Service of Christian Unity

Sunday, June 22, A.D. 2008

Columbia United Church of Christ l First Lutheran Church l First Presbyterian Church

Barberton, Ohio

June 22, A.D. 2008 X 10:00 a.m. X Gazebo at Lake Anna

Barberton, Ohio

Prelude

Mixed-Up Strings ? First Lutheran Church

Welcome

The Rev. Ralph Young ? Columbia United Church of Christ

Call to Worship and Opening Scriptural Sentences

The Rev. Ralph Young ? Columbia United Church of Christ

Leader: Let us worship God. A hesitant question and a hopeful heart,

People: A patient answer and a tender smile,

Leader: A search for truth,

People: An openness to share.

Leader: We journey toward God and each other,

People: Seeking understanding and unity.

Leader: In the name of Christ,

People: Who makes us one.

*Hymn

Please rise as able ? Hymn chosen by First Lutheran Church

“They’ll Know We Are Christians”

Call to Confession

The Rev. Reford B. Nash ? First Presbyterian Church

Leader: The proof of God's amazing love for us is this: that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. It is in this same Jesus, because we have faith in him, that we dare now, with confidence, to approach God. Let us ask God to forgive us.

Prayer of Confession

The Rev. Reford B. Nash ? First Presbyterian Church

Leader: Loving and gracious God, we confess before you and before each other that we have sinned by building walls that divide the Body of Christ.

People: Forgive us, O God.

Leader: We have sinned by claiming our differences as more important than our unity.

People: Forgive us, O God.

Leader: We have sinned by not honoring each other’s gifts and traditions.

People: Forgive us, O God.

Leader: We have sinned by not showing our love for you, O God, in caring relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

People: Forgive us, O God, and grant us a new experience of unity, in word and in deed. Amen.

Declaration of God’s Forgiveness

The Rev. Reford B. Nash ? First Presbyterian Church

Leader: Hear the good news! The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to rescue sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross; that we might be dead to sin, but alive to all that is good. Therefore I declare unto you, in the name of that same Christ, you are forgiven.

People: As you are forgiven too. Amen.

A Moment with Children

Mrs. Patricia Neidert – Director of Christian Education ? First Presbyterian Church

First Scripture Lesson

Jeremiah 31:31-34 ? Read by Ms. Sue Hayes ? Columbia United Church of Christ

Second Scripture Lesson

First Corinthians 2:1-5 ? Read by Mr. Peter Schanz ? First Lutheran Church

Gospel Lesson

John 17:1-11 ? Read by Mrs. Deborah Rutan ? First Presbyterian Church

Sermon

“One in the Spirit”

The Rev. Christopher Bartholomew ? First Lutheran Church

*Creed

Ecumenical Apostles’ Creed ? The Rev. Ralph Young ? Columbia United Church of Christ

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of the People

The Rev. Ralph Young ? Columbia United Church of Christ

Sharing the Peace of Christ and Greeting One Another

The Rev. Ralph Young ? Columbia United Church of Christ

Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.

People: And also with you.

Leader: Please rise as you are able, and greet one another with the same greeting, and other appropriate words of welcome, as we prepare ourselves for the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Offering

Call for the Offering ? Offertory ? Doxology ? Dedicatory Prayer

The Rev. Ralph Young ? Columbia United Church of Christ

Offertory Music: Mixed-Up Strings ? First Lutheran Church

All loose offerings will be donated to Barberton Area Community Ministries (BACM). Offerings in church envelopes will be sent to the churches indicated. Checks not in envelopes will be distributed according to the notation on the check.

*Communion Hymn

Please rise as able ? Hymn chosen by First Presbyterian Church

“Let us Break Bread Together”

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

The Rev. Reford B. Nash ? First Presbyterian Church

Great Thanksgiving and Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer used today is the “Ecumenical Version”

Led by the Revs. Christopher W. Bartholomew, Reford B.Nash, and Ralph Young

Leader: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Leader: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Leader: Loving God, the Source of all, we thank you and praise you with our lips and with our lives; that, having created us and all things through your Word, you welcome and accept our prayer and praise. For the goodness of creation and the glory of redemption to which you call us, we praise you. For the law of holiness inviting our obedience, and the call of prophets, rebuking our disobedience, we praise you. With all that is, both seen and unseen, and with all the faithful of every time and place, we join in praise:

People: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might: Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Leader: Loving God, the Holy One: we offer you praise and thanksgiving over this bread and this cup; because in Jesus Christ, your only-begotten, you have forever joined yourself to us, uniting heaven and earth. We gratefully recall and remember the wonder of Jesus’ incarnation, his birth as one of us, his baptism for our sin, his compassion for our suffering, his intimacy with our frailty, his rebuke of our pride, his bearing of the cross with its death, and his rising from the tomb by the power of God. It was he who on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread and gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, and eat: this is my body given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. According to his command and the promise of his presence, we affirm the mystery of faith:

People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Leader: Loving God, Creative Power: blessing your name, we seek your Spirit. Come to us and bless these gifts of bread and wine; that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ, the sign and seal of our forgiveness in Christ, and our adoption as the children of God. As we eat and drink together, make us one with Christ and one in Christ a sign of his eternal reign in all the world. This sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving we offer you, loving God, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God to ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Leader: With the confidence of the children of God, let us pray:

People: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The Rev. Christopher Bartholomew ? First Lutheran Church

Communion of the People

Communion is served by representatives from each of the three sponsoring congregations.

Communion Music: Mixed-Up Strings ? First Lutheran Church

Prayer after Communion

Unison ? Led by the Rev. Ralph Young ? Columbia United Church of Christ

We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life; and we pray that in your mercy you would strengthen us, through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Hymn

Please rise as able ? Hymn chosen by Columbia United Church of Christ

“I Come to the Garden Alone”

*Pastoral Blessing

The Rev. Reford B. Nash ? First Presbyterian Church

Postlude

Mixed-Up Strings ? First Lutheran Church

acknowledgements

Fellowship and Refreshments

All are invited to share a moment of fellowship, following worship. Coffee, tea, and cold drinks have been provided by Columbia United Church of Christ, donuts by First Lutheran Church, and cookies by First Presbyterian Church.

Ushers

Each of the three participating congregations has provided ushers.

Communion Servers

The Rev. Ralph Young ? Columbia United Church of Christ

The Rev. Christopher W. Bartholomew ? First Lutheran Church

The Rev. Reford B. Nash ? First Presbyterian Church.

Setup

Mike Keenan and Mike Rosinski ? First Presbyterian Church

Organist

Ms. Yvonne Barnes ? First Presbyterian Church

Instrumental Ensemble

Mixed-Up Strings ? First Lutheran Church