7th Sunday after Pentecost … Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 10am
Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
Isaiah 58, Luke 4:16-30, Amos 5:21-14
S E R M O N
“Following Jesus, The Troublemaker” The Reverend Sally Juarez
M U S I C
PRELUDE … Voluntary No. 2, G.F. Händel (1685-1759)
INTROIT … Brethren, We Have Met to Worship, Early American tune, arr. by Randolph Currie (b. 1943)
HYMN … What Does the Lord Require
ANTHEM … Psalm 85, Todd Jolly (b.1961)
HYMN … We Are Called
OFFERTORY … Tonstück No. 2, Niels Gade (1817-1890)
HYMN … Take My Life
POSTLUDE … Toccata in D Minor, Johann Jacob Froberger (1616-1667)
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 – – – – – – –
St. John’s YouTube Videos
Have you visited the St. John’s YouTube page? You will find some notable recordings of St. John’s Sunday forums, lectures, sermons and music. And, if you subscribe to the channel, you will get a notification when a new video is posted. For example:
Sunday Sermon: Elizabeth Conway, July 13, 2025
Sunday Music: Evangeline Wolfe & Charles Lee, July 13, 2025
Sunday Sermon: Rev. Sally Juarez, July 6, 2025
Pride Sunday Sermon: Dr. Richard Lindsay, June 22, 2025
Sunday Forum: Nick Marinacci on USAID, May 4, 2025
Announcing a Watercolor Exhibit by Julia Oversloot
Come see Botanical Watercolors, a stunning new exhibit by acclaimed artist, and St. John’s member, Julia Oversloot. Known for her delicate layering techniques, Julia Oversloot newest collection captures the fleeting beauty of light, where color flows, and nature breathes on paper, in every brushstroke – an immersive experience into Julia’s vibrant world.
Part 1 – June 27 to August 4: Botanical Paintings … Is Art nature or nurtured for me? With Family Art History.
Part 2 – August 5 to August 26: “More Botanical Paintings,” with Decency and Luck book
All watercolors are at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley; Free admission. For samples of Julia’s work, click on this link for the Mary L. Harden School of Botanical Illustration.
A pastoral word on the Israeli attack on the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza
From the Office of Public Witness, Presbyterian News Service
With deep grief and righteous anger, we join voices with Christian communities and people of conscience around the world to condemn the deadly attack on the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza. A sacred place of refuge became a site of death this week when Israeli military forces reportedly struck the church compound, killing three civilians who had sought safety within its walls and injuring several others, including the parish priest. This attack comes amid the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza — a relentless assault that has left tens of thousands dead, many more wounded and countless families displaced. Access to basic necessities like food, water and medicine has been choked off, leaving civilians in unimaginable suffering.
We are also alarmed by recent reports of violence targeting Christians in the West Bank town of Taybeh, including attacks on homes, property and the ancient Christian community there. These acts are part of a broader pattern of harassment and violence against Palestinian civilians — Muslims and Christians alike — by extremist Israeli settlers, often carried out with impunity.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) stands with all who suffer in Gaza, the West Bank and across the region — people of every faith and background — whose lives are threatened by war, occupation, displacement and violence. We lament the targeting of civilians and houses of worship, acts that violate international law and desecrate our shared humanity.
As followers of Jesus Christ — the Prince of Peace — we proclaim that true security can never be built on the suffering of the innocent. We reject narratives that dehumanize Palestinians, justify collective punishment and silence the cries of those caught in the crossfire of injustice.
This article is abridged to fit into this space; click on the PCUSA website link to continue reading the article and to read the Call to Action and the Prayer.