A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
10:30 am Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Meditation
“Through this flesh, which is us, we are you, and you are us!” ~ Alex Haley: Roots: The Saga of an American Family
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome Dr. Cheryl Nixon
We are delighted to welcome returning Alumni/ae friends and family during the Berea College Summer Reunion events. We are also honored to receive greetings from Dr. Cheryl Nixon, 10th president of Berea College as our worship begins.
¨ Call To Worship Iris Bailey, Reader
One: It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.
All: For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
One: The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
All: They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.
One: In old age they still produce fruit;
All: they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; God is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in the Lord!
One: Green and growing, we lean for this hour on the rock of God’s grace. Let’s sing hymn #8 in the black hymnal and lift our hearts in praise.
¨ Opening Hymn #8 Praise to the Living God Diademata
1 Praise to the living God, the God of Love and light, Whose word brought forth the myriad suns and set the worlds in flight; Whose infinite design, which we but dimly see, Pervades all nature, making all a cosmic unity.
2 Praise to the living God, from whom all things derive, Whose Spirit formed upon this sphere the first faint seeds of life; Who caused them to evolve, unwitting toward God’s goal, Till humankind stood on the earth, as living, thinking souls.
3 Praise to the living God, who knows our joy and pain, Who shares with us our common life, the sacred and profane. God toils where ‘er we toil, in home and mart and mill; And deep within the human heart God leads us forward still.
4 Praise to the living God, around, within, above, Beyond the grasp of human mind, but whom we know as Love. In these tumultuous days, so full of hope and strife, May we bear witness to the way, O source and goal of life.
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession (unison)
Holy God, our lives are often overwhelmed by the violence and suffering in the world. We confess that confronted with the magnitude of fears and failings, we retreat to smallness: reducing our capacity and compassion; downsizing our hope; shrinking our mercy and limiting our joy. Heal us, O God, and from the mustard seed of what is left, grow what may be needed. Teach us and heal us. Forgive us and help us know better. We pray in Christ’s name: Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: Remember the words from Ezekiel. “God says, I will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and I will transplant it and it will produce boughs and bear fruit and become a noble cedar. ” God can take the smallest fragment of our good and bring forth a mighty forest of righteousness. From the smallest seed of the desire to change can spring all the transforming grace needed. Believe the good news of the gospel: that we may live forgiven. Your sins and sorrows are no match for God’s love watering your earnest desire for different. Thanks be to God for love like that!
All: Amen!
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day! You are invited to turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Scripture Reading 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13
Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel. The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.”
And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lorddoes not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lordchosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.”
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
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 Mark 4:26-34
He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”
He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Sermon The Subversion of Size Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
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.
Offertory
¨ Doxology Old Hundredth
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly host: Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost! Amen.
Prayer & Reflection Questions
Looking Over the Over Looked In prayer take time to look over all the things that you might have relegated to the “insignificant” category. Some of them may, in fact, be so. But a review might also allow you to see potential where none was seen before.
As Samuel anointed the unseen son of Jesse, is there unseen potential you’ve overlooked or greatness in disguise that needs tending?
Sizing Up Jesus reminds his followers in the Gospel of Mark that size isn’t an indicator we think it is. The mighty institutions can be irrelevant and brought down. A humble mustard seed of faith can be enough to grow a bush of blessing. Play the hopeful gardener in your prayers today: what seeds need nurture? What could you wish were bigger? Are there steps you can take to give these seeds room to grow? See if you can size up your hope and minimize your despair as you let yourself be held in God’s loving embrace for even just a few moments.
Maybe YOU are the seed God sees as precious potential. Breathe and see where your prayers lead.
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Prayers of the Community Iris Bailey, Reader
One: God of small and tall, Lord of unrealized magnificence, receive our thanks for the ways your blessings subvert our every expectation. May what you have planted in us flourish, and may our doubts and fears wither on the vine.
Make great even the tiny seeds of hope and faith we have. In gratitude we lift to you all those who planted seeds of hope in us, and who worked as fathers-in-faith and in fact to help there be a harvest of strength, hope, and spirit in our lives. We are still in need of such care, Lord. We come to you with hurts that need healing. We lift to you the people and places torn by violence and rage.
Let every little effort be magnified to bring the peace, the justice, and the well-being you intend for every one and every part of your creation. Small as we are, we would grow toward you and all that love demands.
Together we pray as Jesus taught, reaching to you as….
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 #540 We Plant a Grain of Mustard Seed New Beginnings
1 We plant a grain of mustard seed, and in our faith we find the proof of God is love, indeed, which blossoms from its kind; the proof of God is love, indeed, which blossoms from its kind.
2 Our actions, more than words, define how love’s example feeds a greater love, for love divine bursts forth from smallest seeds; feeds a greater love, for love divine bursts forth from smallest seeds.
3 When stooped to lend a helping hand, we find a touch that heals, for love invested will expand to bear the fruit love yields; for love invested will expand to bear the fruit love yields.
4 Make love our purpose, love our aim, for love endures all things, and choosing love our lives will claim the peace forgiveness brings; and choosing love our lives will claim the peace forgiveness brings.
5 So may our new beginnings prove, the living bread and wine, that through our common human love we taste what is divine; that through our common human love we taste what is divine.
6 Our lives will be fulfilled and blessed if through the seeds we’ve sown and by the love that we profess the love of Christ is known; and by the love that we profess the love of Christ is known.
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 we are honoring a man who was both a dedicated father, and who gained freedom on Juneteenth. Louis Hughes, born into slavery in 1832 in Charlottesville, Virginia, experienced a life marked by severe hardships and eventual triumph. Separated from his mother at age six, he was sold to a notoriously cruel man named McGee in Tennessee. Despite enduring harsh physical labor and brutal punishments, Hughes maintained his resilience.
In Tennessee, Hughes met and married Matilda, an enslaved woman from the same household, and they had several children together. Their marriage, however, was overshadowed by the constant threat of separation inherent to the enslaved experience. Driven by a desire to secure freedom for his family, Hughes made multiple escape attempts, facing severe consequences when caught.
During the Civil War, Hughes finally succeeded in escaping to Memphis, TN, where he found refuge with Union soldiers. The official end of slavery came on June 19, 1865, with General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, marking the beginning of Hughes’ life as a free man.
Post-emancipation, Hughes faced the challenge of reuniting with his family and rebuilding their lives. They eventually settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Hughes worked various jobs before becoming a successful businessman and community leader. His resilience and adaptability were evident as he navigated the difficulties of post-slavery life.
Hughes documented his experiences in his memoir, “Thirty Years a Slave: From Bondage to Freedom,” published in 1897. The memoir provides a vivid account of his life under slavery, his persistent quest for freedom, and his eventual success, offering a profound commentary on the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring fight for justice and equality.
Partnership and Purpose
Today presents an opportunity to covenant together! All who would like to are welcome to join the church family – you will be received in joy.
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
¨ Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members and faithful friends of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that you, and we, may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
¨ Benediction The God of Second Chances David Haas
Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Those who are able & willing are invited to fill the aisles as we sing the Benediction Response together. If you’re at home or in the balcony, you are part of the embrace too. The embrace is as wide as God’s love!
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 Malawi and Zambia and our brothers and sisters at Liberty Avenue Full Gospel Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ 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 in the Middle East.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Richard Bromley, Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Debby Gray, recovering from emergency surgery. MealTrain: mealtrain.com/trains/k0yrvr
¨ For all those caring for others in their illnesses and needs: may God give them both strength and encourage-ment in this work of costly love.
¨ Erikke Meadows’ mom, Prudy Meadows, who has COPD and is a possible lung begun cancer diagnosis.
¨ The Guild family as Will continues his struggle with brain cancer and stroke.
¨ Steve Boyce, now back at home.
¨ On this Father’s Day, for all those who have loved us as fathers should and stewarded our lives in loving ways. And prayers for all whom this is a difficult day of remembrance or pain. May love and healing supplant all grief.
¨ Jerry Glonek, brother of Pat Barrett, critically ill with metastasized cancer.
¨ For the family and many friends of Steve Farmer, who died Thursday, June 13, in a forestry accident. Steve, a beloved Berea wood worker, made the stools for the children, the bookcases for our hymnals, and the racks on the back of each pew in addition to countless other works of fine art throughout the city. Please hold his parent Jack and Vi Farmer in your prayers, as well his brothers and many close and dear friends. May God grant him peace and power.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: June 18 – Kate Grigg; 19 – BJ Godby, Charles Hoffman, Jessica Holly; 20 – Dave Kobersmith; 21 – Deborah Thompson; 22 – Alida Schuyler, Teri VanPelt-Ward
Anniversaries: June 19 – Steve & Patty Boyce; 20 – Sune & Barbara Frederiksen; 23 – Steve & Sandy Bolster
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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