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

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

August 30, 2020     10:30 am

Meditation
 
What are the warning signs of a civilization–or a person–moving toward collapse? … We know more than ever about our enemies, except how to love them or lay down our lives for them. True understanding will come only as we give up our idea of what makes life worthwhile and yield to God’s idea. When we surrender the pursuit of our own ‘best life” in order to disappear into God’s best life, we begin to live the only life worth living.       —Kayla McClurg, Passage By Passage

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 by Catherine of Siena Betty Hibler, Reader
You are a fire always burning, but never consuming; you are a fire consuming in your heat all the soul’s selfish love; you are a fire lifting all chill and giving light. In your light you have made me know your truth. You are the light beyond all light who gives the mind’s eye supernatural light in such fullness and perfection that you bring clarity even to the light of faith. In that faith I see that my soul has life, and in that light receives you who are Light.
Passing the Peace at Home
Building the Community: News that Connects Us

The Living Word among us

Special Music From Everlasting to Everlasting Julie Turner Pearl Marshall, Handbells
Hebrew Scripture Lesson  Exodus 3:1-15 Maria Hartz, Reader
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ He said further, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, ‘I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters.
Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.’
But Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you”, and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.” ’ God also said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you”: This is my name for ever, and this my title for all generations.
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            Romans 12:9-21                                 Cheryl Payne, Reader
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Sermon More Light, Less Heat 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 & Prayer
For this meditation, let’s hold in our thought the holy ground of our lives, and the thousand burning bushes that have called and shaped us. Take off your shoes, if you have them on. When was the last time you were conscious of directly touching the sacred, ordinary floor with your sacred, ordinary feet?
Remove your shoes and place your feet so you can feel the texture and the temperature of the ground on which you sit or stand. Simply practice being right where you are. With your eyes closed and your heart open, let your awareness spread from your feet outward to the room or yard. Inhabit this holiness: note the miracles, receive the blessings, connect to your purpose.
When you feel challenged, reconnect to this grounding. If you are feeling overwhelmed with what is before  you, or what is being asked of you, or of what you must ask of others, sink into your awareness. Feel your feet physically connect to the floor, the floor supported by the foundation, the foundation touching the ground. Let that holy ground feed and strengthen you for all that is ahead. Go to this holy ground anytime you are in need.
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 The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal  and our brothers and sisters at New Life Assemblies of God   in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ 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 The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal  and our brothers and sisters at New Life Assemblies of God   in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ The families of the three Madison County residents who have died from Covid-19.
¨ Those affected by the impact of storms in the southeast, and the fires in California and Colorado.
¨ Families with kids back in school, in whatever from school takes.
¨ In celebration of Dodie Murphy’s 34th anniversary of sobriety, celebrating the strength of all those in recovery.
¨ 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.
¨ Dennis Wright, a friend of Betty Sarafin, very ill with cancer.
¨ 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.
¨ 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.
Prayers of the People Maria Hartz, Reader
Ready or not, Lord, here we come. Hands slipping on the bar of hope or triumphantly cresting the mountain of exuberant celebration, we come before you just as we are: worn and weary, striving and trying, challenging the wrong and wringing the good out of the ill. We are bold to ask you to help us no matter where we fall on the spectrum. We rely on your love to show us, teach us, and bless us. So come that we might rejoice.
Come so that ALL PEOPLE might revel in the world more just, more loving, more whole. For those who mourn, and for those who are sick in body, in mind, or in spirit send your healing touch. For you are the Mother of grace and the father of mercies. In you we live and move and have our being. Help us hold tight to such love as remakes the world in your image, and help us genuinely love others with something of the same devotion as you. Stay our hand when we would offer evil for evil, and change the hate to love by the power of your Holy Spirit. Jesus has called us to live this way, and we will try. Help us to love well and wide.
We ask this in the name of the one 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 God of Change and Glory Katherine

1. God of change and glory, God of time and space, when we fear the future, give to us your grace. In the midst of changing ways give us still the grace to praise. Many gifts, one spirit, one love known in many ways, In our difference is blessing, from diversity we praise one Giver, one Word, one Spirit, one God known in many ways, hallowing our days. For the giver, for the gifts, praise, praise, praise!
2. God of many colors, God of many signs, you have made us different, blessing many kinds. As the old ways disappear, let your love cast out fear. Many gifts, one spirit, one love known in many ways, In our difference is blessing, from diversity we praise one Giver, one Word, one Spirit, one God known in many ways, hallowing our days. For the giver, for the gifts, praise, praise, praise!
3. Freshness of the morning, newness of each night, you are still creating endless love and light. This we see, as shadows part, many gifts from one great heart. Many gifts, one spirit, one love known in many ways, In our difference is blessing, from diversity we praise one Giver, one Word, one Spirit, one God known in many ways, hallowing our days. For the giver, for the gifts, praise, praise, praise!

The Sending & Blessing
Postlude     Sweet Low        Pam Penny
Today we light the Justice Candle in honor of Richard & Cheyenne Olson. Cheyenne and Richard are the founders of Sustainable Berea and Berea Urban Farm and the many things associated with it, such as the Victory Garden Blitz, Project Hope, rain barrels, and much more, which contributes to defining Berea as a sustainable city.
News & Announcements here: https://union-church.org/news/