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

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

July 19, 2020     10:30 am

Meditation
Up until the parousia, the church will always be a mixed bag of good and evil; it should not play God by trying to justify itself completely through purges and Inquisitions… The definitive separation must be left to the last judgement; it is the church’s part to preach repentance and practice patience. —John P. Meier, Imaging the Word

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 from The New Zealand Prayer Book Jennifer Melton, Reader
For the hungry and the overfed May we have enough. For the mourners and the mockers May we laugh together. For the victims and the oppressors May we share power wisely. For the peacemakers and the warmongers May clear truth and stern love lead us to harmony. For the silenced and the propagandists May we speak our own words in truth. For the unemployed and the overworked May our impress on the earth be kindly and creative. For the troubled and the sleek May we live together as wounded healers. For the homeless and the cosseted May our homes be simple, warm and welcoming. For the vibrant and the dying May we all die to live.
Passing the Peace at Home
Building the Community: News that Connects Us

The Living Word among us

Anthem Union Misses You!
Hebrew Scripture Lesson  Genesis 28:10-19a Steve Bolster, Reader
Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
Children’s Moment              Please join in singing as we bless children everywhere:
May God’s presence 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 13:24-30, 36-43 Steve Bolster, Reader
He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying,
Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
Sermon “’Wheating’ the Garden” Rev. Kent Gilbert

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
If you haven’t given yourself a chance to center and breathe, let’s do that now.
Let yourself be aware of all the weeds in your garden right now, but as you breathe, let them be. Notice them, but try to detach from their power to make you anxious. If you can, practice trust that you and God can sort them out. Now let your awareness shift to the “Wheat” in your field: all of the strong, vital, life-giving people and actions that support you. Inhale with their strength for you, exhale with their fruitful blessing. Let these, too, be held in God’s hand, prospering and blessing them. In eye of your heart, see the wheat gradually crowd out the weeds.

• What would that look like in your life?
• What love and attention can you shift to the “Wheat” this week?

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 Djibouti and Somalia and our brothers and sisters at Westside Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ 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.
¨ Those feeling isolated because of staying home with compromised immune systems or other health conditions
¨ Mark Gailey, for community and blessing.
¨ Ellen Mink, recovering from surgery.
¨ Jackie Crowden, who has broken a hip.
¨ George & Elsie Hardman (Joan English’s parents) will BOTH turn 85 on July 24. They live with Joan at 207 Peachbloom Hill in Berea, and would love cards.
¨ Jaidyn, granddaughter of Sandy Bowles McClure, soon to undergo open heart surgery.
¨ Guy Patrick, recovering from intestinal surgery.
¨ Teri VanPelt, experiencing health concerns.
¨ Marie, Dorie Hubbard’s kindergarten aged great grand-niece, who has had a recurrence of cancer and is back in treatment.
¨ Emily Hoskins, who is pregnant and has gestational diabetes.
¨ 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.
¨ George Mountjoy, living with cancer.
¨ 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 Sayer Kobersmith, Reader
Weed our head and hearts, Lord, of all that crowds out the best of your teaching. We are sown with so many competing thoughts. We do so many hurtful things to ourselves and to your world. Like Jacob, we stand at the gate of your presence, miraculous and flawed. Help us nurture the good and uproot the evil that we may live, love, and act rightly. Those who are sick and sad we lift to you for your comfort; and for us all we ask for your guidance and peace in the tumult of each day. It was Jesus who taught us to depend on you, and who taught us to pray to you 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 We Plant a Grain of Mustard Seed
 
The Sending & Blessing
Postlude Search Me, Lord Andre Lemos
Justice Candle
Each week we light the justice candle to honor a specific person or group of people that have made a notable impact in the world. This week we honor Carla Baumann, a compassionate woman that many of us know well. Carla is a dedicated volunteer of the Berea Home Village and has touched a great deal of souls by providing transportation, help with chores, and companionship. She also spent a majority of her career working for the Madison County Health Department, a role in which she provided many seminars and training on health education We are thankful for the blessings of Carla’s caring heart.
In Worship Today…
Each week many elements come together to make our worship together rich and deep.
This week we are grateful for Steve Bolster, Sayer Kobersmith, Robert Rorrer and Jennifer Melton, reading and singing; and Marty Hensley, Sayer Kobersmith, Sean Mack and Rina Tanaka, our gifted AV crew.
Many thanks to the Worship Team who crafted this service: Don Cardwell, Debbonnaire Kovacs, Jennifer Melton and Sharona Nelson.
Congregational Meeting to consider revised 2020 budget TODAY at 2:00 pm. Zoom Webinar format.  Registration here & you’ll get a Zoom link back almost instantly: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1a4cS1LBR4KKQo_hQsAG-g
Bulletin Announcements and News here: union-church.org/news/