March 28, 2021, Worship Bulletin & Prayer Concerns

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

Palm Sunday 10:30 am

Meditation

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ― William James

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.

Gospel Lesson Matthew 11:1-11

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Singing Together All Glory, Laud and Honor

1. All glory, laud, and honor to you, O Christ, we sing, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring! The people of the Hebrews with palms adorned your way; our praise and prayer and anthems we offer you this day.

2. O Promised One of Israel, of David’s royal line, the one called “God’s beloved,” of flesh and yet divine, to you, before your passion, they sang their hymns of praise; to you, now high exalted, our melody we raise.

3. As you received their praises, receive our prayers today. Whose justice and whose mercy and sovereignty hold sway. All glory, laud, and honor to you, O Christ, we sing, to whom the lips of children made swet hosannas ring!

Worship Song Vessels Holy and Whole

Vessels, holy and whole; Broken, needing the One; Open, body and soul; Healer, come.

The Call Grace McKenzie

Sung Response Vessels Holy and Whole

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Silence Is Observed

Sung Response Vessels Holy and Whole

Words of Assurance  

Passing the Peace at Home

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

Today we light the Justice Candle in honor of Matilda Hamilton Fee, born In 1824 in Bracken County, KY, near the Ohio River which was a final stop along the Underground Railroad and where her mother once served a slave owner tea while an escaped slave hid in the basement. She may have been used to a certain level of danger, then, before she married the Reverend John G. Fee , also born in Bracken County,  and joined his “covenant with God to preach in [their] native state the gospel of love, of justice, and of liberty,”  Thus they moved with their three children to Berea KY with the mission to found Berea College.

In his writings, John describes Matilda as having a unique blend of qualities that supported the mission. It was “that affection, sympathy, courage, cheer, activity, frugality and endurance, which few could combine and which greatly sustained me in the dark and trying hours that attended most of our pathway.”

By 1859, the area became dangerous for them. While Rev. Fee was detained in Cincinnati, she had to gather up her children and escape an angry mob of men opposed to the mission of the school So Matilda, without her husband, gathered up their children and joined the caravan of wagons for the journey described as a treacherous journey made difficult by rains and melting snow. She lost a son to the cold on that journey north.

However, she was the first to return to Berea to live. In 1862, at the height of the Civil War, with her two older children in a buggy she made the journey back. The Union flag painted on the wagon enabled her to pass through where Union troops were stationed for the Battle of Richmond, which the Union ultimately lost. John was a day behind her, but as Matilda hid her horse and buggy in the woods so it would not be stolen on the day of battle, John and his 11-year-old son turned back. Again cool in the face of danger, Matilda hid her silverware in the eaves of the house and chatted with Confederate soldiers as they marched through town.

During her time as first lady of Berea College, she was president of the Ladies’ Board of Care, served in the Council of the Dean of Women and was a member of the Women’s Temperance Union. Fee took on the role of friend, sister and mother to not only her six children, but the community as well. Among her various contributions, she organized and led prayer meetings and helped grow the early Berea community.

Fee said she never regretted that her name and fame were bound to that of her husband, and her devotion to the College and its cause are evident in her life and death. She died in 1895 and is buried in the Berea Cemetery. Matilda Fee is now remembered as a pioneer and old-fashioned heroine who was as brave as she was faithful. Later, President William Frost would say she was “a friend, a sister, a mother to us all.”

The Living Word Among Us    

Sung Psalm Psalm 118:1-2,19-29

The psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form with congregational responses. Please sing the response when invited.

Response: The righteous shall enter the gate of God.

O give thanks to God for God is good; God’s steadfast love endures forever. Let all Israel say, “God’s steadfast love endures forever.”

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to God. This is the gate of God; and the righteous shall enter through it. R

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is God’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that God has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beseech you, O God! O God, we beseech you, give us success! R

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God. We bless you from the house of God. The Sovereign is God, and God has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. O give thanks to God, for God is good, for God’s steadfast love endures forever. R

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. 

Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 50:4-9a Hazel Morris, Reader

The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Sermon Holy Vessels: the Broken Road to Wholeness 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

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 the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia; and our brothers and sisters at Farristown 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.

¨ Teri VanPelt, with a difficult medical diagnosis.

¨ Robert Rorrer, undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

¨ Richard Olson, recovering from surgery.

¨ Lois Morgan, recovering from a broken wrist.

¨ 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.

¨ Dale Brown, at Fred’s death.

¨ Judith Singelton’s daughter, Stephanie, recovering well from surgery.

¨ 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 5500 Kentucky residents, and one hundred three Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

Prayers of the People Grace McKenzie

Healer of brokenness, hear our heartfelt cry for transformation. Remind us that though we are fragile and easily broken, we have the ability to change and to heal. Even when we don’t believe it, we know that there is beauty in our brokenness. We pray especially for those who feel as if there is no end to sorrow, for all who wonder if we’ll ever be able to gain traction toward peace and justice. We give thanks for the words and actions of those who offer hope. Help us, too, to offer love and hope, as love demands, in this journey of compassion called life. And as we journey, we pray these words…

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

Taking Our Prayers into the Week

For this week, consider using your palms to decorate your door, or perhaps your table as a reminder of “preparing the way.” If you have sea glass, tumbled by storm and abraded by sand, keep a piece close to you this week as we retell the story of Jesus broken road to redemptive love. We keep these symbols close because they unite both our fractures and our graces into the story of Love’s demands. Let both realities be present in your thoughts and prayers as we move toward a greater unity with Spirit and with Resurrection.

Invitation to Connection

Sending & Blessing

Sung Response Vessels Holy and Whole

Vessels, holy and whole; Broken, needing the One; Open, body and soul; Healer, come.

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! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761

· Sundays, 9:30 am! Book Study led by Steve Connelly Register here so we can send you a link 

· Tuesday, Thursday &  Saturday Meditations with Rev. Shannon Abbott  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpIl_p8CabDEIS9ytj-xXm2vVDg_hyN03

· Wednesday, 10:00 am – Coffee Hour with Rev. Kent,. Registration link will be sent in Monday Announcements.

· Thursdays, 10:30 am – Bible Study with Rev. Carla, 10:30 am. Register here

· Join the Union Church Facebook Group – it’s a bit less church business, a bit more fellowship and cat videos, administered by our Community Life & Growth Board – Union Church Facebook Group