A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Proper 9 of the Season after Pentecost 10:30 am
Meditation
“We are each other’s destiny.” ~ Mary Oliver
From There to Here: We Gather
Welcome
Welcome to this service of worship! Please sign in using the pew folder, passing it back down the row so all can greet one another by name, and place the sheet in an offering plate. We’re glad you’re here! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “<>.”
¨ The Call Deb Beishline, Reader
“I would say that there exist a thousand unbreakable links between each of us and everything else, and that our dignity and our chances are one. The farthest star and the mud at our feet are a family; and there is no decency or sense in honoring one thing, or a few things, and then closing the list. The pine tree, the leopard, the Platte River, and ourselves – we are at risk together, or we are on our way to a sustainable world together. We are each other’s destiny.” ~Mary Oliver
One: May this reminder touch us deeply. Each of us are interwoven into the interdependence of God’s creation.
All: We gather to pledge ourselves to the God of Love For All. May we gather to worship and rise to serve!
¨ Hymn #495 Called As Partners in Christ’s Service Beecher
1. Called as partners in Christ’s service
Called to ministries of grace
We respond with deep commitment
Fresh new lines of faith to trace
May we learn the art of sharing
Side by side and friend with friend
Equal partners in our caring
To fulfill God’s chosen end
2. Christ’s example Christ’s inspiring
Christ’s clear call to work and worth
Let us follow never faltering
Reconciling folk on earth
Men and women, richer, poorer
All God’s people young and old
Blending human skills together
Gracious gifts from God unfold
3. Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission
In a small or global sense
Help us bear each other’s burdens
Breaking down each wall or fence
Words of comfort words of vision
Words of challenge said with care
Bring new power and strength for action
Make us colleagues, free and fair
4. So God grant us for tomorrow
Ways to order human life
That surround each person’s sorrow
With a calm that conquers strife
Make us partners in our living
Our compassion to increase
Messengers of faith thus giving
Hope and confidence and peace
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: We confess our fears have not made us more faithful. We confess that our pride has often been out of place. We confess that we have acted as though were supposed to be the served, not the servers. Forgive us, Lord of the Open Table, and connect us again to your holy, binding Spirit.
All: Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
¨ 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 Reading Galatians 6:1-16
My brothers and sisters, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads. Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.
See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who try to compel you to be circumcised–only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule–peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
~ 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 Luke 9:51-62
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’
“Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Carrying Nothing, Sent Ahead Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard and reflect together.
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: The Holy Living God be with you!
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts,
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
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 Grace, It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you. Your delight filled the skies and land with colors beyond the spectrum of our knowing. Your creation and care raised up humankind and every creature with such diversity that we cannot comprehend it. Your breath weaves us together with all you have made; your Spirit rests upon us and binds us to each other; your love leaves healing in the waters and the power of life in the hands of those you send ahead to proclaim your salvation.
One: We have often backed away from such promise, denied healing, or sought power over your proclamation: We have been unable to claim your love as ours because we have seen ourselves apart from the web of wellbeing, ignoring what love demands. So we come humbly. We come to taste the bread of life and to share a cup of joy. And here you are to meet us – speak to us – once again: always faithful, always present at all our tables, in every common room, in every household where we gather in your name.
One: And so, we join in the song of all creation, in heaven and earth, praising all you are doing to move us to healing:
Sanctus
Words of Institution
One: On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
All: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
One: When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
All: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be for us the vision of your Reign realized, so that we may be sent ahead with peace to enter a world starving for lovingkindness. Bless every table so Love may have a seat of honor at every meal.
All: Amen!
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it. We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. All the bread is gluten-free, and the chalices are filled with non-alcoholic grape juice.
Living Prayer
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle tables. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
Offertory
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
¨ Doxology Gathered Here in the Mystery of This Hour Phil Porter
Community Prayer of Thanksgiving Deb Beishline, Reader
For all the places we have traveled and all the tables where we sit, it is with you, Lord of the Table, with whom we are at home. As we pray for those around your world we remember the peoples of Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda, all of whom are part of your magnificent tapestry of ministry and hope. We hold in your light, the faith communities we know in all places, the ones we drive by and have not connected to, and those who challenge us. We lift to you our neighbors, family and friends at Liberty Avenue Full Gospel Church here in Berea, and the peoples, countries, and communities around the world with whom we are inextricably interwoven. We name them now in our hearts…
[a silence is observed]
We reflect in order that we might transform. You have fed us with more than bread, in order that we might be ONE, rising to justice and joy. Seeking what love demands, may we both find and share healing peace for all our siblings in all their miraculous variety; for all your children, all your creatures, all your creation. Send us, in retreat or advance, in fair weather and foul, to be your agents of grace, as love demands. This we pray in the name of the one who taught us to reach out to you as…
Our Lord’s Prayer
Our Maker, Our Mother, and Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
¨ Hymn #347 Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ Linstead
1. Let us talents and tongues employ,
reaching out with a shout of joy:
bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Refrain: Jesus lives again; earth can breathe again.
Pass the Word around: loaves abound!
2. Christ is able to make us one,
at his table he set the tone,
teaching people to live to bless,
love in word and in deed express. Refrain
3. Jesus calls us in, sends us out
bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God (Immanuel) everywhere! Refrain
From Here to 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
The Justice Candle is lit today honoring community and creativity!! The Berea Interdependence Art Parade yesterday was a delight! Giant puppets, a brass band, artists, food providers and more, collaborated in the people-powered celebration. Union Church is proud to have founded a town where all of the community is recognized and celebrated. Thank you to all who worked so hard and lovingly, especially our Union Church team!
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Send Down the Fire M. Haugen
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 Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda and our siblings at Liberty Avenue Full Gospel Outreach in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Dave Reilly’s nephew, Herb Post, ill with kidney cancer that has spread to his lung.
¨ Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins recovering very well from complex jugular vein surgery. Please hold her in your prayers!
¨ Charlie Hoffman, with cardiac issues.
¨ 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, and starvation of those in Gaza.
¨ We pray for our country, and those who are directly affected by the actions and inaction of our govern-ment to address the needs of its people and the world.
¨ Prayers for those undergoing cancer treatments. We give thanks for the doctors, nurses, and other scientists working to help them.
¨ Our prayers surround Anthony Boyce (son of Patty and Steve Boyce) whose wife, Vicky, died last Sunday. Sheree, her daughter, also grieves her passing. A memorial service will be held tomorrow in Tennessee. May God grant release and peace.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jerry Cooper, Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: July 7 – Jessica Gowler; 8 – Deb Beishline, Kelly Mehler, Bernardo Scarambone; 9 – David Bellnier; Guin Castillo; 11 – Vera Garrett; 12 – Mark Pettis Larssen; 13 – Paula White
Lois Morgan will turn 96 on July 14!! Cards can be sent to her at 100 Neighborly Way, Somerset, KY, 42503
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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