A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am
Meditation
“Find those who tell you Do not be afraid, yet stay close enough to tremble with you. This is a love.” ~Cole Arthur Riley
Prelude
Welcome
From There to Here: We Gather
¨ The Call Mary Oliver
One: Praying … It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
¨ Words of Assurance
¨ Hymn #505 Black Sweet Hour of Prayer Sweet Hour
¨ Passing the Peace
Building the Community: News that Connects Us
Announcements
Lighting the Justice Candle
Today we light the Justice Candle in honor of Jubilee Partners (JPs), an ecumenical Christian service community located in rural northeast Georgia. Since 1980, the community has been offering hospitality to refugees and other immigrants who have left their homes because of violence and persecution. Over the years, JPs has hosted around 4000 people from 35 different countries.
Through its communal life together, JPs seeks to embody the peace, justice, mercy and love of the Kingdom of God. Along with a ministry of hospitality, members of the community write and visit people in prison, including inmates on Georgia’s death row, and support friends working among poor and marginalized people around the world, especially in Central America.
The name Jubilee Partners is a reference to the “Year of Jubilee” described in the book of Leviticus, in which prisoners were to be set free, debts forgiven, and resources shared with the poor. As a community of about 15 long-term members and 5 – 10 short-term volunteers, it seeks to celebrate this good news alongside the 3 – 5 families who rotate through the hospitality program, prior to settling in new communities.
Union Church member Betty Hibler served as a volunteer for some months upon retirement from Berea College. The Mission and Service Board has made a generous donation to Jubilee Partners in her honor.
Word And Worship
Special Music Celtic Dance on Pleading Savior
Maria Hartz, Debbonnaire Kovacs, Pearl Marshall, Robert Rorrer, handbells; Kim Kobersmith, flute
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Genesis 18:20-32
Then the Lord said, ‘How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.’ So the men turned from there, and went towards Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham came near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?’ And the Lord said, ‘If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.’ Abraham answered, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?’ And he said, ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.’ Again he spoke to him, ‘Suppose forty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of forty I will not do it.’ Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.’ He answered, ‘I will not do it, if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.’ Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.’
Children’s Moment Please join in singing as we bless children everywhere:
May God’s blessing 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.
Please note that Union Church services are livestreamed, including the Children’s Moment. A “no camera zone” is at the back of the balcony, behind the AV booth.
Gospel Lesson Luke 11:1-13
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.’ And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. ‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’
Sermon Words at the Door Rev. Kent Gilbert
Visual Reflection
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer and Offering
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.
Offering Music The Lord’s Prayer Albert Hay Malotte Pearl Marshall, handbells
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
Our gifts help sustain this particular community of caring by sustaining the building, pastors and staff, and all the materials that make our ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need. In addition, a portion of our contributions flows out to aid those in need via many external agencies.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. You don’t have to register to make a contribution, but if you do, it can make future generosity that much easier.
You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”)
You can also use US mail! Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
For Reflection
What holy conversations have you had or are having?
Is there such a conversation you need to have but have avoided?
In just a few moments now, enter the door to God’s presence. What would you like to say? What would like to hear?
Community Prayer
God who is always at home for us, always comes to the door, always has the table set— we stand at the threshold and knock. When we come in, help us find the courage to speak our truth with you. When we sit down, overlook the dust of our absence, the tears in our travel clothes, and speak your truth to us. When we hear, help us to live out that truth with love. We come to you with news of your world even as you whisper to us of the kin-dom come. So,in each holy conversation be present to us in all our hurts, and multiply our joys in healings, hopes, and help. We enter the door lord, and we pray as 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 Let All Who Pray the Prayer Christ Taught Merionydd
1. Let all who pray the prayer Christ taught
First clear the cluttered heart.
Make room to breathe the living thought
Those well-worn words impart.
Dismiss the fear that this world drifts
With no one in command.
Your pulse and breath are signs and gifts
From God’s attentive hand.
2. Refine and test each passing aim
Against this final one:
Has your life hallowed heaven’s name
And has God’s will been done?
Discard each vengeful hope that’s fed
The dreams of wars you’ll win,
Then freely ask for daily bread
And pardon from your sin.
3. Examine how temptation breeds
Inside the mind’s dark maze,
Acknowledging that your life needs
Deliverance from its ways.
By faithful discipline prepare
An inward holy space
That when you offer Jesus’ prayer
Your heart may fill with grace.
¨ Benediction
Postlude
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. Let us hold the people of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and our brothers & sisters at Middletown Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ Those affected by the Covid-19 virus, their families and friends living with fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, may God bring peace to all who love them; and our wider community as we cope with the new realities of living, including the now over 16,200 Kentucky residents, and 286 Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.
¨ Prayers for all the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty, and especially those in the city of Nikolaev where the family of former Berea International student daughter of Kevin and Carla, Yulia live. 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: Alva Peloquin, Loyal Jones, Lois Morgan, Jan Hamilton, Laura Robie, Dorie Hubbard, Betty Wray, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.
¨ Claudia Munson-Schrumpf recovering from a concussion.
¨ Joy Frazier, relocating to be near family in Indiana. Go with God and carry peace in your heart!
¨ The family and many friends of David Crandall, at his sudden death,
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ Hazel Morris, being treated for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
¨ Raymond Binkley, Betty Wray’s brother, aged 94, and in ill health.
¨ Chris McKenzie and family, at the death of his grandma, Zane Brown.
¨ Michelle, beloved nurse at Morning Pointe, undergoing treatment for cancer.
¨ Jess Burton & Jake Graber and their little girl, Lila, who has serious gastric issues.
¨ Dan & Donna Brewer, recovering from injuries sustained in a car wreck.
¨ Important dates—if we haven’t got yours, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
Birthdays: July 26 – Jesse Montgomery, 27 – Silas Montgomery, 29 – Barbara Frederiksen; 31 – Sharona Nelson
Anniversaries: July 27 – John & Ramona Culp
Announcements
Children are welcome in the service,
or you can stay with them in the nursery
· There will be a nursery assistant available in the nursery space to provide support for families who are supervising their own children there,
· The nursery and playground will be open for families to use if you supervise your own children,
· There will be a device for listening/watching the service in the nursery,
· We anticipate adding full nursery services once under 5s can be vaccinated,
· The children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary will have activities for our youngest members
· Please note that Union Church services are livestreamed, including the Children’s Moment. A “no camera zone” is at the back of the balcony, behind the AV booth.
Lemonade in the Shade
The Community Life and Growth Board is looking for volunteers to assist in our weekly Lemonade on the Porch after our morning worship running through the summer. If you can help on a particular Sunday this summer, please go to our News page at union-church.org/news and click on the form labeled Volunteers for Lemonade on the Porch. We need folks to help with set up and take down as well as people to donate snack items like cookies or other kinds of snacks.
Opportunities to Serve
The Nominating Board is looking for members of the Union Church community to serve on three Boards:
· Faith Development
· Mission & Service
· Nurture & Carre
· Pastoral Relations
Please call/email the church office or email/text Rachel Lakes (859.582.6646, rachel.robertslakes@gmail.com) for more information or to express interest.
Memorial Service for Jennie Kiteck
A service will be held August 13 for Jennie Kiteck who died January17, 2022. Music begins at 1 pm; service at 2 pm. All welcome.
Madison County is in the CDC’s YELLOW range regarding Covid cases. These are the protocols we’ll follow:
Þ Congregants recommended to stay up to date with vaccinations.
Þ Stay home when sick. Follow KY state quarantine and isolation guidance.
Þ Indoor mask use with N95, KN95, or surgical mask is required.
Þ Groups can meet if masked and distanced.
Þ Choir can sing if masked and distanced.
Þ Cleaning is necessary between groups.
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