Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 20, 2020          10:30 am

Meditation
When they were hungry, manna fell from heaven, and they were fed; but a disquiet robbed them of a vision of the miracle. There was only deprivation and their unforsaken greed. They lived for a promise and a dream, oblivious to the holy place of their passage.     — David Applebaum

From there to here: we Gather

Welcome
As the Berea community responds to the governor’s suggestion to avoid gathering in large groups, we worship online to limit the risk of exposure to Covid-19. We’re delighted to welcome you into this virtual circle of God’s healing love and light.   
The Call   To Bless the Space Between Us          John O’Donohue  Debbonnaire Kovacs, Reader
May you be blessed in the holy names of those who, without you knowing it, help to carry and lighten your pain.
May you know serenity when you are called to enter the house of suffering.
May a window of light always surprise you. May you be granted the wisdom to avoid false resistance; when suffering knocks on the door of your life, may you glimpse its eventual gifts.
May you be able to receive the fruits of suffering. May memory bless and protect you with the hard-earned light of past travail; to remind you that you have survived before, and though the darkness now is deep, you will soon see approaching light.
May the grace of time heal your wounds. May you know that though the storm might rage, not a hair on your head will be harmed.
Passing the Peace at Home
Building the Community: News that Connects Us
This week we light the Justice Candle in observance of The International Day of Peace, September 21, established in 1981 by the United Nations and a worldwide UN-designated day for non-violence and ceasefire. The UN Peace Bell, cast by coins from children all over the world, is rung at the UN Headquarters in New York City. This 24-hour pause on war invites hope, compassion and kindness and begs the question of why we can’t have year-long or forever-long pauses in wars.  It is an important day to reaffirm our collective call for peace. People are also invited to wear blue scarves to honor the day. Several events throughout the world are scheduled: www.worldbeyondwar.org/events.

The Living Word among us

Special Music       Japanese  Boat Song    Rina Tanaka, piano
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       Exodus 16:2-15                                   Debbonnaire Kovacs, Reader
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’
Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.’ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, ‘In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?’ And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.’
Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.” ’ And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.
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.
Gospel  Lesson                 Matthew 20:1-16                                 Chris McKenzie, Reader
‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went.
When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.”
When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’
Sermon     A Higher Form of Fairness     Sharona Nelson

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.
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
Our gifts help sustain this particular community of caring by sustaining the building, pastors 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 agencies.
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. You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offering Music
Silent Reflection and Prayer
Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for philanthropy and charity. It is a form of social justice in which donors benefit from giving as much or more than the recipients. So much more than a financial transaction, tzedakah builds trusting relationships and includes contributions of time, effort, and insight. It is tzedakah that the landowner exhibits in the parable Jesus challenged us with in Sharona’s sermon. As you pray now with me, or later in the day or week, focus your mind and heart on tzedakah, this restorative charity. Recall a time you have received as the workers late to the field. Recall a time when you were able to offer such a blessing. As you pray, let each breath take you higher: higher to greater charity and relationship. Imagine each breath infusing you with greater restorative sensitivity. We can all ask God for the ability to offer tzedakah to restore right relation. Focus on how and where you might apply this love, this awareness in your life. May God help you to be generous in all your relations.  As you finish your personal prayers, let us join with Amy Williams, praying as a community.
Our Prayers for Others
You are very welcome to email or phone prayer requests to the office for the bulletin. Please do so by 10 am Thursdays, and be sure you have permission to share the information.
¨ 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 Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and our brothers and sisters at St. Clare Catholic Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ The families of the over 1000 Kentucky residents, and five Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.
¨ All those affected by the impact of storms in the southeast, and the fires in California and Colorado.
¨ Families with kids back in school, in whatever form school takes.
¨ 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.
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.
¨ Gabe Barlow, under hospice care at home, and Dale, Rita and Morgan.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin,  Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller, Lois Morgan, Barb Smith, Jan Hamilton.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ 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.
Prayers of the People                 Amy Williams, Reader
Your mercy demands no documentation. Your care pierces equality with justice. We don’t have to be from the right place, or wear the right clothes, or know the right people to receive from your hand our daily bread. You keep us alive, day by day, with hope that nourishes the soul and strength that wears away the terrors of our nights. In this week to come, sustain all that is right and best for each one here, Lord of the vineyard, Lord of great work. Give us not what we deserve, not what we want, but all that we need to thrive. May we, in turn, be freed then to help others. May your generosity beget greatness in us, not envy, not greed, not resentment. You free us from that and call us “heirs.” Your love is manna in our desert, and your care is our balm in Gilead.
All this we ask in his name and reach to you in the way he taught us, as. …
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.   
From Here to There
Hymn        Now Is the Time Approaching            Webb

1.   Now is the time approaching, by prophets long foretold,  when all shall dwell together, secure and manifold. Let war be learned no longer, let strife and tumult cease, all earth a blessed garden that God shall tend in peace.

2.   Let all that now divides us remove and pass away, like mists of early morning before the blaze of day. Let all that now unites us more sweet and lasting prove, a closer bond of union, in blessed lands of love.

3.   O long-expected dawning, come with your cheering ray!  Yet shall the promise beckon and lead us not astray. O sweet anticipation! It cheers the watchers on to pray, and hope, and labor till Christ’s new realm is come.

The Sending & Blessing            
Postlude       Seeds
God of all being,
Spirit of the unfolding day,
In the early morning gray
We seek to discern.
You embrace us
In the stillness,
In the chill of the morning.
You infuse us with your breath
And we pour you out
In every seed
For the singing birds.
Amen.   —by Jennifer Melton
News & Announcements here — union-church.org/news