A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am
Meditation
Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public. ~ Cornel West
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
¨ Call To Worship Dr. Pam Chabora, Reader
One: Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
All: Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
One: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
All: Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
One: The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
All: Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps. ~ Psalm 85:8-13
¨ Opening Hymn #588 Let Justice Flow like Streams St. Thomas
1 Let justice flow like streams of sparkling water, pure, enabling growth, refreshing life, abundant, cleansing, sure.
2 Let righteousness roll on as others’ cares we heed, an ever-flowing stream of faith translated into deed.
3 So may God’s plumb line, straight, define our measure true, and justice, right, and peace pervade this world our whole life through.
¨ Prayer of Approach
One: O God, from you come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works. Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Let’s restart our Journey with God by taking time for serious confession.
¨ Confession (unison)
Lord God, we call ourselves people of faith, But we think when we reach the end of our rope, It is the end of the rope. We fill our hearts with wrangling, bitterness, and malice, And call it “standing up for what’s right,”
Yet your overwhelming message to us is your grace. We need your redemption, we need it badly, and you deliver to us the Bread of Life.
We resist allowing it to nourish us, and so we wallow in despair or self-righteousness. Forgive us for the sins we can name. Save us from the sins we hide.
¨ Words of Assurance
Friends, Our God draws near to us through the word, and the word made flesh. Jesus Christ is the word made flesh, the living bread come down from heaven. It’s for Christ’s sake that our sins are forgiven. Through his grace we may regain our strength and put away anger and wrath and all sorts of evil dealing. Even our words may give grace to those who hear. In the Holy Spirit, as beloved children of God, living in love as Christ loved us, we give ourselves as an offering and sacrifice to God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day! You are invited to turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Scripture Reading 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.
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 Mark 6:14-29
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.”
Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Sermon A Story of Redeeming Trust Seth Hutchins
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.
Offertory Dance of David Union Church Orchestra
¨ Doxology Old Hundredth
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly host: Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost! Amen.
Prayer & Reflection Questions
Think of a time when you were afraid of losing something highly valuable to you. This can be a possession, relationship, social standing or even a change in how you spend your time.
¨ What made this possession, relationship, job etc…so valuable to you? What were the circumstances that surrounded the fear of losing it?
¨ What feelings came up during this process? How did you address these feelings? What did you learn?
¨ What did trust look like throughout that process? What does trust mean to you now?
A Chance for Generosity: www.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.
¨ Use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. No registration required, but registering once makes future generosity simply an amount and a click.
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¨ Give by Text. Text an amount to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”)
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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Dr. Pam Chabora, Reader
God of creativity and love, we acknowledge that we do not have the control we desire or want. Yet, in all of this you are continuing to create, redeem and renew all things unto your heart. We give you the experience of our broken hearts and feelings of betrayal as part of a great process, that we do not always fully understand. We know you grieve with us and give us yourself, so that we may be conduits of your grace moving forward. It is in your love we say …
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 #459 Come, O Fount of Every Blessing Nettleton
1 Come, O Fount of every blessing; tune my heart to sing your grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of endless praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above; praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, mount of God’s unchanging love!
2 Here I pause in my sojourning, giving thanks for having come; come to trust at every turning, God will guide me safely home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; came to rescue me from danger, blessed body, precious blood.
3 O to grace how great a debtor daily I am drawn anew! Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to you. Prone to wander, I can feel it, wander from the love I’ve known: here’s my heart; O take and seal it; seal it for your very own.
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
June 18 (1918) is the birthdate of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who became the first president of South Africa in a fully representative democratic election in 1994. A member of the Thembu royal family of the Xhosa people of the eastern coast of South Africa, he was practicing law in Johannesburg when he co-founded the Youth League of the African National Congress in 1943. He was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1962 for his activism as part of the uMkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation)—the paramilitary wing of the ANC.
During his 27 years in prison, he remained a leader in what became a global anti-apartheid movement. Upon his release in 1990 and election four years later, he created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to foster restorative justice and implemented measures designed to alleviate poverty, including land reform and the expansion of healthcare. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and regarded as the “Father of the Nation.” We honor his courage, dedication, leadership, and tireless work.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. I felt fear more times than I can remember, but I hid it behind a mask of boldness. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
¨ Benediction The God of Second Chances David Haas
Those who are able & willing are invited to fill the aisles as we sing the Benediction Response together. If you’re at home or in the balcony, you are part of the embrace too. The embrace is as wide as God’s love!
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 Djibouti and Somalia and our brothers and sisters at Gloryland Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ 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 in the Middle East.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, John Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ For all those caring for others in their illnesses and needs: may God give them both strength and encourage-ment in this work of costly love.
¨ Erikke Meadows’ mom, Prudy Meadows, with COPD.
¨ The Guild family as Will continues his struggle with brain cancer and stroke.
¨ Patty Boyce, and all the family, at Steve’s death early Friday morning, at home.
¨ Donna Lovell’s dad, Donald Reed, recovering from a broken leg after a bad fall.
¨ Laura Nagle, who broke her leg in a fall.
¨ John Payne
¨ Jenny Bromley, and all the family, at Richard’s passing.
¨ David Jones and family, away at a gathering in memory of his mother.
¨ John McWilliams, recovering from a serious infection, but released fro hospital, in Providence, RI.
¨ Joseph Jacobs , hospitalized at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, for pancreatitis.
¨ Prayer for a restored and renewed sense of integrity in all public officials and work: that justice may be louder than greed; fair and good governance a blessing to all people, not the favored few.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: July 14 – Dottie Blackburn, Lois Morgan; 15 – Mary McConnell; 17 – Jeff Hutton; 20 – Deborah Martin, Mallory Lakes, Cavan Kobersmith; 21 – Tennant Kirk
Anniversaries: Brandon Bailey & Abi Woodie
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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