A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am
Meditation
Hope is holding a creative tension between what is and what could and should be, each day doing something to narrow the distance between the two. ~ Parker J. Palmer
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
¨ Call To Worship Whitney McKnight, Reader
One: Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
All: Let us come before God with thanksgiving and extol God with music and song.
One: For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In God’s hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to God.
All: The sea is God’s, for God made it, and God’s hands formed the dry land.
One: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
All: For the Lord is our God and we are the people of God’s pasture, the flock under God’s care.
¨ Opening Hymn #252 Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Bradbury
1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us;
much we need your tender care.
In your pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use your fold prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
you have bought us: yours we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
you have bought us: yours we are.
2 We are yours; in love befriend us,
be the guardian of our way;
keep your flock, from sin defend us,
seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
hear your children when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
hear your children when we pray.
3 Let us always seek your favor,
let us always do your will;
Jesus Christ our only Savior,
with your love our spirits fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
you have loved us; love us still.
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: God seeks us out and protects us. God brings us to the safe shelter of God’s compassion. When we feel lost and alone, wondering who will save us;
God reaches out in love, healing our wounds and transforming our lives. And sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives and needs that we fail to see others for whom we might provide some help and relief, offering to those who need that same protection and shelter. .
You challenge us to feed those who are hungry and to quench the thirst of those who are parched. You ask us to bring clothing to those who have none or for whom the clothing is inadequate for the weather; to visit people who are sick, alone, alienated, who are imprisoned either in cells with bars or in conditions of hopelessness and poverty that they see no way out; to welcome the stranger and reach out to those who are marginalized; to always bring your words of healing and redeeming love. We have failed in these tasks and ignore the opportunities and claim that we are too busy to help, too busy to care or to use the gifts you lavish on us. . Forgive us, O God. Help us to use them for the sake of others. In Jesus’ Name, we pray.
All: Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: In the name of Jesus Christ who brings peace and hope to us, we are forgiven, healed and enabled to be part and parcel of the compassion and deeds we have received in order to bring about healing and peace in God’s world. Rejoice friends. You are chosen and loved and know that forgiveness. There is always more love in God than sin in us ! Thanks be to God.
All: 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 Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24
For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep and will sort them out. As shepherds sort out their flocks when they are among scattered sheep, so I will sort out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them into their own land, and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strays, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.
Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged, and I will judge between sheep and sheep.
I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them; he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.
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 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’
Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”
Sermon Unto the Least of These Peter Haik
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 Pie Jesu 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.
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
A community of caring relies on supportwww.easytithe.com/union. Your recurring or one-time donation will make a ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need.
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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Whitney McKnight, Reader
God, our shepherd, in whose creation we live and have our being, may we cherish all that you created and entrusted to us. While we wrestle with what is, and what we think could and should be, guide our steps so that we may live into your justice and mercy. We seek to walk and rejoice in your ways as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us…
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 When I Needed a Neighbor Neighbor
1. When I needed a neighbor, were you there, were you there? When I needed a neighbor, were you there? And the creed and the color and the name won’t matter. Were you there?
2. I was hungry and thirsty, were you there, were you there? I was hungry and thirsty Were you there? And the creed and the color and the name won’t matter. Were you there?
3. I was cold, I was naked, were you there, were you there? I was cold, I was naked were you there? And the creed and the color and the name won’t matter. Were you there?
4. When I needed a shelter, were you there, were you there? When I needed a shelter, were you there? And the creed and the color and the name won’t matter. Were you there?
5. When I needed a healer, were you there, were you there? When I needed a healer, were you there? And the creed and the color and the name won’t matter. Were you there?
6. Wherever you travel, I’ll be there, I’ll be there. Wherever you travel, I’ll be there. And the creed and the color and the name won’t matter. Were you 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
Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen
“We all are citizens of the world. What’s good for you, must be good for all. If you are lost, share a plate of food with a stranger… you will find who you are”.– Chef José Andrés
José Andrés is a Spanish-American chef, restaurateur and philanthropist. Most notably, he is the founder of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit he founded after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The organization responds to disasters both natural and human-caused, ensuring that people have food to eat. Andrés has been honored with numerous awards for his human-itarian efforts, including the National Humanities Medal, given by President Barack Obama.
Just this spring, seven WCK workers were killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza, despite their traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo, and with prior coordination with Israeli forces. The circumstances are unclear, but the attack was the worst kind of error, whether intentional or not. Today we honor Chef Andrés and mourn the needless loss of seven lives, workers who were only trying to remedy the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
¨ 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!
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 Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo and our brothers and sisters at Grace 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.
¨ 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 McWilliams, recovering from a serious infection, but released from hospital, in Providence, RI.
¨ Joseph Jacobs, with pancreatitis.
¨ Lynette Willis, at the loss of her sister, Kathy.
¨ 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!
Congratulations to Deborah Payne on her selection as the next Executive Director of the NGO CoCoDA (Companion Communities Development Alternatives). Deborah will work for the next year alongside current Director Jim Mulholland, and will assume the leadership position upon Jim’s retirement in the Fall of 2025. Deborah continues the longtime connection between Union Church and CoCoDA, and we wish her all success in continuing the work of CoCoDA in Central America.
Birthdays: Today – July 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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