March 7, 2021, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

Third Sunday of Lent

March 7, 2021 10:30 am 

Meditation

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. – Coretta Scott King

There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about. –– Margaret J. Wheatley

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.

Sung Response Vessels Holy and Whole

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

Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786

The Call

We are on a journey toward wholeness, faithfully exploring what brings health to us and to our beloved community. So welcome as we continue our Lenten “season of restoration, reconciliation, and recovery.” We gather as vessels waiting to be filled, yearning to be whole, and eager to gather in the presence of love. Each person listening is welcome in this work. Let us cross the threshold to worship together.

Sung Response Vessels Holy and Whole

God gathers us as a Beachcomber gathers and marvels at every precious surviving piece of beach glass she finds. We are never alone, we are never lost to the One who seeks humanity’s wholeness. We affirm our commitment to be the Body of Christ that knows we cannot be personally healed until we see the interconnected community as part of the process of healing. Jesus has the power to re-vision the family of God in which false boundaries are overcome. In a year of devastating loss of livelihood, we consider the economic health that reimagines status quo.

Sung Response Vessels Holy and Whole

Prayer of Approach and Confession

In Prayer, let us acknowledge our need to restore, repair, renew our Holy Vessels, which include the communities of which we are a part. Let us pray: God of All, You created us for each other. You set in us a yearning for companionship and a binding empathy. We confess that too often we have broken down our relationships instead of building them up. We have been set against one another with the lie of scarcity. We have built systems and economies that widen the gap, privilege the powerful, and ignore the poor. Too many, Lord, and growing in number are your people suffering hardship, food insecurity, joblessness. We cannot fathom the proportions of loss and so we look away, sometimes even from the needs directly in plain sight. Help us, Healer. Bring out in us the compassionate community. Forgive our complacence. Move us to move  one step at a time toward greater care for one another. In this moment, we sense and acknowledge our yearning for wholeness.

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 for the Allegro Dance Project in Lexington, KY. The mission of the Allegro Dance Project is to educate, entertain and inspire new audiences by sharing the art of dance through its contemporary dance company and through its outreach program. The Inclusive Dance Outreach Program provides free dance training with live music accompaniment for students with Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder and other specific needs as a means of celebrating all abilities. During the pandemic, Allegro has continued to offer its programming virtually through zoom, by “social dis-dancing” in students’ front yards or driveways, and continues to provide small group in-person weekly Adaptive dance classes (with lots of safety measures in place!). Jeana Klevene, Founder and Director of Allegro Dance Project, describes the motivation and vision for her work: “The spark to create a more inclusive and accessible approach to dance was something I felt in my heart even as a child. Then about 11 years ago, I had the pleasure of teaching a young man with autism in an open adult ballet class. His determination and sheer enjoyment of movement helped me discover my calling and I knew I couldn’t ignore that spark any longer. I was moved to find a way to provide this experience for more children and young adults with specific needs, and the journey to create Allegro Dance Project began. Last year, we had the privilege of sharing the joys and benefits of dance with over 450 students with specific needs. ” The motto of the Allegro Dance Project is “We Move to Move You!”

The Living Word Among Us    

Singing Together  Community of Christ        

1. Community of Christ, who make the Cross your own, live out your creed and risk your life for God alone: the God who wears your face, to whom all worlds belong, whose children are of every race and every song.

2. Community of Christ, look past the Church’s door and see the refugee, the hungry, and the poor. Take hands with the oppressed, the jobless in your street, take towel and water, that you wash your neighbor’s feet.

3. Community of Christ, through whom the word must sound — cry out for justice and for peace the whole world round: disarm the powers that war and all that can destroy, turn bombs to bread, and tears of anguish into joy.

4. When menace melts away, so shall God’s will be done, the climate of the world be peace and Christ its Sun; our currency be love and kindliness our law, our food and faith be shared as one forevermore.

Sung Psalm Psalm 19

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: O God, you are my rock and my redeemer.

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens God has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hidden from its heat. R

The law of God is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of God are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of God are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of God is pure, enduring for ever; the ordinances of God are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O God, my rock and my redeemer. R

Hebrew Scripture Lesson Exodus 20:1-17 Jenny Bromley, Reader

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

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  John 2:13-22 Hazel Morris, Reader

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Sermon Holy Vessels: Community Spread (The Good Kind) Rev. Kent Gilbert

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 Pastorale

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.

One: 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

In the beginning you breathed life into raw materials, creating and animating containers of beauty and goodness. We, your Holy Vessels, were fired in the kiln of love until we shined with your light. Susceptible to shattering, we find ourselves broken, unable at times to remember your promise of repair. You remind us time and again that, though broken,  we are held in your presence and made whole by your grace. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ, Holy Vessel of Divine Presence on earth. Your Spirit anointed him as a container of grace in the form of preaching good news to the poor, proclaiming release to the captives recovering of sight to the blind, setting at liberty those who are oppressed, and announcing that the time had come when you would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry,  and ate with those considered too broken for company. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to the path of healing and recovery, delivered us from our despair and isolation, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

When Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always. In the power of your Word and Holy Spirit, we are not alone. On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “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 vessels. We remember the overturn of lives that led only to death, and the promise through this blood of the life eternal: we are not forsaken, not lifeless, not alone.

Come Holy Spirit, come and bless our meal, turnover the tables of despair and set us to the community spread of your bounty. For the health of all we pray.

Prayers of the People            Emmanuel J. Stokes

Healer of separation and fear, hear our cries for healing of body, mind, and spirit. We know that you are at work among us showing us the way to recovery. As broken pieces scattered and separated, We trust that you are seeking us, gathering us into wholeness, and calling us to beloved

community. We pray especially for those who are feeling helpless, whose disparity of resources has been made even more pronounced during this pandemic. We pray gratefully to all who have been searching for solutions to alleviate the suffering of those they know and those they do not know. We ask for courage and encouragement to help us reach out to those we do not yet know. And we pray, as you 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.   

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 Ireland; United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and our brothers and sisters at Dixie Park Cornerstone 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.

¨ The family of Helen Connelly, at her passing.

¨ Richard Olson, recovering from surgery at St, Joseph Hospital, Main.

¨ 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.

¨ Fred and Dale Brown, with Fred’s health issues, and Dale as she cares for him.

¨ 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 4000 Kentucky residents, and ninety Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

From Here to There

Taking Our Prayers into the Week

I invite you to take all your pieces of broken glass and put them in a bowl.

As you do so, think about the people you have encountered or heard about in the last few months who are suffering lack of support. What could we do to reach out and to focus on healing of the parts of the human community we don’t spend time thinking about enough?

To what part of our community shall we say “I will come…” ?

Then shift your thinking to your need to be cared for. What do you need to feel safe? What connections do you need to strengthen to heal any isolation you may feel? If you are in need of something, consider this an invitation to let someone know what you need without feeling embarrassment or shame about it. Jesus invites us, always, to ask.

Take a moment to think on this and then when you are ready, pick up the container of broken pieces and breathe (“spirare”) deeply, inviting that Spirit to live and move in you in a special way to strengthen your connection to others and your role in making someone’s life more safe. Keep the bowl in a place you can see regularly this week… perhaps on your dining table.

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

· Tuesdays – Kentucky Council of Churches Prayer in Action Days https: //www.facebook.com/groups/kycouncilofchurches

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

· Wednesdays, 6:30 pm—Kentuckiana Assocation of the United Church of Christ, worship services during Lent  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88690638991?pwd=MFBXVkpGL1REcSsrTkxXQVkwejE4dz09

· 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