September 1 – Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 | Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

God acts in our lives with generosity and love. We are children of the God of lights; we are fruit born through the generosity of God and by the word of truth. Generosity is at the heart of who we are. How do we act on our beliefs about God? How do we live out the word of God? The reading from James challenges us to find connections between what we believe and say about God and the actions we take each day.

We will share in communion at the chancel rail this morning. The Rev. Phyllis Byrd, a Global Ministries mission co-worker in Nairobi, Kenya, who serves with the Organization of Africa Instituted Churches (OAIC) as its Director of its Just Communities program, will share about her work. Rev. Byrd’s appointment to mission work by the United Church of Christ is made possible in part by our contributions to Our Church’s Wider Mission. Jenna Duranko will share music on the marimba.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the September 1 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

August 25 – Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Psalm 84  |  John 6:56-69

Together, this week’s readings remind us of the mutual indwelling of God in us and us in God. Psalm 84 celebrates the temple as a dwelling place for God. “How lovely is your dwelling place” sing the pilgrims as they enter the temple in Jerusalem. They have reached this place of prayer, preparation, and sustenance. In John 6:56–69, Jesus’ own disciples seem to be offended by his teachings, yet Peter recognizes that in Jesus is the “Holy One of God.” In Christ, a dwelling place of God, they have found their home and strength to go on when others have turned back.

The Rev. Kirstin Shrom-Rhoads will preach and lead worship. We will also honor the milestone ordination anniversaries of Rev. Fred Wenner, Rev. Robert Manthey, Rev. Kirstin Shrom-Rhoads, and, posthumously, Rev. Dr. Gerry Hanberry.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the August 25 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

August 18 – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14  |  John 6:51-58

In 1 Kings 2:10–12; 3:3–14, Solomon becomes king, and is a fine exemplar of a wise person with his request for the gift of discernment. People listening to Jesus, struggle to discern his message in John 6:51–58. Just as God provides wisdom to Solomon, Jesus provides spiritual nourishment to the people. Together, these passages affirm the centrality of God’s gift of wisdom in the life of faith. Our scriptures remind us through encouragement, example, prayer, and story, to take care and remain attentive to the way of God, the way of wisdom.

The Rev. David Cooney will be preaching and leading worship. We will celebrate our annual Blessing of the Backpacks.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the August 18 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

August 11 – Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33  |  John 6:35, 41-51

Living and loving like Jesus is hard, and many of us struggle to live in ways that are worthy of God’s call. Faithful living is complicated because we live in a broken world. John 6:35, 41–51 offers a reminder of how followers of Jesus may be sustained and equipped for the work of turning from anger towards love. Love is not easy, soft, or nice. Sometimes, it can begin with anger and takes that anger as the impetus for challenging injustice, seeking liberation, and working for healing. The church is called to be such an agent for transformation in the world; ourselves transformed by the love of God.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the August 11 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

August 4 – Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a  |  John 6:24-35

God calls us to live a connected life, to come together in community, and to grow together in truth and love. What we do matters – to ourselves personally, to our community, to the world, to God. The way we respond to the circumstances that we find ourselves in will influence everything around us. . The reading from Samuel doesn’t gloss over criticism of David’s behavior. However, David’s recognition of wrongdoing and desire for forgiveness and mercy in this reading are met with forgiveness. Similarly, Jesus meets the crowd’s superficial understanding of him and his message with grace and promise.

We will share in communion this morning.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the August 4 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

July 28 – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

2 Samuel 11:1-15  |  John 6:1-21

God’s abundant presence sustains us in all circumstances. God provides more than we need – food, faith, grace, salvation. We are called to respond to God’s activity among us, ordering our lives in ways that proclaim and extend God’s abundant gifts to others. In 2 Samuel 11:1–15, God acted in David’s life with an abundance that sustained David, yet David makes foolish and selfish decisions as he abandons God’s way. In John 6:1-21, it would be easy to spend time focusing on the miracles that are the headline stories, but perhaps in doing so, we miss an important revelation about who the person of Jesus was and what he revealed about the reign of God, its welcome, generosity, and dependability.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the July 28 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

July 21– Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 7:1-14a | Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

The church is called to be an extraordinary place, a place of inclusion and reconciliation, where divisions are demolished, strangers become family, aliens become citizens, a place where the excluded and disenfranchised are welcome. That’s a tough call, but through the redeeming love of Christ and the powerful reconciling spirit of God, it is possible. This week’s scripture readings celebrate God’s loving vision for healing, wholeness, and unity, and the compassion of God who provides a home to the homeless, healing for the sick, and welcome to those considered outsiders.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the July 21 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

July 14 – Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 | Mark 6:14-29

Anyone who has moved to a new community will likely have felt like an outsider. An established community has shared stories, experiences, and more. Even if welcomed, a new person can feel like an outsider. Communities say they are open for newcomers, and even want newcomers, but often do not welcome them as they are. This week’s scriptures help us explore the ways by which the church embodies God’s grace of welcome for all people.

Ann Thompson will be our guest organist this morning.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the July 14 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

July 7 – Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 | Mark 6:1-13

Jesus’ hometown crowd didn’t think much of him – they said he was behaving way above his station. Why weren’t they happy a local had made good? Human nature is like that, when people we know change, we don’t hesitate to remind them of the foibles of their past as if their changing is offensive to us. But God’s story is one of transformation. God desires authentic change. This week, we are challenged to consider our call, as individuals and as a church; who accompanies us and whom do we accompany; how and whom do we reject. How might inclusivity be encouraged as we take our place in the accomplishment of God’s vision of mercy, justice, and peace?

We will share in communion this morning.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the July 7 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

June 30 – Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 | Mark 5:21-43

Out of the depths of grief, David laments the death of Jonathan and Saul. Out of the depths of desperation, Jairus calls to Jesus. Out of the depths, a woman grasps to touch Jesus’ cloak. Experiences of vulnerability cause us to feel as if we have nowhere to turn. In these times and places, we are invited to turn to God, whose compassion knows no boundaries. In what ways does grief flow from and become shaped by different experiences of loss – loss of dreams, loss of relationship, loss of life? For what do we cry out and grieve in our lives and the church today? Where would we risk vulnerability for the sake of healing?

We welcome our friends from Evangelischer Pfarrbereich Klein Schwechten in Germany to our service this morning. The Senior Choir will sing.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the June 30 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.