This week we return to the Gospel According to Luke, and find Jesus ready to send out seventy (or seventy-two) disciples to share the Good News and heal people! But Jesus’ instructions to them are startling: It’s clear that they will be completely vulnerable out there—no money, no extra clothes, depending entirely on the kindness of the strangers they meet. What’s this all about?

You can join us for worship in our beautiful sanctuary, or right here, via livestream! We worship Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM. You are invited!

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Completely Vulnerable

Psalm 66:1-9; Luke 10:1-11

Union Presbyterian Church  

July 6, 2025  

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow  

Liturgist: Peg Williams Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube   

Welcome   

Announcements Peg Williams  

Prelude Lynn Garis 

“Open Our Eyes, with Be Thou My Vision,” Mark Hayes

©1976, Maranatha Music
Used by Permission.  CCLI License #CSPL068847   

* Call to Worship from Psalm 66    

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth.

Sing the glory of God’s name!

Give to the Lord glorious praise.

All the earth bows in worship!

Come, let us rejoice in the Lord.

Come, let us worship God!

* Hymn # 31 W & R

“I Sing the Almighty Power of God”

(Public Domain)

I sing the almighty power of God
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad
And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at his command
And all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord
That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with his word
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how your wonders are displayed
Where'er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread
Or gaze upon the sky!

There's not a plant or flower below
But makes your glories known;
And clouds arise and tempests blow
By order from your throne;
While all that borrows life from you
Is ever in your care,
And everywhere that I may be,
You, God, are present there.

* Call to New Life    

Sometimes we can feel that we are out in the cold—even on a warm summer day. Sometimes we can feel that God is nowhere to be found—even in nature, or a beautiful sanctuary. Let us open our hearts to God, who is with us.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace   

Loving God, whose presence with us is sure, how is it we cannot find you? We go through our days unsure; we feel listless and alone. We wonder where to start, how to proceed. We wonder where you are. Have you left us orphaned?

(Silence) 

And we pray, 

Be with us, Lord God. Remind us that we are your cherished children. Let us know the spark of your presence, the gift of your love. Help us to see each day as an opportunity to walk with you as our guide. Help us to know in our hearts, you are there. We pray in the name of our brother Jesus. Amen.

* Assurance of God’s Love  from Isaiah 43

The Lord says: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
when you walk through fire the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you

Let us be at peace.

* Sharing of the Peace  

Let the steadfast love of the Lord be with you.

Abide in God’s love.

May the peace of God be with you.  

And also with you.  

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.  

Scripture Psalm 66:1-9 (NRSVUE)  (Responsive) 

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;  

sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.

Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
    Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth worships you;
    they sing praises to you,
    sing praises to your name.” 

Come and see what God has done:
    he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
He turned the sea into dry land;
    they passed through the river on foot.
There we rejoiced in him,
    who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
    let the rebellious not exalt themselves. 

Bless our God, O peoples;
    let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept us among the living
    and has not let our feet slip.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube  

Music: “We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder,” Mary Ellen Kerrick

©1979, Broadman Press
Used by Permission.  CCLI License #CSPL068847   

Anthem  

“ Prayer for the City,” Tore Aas, Scott V. Smith

©1997, Maranatha! Music
Used by Permission.  CCLI License #CSPL068847   

(Sung twice:)

We open our hearts and our lives to you, Oh God.

Create within us a servant heart

So that we can show your love.

Where all hope has been lost

Let your Spirit bring new life.

To those in need bring prosperity;

Where there’s darkness shine your light.

We pray for this city we live in.

We pray that our sins be forgiven.

Do your will right here as in heaven;

Father, we call on your name.

We pray for our children.

We pray for our leaders.

We pray for our families.

Oh, bless us Lord, we pray.

We pray for this city we live in.

We pray that our sins be forgiven.

Do your will right here as in heaven;

Father, we call on your name.

Scripture Luke 10:1-11 (NRSVUE)  

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:  

Thanks be to God!  

Sermon ”Completely Vulnerable” Rev. Pat Raube   

*Affirmation of Faith From “A Brief Statement of Faith,” PCUSA 

We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children; healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted; eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. 

With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

* Hymn # 430 W & R

“Be Not Afraid,” Bob Dufford 

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

You shall cross the barren desert,

But you shall not die of thirst.

You shall wander far in safety

Though you do not know the way.

You shall speak your words in foreign lands

And all will understand.

You shall see the face of God and live.

Be not afraid. I go before you always.

Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.

If you pass through raging waters

In the sea, you shall not drown.

If you walk amid the burning flames,

You shall not be harmed.

If you stand before the pow’r of hell

And death is at your side,

Know that I am with you through it all.

Be not afraid. I go before you always.

Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.

Blessed are your poor,

For the kingdom shall be theirs.

Blest are you that weep and mourn,

For one day you shall laugh.

And if wicked tongues insult and hate you

All because of me,

Blessed, blessed are you!

Be not afraid. I go before you always.

Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.

Prayers of the People  

The Lord’s Prayer   

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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.  

Prayer Response  # 352 W & R (verse 2)    

“Spirit Song,” John Wimber   

© 1979 Mercy/ Vineyard Publishing 
Used by Permission.  CCLI License #CSPL068847   

O come and sing this song with gladness   

as your hearts are filled with joy.  

Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name.  

O give him all your tears and sadness;   

give him all your years of pain,   

and you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name. 

Call for Offering      

* Doxology # 145 W & R (verse 1)  

“Glory Be to God, Creator,” Richard K. Carlson 

Used by Permission.  CCLI License #CSPL068847  

Glory Be to God, Creator,  
Glory be to God the Son,  
Glory be to God the Spirit,  
Known as three, yet God the One. 

* Dedication of Offering  

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

The Invitation

Jesus said:

I am the Bread of Life.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry.

Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

The Great Thanksgiving

This is the joyful feast of the people of God! At this table all are welcome. At this table there is more than enough. At this table, Love abounds. For God is love. And those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

May the Lord be with you:

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise!

It is a good and right and joyful thing, always to give you thanks and praise.

Out of nothing but love, you conceived our world and gave form to your people.

If God is, indeed, love, then

Love’s breath gave us life.

Love’s honesty named our wrongdoing.

Love’s leading guided us to freedom.

Love’s counsel rebuked our avarice, violence, and fear.

Love’s mercy offered the opportunity to live anew in covenant relationship,

again and again and again.

In the fullness of time Love came to earth, born of a woman, human to the core,

touching the sick, embracing children, challenging the powerful, refusing to turn

away from the suffering and hope of your people.

You are holy and we praise your name.

Sanctus

“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Holy, holy, holy Lord, 

God of power, God of might, 

Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. 

Hosanna in the highest. 

Blessed is He who comes  

In the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest, 

Hosanna in the highest. 

The Words of Institution

Jesus, friend, brother, stranger, love, on that night when you were taken by the

government, while you were still at table you took bread, broke it and gave it to

friends and betrayers alike saying, “Take. Eat. This is my body, given for you.

Whenever you do this, remember me.”

Then after supper you took the cup, lifted it high and said “Take. Drink. This is

the blood of the new covenant, my blood, poured out for you and for many for

the forgiveness of sin. Whenever you drink this. Remember me.”

And so, we proclaim the mystery of our faith

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and vine, that they may

become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and that as we eat them we

may be united in love with you and with all creation.

Communion of the People 

Jesus said, I am the bread of life.

Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches.

Come to me and never be hungry;

trust in me, and never thirst.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Music during Communion:

“One Bread, One Body,” Joel Raney

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Hymn  # 695 W & R

“As We Gather at Your Table,” Carl P. Daw, Jr., Jack Schrader

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

As we gather at your table,
As we listen to your word,
Help us know, O God, your presence;

Let our hearts and minds be stirred.
Nourish us with sacred story
Till we claim it as our own;
Teach us through this holy banquet
How to make Love’s victory known.

Turn our worship into witness
In the sacrament of life;
Send us forth to love and serve you,
Bringing peace where there is strife.
Give us, Christ, your great compassion
To forgive as you forgave;
May we still behold your image
In the world you died to save.

Gracious Spirit, help us summon
Other guests to share that feast
Where triumphant Love will welcome
Those who had been last and least.
There no more will envy bind us
Nor will pride our peace destroy,
As we join with saints and angels
To repeat the sounding joy.

* Benediction  

Postlude Lynn Garis 

“God Be With You,” Jay Rouse

Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.      

“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal.     

“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal  

Prayer for the Lord’s Supper adapted from a prayer created by Noelle Damico and Sarah Henkel.

Worship With Us

Completely Vulnerable