Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union

Second Sunday after Pentecost

June 14, 2020      10:30 am

Meditation
I am not separate from the deaths, the demands, and the dealings, the disasters, the deceits, the demagogues, and the diplomacy. This is our incompleteness, our separation, our greed at work. Let me own my part. The world’s hunger is mine. The world’s helplessness is mine. The world’s failure to love is mine. Sober me to this connection in my life. Let the news be printed on my conscience. Help me bear it. —Gunilla Norris, Being Home

From there to here: we Gather

Welcome
A welcoming Spirit blows through us all! As the Berea community responds to the governor’s suggestion to avoid gathering in large groups, we worship online to limit the risk of exposure to Covid-19. We’re delighted to welcome you into this virtual circle of God’s healing love and light.
The Call Invocation: Jeanne Lohmann Alvera Perman, Reader
Let us try what it is to be true to gravity, to grace, to the given, faithful to our own voices, to lines making the map of our furrowed tongue. Turned toward the root of a single word, refusing solemnity and slogans, let us honor what hides and does not come easy to speech. The pebbles we hold in our mouths help us to practice song, and we sing to the sea. May the things of this world be preserved to us, their beautiful secret vocabularies. We are dreaming it over and new, the language of our tribe, music we hear we can only acknowledge. May the naming powers be granted.  Our words are feathers that fly on our breath. Let them go in a holy direction.
Passing the Peace at Home
Building the Community: News that Connects Us

The Living Word among us

Anthem Song of the Wind A. Sherman
Pearl Marshall, Handbells
Hebrew Scripture Lesson  Genesis  18:1-15, 21:1-17 Sune Frederiksen, Reader
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, ‘My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’ So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?’ The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’ But Sarah denied, saying, ‘I did not laugh’; for she was afraid. He said, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh.’
The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Now Sarah said, ‘God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.’ And she said, ‘Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.’
Children’s Moment
Please join in singing as we bless children everywhere:
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.
Gospel Lesson               Matthew 9:9:35-10:23 Sune Frederiksen, Reader
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Sermon The Winds of Change: Keep On Keepin’ On  Rev. Kent Gilbert

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.
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”).
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offering Music
Silent Reflection and Prayer
Center yourself, either now or sometime today, and breathe deeply and peacefully.

• Breath is a powerful form of Spirit Wind. Breath deeply now and take in the breath that powers you. Breathe out into the world the hope and blessing inside of you. Breathe in the struggles and difficulties. Blow back now with those troubles infused with something of your heart. This is our prayer: we are wise to the ways of the world, but with blessing we change them and ourselves. Seated or marching, even alone we are part of the winds of change: Breathe and stir the air with blessing.
• Not all we try will be received. Not all who hear will listen. Not all are called or able to do the same thing. Like different leaves before the same wind, we are carried forward differently. As we align with God’s Spirit wind, how are you being sent? You may wish to journal about this. Are you capable? What are you doing that is wise as a serpent but gentle as a dove? Jesus asks the disciples to leave behind worries of what will impede them and just Keep on Keepin’ on. How are you doing that this week? What concrete steps have you taken to follow this Christ in this world in this present moment? Journal about this, and if you feel comfortable share briefly in the chat or comments. Your words may be breath and life to another.

Our Prayers for Others
You are very welcome to email or phone prayer requests to the office for the bulletin. Please do so by 10 am Thursdays, and be sure you have permission to share the information.
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 Botswana and Zimbabwe and our brothers and sisters at Blue Lick Missionary Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.¨ 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.
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.
¨ Guy Patrick, recovering from intestinal surgery.
¨ Doug Hindman and all the family, at the death of Nancy Hindman on Thursday.
¨ Teri VanPelt, experiencing health concerns.
”Heidi Earl, recovering from cancer surgery.
¨ Marie, Dorie Hubbard’s kindergarten aged great grand-niece, who has had a recurrence of cancer and is back in treatment.
¨ Emily Hoskins, who is pregnant and has gestational diabetes.
¨ Amanda Chao Benbasset and husband Maxi at the birth of Domenico!
¨ Corey Chao, whose family is expecting a baby this summer.
¨ Jan Hamilton, who has moved to Morning Pointe. Her new address  is 1400 Gibson Bay Dr., Rm. 136; Richmond; KY; 40475.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin,  Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller, Lois Morgan, Barb Smith, Jan Hamilton.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ George Mountjoy, living with cancer.
¨ 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.
Prayers of the People Carla Gilbert, Reader
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 Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness
Chorus: Spirit, spirit of gentleness,
                   blow through the wilderness, calling and free,
                   Spirit, spirit of restlessness,
                   stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

1. You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,

then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
and over the eons you called to each thing;
“Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.”

2. You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand

and you goaded your people with a law and a land;
and when they were blinded with idols and lies,
then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes.

3. You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,

then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
and down in the city you called once again,
when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind.

4. You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes.

From the bondage of sorrow all the captives dream dreams;
our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.
With bold new decisions your people arise.

• James K. Manley (20th century), hymn-writer. Published in Everflowing Streams (1981).  “Spirit,” l. 1-4 (1978).Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786

The Sending & Blessing              Rev. Kent Gilbert
Postlude     Hallelujah         Leonard Cohen Suzana Sanchez, Harp
In Worship Today…
Each week many elements come together to make our worship together rich and deep.
This week we are grateful for Sune Frederiksen, Worship Leader, and Alvera Perman, Reader; and Marty Hensley, Jeff Hutton, Sayer Kobersmith, Sean Mack and Olin Perry, in the sound and camera equipment booth.
Many thanks to the Worship Team who crafted this service: Debbonnaire Kovacs, Jennifer Melton and Sharona Nelson.