Blog

June 22, 2025
Third Sunday of Pentecost
Union-Congregational Church

Gathering Music                                    

Welcome and Announcements                        

Sharing the Peace of Christ

Call to Worship                         
One: Here in this space, we wear our hearts on our sleeves.
All: There is no use in filters or walls. This space is an authentic space.
 

One: This space is a brave space.
All: For when it comes to God, we are always invited to bring our full selves into the room.
 

One: So come into this space with your hurt and your joy, your prayers and your dreams.
All: All of God’s children are welcome here.
 

One: Let us worship Holy God.

Opening Prayer (unison)        
Holy God, I know, I know, that you hear our prayers. You are the God of hospital rooms and graveside services. You are the God who felt a touch in a crowd. You are the God who sees and knows all pain—infertility and illness, despair and death. You are the God of the hurt and the healing, so I know—I know, you must hear us today. So, with open hearts and open palms, gracious God, we come to you with our joy and our pain. Holy God, we know, we know, that you are listening. We know, we know, that you are here. Be among us. Hold our hurt. Heal our wounds. Draw us closer to one another, and closer to you.

Opening Hymn: #476 I Need Thee Every Hour

Vacation Bible School Wrap-Up                    

Reading of Scripture                                
1 Samuel 1: 1-18 (NRSVue)
1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, 5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore, Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a Nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.”
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore, Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went her way and ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.
 

Mark 5: 21-43 (NRSVue)
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and pleaded with him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that she had, and she was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my cloak?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the synagogue leader’s house, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha Koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl stood up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this and told them to give her something to eat.
 

After reading, please say, “Here end the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”

Clip: The Green Mile - “I’m Tired, Boss”
 

Message: The Rain Falls on All of Us

Affirmation of Faith (unison)
On my best days, I believe that God is there—standing in the sun with me, laughing a contagious laugh and cheering me on.
On my hardest days, I believe that God is there—standing in the rain with me, holding me up and sharing in my grief.
No matter where I go—in joy or in loss, in pain or in love, in heartache or in gratitude—I believe that God is there, leaning in, noticing where it hurts, and carrying me through it. And so, I believe we are called to care for each other as God cares for us. On your best days in the sun and on your worst days in the rain, I will do my best to be there for you too. Amen.
 

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)
God, who is our hope and strength, we offer these gifts with confidence, knowing You will help us use them to offer glimmers of light to a hurting world. Help us continue to do what is ours to offer hope and healing in our particular ways. Amen.

Closing Song: “We Will Rejoice in Love” by Mark A. Miller (One License #U01373)

We will rejoice in love,
lift up our voice in love, 
make every choice in love, 
we will uphold your world in love.
 

We will delight in love, 
share and invite in love, 
till all unite in love,
we will enfold your world in love.

We will repent in love, 
raise our lament in love, 
dare to dissent in love,
we will uphold your world in love.
 

We will persist in love, 
choose to resist in love, 
and coexist in love,
we will enfold your world in love.

Benediction
Family of faith, as you leave this place, may God grant you
the curiosity to counter assumptions, the vulnerability to befriend, the bravery to speak your truth, the wisdom to listen, the strength to ask for help, the resiliency to choose love, even when it’s hard, and the awareness of the Holy Spirit always beside you. In the name of the Great Connector—Love itself, go in peace.

Sending Music                                      

Liturgy adapted from prayers by Rev. Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org.

“We Will Rejoice in Love” by Mark A. Miller ©2022 GIA Publications. Used by permission.