A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Proper 14 of the Season after Pentecost 10:30 am
Meditation
“We will never be able to build what we have not first cherished in our hearts.” ~ Joanna Macy
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude Variations on “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” arr. Raymond Haan
Welcome
Welcome to this service of worship! Please sign in using the pew folder, passing it back down the row so all can greet one another by name, and place the sheet in an offering plate. We’re glad you’re here! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “<>.”
¨ The Call Pam Chabora, Reader
One: Envision a world filled with kindness and compassion, where justice rolls down like a river. Imagine the possibilities within this time, this place, as we open ourselves to the presence of the Divine.
All: Hearts open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, trusting that God’s power can do immeasurably more than all that is asked or imagined, we dream dreams this day.
One: Dreams of renewed health; of poverty and war erased by just and faithful care; of families and nations at peace; of communities thriving in all the riotous colors God made us to celebrate:
All: May worship to ignite faith and power in all to live lives saturated in God’s love and mercy.
¨ Hymn #575 O for a World Azmon
- O for a world where everyone
respects each other’s ways,
Where love is lived and all is done
With justice and with praise.
2. O for a world where goods are shared
and misery relieved,
Where truth is spoken, children spared,
Equality achieved.
3. We welcome one world family,
And struggle with each choice
That opens us to unity
And gives our vision voice.
4. The poor are rich, the weak are strong,
The foolish ones are wise.
Tell all who mourn: outcasts belong,
Who perishes will rise.
5. O for a world preparing for
God’s glorious reign of peace,
Where time and tears will be no more,
And all but love will cease.
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: You have a vision of all people as your beloved children, Imaginative God, but we see folks whose language, dress, and skin make them different. You have a vision of a universe filled with goodness and beauty, and we damage it with litter, with violence, with poor choices. You have a vision of a Table where we can feast on your grace and hope, but we line up at the fast food counters of ignorance, division and greed.
All: Forgive us, Visionary of Mercy, as we confess that we are not “insiders” but migrants searching for our true home, our authentic spirit. By faith, may we be willing to be as gracious, as compassionate, and as hopeful as you are. You love us enough to want us to be with you forever, so help us take the hand of Jesus the Christ, and follow his leading into your kingdom of kin-dom. We would dream better dreams and ask your help. Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: There is nothing to fear. God’s hope is more tenacious than our despair; God’s joy is more resilient than our grief; God’s love is more compelling than our hate.
All: By grace, we are gathered to God. By faith, we rest in God’s promises of forgiveness and restoration. Thanks be to God! Amen. ~Thom Shuman
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Scripture Reading Isaiah 1:1, 10-20
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more! Bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and calling of convocation– I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove your evil deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do good; seek justice; rescue the oppressed; defend the orphan; plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: If your sins are like scarlet, will they become like snow? If they are red like crimson, will they become like wool? If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
~ New Revised Standard Version , updated
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s blessings 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.
Scripture Reading Luke 12:32-40
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” ~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Treasures of the Heart Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard and reflect together.
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
Ringing 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.
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle tables. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
Offertory Adoration Florence B. Price
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
¨ Doxology Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Ken Medema
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Pam Chabora, Reader
Holy Word, Holy Vision, you help us to imagine so much more than we in isolation could ever dream, and place among us treasures of the heart dearer than gold, more enduring than diamonds. You see what we can be when we have forgotten. You keep open the way to peace, even when we feel too weary to walk that direction. For ourselves and for our loved ones, and for all the world, we pray to be ready to dream with you, and to be prepared heart, mind, and soul for service. In all our living help us be loving, Lord.
When our imagination has failed us, we put in your hands the broken people and the broken places in our hearts. Heal us and heal the ones we love but don’t know how to help. Your delight is in well-being. Your call is to the joy of just and lasting wholeness, and when we forget that we are worthy and welcome, you never turn us out or away. In all our living, help us be gentled by such loving as you lead us in the way 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 kin-dom 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 kin-dom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
¨ Hymn #391 In the Midst of New Dimensions New Dimensions
1. In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of changing ways. Who will lead the pilgrim peoples wandering in their separate ways?
[Refrain] God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar, We your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and ever more.
2.Through the flood of starving people, warring factions and despair, Who will lift the olive branches? Who will light the flame of care?
3. As we stand a world divided by our own self-seeking schemes, Grant that we, your global village might envision wider dreams
4. We are man and we are woman, all persuasions, old and young, Each a gift in your creation, each a love song to be sung.
5. Should the threats of dire predictions cause us to withdraw in pain, May your blazing phoenix spirit, resurrect the church again.
From Here to There
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve. Please see the listing of church & community events, prayers, and notices in the pages following the service.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Today we lift up the plight of the Palestinian situation in Gaza.
In March 2, 2025, the State of Israel, has blocked aid supplies including food, fuel, water, and medicine from entering Gaza, and the Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, said, “Israel’s policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza”; and on March 18 the State of Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza, ending the ceasefire agreement a mere two months after the ceasefire was agreed to. Due to international pressure, Israel has allowed some aid to be provided, but it is substantially lacking and the majority of persons living in the region are still starving. People are suffering illness, grief and fear for their lives in less than humanitarian conditions.
The World Council of Churches has made a statement, by General Secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. You’ll find it on p. 14 & 15 of the bulletin
¨Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Seek Ye First Lafferty
Our Prayers for Others
¨ 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 (World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle: union-church.org/ministries/prayer). Let us hold the people of Cameroon, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea; and our siblings at Gloryland Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ Dave Reilly’s nephew, Herb Post, ill with kidney cancer that has spread to his lung.
¨ Eef Fontanez, very ill at UK Hospital.
¨ Lani Graham, the mother of Wendy Graham Settles, diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ All the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ All those affected by the devastating losses in the current conflict, and starvation of those in Gaza.
¨ We pray for our country, and those who are directly affected by the actions and inaction of our government to address the needs of its people and the world.
¨ Prayers for those undergoing cancer treat-ments. We give thanks for the doctors, nurses, and other scientists working to help them.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jerry Cooper, Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: August 12 – Teri Mehler; 14 – Alice White; 17 – Kim Kobersmith, Meaghan Spencer Catlett
Anniversaries: August 12 – Jen Eich & Amy Schill, Matt & Carrie Jadud; 13 – Gwen & Marty Hensley
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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