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

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

August 9, 2020  10:30 am

Meditation
The religious contradiction: To be joyful out on 70,000 fathoms of water, many, many miles from all human help–yes, that is something great! To swim in the shallows in the company of waders is not the religious. — Soren Kierkegaard

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 The Invitation Oriah Mountain Dreamer Joan English, Reader
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, ‘Yes.’
It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
Passing the Peace at Home
Building the Community: News that Connects Us

The Living Word among us

Special Music Tumult and Tranquility Hal Hopson Pearl Marshall, Handbells
Hebrew Scripture Lesson  Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28  Joseph Jacobs, Reader
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 there 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  Please join in singing as we bless children everywhere:
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. 
Gospel  Lesson  Matthew 14:13-21 Maria Hartz, Reader
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 towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, 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 towards 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 A Faith Too Dry 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
As you sit or if you are working around the house, take just a moment with me now to tread some water. Just pause and do just what you need to. If you like, close your eyes, or if now is not convenient, find a quiet time later today, try to look at your fears whatever they might be.
Your breath is your prayer as you look beyond them…
What would it mean for you to step out of your boat, to reach for the hand calling you? What would it mean if you could walk on water and where would you go, what would you do? Breathe. Your breath is your prayer for the greater, the stronger, the more loving, the wiser you. Put your toe in the water of your heart and mind. Find the solid ground in the watery world. Breathe your prayer to the Lord of Wind and Storm and feel the calm center you. Feel your breath and this vision hold you.
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 Cameroon, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea and our brothers and sisters at New Liberty 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.
¨ Those feeling isolated because of staying home with compromised immune systems or other health conditions
¨ The family and friends of Jody Flara, who died August 3.
¨ Abby Embry and all the family, at the death of her brother, Adam Nathaniel Decker (July 16, 1978 — August 1, 2020) .
¨ Michelle Russell, family member of Reda Hutton, who is very ill,  in Texas.
¨ Jaidyn, granddaughter of Sandy Bowles McClure, soon to undergo open heart surgery.
¨ Marie, Dorie Hubbard’s kindergarten aged great grand-niece, who has had a recurrence of cancer and is back in treatment.
¨ 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
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.
In that spirit and hope, we 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 Debbonnaire Kovacs, singer

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 Encantamento
Justice Candle
Today the Justice Candle is lit in honor of  Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Covid-19 Team. When he decided to run for Governor, dealing with a Covid-19 pandemic was not on the radar. Then by mid-March, anything resembling “life as usual” was shattered by the spread of the virus.
Since then, Governor Beshear, Dr. Stack and the entire team have been on TV and radio almost every afternoon giving an update on the virus in Kentucky, reporting on the daily numbers of new cases, on areas with wide-spread outbreaks, and on the ups and downs that the state has experienced. Gov. Beshear always encourages Kentuckians with these words: “We will get through this; we will get through this together.”