A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
October 12, 2025 10:30 am
Proper 23 of the Season after Pentecost
Meditation
“To heal is to touch with love that which was previously touched by fear.”
~ Stephen Levine
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 Diane Bailey, Reader
One: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
All: Sing the glory of God’s name; give God glorious praise.
One: Say to God:
All: How awesome are your deeds!
One: Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
All: All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name.
One: Come and see what God has done: The Lord is awesome in deeds among mortals.
All: Awe of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have understanding. God’s praise endures forever.
¨ 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)
Compassionate Christ, you send us to cure the sick, but we blame the sick for their choices. You ask us to restore the unclean, but we separate them into high risk pools. You compel us to raise the dead, but we insist some are beyond help. In your patient and persistent mercy, forgive us, O Lord.
Teach us to heal without condition and help without limitation. Enable us to love one another as you love us, that as recipients of unmerited grace, we may freely shower care upon all people. In Christ’s name we pray: Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: In the name of the One who restores the lost, raises the dead, and reigns on high, I rejoice to say that our sins are forgiven. Believe the good news of the gospel:
All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven, healed, and made whole.
¨ 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
Special Music The Music’s Always There With You John Rutter Union Church Choir
Every morning will soon turn into evening, and springtime will soon turn into fall; every memory must fade like a passing parade, and youth become a time you just recall; but the good times together seem so magical: like music that lasts your whole life through; when it’s ended it never really dies anyway ‘cause the music’s always there with you.
Every new day could be a time of harmony if people could only be in tune: all the visions you could share, magic castles in the air seem to fade away and vanish all too soon; but the magic you share when you make music won’t leave you when the time has come to part; and it feels like you never have to say goodbye, ‘cause the music’s always in your heart.
Scripture Reading 2 Kings 5:1-17
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from a skin disease. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his skin disease.” When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his skin disease? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”
But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”
But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God and would wave his hand over the spot and cure the skin disease! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” He turned and went away in a rage.
But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean. Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel, please accept a present from your servant.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing!” He urged him to accept, but he refused. Then Naaman said, “If not, please let two mule loads of earth be given to your servant, for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god except the Lord.”
~ 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 Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten people with a skin disease approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’s feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.
Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? So where are the other nine? Did none of them return to give glory to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Rivers Made of Tears Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard and reflect together.
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
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 Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama; and our siblings at Middletown Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
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.
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.
¨ 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 Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Ken Medema
~ Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community Diane Bailey, Reader
One: Healer and helper, author of hope, bearer of kindness, be with us now.
Be with the foreigners and show them welcome.
Be with the sick among us, restoring body and soul to balance.
Be with those owned by anxiety and the ill-will of others, freeing their mind to dream and heal.
Send those with not enough to those who have too much that we may all be human again and cherish each other in right relation to each other and with you.
Help us pause long enough in our frustrations and expectations to be able to see the blessings on offer, and the gifts inside the problems. We are all foreigners in your land of grace; immigrants to your mercy. Yet you welcome us and others all around with love that heals. May we imitate such welcome for the sake of all whom we meet. Rid us of the dis-eases we make for one another, and bring us closer to you and the Way of True Life.
Thank you, healer, helper, and author of our hope. We rest in your care and ask this for the sake of your child, Jesus, our brother, 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 #554 Out of the Depths, O God, We Call Fennville
1. Out of the depths, O God, we call to you. Wounds of the past remain, affecting all we do. Facing our lives, we need your love so much. Here in this community, heal us by your touch.
2. Out of the depths of fear, O God, we speak. Breaking the silences, the searing truth we seek. Safe among friends, our grief and rage we share. Here in this community, hold us in your care.
3. God of the loving heart, we praise your name. Dance through our lives and loves; anoint with Spirit flame. Your light illumines each familiar face. Here in this community, meet us with your grace.
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.
A Thanksgiving for Rev. Davis Jones’ Years of Service
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Today we honor American gymnast Simone Biles. A 2025 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine indicates worsening mental and behavioral health for many, affecting communities across the U.S., especially low-income, rural, and racial/ethnic minority populations.
Simone Biles has become an unexpected and welcome advocate for mental health..
¨ Benediction
Postlude And When I Rise Berry, Tuck
Holly Creek Harmony: Debbonnaire Kovacs, Stanley Kramer, Susie Ritchie, Robert Rorrer, Deborah Thompson, Barbara Wade
Our Prayers for Others
¨ Dave Reilly’s nephew, Herb Post, ill with kidney cancer that has spread to his lung.
¨ Bonnie Donelly, grandma of Tennant Kirk’s daughter-in-law Carlie, on hospice care with pancreatic cancer.
¨ Peggy Patrick, recovering from knee replacement surgery.
¨ Condolences for the family of Matthew Holt, Mary McConnell’s brother-in-law, who died Friday, September 26, in Greensboro, NC. Our prayers surround all those who will cherish his memory.
¨ The family of Kelly Mehler at his sudden death on October 5. Kelly’s life was honored at a service yesterday. Our love surrounds all who grieve his passing.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ 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.
¨ 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 and homelessness.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: Today, Oct. 12 – Gene Daniels; 15 – Jessi Montgomery; 16 -Black Bear LaBoueff, Fhazaneh Jackson; 18 – June Fish, AnnaBella Wescott
Anniversaries: Oct. 12 – Joy Gritton & Black Bear LaBoueff
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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