August 1, 2021, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am 

Meditation

“How prompt we are to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our bodies;                 how slow to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls!”   ― Henry David Thoreau

From There to Here: We Gather

Gathering Music

Welcome

The Call Paul Jacobs and Mary Lou Wiese, Readers

One: You are the breath of God. You are the way God is aware of God in the immediacy of your life.

One: You are the way God feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, frees the wrongly imprisoned. You are the way God brings justice, mercy, and humility to life.

― Cynthia Bourgeault, The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature

Passing of the Peace Please remain seated.

Hymn #349 Black I Come with Joy, a Child of God Dove of Peace

Lighting the Justice Candle

This week we light the Justice Candle in honor of Today we’re lighting the justice candle for the Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project (KEEP). KEEP was started in Japan after the second world war by Dr. Paul Rusch, a Kentucky native son.

We know it as a key player in our sister city program and the artists exchange we have with Japan.  But KEEP is much more than that.  It sponsors environmental education programs for children and adults from Japan and around the world.

The Living Word Among Us    

Hebrew Scripture Lesson 2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a Paul Jacobs, Reader

When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.

But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord, and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, ‘There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meagre fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.’ Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, ‘As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.’

Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’ David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan said to David, ‘Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.

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 John 6:24-35

So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.”

Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 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.

Sermon To Believe is to Care Rev. Kent Gilbert

Living Prayer

Call to Prayer and Offering

A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/unionOur 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 On Jordan’s Stormy Banks arr. Mark Hayes

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.

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

Adapted from National Worship Resources of the United Church of Christ July 18, 2021

Invitation to Communion

One: God be with you!

All: And also with you!

One: Lift up your hearts!

All: We lift up our hearts and give thanks to God who meets us where we are!

Communion Prayer

One: Holy and loving God, we offer thanks for this day— for the beauty of the earth, for your love and care for every creature, for this table that is before us. We offer gratitude for the virtual community that surrounds this table, and for the many tables and faces we cannot see that make up this banquet. We rejoice that you call the entire human family to this marvelous mosaic.

 In between the mundane and the miraculous—the sipping of our morning coffee, the buttering of bread—we encounter your divine presence ever so delicately. You meet us there—here—in our gardens and in our pews, in between our fervent faith and our unbelief. Even when we foolishly ignore the prophets telling of your wondrous and miraculous love, you do not abandon us. Instead, you find new ways of meeting us, over and over again, until your presence is made known. For that, we give you praise and lift our voices in the unending song of angels in heaven and on earth:

Sanctus Land of Rest

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might; heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.

Words of Institution

One: We offer prayers for those without tables to gather around, without food to eat, without beverage to quench their thirst. Communion and community are for them too. Meet them where they are, Righteous One, and we’ll remind each other to do the same. Meet us as we remember the night you gathered with your disciples before the betrayal. Meet us as we remember the mercy you held for crowds on the shore, the woman at the well, the father whose daughter had died. Meet us and in our troubles, and speak truth to us in our struggles. For we remember that even on the night before your crucifixion, you took bread, blessed it and broke it. Giving it to the disciples, you said:

All:       “Take and eat. This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

One:      We remember that you also took a cup, and filling it with the wine of promise, gave thanks and offered it to all those gathered, saying:

All: “Drink this cup, all of you.  It is a new covenant in my blood poured for not just for you, but for many. Take and drink.”

One: If you are at home and watching with your daily bread, take now the bread of life and let it strengthen your body for service, and your spirit for joy.  If you, like we here, are away from your table, and distant from what sustains you, open the hand of your heart and allow it to be filled with the connection and communion of all who have brought you to this day, this place, this second, this life. Extend the reach of your mind beyond what the eye can see. Wrap all in the encompassing compassion of God’s blessing: and when next you eat, when next you drink, take in the bounty of grace that builds you up: commit now and then to the building of others in Christs name, and so be in true communion with God, with Christ, and with one another.

Prayers of the Community Mary Lou Wiese, Reader

For bread, Holy One. For crackers. For plantains and rice. For fufu and masa and dahl. For clean water. And coffee with friends. For tea before bed with those beloved. For milk. And cookies! And sweet juice pressed from hard work into simple joy. For the Spirit that fills all these and for the union they bring us with your world and all people: we give you thanks. Our words are empty, but our souls are filled, O Bread of Life. May we know your presence at every table and whenever we pray as Jesus taught…

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                            Sing a New World into Being words: Mary Louise Bringle Tune: Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven

1. Sing a new world into being. Sound a bold and hopeful theme. Find a tune for silent yearnings. Lend your voice and dare to dream: Dream a church where all who worship find their lives and loves belong. Sing a new world into being. Sing as Christ inspires your song!

2. Sing a new world into being where each gender, class and race; Brings its rainbow gifts and colors to God’s limitless embrace: Where the lines that once divided form instead the ties that bind. Sing a new world into being: risk transforming heart and mind.

3. Sing a new world into being where the homeless find a home, Where no children ever hunger but are filled in God’s Shalom: Where all people work for justice, where all hate and vengeance cease. Sing a new world into being: raise the harmonies of peace.

4. Sing a new world into being, join the ancient prophets’ cry for a time of health and plenty, when all tears have been wiped dry: When compassion flows like waters, pouring balm for all who grieve, Sing a new world into being: live the promise you believe!

Benediction

Postlude Allegro in A Stanley

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. Let us hold the people of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, 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.

¨ In thanksgiving that Bob Boyce is home from the hospital, but still recuperating.

¨ 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,” 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 over 7300 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 1 – Tom Hubbard, 6 – Jack Marshall, 7 – Truman Fields

Anniversaries this week:  August 5 – Dave & Kim Kobersmith, Kent Gilbert & Diana Hultgren, 6 – Jeff & Laurinda Pool