Order of Worship for June 29, 2025
June 29, 2025
4th Sunday After Pentecost
Union-Congregational Church
Gathering Music
Welcome and Announcements
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Call to Worship
One: Family of faith, this must be the place.
All: This is the place for connection and growth, for community and hope.
One: This must be the place for questions like, “Where are you from?” and, “What do you need?”
All: For whispers of: “I’ve been thinking of you,” and, “I’ve been meaning to ask. . .”
One: This must be the place, because all belong here.
All: All are welcome here. All hurt and joy, needs and prayers, dreams and love, are welcome here.
Opening Prayer (unison)
God of the here and now, my, oh my, how we need you. This world seems to turn upside down all the time. Our center of gravity feels off. In moments like these, we are particularly grateful for the care you offer and the stability of friends. Gracious God, help us to be those people for others. Give us the hearts to notice when our neighbors are in need, and the wisdom to ask, “What do you need?” Stop our assumptions cold in their tracks, and instead, carve out space in us to listen. Amen.
Opening Hymn: #391 Will You Let Me Be Your Servant (OL #298989)
Children’s Time
Prayer of Confession (unison) Pastor Jacob
Gracious God, sometimes life feels like cooking with flour—it looks like it should be easy, but we always make a mess. This is particularly true when it comes to our relationships. We so desperately long to say the right thing, to be the right thing, to find the right solution, that we overstep the line. Forgive us for assuming the place you fill. Forgive us for imagining that we, in all our humanity, could possibly fix all the hurt in this world. Instead, give us the grace and the strength to stand by our loved ones in their moments of need to witness their hurt without trying to fix it. You are God. We are not. Teach us how to be a friend. Teach us how to ask, “What do you need?” Teach us how to point to you. Gratefully we pray. Amen.
Words of Forgiveness Pastor Jacob
Family of faith, no matter how many times you have spoken without listening, assumed without knowing, offered without asking, or rushed without waiting—you are forgiven. God knows your desire and your intent. God knows when we try and miss the mark, and God surrounds us in grace. So, believe the good news of the gospel:
All: Every day is a new day for love. We are claimed. We are forgiven. We are invited into relationship. Thanks be to God for growth and grace that know no end. Amen.
Reading of Scripture
Job 2: 11-13 (NRSVue)
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads. 13 They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
2 Timothy 4: 9-18 (NRSVue)
9 Do your best to come to me soon, 10 for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds. 15 You also must beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. So, I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
After reading, please say, “Here end the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”
Song: “Salt of the Earth” by The Rolling Stones
Message: Fancy Dinners, Deep Connections, and What We Really Need
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)
We Offer Our Gifts
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Loving God, thank you for always giving us what we need. With these gifts, help us provide practical support and loving connection. We pray with confidence that you will help us support those most vulnerable through these gifts. 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.