A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Celebration of the Lord’s Supper 10:30 am
Meditation
Well, we know where we’re goin’ But we don’t know where we’ve been And we know what we’re knowin’ But we can’t say what we’ve seen. And we’re not little children And we know what we want. And the future is certain Give us time to work it out… ~David Byrne, Talking Heads
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
The Call Charles Hoffman, Reader
Thomas Merton, a great spiritual voice of the 20th century who lived at the Cistercian monastery in Gethsemane, Kentucky, was fearless in acknowledging the ambiguity we all face before God. He wrote this prayer, which calls us to our faith journey this morning, and perhaps speaks to our deeper condition outside these walls. Please join me as we read it together:
All: My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
~“The Merton Prayer” from Thoughts in Solitude Copyright © 1956, 1958
One: And so we come into the presence of the Holy One who’s constant care neither deserts or depletes us. Come with all you have to worship and renew.
¨ Hymn #484 Come to Me, You Weary Merionydd
1. “O come to me, you weary, and I will give you rest.” The blessed voice of Jesus, which comes to hearts oppressed! It tells of benediction, of pardon, grace and peace, of joy that has no ending, of love which does not cease.
2. “O come to me, you wanderers and I will give you light.” The loving voice of Jesus, which comes to cheer the night! Our hearts are filled with sadness, and we had lost our way; but morning brings us gladness and songs for each new day.
3. “O come unto me, you fainting, and I will give you life!” The cheering voice of Jesus, which stills our inner strife! The evil one surrounds us and would our faith subdue, but you are strong within us, our courage brave and true.
4. “All you who come and seek me will never be cast out.” The welcome voice of Jesus, which drives away our doubt! And though we are unworthy of love so free and true, we hear your call to sinners, in trust we come to you.
¨ 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 Lesson Romans 7:15-25a
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s presence 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 11:16-19, 25-30
“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” 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 that 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.”
Sermon The Knowing and the Unknowing Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
Repsonding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: God bids us welcome! Lift up your hearts!
All: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us open our hearts!
All: We open them to God and to the world.
One: Let us give God thanks!
All: It is right that we give God thanks and praise.
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.
Communion Prayer
One: Blessed are you, gracious God, Creator of light, Giver of all life, Source of love. You guide the sun, cradle the moon, and toss the stars. At your word the earth was made and spun on its course among the planets.
All: You breathe life into us and set us among all your creatures, in a covenant of love and service.
One: Even when we turn away from you, you do not forsake us. You send your prophets to proclaim your justice, to remind us of your promise of peace, and to call us back to you.
All: Creator, Christ, and Spirit, we praise you for your love revealed to us in Jesus, who walks with us, our Wisdom and our Way, sharing our joy and sorrow, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and setting the captive free.
One: And so it is that we join the song of all creation to proclaim your goodness, mercy and love:
~ United Church Publishing House, Celebrate God’s Presence (United Church Publishing House, 2000).
Sanctus #793
Santo, santo, santo, mi Corazon te adora! Mi Corazon te sabe decir: santo eres Dios.
Holy, holy, holy, my heart, my heart adores you! My heart is glad to say the words: you are holy, God.
Words of Institution
One: We remember that when Jesus ate with his friends, he took a loaf of bread and, after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
All: “Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Each time you do this, remember me.”
One: Then he took a cup and, after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying,
All: “Drink. This cup that is poured out for you is the promise of God, made in my blood. Whenever you drink it, remember me.”
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 by signaling to the usher.
If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit within your tradition. You may remain in your seat, or you may come forward for a blessing, as you wish.
Prayer Reflection Questions
Embodying the Grace: For many, communion symbolizes the sure provision of God and the covenant promise with Christ. Here, today, we know where to find the elements and where and how to receive them. As you pray, think about where outside of the sanctuary you connect with these promises. Where is it that you go? What is it that you do? And how do you embody your connection in the minutes/hours/days that follow? This week try to go, do, and embody the Love you love. For yourself, and for at least one other in your world.
Alignment: Jesus critiques those who hear the music and don’t dance, who know the sorrow but don’t weep. Do you have places in your heart where you are not “aligned” with your circumstances, or have grown hard to the circumstances of the world? When was the last time you danced in your kitchen? When was the last time you felt the brokenness you try to hide? Either now or in your prayers this week, breath deep, take notice, and allow yourself to be present with God in all that surrounds you.
Offertory
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Prayer of Thanksgiving Charles Hoffman, Reader
Lord of this and every table, we thank you for holding us up in the knowing and in the unknowing of our lives. You are present to us in every time and place, coaxing out of our chaos, the indelible grace, mercy, and healing of your promise. Thank you for the reminders in this meal we have shared.
Thank you for cup of spirit that enlivens our hearts, and for the sustaining loaf of work and wonder kneaded together. May these gifts help us rest and rise as we share with one another the further gifts of welcome, hospitality, and life known to us by the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, our brother.
And through your Holy Spirit may all who seek hope, and meaning, and forgiveness, and healing, and the power of Love never be disappointed. Help us, Lord. Then help us help.
We pray in the name of the one who taught us to reach to you as….
Lord’s Prayer
All: 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: We Depart
¨ Hymn #506 What a Friend We Have in Jesus Erie
1. What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
2. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to our God in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to our God in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy laden, burdened with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to our God in prayer. Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to our God in prayer! Jesus’ arms will take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Community Connections & Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Moms Demand Action (on Gun Violence) (momsdemandaction.org/) is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. They are the largest grassroots movement to prevent gun violence in the country. They have chapters in all 50 states and in DC (details on their website).
Up through July 2, this year there have been 340 mass shooting incidents, from 39 states plus DC, killing 397 and injuring 1422 Here in Kentucky, an April shooting in Louisville killed 8 and wounded 21. These wounds are more than physical, and reverberate for years within a community.
Kentucky’s gun laws are among the weakest in the country. No state law requires background checks on all firearm sales. Prohibited purchasers can buy any gun by buying it from an unlicensed seller at a gun show or online. Kentucky does not prohibit known domestic abusers from having guns, and allows concealed carry of loaded guns in public with no permit, no background check and no safety training.
America’s fetishization of guns has reached insane proportions, yet most state legislatures and even the Supreme Court are moving in the opposite direction. Moms Demand Action works to reverse this unhealthy trend.
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Woyaya (We Will Get There)
Please sing as you form our larger circle. We will sing it twice so that we may fully see each other and sing at the same time.
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 Eritrea and Ethiopia; and our brothers & sisters at Gethsemane Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ Prayers for 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 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: Jan Hamilton, Doug Hindman, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Lois Morgan, Tom & Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Betty Wray, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Loyal Jones, in hospice care. His daughter, Susan, reports he’d love to hear from friends. His address is 200 Tabernacle Rd. L-205; Black Mountain; NC; 28711.
¨ Dottie Lovell, struggling with a case of Bell’s Palsy.
¨ The family of Dr. Patsy Boyce, sister-in-law of Bob and Jean Boyce, friend to many, Berea College alumna, who died peacefully on Friday after a long illness.
¨ Rita Barlow, receiving care at home.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Angela Anderson, undergoing treatment at Dana Farber Lynch Syndrome Center. Keep in touch at her Caring Bridge site: www.caringbridge. org/visit/angelafaithanderson
¨ Betty Sarafin’s family. Her brother-in-law, Thomas Aquinas Cook, Jr. Esq, has ALS and is declining.
¨ John Stanley & Heather Lundy former Union Church members & still beloved friends, as John recovers from a stroke.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Joyce Mosher
¨ Doug Hindman, recovering from surgery at St. Joseph hospital in Lexington.
Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: Today – July 9 – Maya Todd, Amy Williams, David Bellnier, Gwen Castillo; 11 – Vera Garrett; 14 – Dottie Blackburn, Lois Morgan; 15 – Mary McConnell
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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