A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
10:30 am Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Meditation
An ethical precept is a question to be held up to the light of circumstance, an inquiry rather than an answer. And the nature of this inquiry is not so much the dubious enterprise of trying to figure out the right thing to do as it is an offering of an unaided heart. ~Lin Jensen, “An Ear to the Ground”
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude Give to the Winds Your Fears (Diamdemata) Alec Wyton
Welcome
The Call Charles Hoffman, Reader
All: Show us, O Lord, your kindness, and your rescue grant to us.
One: Let us hear what the Lord God would speak when God speaks peace to God’s people and to God’s faithful, that we not turn to folly.
All: God’s rescue is near for those who fear the Lord, that God’s glory dwell in our land.
One: Kindness and truth are meeting,
All: Justice and Peace kiss!
One: Truth from the earth will spring up as justice from the heavens pours down.
All: The Lord indeed will grant bounty and our land will grant its yield.
One: Let us hear what God the Lord will speak,
All: for God will speak peace to the people, to God’s faithful, to those who turn to the Lord in their hearts.
One: Surely God’s saving power is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
All: Justice goes before the Lord, and God sets God’s footsteps on the way.
~(Psalm 85:8-14, Trans. Robert Alter, adapted)
One: Come, let us follow where God goes: let us worship in spirit and in truth!
¨ Hymn #293 Sweet, Sweet Spirit Sweet, Sweet Spirit
1 There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord; There are sweet expressions on each face, And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Refrain: Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly Dove, Stay right here with us, filling us with your love; And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise; Without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived, When we shall leave this place.
2 There are blessings you cannot receive Till you know Him in His fullness and believe; You’re the one to profit when you say, “I am going to walk with Jesus all the way.” Refrain.
¨ 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
Special Music Radiant Light J. Krug Union Church Handbell Ensemble
Scripture Lesson Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron. He came to Shechem, and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.'”
So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.”
But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him” –that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.
Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers agreed. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s presence 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 Lesson Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Sermon Neck Deep in the Big Muddy Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
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.
Prayer Reflection Questions
Neck Deep: To be human is to experience being “neck deep” in challenge, in fear, in trouble. With even and deep breaths, locate a place where you are in deep. What is the struggle? What do you need? This might require facing your fears or challenges. Breathe deeply, inhaling Spirit, and the essence of Christ’s reach to Peter. Allow your heart to rise to the top of the waves and be ready to grasp the hands God sends.
Stepping Out: Sometimes in tough times we want to “step out.” Out of responsibilities, out of difficulties, out of touch. But often there are important spiritual lessons to learned by stepping out of our comfort zone, out of our habits, out of our resignation or former patterns. Peter recognized Jesus when Jesus asked him to do an impossible thing. What do you need to step out for?
Offertory Sarabande (Land of Rest) Gerald Near
As we come forward, our gifts are received for this common work together.
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Silent Prayers & Prayers of the Community Charles Hoffman, Reader
Without your help, our fears will sink us. Without your compassion, our hearts of stone will crack the world we love. Without your reminder that some are not “better than”, “more deserving than,” we will slip beneath the waves of fear and hate. Lord save us by helping us save ourselves. You have given us all we need: to endure hardship, to resist evil, to soften hearts, to love enemies, to release privilege, to act and sacrifice for the love you intend for all people. Call us out of the boats, Lord, onto the waves. Calm the winds of the world but stir up that mighty tempest in our hearts to believe, to care, to act like children of a living God as your love demands. Hear us as we pray, reaching to you as…
Our Lord’s Prayer
All: 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: We Depart
¨ Hymn #172 Jesus Calls Us, o’er the Tumult Galillee
- Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea; day by day that voice still calls us, saying, “Christian, follow me!”
- As of old St. Andrew heard it by the Galilean lake, turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus’ sake.
- Jesus calls us from the worship of the treasures we adore, from each idol that would keep us, saying, “Christian, love me more!”
- In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease, Jesus calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love me more than these!”
- Jesus calls us! By your mercies, Savior, may we hear your call, Give our hearts to your obedience, serve and love you best of all.
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Atomic bomb survivor and peace activist Shigeaki Mori, aged 86. On August 6th and 9th 78 years ago, the world changed forever with the first (and so far only) use of nuclear weapons in war, when the United States bombed Hiroshima and later Nagasaki, Japan, thus hastening the end of World War II. Around 200,000 souls lost their lives then and in the aftermath; perhaps more lives were saved by shortening the war, but the threat of total annihilation has hung over humanity ever since.
Mori, eight years old when the bomb hit on the morning of August 6, 1945, was knocked unconscious by the blast. When he came to, he saw a crouched woman holding her own entrails asking for the nearest hospital. Thirty years later he began a multi-decade quest to find how many victims were cremated at his school playground. His work also unearthed the identities of 12 Americans who died in the bombing.
The threat of nuclear war has never been eliminated, and is currently an increased threat by Vladimir Putin’s direct threat to use “tactical” nuclear weapons in their invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. and Russia alone have more than 11,000 weapons, and all other countries together around a thousand more, enough to annihilate ourselves many times over.
The only real solution is to eliminate nuclear weapons entirely, though that seems unlikely given currently tense international relations. Who will lay down their arms first? We must all pray for the day that war will cease, that tolerance will overcome hatred, and that God’s peace will finally take hold. If we have not hope, we have nothing left. “I just don’t want all of this to end up being a dream,” Mori said of his hopes for disarmament.
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Woyaya (We Will Get There)
Please sing as you form our larger circle. We will sing it twice so that we may fully see each other and sing at the same time.
Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
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 the Republic of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger; and our brothers & sisters at Pilot Knob Missionary Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ Prayers for 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 seeking a new and just society and those fearful that they will be supplanted, may God open their hearts and include them in grace.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jan Hamilton, Doug Hindman, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Lois Morgan, Tom & Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Betty Wray, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Sally Zimmerman has moved to Dominion Memory Care, 200 Meridian Way, Richmond, KY, 40475. She always appreciates cards and letters.
¨ Loyal Jones, in hospice care. His daughter, Susan, reports he’d love to hear from friends. His address is 200 Tabernacle Rd. L-205; Black Mountain; NC; 28711.
¨ Rita Barlow, receiving care at home.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Angela Anderson, recovering from surgery! Keep in touch at her Caring Bridge site: www.caringbridge. org/visit/angelafaithanderson
¨ Annriette Stolte, who has had a fall and broken several ribs. She’d love cards and calls from Union friends: 579 Alexian Way #417, South Signal Mountain, TN, 37377; 859-200-6954
¨ John Hosp, John & Peggy Coyne’s son-in-law’s brother. He had a heart attack at 43 and has been in ICU for stints and blood clots.
¨ Doug Hindman, recovering from surgery at The Terrace
¨ Rick Wicker, receiving rehab for a stroke at home.
¨ Jerry Cooper, recovering from surgery.
¨ James Stephens, Charlie Hoffman’s brother-in-law, suffering with cancer and having major surgery on Aug. 15.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ John Stanley & Heather Lundy former Union Church members & still beloved friends, as John recovers from a stroke.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: August 14 – Alice White; 17 – Kim Kobersmith, Meaghan Catlett; 18—Sally Zimmerman; 20 -Pearl Marshall; Sean Mack
Anniversaries: today – August 13 – Gwen & Marty Hensley ; 18 – Lisa & David Shroyer; 19 – Iris & Larry Brandenburg
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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