After Levi's Dinner Party

Sunday, February 7, 2021
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

Google Calendar ICS

Jesus is still calling disciples (wait, does he ever stop? Hmmmm….) And today, he lets slip what may well be a requirement for the job.

Join us here at 10:30 AM on Sunday morning for online worship with this community. You are invited!

Jesus is still calling disciples (wait, does he ever stop? Hmmmm….) And today, he lets slip what may well be a requirement for the job.

Join us here at 10:30 AM on Sunday morning for online worship with this community. You are invited!

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Sunday Spirituals Throughout February

Throughout the month of February we will be singing African American Spirituals as our hymns during Sunday worship, in observance of Black History Month. The history of Spirituals is rich and complex. Three types of songs were sung by enslaved people. Field Hollers were a means of communication between people when talk was forbidden; the Hollers were designed to be unintelligible to the slavers. Work Songs accompanied all kinds of tasks performed by the enslaved persons. They addressed various subjects, depending on the work being done. Spirituals were the religious counterpart to Work Songs. Spirituals were often improvised, based on verses of scripture, portions of sermons or prayers, or hymns the enslaved people heard during worship. Many Spirituals contain coded references to the enslaved people's efforts to gain freedom, including references to the Underground Railroad.

This morning's opening hymn is My Lord, What a Morning. This Spiritual springs from the seed of an existing hymn ("Behold the Awful Trumpet Sounds") about the second coming of Christ. Improvisation on three lines from the original hymn, plus the dream-like, repeated exclamation, "My Lord, what a morning!" transforms it into a Spiritual proclaiming trust in "my God's right hand" as the trumpet "wakes the nations underground." The enslaved sing of their longing for the power of God to come to their aid, via the Underground Railroad.

There Is A Balm In Gilead is based on a passage from Jeremiah, asking a plaintive question: "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wounds of my [God's] people?"). The composers/ improvisers answered the question with trust that such healing is available through Christ: Jesus is our balm in Gilead. Some lyrics from this song also appear in versions of another Spiritual, "Walk That Lonesome Valley." These are known as "wandering verses." This hymn was (and is) often sung as a call and response: a leader/ soloist sings the verses, and the group/ congregation sings the refrain.

We hope the deep faith and history found in these Spirituals will enrich our worship and lift our hearts in prayer and praise.

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Prelude

“Just As I Am,” Larry Shackley

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

Hymn #537 R

“My Lord, What a Morning,” Donald P. Hustad

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

My Lord! what a morning; my Lord! what a morning;

O, my Lord! what a morning, when the stars begin to fall.

You’ll hear the trumpet sound to wake the nations underground,

Looking to my God’s right hand when the stars begin to fall.

My Lord! what a morning; my Lord! what a morning;

O, my Lord! what a morning, when the stars begin to fall.

You’ll hear the sinner cry to wake the nations underground,

Looking to my God’s right hand when the stars begin to fall.

My Lord! what a morning; my Lord! what a morning;

O, my Lord! what a morning, when the stars begin to fall.

You’ll hear the Christian shout to wake the nations underground,

Looking to my God’s right hand when the stars begin to fall.

My Lord! what a morning; my Lord! what a morning;

O, my Lord! what a morning, when the stars begin to fall.

Children’s Message

“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”

(Anonymous/Indian Folk Tune)

Anthem

“As We Gather At Your Table,” Carl P. Daw

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word,

Help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts and minds be stirred.

Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own;

Teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love’s victory known.

Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life;

Send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace where there is strife.

Give us, Christ, your great compassion to forgive as you forgave;

May we still behold your image in the world you died to save.

Gracious Spirit, help us summon other guests to share that feast

Where triumphant Love will welcome those who had been last and least.

There no more will envy blind us nor will pride our peace destroy,

As we join with saints and angels to repeat the sounding joy.

Communion Meditation

“Communion Song,” Garrett Parker

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

Hymn #631 R

“There Is a Balm in Gilead”

(Public Domain)

Refrain: Pat/Heather/Chris/Colin in parts every time

Verse 1: Chris solo

Verse 2: Heather solo

Verse 3: Colin solo

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole,

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole,

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul,

You can tell the love of Jesus, and say, “He died for all.”

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole,

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend;

And if you lack for knowledge he’ll ne’er refuse to lend.

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole,

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

Postlude

“Standing In the Need of Prayer”

African-American Spiritual (Public Domain)

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Pastor: Rev. Patricia Raube

Parish Associate: Rev. Jeff Kellam

Music Director: Chris Bartlette

Asst. Music Director: Colin DeLap

Pianist/Organist: Heather Ingraham

Handbell Director: Claire Bombard

Media Manager: Ryan DeLap

Liturgist: Kevin Kelley

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