August 5, Biblical Family Values. God of Bathseba, we come yearning for wisdom to embrace life despite its tragic complexity.

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1 WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS RINGING OF THE BELLS PRELUDE OPENING WORDS source: Out in Scripture, hrc.org Nourish us, O God, with the bread that gives life to the world. Bring wholeness to our broken relationships, that they may become sacraments of your boundless generosity. Many: And give us the courage to speak truth to power. Amen. *HYMN 11 Bring Many Names source: Wren God of Bathseba, we come yearning for wisdom to embrace life despite its tragic complexity. God of the Story, meet us today with living waters abundant to quench your thirst. 17 th century painting of Bathsheba August 5, 2012 Biblical Family Values

2 God, food of the poor; Christ our bread Give us a taste of the tender bread from your creation s table; bread newly taken from your heart s oven, food that comforts and nourishes us. A loaf that makes us human joined hand in hand, working and sharing. A sacrament of your body, A warm loaf that makes us a family; your wounded people. World Student Christian Federation, Gifts of Many Cultures, Tirabassi & Eddy Shepherds@11am: We are pleased to offer a supervised play time for young children following the Children s Story. How it works (new process): Following the story, children gather with Naomi (and a volunteer) in the Narthex (just outside our sanctuary) and walk downstairs together. To help us keep our children safe, we ask adults to sign children in (before they go downstairs). Parents are always welcome to escort the children downstairs and stay as long as you wish. Once signed in, children stay with the adults in the Red Room. At the close of worship, adults meet children in the Red Room (lower level) and sign them out. *LITANY source: HS, Ephesians From teachings old and new, we hear a common challenge: Many: Speak the truth in love... dares the ancient apostle laying bare our vulnerability to the winds of doctrine and people s trickery. Many: Speak the truth in love... comes the call of the ancient apostle to recognize our place within the body, to own our neediness and our giftedness, to work together in an effort to build the body in love... Many: as we speak the truth in love. *RESPONSE 519 Not My Brother, Not my Sister tune: Need of Prayer Not my brother, nor my sister, but it s me, O God, Standing in the need of prayer. (repeat) It s me, it s me, O God, standing in the need of prayer, It s me, it s me, O God, standing in the need of prayer. Not the Preacher not the Teacher, but it s me, O God!, Standing in the need of prayer. (repeat) Not the Stranger not my Neighbor, but it s me, O God!, Standing in the need of prayer. (repeat) READING FROM TRADITION May we be struck by the wisdom of these words and marked by hearing them. Many: For within story lies meaning, and within meaning, the wisdom for which we seek. Gretta Vosper From the Hebrew scriptures: In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman (and) sent messengers to fetch her [Bathsheba, Uriah s wife, conceived a child while her husband was at battle. Subsequently, her husband was killed.] When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased God. (2 Samuel 11:26-27) A teaching from Confucianism: There are five relations of utmost importance... between prince and minister; between parent and child; between spouses; between brothers; and between friends. (Doctrine of the Mean 20.8, adapted for inclusivity) With words that illumine, Many: May we hear the Word.

3 CHILDREN S STORY Children are invited to come to the Chancel Steps to share a story. Following the story, young children may choose to go to the nursery (both services) or to Shepherds (11:00am a play time in the Red Room downstairs). SPECIAL MUSIC 11:00AM We Are Called Summer Choir source: David Haas SERMON The Problem of Sight Katherine HawkerSelf *HYMN Sometimes I Wish source: Etzler We are called To act with justice, We are called To love tenderly, We are called For peace with each other, To walk humbly with God! Our Lord s Prayer the Prayer we attribute to Jesus In the Jesus stories shared by both Matthew and Luke, Jesus offers two versions of a prayer that have been translated into countless languages and reinterpreted by each new generation. Some versions pray to be forgiven from debts, some trespasses (based on Matthew), and some sins (a modern read of Luke). Some versions close with a doxology ( for thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory, forever and ever ) and some end with the plea for deliverance. Some scholars review the ancient texts and wonder what the historical Jesus might actually have prayed Matthew s version or Luke s or (most likely) something similar but different. In a time when public school learned this and other prayers, the words rolled off our tongues often without thought. Now the words are less familiar for many and we may approach the words with questions. What do we mean by Father? Where is heaven? Why do we use old English for this prayer? And so poets approach this ancient prayer with careful craft to render renewed meaning. For many years our community has used a variety of paraphrases and reinterpretations of the ancient prayer. This morning in our service you will find a litany that intersperses a traditional reading with a paraphrase written by Katy in Our prayerful hope is that through the interplay of words old and new we will hear our still speaking God with an empowering word for today.

4 In Our Prayers (please be in contact with the church office with additions or changes to share) Communion Note The words you hear as we share communion may be different than you ve heard before. Like all of our life together, our prayers and practices at table are always evolving. Our Worship Team has been involved in reading and reflection on our shared table practices, exploring the meanings we share with bread and cup. Inspired by the stories of Jesus table practices, we are aware that traditional communion imagery conveys beliefs that many of us do not share. Our prayerful hope is to offer language and metaphor that inspire us to greater compassion while allowing us to encounter wonder as we gather together at table. In our effort to make sure that everyone feels welcome at God s table, we now serve both bread and gluten-free wafers which can be dipped in the grape juice when received. Please let an usher know if you would like the communion servers to come to your pew. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Believing that each joy and/or concern expressed is indeed a prayer, After each expression, the worship leader will say: Lord in your Mercy. And the people may respond: Hear our prayer. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Many: Mystery beyond our knowing, close to us as our breathing, in humble awe we pray. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven Many: We pray for your vision of justice and mercy to be made real in our world even now. Give us today our daily bread. Many: We pray for your vision of enough; enough sustenance, enough warmth, enough healing for all of your children. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Many: We pray for the grace to let go of that which is death dealing as we embrace your vision for life, that we might follow you safely through the obstacle course. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Many: Giving thanks for presence that defies definition in this life and beyond. Amen. Many: Amen. TABLE PRAYER AND PROCESSION TO THE TABLE INVITATION AND REMEMBRANCE We remember the stories that Jesus friends tell, Many: stories of bread broken and shared, feeding a multitude, stories of being gathered together, enemy and friend, around tables, Many: stories of unlikely guests revealing the face of the sacred. They say that it was on a night of both celebration and betrayal that he took the bread leftover on the table, Many: blessed it and broke it and shared it; reminding them that it is in the breaking that we become whole, Many: in losing our lives that we find them, in serving that we are served. As the grain scattered becomes one in the loaf, Many: when we eat this bread, we become one with one another. We share communion weekly at 8:30am and the 1st Sunday of the month and special

5 They say that he took the cup also leftover on the table, Many: poured out and sharing, remembering with them, the life-giving breath even now pounding a rhythm through our veins, Many: the breath of life from whence we come, the breath that precedes and follows all that we can see. As the grapes find life in the vine, Many: when we drink this cup, we become at one with the source of life itself. BLESSING We pray together: Many: Come, holy Spirit, come. Bless this bread and bless this fruit of the vine. Bless all of us in our eating and drinking that our eyes might be opened, that we might recognize the Spirit rising in our midst indeed, in one another. Come, holy Spirit, come. The Congregation is invited to come forward by the center aisle partaking of the bread and cup, lighting a candle in prayer, and placing an offering in the plates beside the table. COMMUNION SONG Goodness is Stronger Than Evil words: Desmond Tutu tune: John Bell Goodness is stronger than evil; love is stronger than hate; light is stronger than darkness; life is stronger than death. Compassion is ours, compassion is ours through him who loved us. August Mission Moment: You Decide August is a month of rest for the Servant Team as we encourage you to choose a mission moment for yourself. Would you like to bring food for the grocery cart in the narthex? Might you slow down and notice the quiet and often unrecognized acts of kindness to strangers? When someone lets you go first at the stop sign or holds the door at the grocery store, notice these acts. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle is a paraphrase of a statement attributed to both T. H. Thompson and John Watson. How does this make ours a better world? The Servant Team encourages you to look for acts of kindness this month and perform some of your own! (repeat) *PRAYER OF DEDICATION source: B.D. Prewer God of generosity, please enlarge our expectations of both you and each other, that we may be more willing to receive and more ready to give. Many: Amen! Crib Room Help Wanted We need additional volunteers to play with our babies. Our commitment is to have two adults in the room throughout the morning, meaning two adult volunteers (8:30am-10am and 10am-12noon). One of Carole s (many!) responsibilities is to provide a rotating schedule of volunteers. We have a special need of volunteers for the early shift each week. Can you help? Please call Carole Janssen ( ), or contact the church office ( or churchoffice@peaceuccstl.org). Youth Staffing Circle Update We are excited to be nearing the final stages in our search for a Youth Community Organizer. Following receipt of more than two dozen applications, the working group (youth and adults) identified five candidates for interviews this weekend. Our hope is to announce a candidate mid-august and invite them to begin on September 1st! Sharing Our Gifts During our Procession to the Table, we are invited to consider our offerings. The easiest way to make a financial offering is to drop a check or money, marked clearly for Peace UCC (EUCC) or for special offerings, in the basket during worship. You can support this ministry also by setting up electronic giving and/or giving online by going to ( Please contact the church office for more information.

6 12 Months of Compassion August Step 8 Respect During this step, we try to make ourselves mindful of the way we speak to others. *HYMN 581 Lead Us From Death to Life tune: World Peace Prayer words: Kumar, Haugen How should we speak to one another? Worship for Step 8 Respect August 19: Rev. Marilyn Stavenger August 26: Rev. Al Schon Peace Trail Gratitude: In addition to 40 kids and 16 fabulous youth, we had a whole team of adults who made the week an amazing success. In no particular order but with deepest gratitude: Alyssa Schnell, Sarah Gottemoeller, Al Schon, Roger Bridgewater, Gloria Wells, Robin Wiseman, Elaine Alexander, Fran LaMont, Allison LaMont, Bryan Archer, Kelly Archer, Betsy Reznicek, Neale Rebman, Laura Bardelmeier, Laura Barrett, Cathi Beckman, Darlene HawkerSelf, and undoubtedly at least a couple more! *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE Bulletin recycling: Though we invite you to take your bulletin home to review the prayers and opportunities throughout the week, if you choose to leave your bulletin after the 8:30am service place it in the basket and we will use it again!

7 FELLOWSHIP AND MINISTRY GROUPS PEACE UCC MEN S BREAKFAST - August 9, 8:00am Join us at the Steak n Shake at Watson and Elm. PEACE UCC CHURCH SCHOOL - Starts September 9! NEW MEMBER CLASSES - Start September 16! For a complete, up to date calendar visit our website: THIS WEEK AT PEACE UCC SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 8:30am Worship Service 9:45am Coffee Fellowship Folk Choir Rehearsal 11:00am Worship Service 2:00pm Korean Drumming Circle 5:15pm Castlewood Support Group Come Dream With Us... Thank you for your engagement with the five weekly questions in our Dreams about our sacred worship space. We will continue this on August 12th and 26th as we gather in the sanctuary between services for dialogue, welcoming questions and ideas to help determine some next steps. Your presence will aid us all in viewing this sacred space through a new lens in the quest for new possibilities. Come, imagine, and dream with us! Moms Group Volunteers Peace UCC Moms' group is seeking volunteers to be part of a childcare team one Friday morning each month for an hour and a half during our meeting. Interested? Please call Dee Ban at (314) for more information. Welcome Guests If you are new to Peace United Church of Christ, we have created a name tag for you which can be located in the narthex on a hook labeled Recent Guests. If you do not have a name tag, please sign up at the Welcome Table to have one made the following week. We are so glad you are here! Rainbow Scarf Project: Helping the Church Stand Against Bullying of LGBTQ Youth Calling all knitters, crochet artists and weavers! We need you to help us fulfill a dream: turn General Synod into a landscape of bright colors to raise awareness about LGBTQ teens endangered by bullying - and the related risk of suicide. With your help, we re confident we can distribute 3,000 brightly-colored scarves to delegates and guests when General Synod meets June 28 - July 2, 2013, in Long Beach, CA (Katy is a delegate). Want to learn more? Visit facebook.com/rainbow.scarves or rainbow@ucccoalition.org MONDAY, AUGUST 6 9:15am Job Jar Gang 5:30pm Darcy s Lessons TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 8:30am WGMC Babysitting Co-op 5:30pm Darcy s Lessons WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 5:30pm Darcy s Lessons 5:30pm Debbie Kelly Group Meeting 6:30pm Youth Planning THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 5:30 Darcy s Lessons 6:45pm SLED Dance Classes FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 10:00am La Leche League SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 8:30am Darcy s Lessons 3:00pm Sts C&F Crafters 5:00pm Sts C&F Worship

8 SUNDAY VOLUNTEERS Today August 12 Coffee Hour Sarah Webster Trudy Guinther Parker Nanney Ashley Nanney PEACE UCC STAFF Pastoral Team: Katherine HawkerSelf, Al Schon, Marilyn Stavenger, Administrative Assistant: Laura Barrett, Communications: Cathi Beckmann, Music Team: Kourtney Strade, Darcy Swanson, Sunday AM (caretaker, nursery, shepherds): Julie White, Carole Janssen, (314) Naomi Adair Campus Minister at Webster: Laurel Hayes, Crib Room Liturgist 8:30am-10:30am Open 10:30am-12:00pm Gigi Hill 8:30am Nick Gilham 11:00am Sarah Haugse Money Counters Norma Leuthauser Sandy Bowe 8:30am-10:30am Lucy Allen 10:30am-12:00pm Kris Lewis 8:30am Scott Brocato 11:00am Marilyn Stavenger Bob Risk Ray Mulligan Shepherds Naomi Adair Naomi Adair Ushers 8:30am David Faulkner 11:00am Lola & Geno Contestabile 8:30am Fran & Jerry LaMont 11:00am Sarah Haugse, Bob Risk Ray Mulligan, Linda Kolley Welcome Table Lolly Wehrli Marge Engelsdorfer SUNDAY MUSIC GOVERNING BODY President, Brad Schnell Secretariat, Nick Gilham Financial, Scott Guerrero Facilities, Will Oberkrom People, Open Community, Sarah Webster Servant, Lori Winter, Kelly Archer Learning, Chris Reinhard Worship, Open Youth, Megan Davis CONTACT US 204 E. Lockwood Ave Webster Groves MO (314) Office Hours: 9:00am - 1:00pm, Monday - Friday Notes: Sources for words, images, and music are noted where available. Permission to reprint music and words from sources other than The New Century Hymnal is granted under OneLicense.net, license no. A , and/or LicenSing.org. *An asterisk next to a section means that we stand for this part of the service as we are able. Today August 12 8:30am TBA Zach Tesch 11:00am Summer Choir Lola Contestabile Joining us for the first time? In a word: Welcome Whoever you are, wherever you are on the journey, you are truly welcome here. We are human and fallible, but utterly committed to God s extravagant welcome! Worship Rules: Enjoy Some people clap, some don t. Some babies make noise, some don t. Some people read music, some people look at pictures. We stand and either speak or sing together occasionally, but do what feels right for you. Likewise with clothes; some people wear suits with sneakers, some wear hockey uniforms with ruby slippers. Whatever style is yours, it s safe here. Enjoy your time with us! Coffee: Your choice Bring your own or fill up with the pot in the Fireside Room. Bring it in to worship, or not; decaf or regular. It s your choice! Difference: Bring it on! We don t simply tolerate our difference, we celebrate the wonder of the sacred in our differences not only age, race, gender, ability, and orientation, but politics and theology too! nursing mothers welcome!