A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am
Meditation
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth. ~Isaiah 55:10-11
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
The Call Pamela Chabora, Reader
The seeds I sowed –
For week unseen –
Have pushed up pygmy
Shoots of green;
So frail you’d think
The tiniest stone
Would never let
A glimpse be shown.
But no; a pebble
Near them lies,
At least a cherry-stone
In size,
Which that mere sprout
Has heaved away,
To bask in sunshine,
See the Day.
~ Walter de la Mare
¨ Hymn #4 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You Hymn to Joy
1 Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before You,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the dark of doubt away,
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.
2 All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heaven reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Teach us what our praise should be.
3 You are giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Spirit, Father, Mother,
All who love belong to you;
Teach us how to love each other,
by that love our joy renew.
4 Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Boundless love is reigning o’er us,
reconciling race and clan.
Ever singing, move we forward,
Faithful in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us onward
In the triumph-song of life.
¨ 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
Scripture Lesson Genesis 25:19-34
These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.” When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
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 13:1-9, 18-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.
But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Let anyone with ears listen!” “Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Sermon Throwing it all Away 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
Throwing:
In your prayers meditate on the story from Genesis: When – like Esau – have you thrown away or undervalued a blessing, a possession, or a relationship? What was the root of that dismissal? How did that decision shape subsequent paths in positive and in negative ways? As you pray, see if you can let your thoughts be seeds of Spirit. What is growing in you from what you think and know? Ask for what you need if any action comes to you.
Growing:
Not only are we soil, but also we are sowers. What seeds are you casting: list them in ways that make sense to you. In this moment see if you can water them with prayer and intention. What is your next step? As you breathe imagine Holy Spirit filling you with the capacity to take that step.
Knowing:
You are invited to an embodied meditation by sowing a seed or two yourself. Plant a seed in the cups provided. Your care of it in the coming days and weeks can be a meditation on growth, on nurture, on community, on God’s miraculous predilection toward new life, and more. You’ll find cups, soil, and seed on the table. What might grow in your soul if you tended the seeds?
Offertory Hearts to Heaven Union Church Orchestra
As we come forward, our gifts are received for this common work together.
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 an amount and a click.
· Baskets for checks or cash are located at the head of each aisle for those who wish to make an in-person donation.
· Give by Text. Text an amount to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”)
· Give by Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Silent Prayers & Prayers of the Community Pamela Chabora, Reader
Soul-planter, Life-gardener, Scatter the seeds of your blessing on our waiting hearts. Let mercy sprout, let joy weigh down the branches, let sprigs of green growing goodness poke out of every ear! We would be fertile ground for all you plant, Lord.
Don’t stop until we are bursting with buds and flowering in love. Tend us and our needs as a good gardener tends each precious seedling, and give us what we need to thrive. We will take what you throw at us, rooting deep and sprouting as we can. We pray for the wisdom and grace to then throw wide the love we have been given and prosper the healing of the broken earth, the broken bodies, the broken hearts. Help the small starts grow strong, Lord of the harvest.
Help all who reach for the light, we pray in the name of the one who taught us to reach to you as….
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 #318 Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast St. Flavian
1. Almighty God, Your Word is cast like seed into the ground; now let the dew of heaven descend, and righteous fruits abound.
2. Let not the sly satanic foe this holy seed remove, but give it root in every heart to bring forth fruits of love.
3. Let not the world’s deceitful cares the rising plant destroy, but let it yield a hundred-fold the fruits of peace and joy.
4. So when the precious seed is sown, your quickening grace bestow, that all whose souls the truth receive its saving power may know.
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Human trafficking affects millions of people around the globe, and happens every day in Kentucky. Dr. Suk-hee Kim, Associate Professor at the School of Social Work at Northern Kentucky University, felt it was a topic not enough people were talking about, and decided in 2022 she wanted to do her part in changing that.
The Human Trafficking, Health Equity, and Academic Collaborative was born from the growing concern and community critical challenges in human trafficking that was funded study at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) in 2022. The goal of the collaborative is to expand the understanding of human trafficking at the regional, national and global level in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary context.
During this challenging time, raise awareness of the injustices of human trafficking by educating college students and partnering with local coalitions, including K-12 communities are one mission through the Human Trafficking, Health Equity, and Academic Collaborative Project. Educators and other school-based professionals in the Greater Cincinnati region have a critical role to play in recognizing potential human trafficking and in helping potential victims access educational resources and specialized services.
Partnership and Purpose
Today presents an opportunity to covenant together! All who would like to are welcome to join the church family – you will be received in joy!
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
¨ Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members and faithful friends of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that you, and we, may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
¨ 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 Djibouti & Somalia and our brothers & sisters at Gloryland 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
¨ 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
¨ Joyce Mosher’s family and many friends, at her passing.
¨ Betty Sarafin’s family at the death of her brother-in-law, Thomas Aquinas Cook, Jr. Esq.
¨ Gail Wolford and family, at the death of her mother, Janet Warner, just a few weeks short of her 99th birthday. Gail’s address is 61 Abbotsford Dr., Richmond, KY, 40475.
¨ Doug Hindman, recovering from surgery at The Terrace
¨ The family of Dr. Patsy Boyce, sister-in-law of Bob and Jean Boyce, friend to many, Berea College alumna, at her passing after a long illness.
¨ Berea Leadership Experience campers and staff as they begin their week together tomorrow.
¨ 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: Today – July 17 – Jeff Hutton; 20 – Deborah Martin, Cavan Kobersmith; 22 – Emma White
Anniversaries: July 23 – Laura Nagle & Melissa Sparks
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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