A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
July 19, 2026 10:30 am Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Meditation
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. ~ Rumi
From There to Here: We Gather
¨ Prelude
¨ Call to Worship
One: The Holy One is in this place! Do we know it? Can we feel them?
All: They have searched and known us, our path, and all our ways.
One: The Holy One is in this place! Such knowledge is wonderful!
All: Wherever we go, the Spirit is with us! Wherever we are, God is there!
One: The Holy One is in this place! The Spirit bears witness with our spirit, and we gather and wait in hope.
All: The Holy One is with us. Praise God!
¨ Hymn There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy Holy Manna (#376)
1. There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea. There’s a kindness in God’s justice, which is more than liberty. There’s no place where earthly sorrows are more felt than in God’s heaven; there’s no place where earthly failings have such kindly judgement given.
2. For the love of God is broader than the measures of our minds, and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind. If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God’s word; and our lives would show thanksgiving for the goodness of our God.
¨ Invocation
One: Holy Love, God of All, we come before you knowing you go before us and you keep us in safety. We come to this place in space and time across distance and difference as your offspring to receive an inheritance of your promise and to renew our lives in your covenant. Let our spirits receive your word and our hearts ignite with your compassion, mercy, and righteousness. Let your kindom spread in us and through us as we worship and follow you. Amen.
¨ Passing the Peace
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.
¨ Prayer of Approach & Confession Box Breath Prayer (3x)
As we pray, we slow our breathing and our lives in order to attend to God. The leader will guide this meditation three times, and you are invited to pattern your breath with each phrase as indicated below.
Inhale: Hear the voice of God.
Hold: Be still and
Exhale: Know that
Hold: I am God.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: The world may feel suffocating, but the breath of the Almighty gives life. As long as we are breathing, we are not defeated.
All: Our soul breathes and our hearts sing for we have seen the Lord at work! Amen!
Word and Worship
Scripture Reading Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19
For neither is there any god besides you whose care is for all people, to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly, For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all.
For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power, and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it.
Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge fairly, and with great forbearance you govern us, for you have power to act whenever you choose. Through such works you have taught your people that the righteous must be kind, and you have filled your children with good hope, because you give repentance for sins.
~ 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.
Scripture Reading Matthew 13:24-29
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away.
So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Let God Work it Out Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins
Video Reflection
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
One: Generous God, just as you provided for all our needs in your creative acts, you have made us caretakers of your good creation. Let us accept the call to faithful discipleship, the opportunity to trust in your provision, and the generous nature you have embedded in us.
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. Next week, let us hold the people of Djibouti and Somalia; and our siblings at Liberty Avenue Full Gospel Outreach 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
Christ Breathes Peace-Do We?
So-called “Box Breathing” is an ancient prayer practice now credited with deep neurological benefits. Slowing your breathing settles nerve responses and increases oxygen uptake. More oxygen feeds and frees the brain. It lowers blood pressure. It resets the vagus nerve stem. With our thoughts clear, our heart settles, and the space opens to receive what God is offering in each moment. Here is prayer meditation to center and ground you for this week:
Breath Prayer for The Week:
Inhale: Hear the voice of God.
Hold: Be still and
Exhale: Know that
Hold: I am God.
Repeat the pattern until you are deeply at peace. Ten times is a good start, but do more if you need or have time. Do this anytime you find your anxieties on the rise, or you need the spiritual support of Christ’s love.
Christ Lifts Our Hearts…
Easter is the sure sign that joy is part of God’s plan. Far from condemnation and guilt, Christ seeks to lift the hearts of everyone he touches. What would lift your heart? What makes it sing? Stopped because what you want or need feels preposterous? Well, is it more preposterous than a risen Christ appearing in a locked room… TWICE? Even if only in this prayer relax your judgement and offer up what would free your heartsong. Hold the vision and allow Christ to breathe peace over it. Pray for what you need to lift your heart.
Offertory
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.
¨ Use your smart phone or computer and go to easytithe.com/union. No registration required, but registering once makes future generosity simply entering 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!
¨ Doxology Old Hundredth
To God all glorious heavenly Light, To Christ revealed in earthly night, To God the Spirit now we raise Our joyful songs of thankful praise. Amen.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Stephanie Ryan, Reader
One: Righteous God, challenge us and stretch us, strengthen us in your truth and justice, fortify us with resolve and power so that we might be the people you have called us to be. Holy One, even beyond forgiveness, we seek transformation. Renew our minds, open our hearts, and release our hands to repair, reconcile, and restore in your name. Keep us from being the cause of suffering. Equip us to be agents of healing. Make us attentive to your presence. Attune us to your will. Lead us on the path you have paved before us so that the grace we receive will sow seeds of redemption and healing in the world. Amen.
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.
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
July 18 : Nelson Mandela International Day, which honors the life and legacy of the former South African president and global human rights leader. Beginning in 1962, Mandela spent 27 years in prison for political offenses. In 1993, Mandela and South African President F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle the country’s apartheid system.
In 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections, in which Mandela was elected as the country’s first Black president, an office he held until June 1999. President Mandela worked to bring about the transition from minority rule and apartheid to Black majority rule.
¨ Hymn #394 In Christ There Is No East or West McKee or St. Peter
1. In Christ there is no east or west,
in Christ no south or north,
but one community of love
throughout the whole wide earth.
2. In Christ shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find.
God’s service is the golden cord
close binding humankind.
3. In Christ is neither Jew nor Greek
And neither slave nor free;
For men and women live in God,
and all are kin to me.
4. In Christ now meet both east and west,
in Christ meet south and north.
One joyous, true community
throughout the whole wide earth.
The Joy of Welcoming New Members
Partnership & 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.
From Here to There
¨ Benediction
One: In God, promises are not contained. They overflow.
Therefore, as you go from this time of communal worship
Return as participants in the communal witness
To spread the overwhelming love of God
To spread the overarching peace of God
And to spread the overcoming hope of God Like good seeds, sowing and planting a future
That will shine like the sun in the kindom of God
¨ Benediction Response I’m Goin’a Sing trad.
2. Sing …
3. Sow …
4. Reap …
Our Prayers for Others
¨ 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.
¨ Those in mortal danger in the continuing war in Iran. For the leaders of nations to set aside assassination and warfare in favor of just, diplomatic solutions to conflict.
¨ 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.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ The children and staff of Samuel’s Kids School and Orphanage in Uganda.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Hattie Parks, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Patti Smithson, due to have knee replacement on Tuesday (7-21).
¨ George Johnston, Patti Smithson’s cousin, injured in a terrible car accident last week, in California.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: July 20 – Deborah Martin, Mallory Lakes, Cavan Kobersmith; 21 – Tennant Kirk; 22 – Emma White; 26 – Jesse Montgomery; 27 – Silas Montgomery
Anniversaries: July 23 – Laura Nagle & Melissa Sparks; 27 – John & Ramona Culp
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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