Order of Worship for August 17, 2025
August 17, 2025
10th Sunday after Pentecost
Union-Congregational Church
Gathering Music
Welcome and Announcements
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Call to Worship
One: Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted.
Many: The world is ablaze around us with pain and suffering, natural disasters and human schemes, injustice and brokenness.
One: Create again, O God of Fire; respond to the needs of your people and shepherd us to be good stewards of your creation.
Many: Let your Holy Fire meet the infernos that seek to consume us with refining and renewing power.
One: Redeem again, O God of hosts; ignite a flame within your kin-dom that will spread as a wildfire of righteousness and love.
Many: Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Opening Prayer (unison)
God of Truth, you are who you are, not who we want you to be. Jesus was who he was, not who others pressured him to be. Your Spirit is in us as it is, not as others wish. You know us as who we are, not what others think of us. Speak to us now your truth; call us to your Word, that coming close to you we may come close to ourselves, and live out our true calling in this world. We pray in the name and the company and the courage of Jesus. Amen.
Opening Hymn: #134 Sweet Sweet Spirit
Prayer for Transformation and New Life (unison) (led by liturgist)
Transforming One, forgive us for dampening your fire, even for our failure to recognize your movement among us. Help us to follow in the path of life abundantly for our neighbors and ourselves. Make us instruments of your kin-dom as we encourage and uplift one another like iron sharpens iron. Surround us as a community of accountability and support to transform us in your image, character, and nature. We receive the gift of new grace, new mercies, and new life that you offer to us each day. Amen.
Words of Grace
Pastor: Beloved, in Jeremiah 23:29, the Voice declares, “Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” We may be assured of God’s power to break down in order to build back up. The brokenness we experience in life does not have the final word. For the redemptive love of God makes all things new and the healing grace of God restores and repairs. New life in Christ awaits us all this day and every day.
All: We are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
Reading of Scripture
Isaiah 5: 1-7
I will sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2 He dug it and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded rotten grapes. 3 And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield rotten grapes? 5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will make it a wasteland; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished garden; he expected justice but saw bloodshed; righteousness but heard a cry!
Luke 12: 49-56
49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on a five-in-one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” 54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain,’ and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
After reading, please say, “Here ends the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”
“Courage to Grow” by Rebelution (Deanne)
Message: Fire Can Be Good Sometimes
Prayers of the People
Time for Silent Prayer
Joys and Concerns
After each prayer petition, Jacob will say, “God in your mercy”, and the congregation is invited to respond: “Receive our prayer.”
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
We Offer Our Gifts
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Holy, Holy, Holy God, who provides, who gifts, and who refines. We offer these gifts to you in gratitude and hope. May they extend beyond the walls of our sanctuaries so that your name will be known through us. May they spark hope and joy to dispel despair and despondency. May needs be met and lives changed through our giving and our living. Receive these gifts as our tangible prayer that your kindom come and will be done. Amen.
Closing Hymn: #561 Christ for the World! We Sing
Benediction
As you go, cast fire
To burn the acceptance of injustice
To illuminate the way of peace
To warm the bonds of human connection
To clear the path to a new world
We build together
Sending Music
Opening Prayer by Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes for Unfolding Light
Other liturgy by Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay for UCC Worship Ways