This morning we are confronted with two stories of people making decisions about giving. Both are struggling, both are faithful. How will they decide?

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Online Bulletin

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Union Presbyterian Church

October 24, 2021

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

Liturgist: Rev. Jeff Kellam Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude “Be Still My Soul” with “It Is Well With My Soul” Colin DeLap

Arr. Melody Bober

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship (From the Song of Hannah) Rev. Jeff Kellam

My heart exults in the Lord;

my strength is exalted in my God.

There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God.

God raises up the poor from the dust;

God bestows on them a seat of honor.

Hymn # 545 W & R “How Lovely, Lord, How Lovely” Arlo D. Duba

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

How lovely, Lord, how lovely is your abiding place;

My soul is longing, fainting, to feast upon your grace.

The sparrow finds a shelter, a place to build her nest;

And so your temple calls us within its walls to rest.

In your blest courts to worship, O God, a single day

Is better than a thousand if I from you should stray.

I’d rather keep the entrance and claim you as my Lord

Than revel in the riches the ways of sin afford.

A sun and shield forever are you, O Lord Most High;

You shower us with blessings; no good will you deny.

The saints, your grace receiving, from strength to strength shall go,

And from their life shall rivers of blessing overflow.

Call to New Life

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

God, you are near to all who call upon you; we call upon you now to heal us and give us hope. We have not loved you with our whole heart and soul, mind and strength; and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We come to you weary and watchful, wondering when we will again know the joy of life abundant. How long, O Lord?

~ silent prayer ~

And we pray,

Restore us, O God. Enliven us, strengthen us, and fill us with your love. Let your promise of care and blessing flow through us to your world. We pray in your holy name. Amen.

Assurance of God’s Grace

Hear the word of God:

I am a God merciful and gracious:

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

I keep steadfast love for the thousandth generation.

I have called you by name, and you are mine.

Thanks be to God!

Sharing of the Peace

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

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

Scripture 1 Kings 17:8-16

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.” As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “This Is the Day” (Public Domain)

Scripture Mark 12:38-44; 13:1-2

As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem “A Rich Young Man Came Seeking,” by Marjorie Dobson

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

A rich young man came seeking–

God’s kingdom was his aim.

The law had been his guidebook,

His life was free from blame.

But Jesus asked for courage

To give his wealth away;

The young man turned in sorrow,

That price he would not pay.

The rich man’s gifts were lavish

And made for public show.

The widow’s gift was humble

And only God would know,

In giving to the Temple,

Although her coins were small,

Her gift had so much meaning

Because she gave her all.

One boy brought loaves and fishes,

No other food was there,

But Jesus fed the thousands

And still had bread to spare.

The miracle of plenty

Soon spread beyond that place.

That simple gift was offered,

Then multiplied by grace.

Lord, keep our care for money

From turning into greed.

Help us to use it wisely

To meet each other’s need.

For whether poor or wealthy,

We have so much to share;

And open-hearted giving

Will show your loving care.

Prayers of the People

To you we pray: Lord, hear our prayer

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  “Spirit of the Living God,” Martha Lynn Thompson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

 Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me;

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Call for Offering  

Doxology  

“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” 

(Public Domain) 

Prayer of Dedication  

Hymn # 391 W & R “Will You Let Me Be Your Servant” by Richard Gillard

(once through, then repeat 1st verse)

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Will you let me be your servant,

Let me be as Christ to you?

Pray that I might have the grace to

Let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,

Here together on the road;

We are here to help each other

Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you,

In the nighttime of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you,

Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping,

When you laugh I’ll laugh with you;

I will share your joy and sorrow

Till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God and heaven,

We shall find such harmony,

Born of all we’ve known together

Of Christ’s love and agony.

Will you let me be your servant,

Let me be as Christ to you?

Pray that I might have the grace to

Let you be my servant too.

Benediction   From Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals,

by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro

May the peace of Christ go with you: wherever he will send you.

May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm.

May he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you.

May he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.

Postlude 

[i] Joan Chittister, “The choice between happiness and reward: Blessed are the poor in spirit,” ncronline.org, 10-21-2021.

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