Sunday, November 22, 2020, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

Christ the King Sunday

November 22, 2020 10:30 am 

Meditation

“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.” ―Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together 

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 Breathe into Me Ted Loder, from Guerillas of Grace Bob Boyce, Reader 

O God, empty me of angry judgments, and aching disappointments, and anxious trying, and breathe into me something like quietness and confidence, that the lion and the lamb in me may lie down together and be led by a trust as straightforward as a little child.

Catch my pride and doubt off guard that, at least for the moment, I may sense your presence and your caring, and be surprised by a sudden joy rising in me now to sustain me in the coming then.

Passing the Peace at Home

Building the Community: News that Connects Us

Today we light the Justice Candle in memory of Carol Lamm, who left us far too soon. An active member of the Friends community, Carol was an advocate for peace through justice.  

She worked to increase economic opportunity in Eastern Kentucky and educational equity across the state.  She helped to establish both MACED and Berea College’s Brushy Fork Institute.  In addition, Carol served on the Board of the Pritchard Committee for Academic Excellence. 

Carol was a dancer, a thoughtful neighbor, a community leader, and a mentor to many.  One colleague stated that “Carol had a knack for shining light at times and in places where it was sorely needed.” 

As a mother, she raised two intelligent, productive, and conscientious children who will pass on much of her wisdom to their communities and the next generation.

In her professional work with non-profit organizations, Carol was a mentor to many people with her skills in group process and accounting.  She held several roles at The Mountain Association (for Economic Development) over the years, including interim Executive Vice President and Operations and Finance Director.  And she was the first Director of the Brushy Fork Institute (for leadership development) at Berea College.

In her volunteer efforts, she worked to improve education in Kentucky through the Kentucky Association of School Councils (local council member, trainer) and the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence (board member, Finance Committee chair).

She had a beautiful singing voice and sang as a choir member and a soloist on many occasions, most recently with the Berea Classic Chorale.

The Living Word Among Us    

Special Music Let All Things Now Living Union Church Handbell Ensemble

Hebrew Scripture Lesson  Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

Triss Holland, Reader

For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

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              Matthew 25:31-46 Jane Warth, Reader

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

Sermon                     The Shepherd, The Sheep, And The Least Little Things 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

Silent Reflection and Prayer

In our prayers and meditation today, remember all the small gestures that have come to you and made the world better. Let’s offer up our thanks, and lay aside all worries of how this week, this year will be different. Instead let us fill ourselves with gratitude.

With thanksgiving inside you, allow your heart to formulate how you will pass it forward: how will you offer some blessing to others this week? God, who is shepherd of us all will guide you. Seek to leave behind all that is harmful and ask if a door to your best self might be opened. You are beloved, you are cherished. God will lead you to green pastures.

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 East Timor (Timor Leste), Indonesia, Philippines; and our brothers and sisters at Bethlehem 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.

¨ Linda Parsons, and all the family, at the death of her grandson, Lucas Parsons, age 10.

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

¨ Jo Wernegreen, who has broken her femur.

¨ Ashley Hammond, recovering from ankle surgery.

¨ 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, Betsy Hoefer.

¨ 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 1000 Kentucky residents, and sixteen Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

Prayers of the People Kim Kobersmith, Reader

How do we say thanks in this year of sorrows? Yet, Lord, how can we forget your mercies and help? We are tossed and we are separated; we fear the outer darkness, yet are never sure if we have done enough, or have chosen the right over the wrong. So this we ask: in your reign over all that is good, and in this year that is swiftly turning, grant us yet a little time to show the love we have. Give ear to our laments, but hear loudly our Thanksgiving for all that makes life possible and dear. Heal those who are ill, and guide us to those with needs. We will tend them with the care you have offered us. Help us clothe the naked, and cheer those behind bars and those imprisoned by invisible walls of hate and prejudice. Out of bounty help us feed those too close to nothing and too sad to see any hope. This is our thanks and this is your reign: to bring good news to those in need. What life you give us, what joy we have even in this time! You make a way in the wilderness and set a table before us and welcome us like children long lost or seldom seen. As we gather alone and together this week, be present at every table, and with your blessing lift our spirits, our hearts, and our heads to know your glory burning through our troubles and showing us what love looks like. We are thankful, Lord. We are your people. Hear our praise and grant us your peace, we pray.

Hear us in the name of Jesus our brother, 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

Hymn For the Fruit of All Creation Ar Hyd yNos

Robert Rorrer, singer

1. For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God; for the gifts of every nation, thanks be to God; for the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping, future needs in earth’s safe-keeping, thanks be to God.  

2. In the just reward of labor, God’s will is done. In the help we give our neighbor, God’s will is done. In our worldwide task of caring for the hungry and despairing, in the harvests we are sharing, God’s will is done.

3. For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God. For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us, most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God.

The Sending and Blessing

Postlude Now We Thank our God         Cruger

Carlie Geyer, violin and Caroline Geyer, cello

Come to Coffee Hour after worship! Let’s visit a bit!!  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761?pwd=aU5QcGt3RnRrVGRCZkZlWnFHRU9PQT09