Service is Online Only. August 8, 2021, Worship Bulletin & Prayer Concerns

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

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am 

Meditation

“My grandmother taught me how to pray and how to make biscuits.          They’re pretty much the same thing.” ― Don Cardwell

From There to Here: We Gather

Gathering Music

Welcome

The Call Debbonnaire Kovacs, Reader

God, forgive our shortcomings.

When we let hatred divide nation from nation, race from race, class from class; when we covet what is not our own, God, forgive. When our greed exploits the work of human hands and lays waste to the earth; when we envy the welfare and happiness of others, God, forgive. When we are indifferent to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee; when our lust dishonors the bodies of men, women, and children; when pride leads us to trust in ourselves and not in you, God, forgive. Open our hearts, that we may we be kind to one another. That we may be tender hearted, and that we may forgive one another, as you have forgiven us. Amen.

—Adapted from the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation  

Passing of the Peace

Hymn Christian, Rise and Act Your Creed Innocents

1. Christian, rise and act your creed; let your prayer be in your deed; seek the right, perform the true, raise your work and life anew.

2. Hearts around you sink with care; you can help their load to bear; you can bring inspiring light, strengthen them to do the right.

3. Offer others hope and joy, and God’s worship your employ; giving thanks in humble zeal, learning all God’s will to feel.

4. Come, then law divine, and reign; faith that doubt assails in vain, perfect love bereft of fear, born in heaven and radiant here.

Lighting the Justice Candle

Today we light the Justice Candle to honor and thank all those who contributed to the CoCoDA solar panel water project in El Salvador. The contributions exceeded the goal we had set to raise $1,500 to be matched by the Mission and Service Board. Union Church has had a partnership with El Salvador for some years and a number of delegations have visited and formed memorable friendships.

The Living Word Among Us    

Epistle Lesson Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Debbonnaire Kovacs, Reader

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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. 

Musical Meditation  Taste and See EJ Stokes, singer

Taste and see, taste and see, the goodness of the Lord.  I will bless the Lord at all times. Praise shall always be on my lips; my soul shall glory in the Lord, for God has been so good to me. Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us all praise God’s name. I called the Lord, who answered me; from all my troubles, I was set free. Worship the Lord, all you people, you’ll want for nothing if you ask. Taste and see that the Lord is good; in God we need put all our trust.

Gospel Lesson               John 6:35, 41-51  Don Cardwell, Reader

Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’

Sermon Down Home Mysticism and the Gospel of John Don Cardwell

Living Prayer

Call to Prayer and Offering

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”)

You can also use US mail!  Mail to: CPO 2105, Berea, KY 40404

Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!

Offering Music Gift of Finest Wheat arr. Tucker Union Church Handbell Ensemble

Offertory 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.

Prayers of the Community EJ Stokes, Reader

God, be with us as we strive to be kind to one another, tender hearted, and forgiving; as we strive to overcome greed, envy, indifference, and pride. Help us to be mindful that your Way is not an escape from reality, but a vision for how to change it. Help us live into that vision as we pray the words that Jesus taught us…

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

Benediction

Postlude Shouts of Acclamation J. Krug

Pearl Marshall, Susan Stephens, Lisa Vaughn, handbells; Bernardo Scarambone, piano

¨ 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 Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda  and our brothers and sisters at Lighthouse 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.

¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller, Lois Morgan, Jan Hamilton, Laura Robie

¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.

¨ Bob Boyce, recuperating at home.

¨ Teri Van Pelt and all the family at the unexpected death of her sister, Karen Lee, last Sunday. In addition to Teri VanPelt Ward and her family, she is survived by her husband Thomas “Woody” Lee, 157 Parker Ln, Berea

¨ Patty Boyce, still recovering from heart valve surgery at UK Hospital.

¨ Tom Hubbard

¨ Robert Rorrer, celebrating “graduation” from chemotherapy!!

¨ Sally Hindman, recovering from shoulder surgery.

¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.

¨ 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, including the now over 7400 Kentucky residents, and 113 Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.

¨ Important dates—if we haven’t got yours, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOneGo!

Birthdays coming up this week:  Today, August 12 – Teri Mehler, 14 – Alice White

Anniversaries this week:  August 13 – Marty & Gwen Hensley