A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Sixth Sunday of Easter 10:30 am
Meditation
Healing isn’t about closure. It is about openness. It is about a profound vulnerability that releases us from the need to hide from anything, and that ultimately leads us to freedom. ~ Bonnie O’Brien Jonsson, “Opening Up to Grief ”
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 Rhonda Edwards, Reader
One: Let the peoples praise you, O God;
All: let all the peoples praise you.
One: Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
All: for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.
One: Let the peoples praise you, O God;
All: let all the peoples praise you and let our hearts open in song!
¨ Hymn #597 Shall We Gather at the River Hanson Place
- Shall we gather at the river, Where bright angel feet have trod, With its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God?
Refrain: Yes, we’ll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river; gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God.
2 On the margin of the river, washing up its silver spray, we will walk and worship ever, all the happy golden day. Refrain
3 As we reach the shining river, lay we every burden down; grace our spirits will deliver, and provide a robe and crown. Refrain
4 Soon we’ll reach the shining river, soon our pilgrimage will cease; soon our happy hearts will quiver
with the melody of peace. Refrain
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: When the healing water flows, we can can sometimes be painfully aware of our lack of understanding, our prides and follies that made misery in our world. But the waters of grace wash away shame and failure. Let us confess together and seek healing with one another. Let us pray…
All: We aren’t always ready and we are not always perfect. We have made grave errors, and you know the turmoil in our souls. Forgive and transform our brokenness, Lord of life. Wash us up and set us down facing the right way again. Where we have work to do, grant us strength and restore in us your heart and mind to guide our own. We pray in Jesus’ name: Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: The Word which can transform is not some idle gossip, but good news for us. It fills us with forgiveness, equips us for service, and sends us forth to love others as God loves us.
All: And by such grace we are changed for good. Thanks be to God!
¨ 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
Anthem Christ Has No Body Now But Yours Steven C. Warner
Union Church Choir
Refrain: Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours. Here on earth yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
1. No hands but yours to heal the wounded world, no hands but yours to soothe all its suffering, no touch but yours to bind the broken hope of the people of God. Refrain.
2. No eyes but yours to see as Christ would see, to find the lost, to gaze with compassion; no eyes but yours to glimpse the holy joy of the city of God. Refrain.
3. No feet but yours to journey with the poor, to walk this world with mercy and justice. Yours are the steps to build a lasting peace for the children of God. Refrain.
4. Through every gift, give back to those in need: as Christ has blessed, so now be his blessing, with every gift a benediction be to the people of God. Refrain.
Scripture Reading Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day–and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city.
On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
~ 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 John 5:1-9
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The ill man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps down ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a Sabbath.
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Beauty from Brokenness:Six Ways to Sunday Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard and reflect together.
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
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.
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.
Visual Meditation
Today we read of the healing river running through the new city of God’s light, flowing by the tree of Life. Now or in a quiet moment later, take time to envision yourself sitting by the river and under the tree.
What season is it?
What do you see and hear and smell?
What flows with life in your world currently?
What is bearing fruit and what is healing?
In your envisioning, allow the water to reach your hand or feet. Imagine the life it gives you and imagine the troubles being bourn away. Mark this place in your heart, and when troubled, return as often as you need to be restored.
The Healing Pool
The pool at Beth-zatha was seen as holy place of healing, a place where miracles were possible. Perhaps you know of other such places, or have even been somewhere that functions as “holy ground” for you. It might be a place where you can always connect to your deep Spirit, or to God’s call.
As you pray today, maybe you are far from that healing place.
What does the story of Jesus and the lame man suggest about how power and healing can be sought in that circumstance?
What did Jesus mean by asking “Do you want to be well?” and if you could suddenly “pick up your mat,” where would you go?
Try to let any thoughts of recrimination or self-doubt just pass by. Hang on to the deeper love in these questions and see where the Spirit might take you as you pray.
Offertory Quatuor, Orchestra
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
A community of caring relies on support. Your recurring or one-time donation will make a ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need.
¨ Use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. No registration required, but registering once makes future generosity simply entering an amount and a click.
¨ Baskets for checks or cash are located at the head of each aisle for those who wish to make an in-person donation.
¨ Give by Text. Text an amount to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”).
¨ Give by Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
¨ Doxology #765 Alleluia!
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Rhonda Edwards, Reader
When our thoughts and desires are scattered 6 ways to Sunday, and when helpers fail and foes invade every sanctuary, when we aren’t sure we even know what getting “well” could look like: then and there we need you most. Clarify our minds to keep our eyes on the prize, then galvanize our resolve to get everyone across the line. Heal those who can’t and won’t and aren’t sure. Help those who know, and pray, and worry. Bless those who ache and wretch for the pain of it all. And set us all on our feet, mats in hand.
Lord of the river of life, let it flow ever to and through us, and let us always be pointing the way for everyone we can see and reach. With you we will work for the day no tear need fall and every sorrow flees, following the one who taught us to reach 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 #576 For the Healing of the Nations Westminster Abbey
1 For the healing of the nations,God, we pray with one accord; for a just and equal sharing of the things that earth affords; to a life of love in action help us rise and pledge our word.
2 Lead us forward into into freedom; from despair your world release, that, redeemed from war and hatred, all may come and go in peace. Show us how, through care and goodness, fear will die and hope increase.
3 All that kills abundant living, let it from the earth be banned: pride of status, race or schooling, dogmas that obscure your plan.In our common quest for justice may we hallow life’s brief span.
4 You, Creator-God, have written your great name on humankind; for our growing in your likeness, bring the life of Christ to mind; that by our response and service earth its destiny may find.
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
This week’s Justice Candle is honoring Madison and Clark County Habitat for Humanity. As an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1992, working side by side with hardworking local families who invest their time and energy to build and purchase a home of their own. Using wise financial stewardship, careful planning, and strong community involvement, they work hard to attain their vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live, putting into action God’s love by building houses, communities and hope.
Union Church has a long history of involvement in Habitat for Humanity with funds, building teams and other means of support and once again wishes to participate in their desire for a build to begin in the near future.
Mission & Service Board is inviting our members and friends to match funds as well as provide those other resources to continue that legacy.
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response God of the Poor Graham Kendrick
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 Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles; and our siblings at the Holy Pentecostal Sanctuary 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, and starvation of those in Gaza.
¨ 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.
¨ We pray for our country, and those who are directly affected by the actions and inaction of our government to address the needs of its people and the world.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ Rev. Kent’s cousin, Kathy, undergoing chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, and her mother, Helen, who is Rev. Carla’s sister.
¨ Kelly Mehler, responding very well to treatment for his lymphoma.
¨ Barb Taylor’s son, David, undergoing treatment for prostate cancer
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Laurie White’s mom, Skippy, facing a long and painful recovery from spine surgery.
¨ Whitney McKnight’s mother, Patty Wallace, recovering from a brain hemorrhage.
¨ Doris Mosley, Deb Beishline’s mom, had a fall last week, and spent some time in the hospital, home now. Luckily, she had family visiting, including Deb and Terry!.
¨ Dave Reilly’s nephew, Herb Post, ill with kidney cancer that has spread to his lung.
¨ Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins will soon face complex jugular vein surgery. Please hold her in your prayers!
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
We’ve learned of another high school graduate!! Congratulations to William Madden, who graduated from Madison Southern!
Birthdays: today, May 25 – Al White; 26 – Carter Brownrobie; 28 – Hazel Morris, Leslie Campbell; 29 – Maggie Park; 30 – David Vaughn; 31 – Sean Perry; June 1 – Dottie Lovell, Reid Livingston
Anniversaries: June 1 – Matt Saderholm & Angela Anderson
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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