A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
May 3, 2026 10:30 am Fifth Sunday of Easter
Meditation
The horizon I walk toward
Is an orientation,
Not a destination. ~ Carrie Newcomer
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
¨ Call to Worship Alice White, Reader
One: In You, Holy One, we seek sanctuary. In you, Sovereign God, we seek refuge.
All: Holy One, for your name’s sake lead us and guide us.
One: You are indeed our rock and our fortress. Our times are in your hands. Strengthen us in your righteousness.
All: Holy One, for your name’s sake lead us and guide us.
One: Shine upon us this day as we worship you. Saturate us in your steadfast love.
All: Holy One, for your name’s sake lead us and guide us.
¨ Alexander Technique Tutorial Dr. Ann Rhodes
Prayer
Our Way:
you call us
to celebrate your peace
in a world which worships war;
to celebrate your freedom
in the face of oppression;
to celebrate the seed of faith
planted in the doubts of our hearts.
Our Life:
you would have us
celebrate the safe ground of hope
emerging from the flood of our tears;
celebrate those who love us
in the midst of hurt and hatred;
celebrate our salvation
as we struggle with sin.
Our Truth:
you teach us
to celebrate our new life
in the gift of the Risen Lord;
to celebrate the grace of your heart
which melts our fears;
to celebrate that all our moments
are cradled in your hands.
Together we come to celebrate!
Amen
¨ Hymn #72 Black Here, O God, Your Servants Gather Tokyo
1. Here, O God, your servants gather, hand we link in hand; looking toward our Savior’s cross, joined in love we stand. As we seek the realm of God, we unite to pray: Jesus, Savior, guide our steps, for you are the Way.
2. Many are the tongues we speak, scattered are the lands, yet our hearts are one in God, one in love’s demands. As we seek the realm of God, we unite to pray: Jesus, Teacher, dwell with us, for you are the Truth.
3. Nature’s secrets open wide, changes never cease; where, O where, can weary souls find the source of peace? Unto all those sore distressed, torn by endless strife: Jesus, Healer, bring your balm, for you are the Life.
4. Grant, O God, an age renewed, show us how love thrives, help us as we work and pray, send us for our lives truth and courage, faith and power needed in our strife: Jesus, Leader, be our Way, be our Truth, our Life.
¨ Passing the Peace
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.
¨ Prayer of Approach & Confession Box Breath Prayer (3x)
As we pray, we slow our breathing and our lives in order to attend to God. The leader will guide this meditation three times, and you are invited to pattern your breath with each phrase as indicated below.
Inhale: You show me the way.
Hold: Teach me your truth.
Exhale: I release my fears.
Hold: You give me life.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: The world may feel suffocating, but the breath of the Almighty gives life. As long as we are breathing, we are not defeated.
All: Our soul breathes and our hearts sing for we have seen the Lord at work! Amen!
Word and Worship
Anthem Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life Herbert, Williams Union Church Choir
1. Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life: such a way as gives us breath; such a truth as ends all strife; such a life as conquers death.
2. Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength: such a light as shows a feast; such a feast as mends in length; such a strength as makes a guest.
3. Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart: such a joy as none can move: such a love as none can part; such a heart as joys in love.
Scripture Reading Acts 7:55-60
But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.
~ 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 14:1-14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon This Is Hard Work Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins
Video Reflection
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: This is The Way, gathered together answering the call to breathe, to sing, to live, to love, to work. This is The Truth, Jesus set a table and commanded us, “Do this to remember me.” A table set for all people of one blood. This is The Life!
Communion Hymn #330 Let Us Break Bread Together Let Us Break Bread
1. Let us break bread together on our knees; let us break bread together on our knees.
Refrain: When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, My God, have mercy on me.
2. Let us drink wine together on our knees; let us drink wine together on our knees. Refrain.
3. Let us praise God together on our knees; let us praise God together on our knees. Refrain.
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.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: May the God of every way be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift your hearts to the One who is the Truth for God’s own people.
All: We offer them to the One who warms them with love.
One: Sing praises to God, who is our Life.
All: Glad songs are offered to the One who provides shelter for us.
One: You made a way through chaos, Constructing God, the Word echoing on mountaintops and whispering in valleys; the Spirit teaching songs to the stars, and breathing life into those created in your image as your precious children.
You longed to cradle us in your lap, feeding us with grace and hope, but we slipped out of your grasp, covering our ears as you called us to come back home to you.
Prophets came to remind us that you would not put us to shame, psalmists sang to us of your longing to cut the net of sin and death and set us free, but , together, we rushed into the open arms of temptation.
Then you sent Jesus, so that in knowing and believing in him, we would know and believe in you.
With those who have nothing and with those who give everything away, we lift our voices to you:
Sanctus please join in singing:
Words of Institution
One: You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Because Christ lives, we also live in hope and love. Though he ascended into heaven, he did not leave us alone, but sent the Spirit of truth to abide with us forever.
~ (John 14:15-21)
One: Remembering your gracious acts in Jesus Christ, we take from your creation this bread and this wine and joyfully celebrate his dying and rising, as we await the day of his coming. With thanksgiving, we offer our very selves to you to be a living and holy sacrifice, dedicated to your service.
One: Great is the mystery of faith:
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ.
By your Spirit, make us one with Christ and with your church in all the world. Help us to seek what is good in your sight, with gentleness and reverence, and a clear conscience, proclaiming our hope in Christ the Lord.
~ (1 Pet. 3:13-22)
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen
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.
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer and Offering
One: We offer our gifts so that others may not feel alone, eat alone, live alone, be alone, but that they may be surrounded by your grace and love through us and the lives we offer to the. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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. Next week, let us hold the people of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; and our siblings at Mt. Zion Christian Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle table. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
For Reflection
Christ Breathes Peace-Do We?
So-called “Box Breathing” is an ancient prayer practice now credited with deep neurological benefits. Slowing your breathing settles nerve responses and increases oxygen uptake. More oxygen feeds and frees the brain. It lowers blood pressure. It resets the vagus nerve stem. With our thoughts clear, our heart settles, and the space opens to receive what God is offering in each moment. Here is prayer meditation to center and ground you for this week:
Breath Prayer for The Week:
Inhale (count of 3): You show me the way,
Hold (count of 3): Teach me your truth.
Exhale (count of 3): I release my fears.
Hold (count of 3): You give me life.
Repeat the pattern until you are deeply at peace. Ten times is a good start, but do more if you need or have time. Do this anytime you find your anxieties on the rise, or you need the spiritual support of Christ’s love.
Christ Lifts Our Hearts…
Easter is the sure sign that joy is part of God’s plan. Far from condemnation and guilt, Christ seeks to lift the hearts of everyone he touches. What would lift your heart? What makes it sing? Stopped because what you want or need feels preposterous? Well, is it more preposterous than a risen Christ appearing in a locked room… TWICE? Even if only in this prayer relax your judgement and offer up what would free your heartsong. Hold the vision and allow Christ to breathe peace over it. Pray for what you need to lift your heart.
Offertory
A Chance for Generosity: 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 easytithe.com/union. No registration required, but registering once makes future generosity simply entering an amount and a click.
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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Doxology Lasst Ens Erfreuen
For death-defying hope, we praise; for love that conquers all, we raise alleluias! Alleluia!
For justice here on earth we sing and righteousness as if a stream. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Community Prayer of Thanksgiving Alice White, Reader
One: Once, we were nobodies, alone and hopeless, but by your mercy, Living God, we are now a family, gathered in your love around this Table, where the Spirit sanctifies the bread and cup. You lean over to serve us the bread, enveloping us in your grace so we might go to be your people. You offer to us the cup of hope, which can heal our troubled hearts and strengthen us to serve our world.
We are God’s household, crafted by the Architect of creation: our hearts a shelter for the outcast; our hands open to the stranger.
We are God’s people, created in the divine image: to tell others of God’s love, to offer mercy as freely as we have received it.
We are God’s children, called to give of ourselves: chosen to serve the lost and lonely, gifted to minister to a hurting world.
And when the Way leads us home to you, when your Life gathers us with our siblings around the Table which is prepared by your Truth, we will sing glad songs of praise to you forever, God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Our Way, our Truth, our Life, we lift our prayers to you as we pray, saying,
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.
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
As we approach the season of summer, when many Americans and international visitors will be visiting the beautiful treasures of the U.S. National Park system, it is a good time to honor the Alt National Park Service, the “official resistance team” of the National Park service, which has as its mission protecting and preserving the environment for present and future generations.
This grassroots coalition of activists was founded in 2017 and uses social media to post timely information on government policy changes and impending legislation that impact public lands, natural resources, scientific research, the park system, and American democracy. It also provides contact information and suggestions for engagement for concerned citizens interested in taking action. They can be found on Bluesky, Facebook, and Threads.
¨ Singing Tutorial Dr. Kathy Bullock
¨ Hymn Let It Breathe on Me Let It Breathe on Me
From Here to There
¨ Benediction
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in the power of God in you and through you.
Do the work of loving God, neighbor, and self.
Do the work of holding the complexity of life in tension with compassion and care.
Do the work of believing a future with hope is possible.
Do the work of nurturing that hope into a vision and vision into reality.
Do the work of glorifying God by following the way of Christ and praying with our lives.
Do the works. Amen.
¨ Benediction Response I’m Goin’a Sing When the Spirit Says Sing trad. Spiritual
1. I’m goin’a breathe…
2. I’m goin’a sing…
3. I’m goin’a work….
Our Prayers for Others
¨ 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.
¨ Those in mortal danger in the war in Iran. For the leaders of nations to set aside assassination and warfare in favor of just, diplomatic solutions to conflict.
¨ 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.
¨ Our neighbors experiencing housing insecurity, homelessness and food insecurity.
¨ Our neighbors killed or affected by the bank shooting on Thursday, and all impacted by gun violence.
¨ Barbara Wade, who has broken her humerus.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Hattie Parks, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: May 3 – Edd Easton-Hogg; 4 – Doris Mosley; 5 – Steve Rhodes; 6 – Ann Butwell; 7 – Tom McClure, Sue Goldsmith; 10 – Lothar Baumann, Mandy Connelly; 11 – Linda Parsons
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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