A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
July 5, 2026 10:30 am Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Meditation “We rise by lifting others.” ~ Robert Ingersoll
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
¨ Call to Worship Lorilyn Howie-Kipphut, Reader
One: In joy and gladness, enter the presence of the One who cares for all creation. Worship the Holy One!
All: The voice of the Holy One is powerful and gracious, loving and challenging, compassionate and convicting.
One: In joy and gladness, receive the Spirit who ignites our hearts and connects us to one another. Worship the Holy Spirit!
All: The voice of the Holy Spirit gives wisdom, discernment, comfort, and confirmation.
One: In joy and gladness, follow the path of the Embodied One. Worship God With Us!
All: The voice of God With Us models for us what to say and how to live. Praise God!
¨ Invocation
One: God of all nations and all peoples, bless us as we gather in your name. Open us to vessels in building your kin-dom and spreading the good news of life and liberty. May we drink from the well of your abundance. May our cups overflow with your love. May our hearts burn in your presence. Be with us in this time and place. Amen.
¨ Hymn #4 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You Hymn to Joy
1. Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, God of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before You,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the storms 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 blessed,
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
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: Breathe in grace.
Hold: Grasp God’s mercy.
Exhale: Release your burdens.
Hold: Rest in God’s presence.
¨ 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 Psalm 148:8-14
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and God’s compassion is over all that has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to all people your mighty deeds and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and gracious in all his deeds. The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
~ 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 Lesson Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Take My Yoke Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins
Video Reflection
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: May the Spirit of love be with you
All: And may the love of Christ be with you
One: Open wide your cautious hearts.
All: May the hope of our Creator pour peace in our souls.
One: Let us give thanks to the one who created this time and space
All: From our joy we give God thanks and praise.
Call to Prayer
One: The Holy One gives gifts beyond measure or compare. The Holy One gives with abundance and generosity. The Holy has provided for every need and invites us to ensure equitable, faithful, and mutual sharing so that no one needs to experience a lack of resources. Let us give from the well of abundance to honor God’s faithfulness and to demonstrate trust in God’s provision.
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.
Communion Prayer
One: God of the fair winds and bounteous fields, Of the storms overhead and the seas below, With joy we celebrate the connection we have with all of creation “From sea to shining sea,” From the beauteous mountain caps to the rivers winding across the land.
One: We honor the connection we have with your beings- from the chipmunks scurrying through our yards to the swallows swooping in the air above. We embrace the relationships with our neighbors near and far- the ones who are close to our hearts, and the ones with whom distance in miles and souls sets us apart.
One: And so we come to this table: The ones with many opportunities, and those seeking liberty. The ones who have been disregarded and those embraced, knowing that Christ’s welcome receives all. knowing that Jesus the Christ ate with sinners and tax collectors, with those who disapproved and those who leapt for joy, with Judas and Peter, with Mary and Martha, with Philip and Thomas.
One: And so we too come to the table. The table of God’s freedom. The table of God’s justice and love. The table which reflects the true kingdom, empire, realm of God where all are welcome.
One: We come to the table remembering the night before Jesus died. As he ate with his followers in a room away from the world, “taking a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant.” Whenever we eat and drink at the table, we remember the Christ in our midst.
Sanctus please join in singing:
Words of Institution
One: Spirit of Hope, Holy Winds of Divine Freedom, encircle this bread and cup, Encircle us in our eating and drinking that we may experience the radical love of Christ here today and sharing this care as we journey throughout this week. Amen.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this table and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat.
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer and Offering
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 Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda; and our siblings at First Baptist Church of Berea in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
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 and using the bulletin insert for further inspiration.
Offertory
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¨ 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.
¨ Prayer of Thanksgiving Lorilyn Howie-Kipphut, Reader
One: Gracious Lord Jesus, only Son of God, in Your mercy, You have extended Your loving invitation to come to You when we are weary and burdened, promising rest, not just for our bodies, but for our souls, so we are humbled and grateful that You, our gentle and humble Savior, offer us Your yoke of love, grace, and peace when we lay down our worries, our pride, and our striving, and take up Your yoke in trust and obedience, teaching us to walk with You, to learn from You, to find joy and strength in surrendering to Your will, for being our rest, our peace, and our guide while helping us to grow in meekness, humility, and faith that will reflect Your love and gentleness in all we do and say, using us to comfort others as You have comforted us, for showing us how to walk beside the weary with Your compassion and kindness, and to grow Your kingdom of love, mercy, and peace. We thank you as we pray…
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
Today, one day after our nation celebrated its 250th year of independence and a remarkably successful experiment in democracy, our community is celebrating Interdependence Day, “rooted in the idea that we are stronger, more creative, and more resilient together.” This event, which was preceded by workshops and shared making, culminates in a parade through Old Town and concert with the Panorama Brass Band on the Russel Acton Folk Center lawn.
It demonstrates how collaborative art, music, and performance can forge relationships and community infrastructure that are inclusive and promote social justice and mutual respect. Come out and support this free and family friendly event today from 6-9 pm. For more information, see ampberea.org.
¨ Hymn #597 Shall We Gather at the River Hanson’s Place
1. Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?
Refrain: Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.
Verse 2. On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will walk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day. Refrain
3. As we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown. Refrain
4. Soon we’ll reach the shining river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace. Refrain
From Here to There
¨ Benediction
One: As you go,
Celebrate liberty and pursue justice
Pray for the land on which you are planted
And open space for neighbors seeking a home
Remember the challenges and blessings of the past
Work for the promise and hope of the future
Knowing that the God of the Covenant
Lives, reigns, and abides with us
As the journey continues
Go in peace and go for peace
To love and to serve.
~from Worship Ways
Benediction Response I’m Goin’s Sing When the Spirit Says Sing trad. Spiritual
2. Sing
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.
¨ Our Office Administrator, Joan English, recovering at home from a cardiac ablation last Thursday.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Hattie Parks, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: Today, July 5 – Sune Frederiksen; 6 – Christina Ryan Perkins, Fable Perkins; 7 – Jessica Gowler; 8 – Deb Beishline; Bernardo Scarambone; 9 – Maya Todd, David Bellnier, Guin Castillo; 13 – Paula White
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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