August 22, 2021, Worship Bulletin and Prayer Concerns

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

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am 

Meditation “Behind all communion is the knowledge that we must give our lives to each other, for each other.” — Gunilla Norris, Becoming Bread

From There to Here: We Gather

Gathering Music

Welcome

The Call Deborah Thompson, Reader

May this house shelter your life. When you come home here, may all the weight of the world fall from your shoulders. May it be a house of courage, where healing and growth are loved, where dignity and forgiveness prevail; a home where patience of spirit is prized,  and the sight of the destination is never lost though the journey be difficult and slow. May there be great delight around this hearth. May it be a house of welcome for the broken and diminished. May you have the eyes to see that no visitor arrives without a gift and no guest leaves without a blessing.    -John O’Donohue

Passing of the Peace at Home

Special Music

Lighting the Justice Candle

Today we light the Justice  Candle for Luci Baines Johnson ,who was 18 when she stood behind her father, President Lyndon Johnson, as he signed the Voting Rights Act into law in August of 1965.  Now,56 years later, at age 74, Johnson’s daughter is once again standing behind her father in support of voting rights. She urges citizens to be aware of what is happening in their states to lessen access and to restrict voting.  She is challenging legislators to stand up for voting rights for all people and especially the poor and people of color.

The Living Word Among Us    

Lesson from the Psalms Psalm 34:15-22 Alvera Stallard Perman, Reader

The eyes of God are on the righteous and his ears towards their cry. The Lord sets his face against wrongdoers: to root out their memory from the earth. The righteous cry; the Lord hears it and frees them from all their afflictions. The Lord is close to those who are broken-hearted and the crushed in spirit he saves. The trials of the righteous are many but our God delivers him from them all. He guards all his bones: so that not one is broken. Evil will slay the wicked; and those who hate the righteous will be destroyed. The Lord ransoms the lives of his servants and none who hide in him will be destroyed.

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 6:56-69

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Sermon On the Offensive Rev. Kent Gilbert

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

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 Alvera Stallard Perman, Reader

O Christ of the poor and the yearning, kindle in my heart within a flame of love for my neighbor, for my foe, for my friend, for my kindred, all. From the humblest thing that lives to the Name that is highest of all, kindle in my heart a flame of love. We pray the words Jesus taughtus, reaching 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 Christ Be Beside Me Morning Has Broken Deborah Thompson, Song Leader

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, king of my heart. Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me, never to part. Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me, shield in the strife. Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising, light of my heart. Christ be in all hearts thinking about me, Christ be on all tongues telling of me. Christ be the vision in eyes that see me, in ears that hear me Christ ever be.

Benediction

Postlude

OUR FELLOWSHIP PRINCIPLES:

“Union Church welcomes all followers of Christ and works with all who work with Him; respecting each person’s conscience; working by love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”

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 Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger and our brothers and sisters at the Living Waters Sanctuary 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.

¨ Tom Hubbard

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

¨ Sharona Nelson, as she faces decisions regarding a difficult family situation.

¨ The families of Laura Jackson, Jen Eich’s sister, who has died after a long illness.

¨ The Morgan family, at the loss of Chuck Morgan, Jr., this week.

¨ Ally Nurre, due to have hip replacement surgery tomorrow, Aug. 23.

¨ Dorie Hubbard’s great grand-niece, Marie, whose cancer has gotten worse.

¨ Shelagh Quigley, dear friend of Dodie Murphy, who has Covid-19.

¨ Monday, Aug. 23rd, is Dodie Murphy’s 35th consecutive anniversary in recovery from alcoholism. Anyone with drinking/drug problems who needs to talk is free to call her. My number is in F1Go, or call the office to get it.

¨ 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 7500 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: August 23 – Alvera Perman; 24 – Sylvia From; 26 – John Culp, Robert Rorrer; 29 – Jen Eich