5th Sunday after Pentecost … Sunday, July 13, 2025 at 10am
Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
Isaiah 43:18-19, Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Luke 10:25-37
S E R M O N
“Do This and You Will Live: How Do We Love Our Way Back to Life” Elizabeth Conway
M U S I C
PRELUDE … In einer Nacht… Träume und Erlebnisse (In a Night … Dreams and Experiences), Op. 15, Paul Hindemith (1895-1963); 1. Müdigkeiten (Fatigue), 2. Sehr langsam (Very slowly), 3. Phantastisches Duett zweier Bäume vor dem Fenster, (Fantastic duet of two trees in front of the window)
HYMN … Lord, You Give the Great Commission
ANTHEM … In einer Nacht… Träume und Erlebnisse (In a Night… Dreams and Experiences), Op. 15, Paul Hindemith; 4. Rufe in der horchenden Nacht (Calls in the listening night)
HYMN … Cuando el pobre
OFFERTORY … Romance Op. 15, No. 2, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
HYMN … They’ll Know We Are Christians
POSTLUDE … The Rite of Spring Part I: Introduction and The Augurs of Spring, Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Join us for Coffee Hour immediately after the service.
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A N N O U N C E M E N T S – – – – – – –
Deacon’s Offering for Camp Elmwood
Today, Sunday, July 13, there will be a special Deacons’ offering taken to assist Camp Elmwood campers who have requested partial- or full-scholarships. Camp Elmwood begins on July 21 (teen-counselor training week), and the campers return on July 28. Please place your offering in the green-colored small envelopes, included in the bulletin, and into the offering plate. Online contributions may be given through our secure Giving website page.
Also SAVE THE DATE for the end of Camp extravaganza: Camp Elmwood Barbeque & Talent Show on Friday, August 1, at 5pm – everybody is invited! Bring your family and friends for the delicious burgers, hot dogs and assorted salads and desserts. Thank you for your consideration.
Ride for Palestine
The in-person Ride for Palestine will take place on July 20, 2025 starting at MECA’s office at 1101 8th Street, Berkeley. It is an easy 14-mile cruise with beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay. Bring the entire family along for the Ride! It is designed to be enjoyable for cyclists of all ages and skill levels. To register, please go to the Ride for Palestine website.
The Ride for Palestine is an annual fundraising project of the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA). MECA works to protect the lives, rights, and well-being of children in Palestine and refugee camps in Lebanon. After over 75 years of ethnic cleansing, displacement, and attacks on their lives and livelihoods, Palestinians remain steadfast on their land and fiercely committed to the cause of freedom and liberation. Riding is an act of solidarity with Palestinian communities as they struggle to protect their children’s lives and their culture from erasure.
The Human Cost of Slashing U.S. Foreign Aid
By Eileen Schuhmann, Presbyterian Hunger Program
A troubling new study in The Lancet warns that recent U.S. cuts to foreign aid could result in 14 million preventable deaths by 2030 — including more than 4.5 million children under five. Using decades of global health data, researchers modeled the impact of eliminating U.S. global health and development funding, particularly through the dismantling of USAID. Their projections are staggering:
From 2001 to 2021, U.S. global health programs helped save 90.7 million lives across low- and middle-income countries. That’s a 15% drop in all-cause mortality and a 32% reduction in child mortality in countries receiving U.S. support.
U.S. aid contributed to 78% of global progress in reducing child deaths and 25% of HIV-related deaths prevented worldwide during that period. But with an 83% cut to USAID programming in 2025 and its absorption into the U.S. State Department, that progress is under threat. Without urgent action, the model predicts:
• 700,000 additional child deaths each year
• Millions of lives lost to HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB, and malnutrition
• A collapse of health systems in countries already grappling with climate disasters, debt crises, and conflict
Read the full study: The social cost of defunding USAID: a global modeling study
What Can We Do?
You don’t need to be a policymaker to make a difference:
1. Raise awareness: Share this report.
2. Contact your members of Congress: Urge Congress to restore funding to USAID and protect U.S. global health and development programs.
3. Advocate for Global Debt Cancellation: Visit Jubilee USA for more information on the Jubilee 2025 campaign efforts.
The work of the Presbyterian Hunger Program is possible thanks to your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing. This article is from the Presbyterian Church website.
May 4th Sunday Forum on USAID topic – Watch on YouTube
Our speaker, Nick Marinacci, spent the last 30 years in countries in conflict and transition (Libya and Syria during the Arab Spring, Colombia, Central America, the Lake Chad basin, Somalia, and across the Middle East), much of it with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Nick discussed how USAID’s work relates to U.S. national security and the effect the agency’s closure and a reduction in foreign assistance may have worldwide. Nick’s last assignment for USAID was a trip to Ukraine in January. Click link to view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzN8ga4obbw