A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20) 10:30 am
Meditation There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Prelude
Welcome
From There to Here: We Gather
¨ The Call
One: We have come to worship you, O God;
All: gather us in.
One: Some of us come full of happiness;
All: gather us rejoicing!
One: Some of us come a little sore from what life brings;
All: gather us in trials.
One: Some of us come indifferent or confused;
All: gather us in, regardless.
One: We honor you—who forms us and calls us each by name. You are our God, known yet unknown, present here yet everywhere now and forever. You have made us distinctly unique and yet part of your people world-wide.
All: Gather us in to your fierce love, your tender care, your abundant grace.
One: We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
~ Diane Zaerr Brenneman, Words for Worship 2 (Harrisonburg, VA: Herald Press, 2009, adapted).
Hymn #553 Black There Is a Balm in Gilead Balm in Gilead
Refrain: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
- Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. R
- Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend, who, if you ask for knowledge, will never fail to lend. R
- If you cannot preach like Peter, if you can’t pray like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus, who died to save us all. R
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: In the silence of these moments we pause to confront ourselves and name to you the matters that prevent us from fully realizing your grace.
(pause for reflection)
We name things that prevent us from accepting ourselves, that keep us from accepting one another, that block us from reaching out to humankind and to creation.
All: We abandon ourselves to you in trust; hear us, love us, and forgive us. Merciful One, hear our prayer. Amen.
~ Diane Zaerr Brenneman, Words for Worship 2 (Harrisonburg, VA: Herald Press, 2009).
¨ Words of Assurance
¨ Passing the Peace
Announcements, Prayers and Celebrations
Announcements
Lighting the Justice Candle
The Indian Law Resource Center reports that the violence against indigenous women has reached unprecedented levels on tribal lands and in Alaska Native villages. More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence, and more than 1 in 2 have experienced sexual violence. Though available data is limited, the number of missing and murdered American Indians and the lack of a diligent and adequate federal response is extremely alarming . On some reservations, indigenous women are murdered at more than ten times the national average.
Today we recognize three Native women who are working for justice in their communities. Peggy Bird (Kewa), Darlene Correa (Laguna Pueblo) and Genne James (Navajo), who founded the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW). This nonprofit was created to provide support to Native advocates working in domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking and sex trafficking in New Mexico’s tribal communities. Their single goal: to eliminate violence against Native women and children.
For more information: csvanw.org; indianlaw.org/issue/ending-violence-against-native-women
Word And Worship
Anthem “Come and See” by Michael Barrett
Come and see, come and see what the Lord has done. He filled the darkness with light, He filled the heavens by his holy might. He filled the earth and seas; He spoke and all of life came to be. God’s spirits moved upon the waters. Through silent depths and empty heights. Into that endless night God spoke and there was light.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land: “Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her?” (“Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?”) “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored? O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!
Children’s Moment Please join in singing as we bless children everywhere:
May God’s blessing 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.
Please note that Union Church services are livestreamed, including the Children’s Moment. A “no camera zone” is at the back of the balcony, behind the AV booth.
Gospel Lesson Luke 16:1-13
Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.’
“The manager said to himself, ‘What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as manager. I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg.… Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do … then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.’ “Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ “He replied, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ “The manager said, ‘Here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now—write fifty.’ “To the next he said, ‘And you, what do you owe?’ “He answered, ‘A hundred sacks of wheat. “He said, ‘Take your bill, write in eighty.’ “Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”
Jesus went on to make these comments: If you’re honest in small things, you’ll be honest in big things; If you’re a crook in small things, you’ll be a crook in big things. If you’re not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store? No worker can serve two bosses: He’ll either hate the first and love the second or adore the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and the Bank.
Sermon Under the Table Grace
Visual Reflection
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer and Offering
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.
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
Our gifts help sustain this particular community of caring by sustaining the building, pastor and staff, and all the materials that make our ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need. In addition, a portion of our contributions flows out to aid those in need via many external ministries.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. You don’t have to register to make a contribution, but if you do, it can make future generosity that much easier. Baskets are placed at the head and foot of each aisle for those who wish to make an in-person donation. Electronic donations can be made very simply and easily at: https//: www.easytithe.com/union
You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”)
You can also use US mail! Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offering Music Balm in Gilead, Spiritual, arr. S. Eithun
Debbonnaire Kovacs, Pearl Marshall, Laura Nagle, Robert Rorrer, handbells
Community Prayer Tennant Kirk
Source of irrepressible life, fount of possible impossibles, giver of joy and healing of harm, we come to you in those moments when the world stills and words fail. You know the burdens we carry, and you know the wit and wile we will need to help build a kin-dom here on earth. Help us then, once again, holiest of holy dreamers. Be our balm in the Gilead of greeds and needs. Turn our acumen for gain to advances for those left behind. Rearrange, reverse, reveal our expectations and our priorities, and by your grace heal the broken places in ourselves, in our lives and work, and in the way we treat one another. You who seeks the shalom of all, come. Rest in and on your people that we might no that in you, there is no end to extravagant generosity, nor any limit to love. We are full of your grace and we humbly lift those who can’t feel it yet to your tender care. In Christ’s name we pray and in the way he taught us to reach to you as…
Our 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
Hymn #565 Black God, Whose Giving
1 God, whose giving knows no ending, from your rich and endless store: nature’s wonder, Jesus’ wisdom, costly cross, grave’s shattered door: gifted by you, we turn to you, offering up ourselves in praise; thankful song shall rise forever, gracious donor of our days.
2 Skills and time are ours for serving that your will on earth be done: all at peace in health and freedom, races joined, the church made one. Now direct our daily labor, lest we strive for self alone; born with talents, make us servants fit to answer at your throne.
3 Treasure, too, you have entrusted, gain through powers your grace conferred; ours to use for home and kindred, and to spread the gospel Word. Open wide our hands in sharing as we heed Christ’s ageless call, healing, teaching, and reclaiming, hororing you by loving all.
4. Lend your joy to all our giving, let it light our pilgrim way, from the night of anxious keeping, loose us into generous day. Then when years on earth are over, and we’ve lived our human span, God fulfill beyond our dreaming, all our stewardship began.
Partnership and Purpose
At Union we agree to abide by these Fellowship Principles:
“Union Church welcomes all followers of Christ and works with all who work with him, working by love, respecting each one’s conscience, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit within the bond of peace.” (1853)
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
Postlude “Apanhei-te Cavaquinho” by Nazareth
Especially in Our Prayers
¨ 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 (Link to World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle. https://union-church.org/ministries/prayer/). Let us hold the people of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay; and our brothers & sisters at Berea Church of Christ in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ Those affected by the Covid-19 virus, their families and friends living with fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, may God bring peace to all who love them; and our wider community as we cope with the new realities of living, including the now over 16,800 Kentucky residents, and 292 Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.
¨ The families and friends and for all the emergency responders to the floods in our Eastern counties: that safety return, that homes be rebuilt, that all needed help will come.
¨ 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.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Loyal Jones, Lois Morgan, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Betty Wray, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.
¨ The Stolte family, grieving Bill’s death. Annriette’s address is 579 Alexian Way #417 South; Signal Mountain; TN; 37377.
¨ Punkie McKinney, struggling with long-Covid symptoms.
¨ Cherie Valeithian, Debbonnaire Kovacs’ sister, suffering health issues in Seattle.
¨ Steve Boyce, home from the hospital.
¨ Stanley & Susan Kramer, sick with Covid.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Michelle, beloved nurse at Morning Pointe, undergoing treatment for cancer.
¨ Jess Burton & Jake Graber and their little girl, Lila, who has serious gastric issues.
¨ Important dates—if we haven’t got yours, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
Birthdays: September 19 – Reid Connelly; 21 – Renee Wellinghurst; 25- Brice Catlett
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