us even in our fragility, so we include and support all in need of healing, engaged in the active prayer of care.

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 Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Western Sahara, Tunisia and our brothers and sisters at Church on the Rock 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.

¨ Rhonda Cardwell’s stepmother, 97, hospitalized with pneumonia (thankfully not COVID). Her father has been her primary caregiver and is getting more frail. Family is there and able to help, but both need prayers.

¨ 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.

¨ Ellen Mink, and all the family, at the death of her husband, Cecil.

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

Prayers of the People Jeff Pool, Reader

We give praise and thanks to you, O God, for in Christ you have given us life: with healing of bodies and minds; with compassion for our infirmities and shortcomings; with guidance to shelter the vulnerable and to seek the righteous, inclusive peace, over the privilege of mere quiet for the powerful few. You commanded the disciples to heal the sick, and work your ministry through us to this day. Keep us mindful, merciful, and loving, this day, no matter what else befalls us. Our faithfulness is our gratitude throughout all our days. 
This we pray in the name of our brother Jesus, who taught us to reach 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

Singing Together You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore Pescador de hombres Anthony Smallwood, singing & plating guitar

 Lord, you have come down to the lakeshore looking neither for wealthy or wise ones, You only asked me to follow humbly.

Refrain: O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me and while smiling; have spoken my name. Now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me; by your side I will seek other seas.

You know so well my possessions, my boat carries no gold and no weapons; you will find there my nets and labor. Refrain.

You need my hands full of caring, through my labors to give others rest, and constant love that keeps on loving. Refrain.

 You who have fished other oceans, ever longed-for by souls who are waiting; my loving friend as thus you call me. Refrain.

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