A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
February 22, 2026 10:30 am First Sunday of Lent
Meditation
“We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it.” ~ C.S. Lewis
From There to Here: We Gather
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 “<>.”
Introit Roll Down Justice Mark A. Miller
There’s a voice strong and clear ringing out far and near,
“Let justice roll down! Let justice roll down!”
Like the rush of a stream comes a powerful dream,
Let justice roll down, justice rolls down!
Let the earth be restored, every soul be reformed
Let the healing renew, creation reborn!
Here in this sacred space, with the strength of God’s grace
Let justice roll down, justice rolls down!
Roll down! Roll down, justice!
Roll like an everflowing stream.
Roll down, justice!
Roll like an everflowing stream, roll down!
¨ Call to Worship Stephanie Ryan, Reader
One: How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? How long must we feel like outsiders, strangers in a strange land, a people held captive by fear, abuse of power, prejudice, and unjust institutions?
All: How long, O God?
One: How long must we be in fear for our children who are growing up in a world of terror and violence? How many people in our country need to be killed by guns until we muster the will and the courage to stop the madness?
All: How long, O God?
One: We long to be released from these shackles of fear and injustice, and until that time, we cry out with the psalmist, “How long?”
All: We long for your justice, for your peace, O God.
One: We long to be released from the shackles of fear and injustice.
All: May peace flow. Let justice roll.
One: We wait O God, crying “How Long?”
All: May peace flow. Let justice roll.
¨ Hymn #191 Before Your Cross, O Jesus St. Christopher
1. Before your cross, O Jesus, our lives are judged today; the meaning of our eager strife is tested by your way. Across our restless living the light streams from your cross, and by its clear, revealing beams we measure gain and loss.
2. The hopes that lead us onward, the fears that hold us back, our will to dare great things for God, the courage that we lack, The faith we keep in goodness, our love, as low or pure, on all, the judgment of the cross falls steady, clear, and sure.
3. Yet humbly, in our striving, we rise to face its test. We crave the power to do your will as once you did it best. On us let now the healing of your great Spirit fall, and make us brave and full of joy to answer to your call.
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
We come before you, One who is Goodness, frustrated and angered by injustice, often feeling helpless and powerless in the struggle.
Rather than work at what we can for your reign of love, we just want to throw up our hands in resignation.
Forgive us and remind us of the power you give us to name and resist evil in all its forms.
Move us closer to compassion and courage to speak up and stand up for what is right and good.
¨ Words of Assurance
¨ 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 Chapel Chimes, Sallie Lloyd Union Church Handbell Ensemble
Scripture Reading Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
~ 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.
Sung Psalm 13 p. 626
The psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form. You are invited to sing the response when invited, at the “R” if using the hymnal.
Scripture Reading Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon “The Long Walk from Evil” Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
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 Next week we pray for France, Germany and Monaco and our siblings at Dreyfus Church of Christ in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
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 table. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
For Reflection: How Long: Renouncing Evil
Close your hand, making a tight fist. What do you need to give up during Lent to let justice roll down and prevail in your life, in your world?
Think about your fist as a symbol of frustration or anger over injustice.
¨ What creates sadness and lament for you?
¨ Slowly open your hand, letting go of your frustration and anger.
¨ Open to readiness for loving action rather than meeting violence with violence.
We come before you, One who is Goodness,
frustrated and angered by injustice,
often feeling helpless and
powerless in the struggle.
Rather than work at what we can
for your reign of love,
we just want to throw up our hands in resignation.
Forgive us and remind us of the
power you give us
to name and resist evil in all its forms.
Move us closer to compassion and courage
to speak up and stand up
or what is right and good. Amen.
Offertory Pie Jesu Emily North & Maranda Weckman, soloists
A Chance for Generosity: easytithe.com/union
A community of caring relies on support. Your recurring or one-time donation will make a ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need.
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¨ Give by Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
¨ Doxology Kyrie No. 7 Taize
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Stephanie Ryan, Reader
Lord of life and of all loving, again we find ourselves in deserts of test and temptation. When our hearts are dry, and when the memories of grace and goodness are dust in our cup, may living streams well up beside us so love and justice can roll down. When fear the power we have and grieve the powers we do not, then may the rain of your mercy refresh your people and strengthen us for all we must face.
We long to sit beside the still and quiet pools, Lord, but we need your everflowing streams to fill the hollows of our hearts. Fill us even as we journey. Find us even when we are lost. Help bring the broken ones home and the proud ones to the table and the frightened ones to the song of your restoration. Roll down through our deserts, you who are mighty to save, and fill us once again. We pray in the name of Jesus our Brother, who walks every road with us and 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 #205 Forty Days and Forty Nights Heinlein
1. Forty days and forty nights
You were fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.
2. Shall not we your sorrow share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with you to suffer pain?
3. Then if Satan on us press,
Flesh or spirit to assail,
Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fail!
4. So shall we have peace divine;
Holier gladness ours shall be;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as served You faithfully.
5. Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,
Ever constant by your side,
That with you we may appear
At th’eternal Eastertide.
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
Amelia Boynton Robinson taught in Georgia before starting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Selma, as the home demonstration agent for Dallas County. She educated the county’s largely rural population about food production and processing, nutrition, healthcare, and other subjects related to agriculture and homemaking. 1934, Amelia Boynton registered to vote, which was extremely difficult for African Americans to accomplish in Alabama.
In 1963, Amelia made her home and office in Selma – a center for strategy sessions for Selma’s civil rights battles, including its voting rights campaign. In early 1965 Amelia Boynton helped organize a march to the state capital of Montgomery, initiated by James Bevel, which took place on March 7, 1965. The event became known as Bloody Sunday when county and state police stopped the march and beat demonstrators after they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge into Dallas County. Boynton was beaten unconscious; a photograph of her lying on the bridge went around the world.
For more information: wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Boynton_Robinson
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Hold On Heidi Wilson
Our Prayers for Others
¨ 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.
¨ That the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East may hold; and those suffering receive the aid they need.
¨ 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.
¨ Our neighbors experiencing housing insecurity, homelessness and food insecurity.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Hattie Parks, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Britt Miracle, in University of Cincinnati Hospital with severe heart issues.
¨ Rick Fulton, at home, but facing a possible heart transplant.
¨ Pam Chabora, with a badly broken arm and other injuries from a fall at home.
¨ Betsy Whaley and family, with Covid; and at Betsy’s mother’s cancer diagnosis.
¨ Dottie Lovell, suffering with pneumonia, at home.
¨ Prayers for Joy Gritton, at the death of Black Bear La Boueff. Let us hold her in God’s light. A remembrance will be held at a later date.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: February 22 – Cecelia McKinney, Ramona Culp, Joe Sheehan; 23 – Nancy Shinn, Alan Hester; 24 – Heather Hammond; 26 – Triss Holland; 28 – Rachael White
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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