A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
10:30 am, Third Sunday after Pentecost
Meditation
On your feet now – – applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into God’s presence. ~excerpt from Psalm 100, the Message
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude Blue Heron Waltz Union Church Orchestra
The Summons Bell/Maule
Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Welcome
The Call Steve Gowler, Reader
One: How reverent, how sedate sometimes the worship of God can be. But quiet isn’t the only response to divine presence, and somber downcast eyes are only one part of spiritual totality. The Psalmist wrote:
All: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come into God’s presence with singing.
One: And so we do. Yes, we come to quiet our busy minds and quell our distracted hearts, but in so doing we connect with the deep awe and the powerful mystery of God’s care and love. Love for us, love for all of creation. Love despite and sometimes because of our foibles and fumblings. So we enter rejoicing, we come with delight for the one who delights in us.
All: Know that the Lord is God. It is God who made us, and we are God’s; we are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture.
One: Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and God’s courts with praise. Give thanks to God; bless God’s name.
All: For the Lord is good; God’s steadfast love endures forever and God’s faithfulness to all generations.
One: Come let us enter and sing and pray and wonder .
~ New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ps 100:1–5
¨ Hymn #73 Enter, Rejoice, and Come In
1 Enter, rejoice, and come in.
Enter, rejoice, and come in.
Today will be a joyful day;
enter, rejoice, and come in.
2 Open your ears to the song.
Open your ears to the song.
Today will be a joyful day;
enter, rejoice, and come in.
3 Open your hearts everyone.
Open your hearts everyone.
Today will be a joyful day;
enter, rejoice, and come in.
4 Don’t be afraid of some change.
Don’t be afraid of some change.
Today will be a joyful day;
enter, rejoice, and come in.
5 Enter, rejoice, and come in.
Enter, rejoice, and come in.
Today will be a joyful day;
enter, rejoice, and come in.
¨ 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 5:1-8
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
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 9:35-10:8, (9-23)
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 On Character, On the Nature of Discipleship 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.
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Prayer Reflection Questions
Tracing Hope… In your meditation today take a moment to test and trace the arc Paul proposes: “knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame…”
What afflictions or suffering have resulted in resilient hope for you? Take a moment in assessment and intentional gratitude as you recall this journey.
And what about the others?… What afflictions have NOT resolved into some strength or blessing? Take time to honor this struggle or any pain from these ongoing sufferings. In the forge of emotions it can be difficult to act with the highest good for self and others in focus.
When you pray, what do you hear that you might need in those situations? Hold yourself gently as you explore any tender places. Ask for what you need. Trust that there is a way.
Offertory Wade in the Water Union Church Orchestra
Silent Prayer & Prayers of the Community Steve Gowler, Reader
Master of peace, keeper of justice, father and mother of the wise, help us be worthy of your way, and help us be healed and whole in the process. Our character is so often forged in the fire of our tribulations. Too often we harden to sharp edges failing to temper our hurts. Called to be gentle as doves, we try to out-wolf the world, and are too often too cruel to fly.
This week we pray that when tested, we might fill our mouths with the words that heal. We pray that you might strengthen our hearts for the deep peace we can barely understand now, and bring us improbable joy, impossible to resist, and that we might be heirs of character, practitioners in the harvest fields of grace, bearers of hope within and to the world. Sent to bless, give each one of us all that we need to laugh in the face of anxiety and hold love in the midst of fear.
This we pray in the name of Jesus, our brother, 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 The Summons Bell/Maule
1. “Will you come and follow me If I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know And never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, Will you let my name be known, Will you let my life be grown In you and you in me?”
2. “Will you leave yourself behind If I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare? Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?”
3. “Will you let the blinded see If I but call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same? Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,and admit to what I mean In you and you in me?”
4. “Will you love the ‘you’ you hide If I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound In you and you in me?
5. Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show. Thus I’ll move and live and grow In you and you in me.
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
The Junetenth holiday marks the anniversary of the official end of slavery in Texas, enacted by order of Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865 in Galveston. Monday, June 19 marks the annual celebration of the Federal Juneteenth holiday (since 2021), which has been celebrated in various ways since 1866, first in Texas and later in many U.S. States and Mexico. Beginning with Texas by proclamation in 1938, and by legislation in 1979, every U.S. state and the District of Columbia has formally recognized the holiday in some way. Juneteenth has been called “America’s second Independence Day”, and is celebrated by readings, singing, food and a general celebration of African-American culture.
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
¨ 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 Malawi & Zambia; and our brothers & sisters at Liberty Avenue 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.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ 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.
¨ Patsy Boyce, sister-in-law of Bob and Jean Boyce, undergoing chemotherapy.
¨ 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, traveling to MD Anderson Hospital in Texas for treatment of her colon.
¨ 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.
¨ Lorilyn Howie-Kipphut in her move to Cynthiana.
¨ Prayers for the Evans-Quigley family at the death of Marty Quigley, Rev. Kent’s cousin/Carla Gilbert’s nephew from liver cancer.
¨ For fathers who have been blessings to their children, and for all for whom “father” is a difficult word today.
¨ Joyce Mosher, home from the hospital and due to start chemotherapy in a couple of weeks.
¨ Debbonnaire Kovacs’ great nephew Silas is at almost four and a half pounds. Thank you for all your prayers!
Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: Today –June 18 – Kate Grigg; 19 – BJ Godby, Charles Hoffman; 20 – Dave Kobersmith; 21 – Deborah Thompson; 22 – Alida Schuyler, Teri VanPelt-Ward; 23 – Eva Sutherland; 24 – David Duffee; 25 – Stephanie Woodie
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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