Seventh Sunday in Easter: Chosen for Love

Sunday, May 16, 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

The last part of the Easter season is less about resurrection appearances, and more about how resurrection impacts our lives. It may not surprise you to learn: We have been chosen for love.

Join us this day for Worship in the sanctuary at 10:30 AM, simultaneously live-streamed! Video available immediately afterward.

We require pre-registration for worship, masks covering the nose and mouth for those over the age of 2, and social distancing for all who wish to attend. We will be so glad to see you. You are invited!

Easter 7

Union Presbyterian Church

May 16, 2021

God’s Story and Our Story: Chosen For Love

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

Liturgist: Peg Corwin Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Heather Ingraham, Organ

Announcements Peg Corwin

Prelude Heather Ingraham, Organ

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” Marc Jordan

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome, welcome back, and welcome home,

even if this is your first time with us.

We Presbyterians have an interesting lineage:

people like John Calvin and the apostle Paul have told us

that we have been chosen by God for the family of Christ.

It’s not an entirely comfortable concept.

But here we are, each of us having responded to—something.

Whether you see yourself here by calling or by choice,

or something somewhere in between,

we are so glad we are walking this journey together.

Invocation (responsive) Peg Corwin

Loving God,

grant that the Word you may speak to us today

may take root in our hearts,

and bear fruit to your honor and glory.

Let your Word go out from this place

so that the world may know your love.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn W & R #320 “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus” (Hyfrydol) (Public Domain)

Call to New Life

Jesus calls us to abide in God’s love, so that we might be able to love one another. Together, let us seek the strength and wisdom of God, for this monumental task.

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Loving God, you invite us to abide in your love, maybe, as the sun abides in the sky. But there are times when the sun is hidden from us, and we wonder—where has it gone? Will it return? And we go in search of other forms of warmth, light, and reassurance. Help us, in all times and seasons, to trust in your presence—to know that our sight is limited, and to realize that you are with us even in the deepest shadow. Help us to abide in your love, so that we might share it with the world. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

(silent prayer)

Assurance of God’s Grace

Great and loving God,

your will for us in Jesus

is the peace which the world cannot give;

your abiding gift

is the Advocate he promised.

By your great love shown in Jesus,

our hearts are healed, and we are made free.

Thanks be to God.

Sharing of the Peace

In knowing we are at peace with God, we are empowered to turn to one another and share a sign of God’s peace, abiding in us, traveling with us, and flowing through us.

May God’s peace be with each and every one of us this day. Let us share a safe and loving sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Psalm 98

A reading from the Book of Psalms, Psalm 98.

Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous things,
whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
O Lord, you have made known your victory,
you have revealed your righteousness

in the sight of the nations.
You remember your steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands;
lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.

Sing to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the voice of song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn
shout with joy before the king, the Lord.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    the world and those who dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
    and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,
      who comes to judge the earth.
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with equity.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

“Jesus Loves the Little Children” Heather Ingraham, Organ

(Public Domain)

Sacrament of Holy Baptism,

Reaffirmation of Faith, and Welcome of Baptized Members

Presentation

Profession of Faith

… I invite the congregation to stand, and to join in affirming our faith in the words of the Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Thanksgiving Over the Water

The Baptism

Welcome

Music “Jesus Loves Me” (Public Domain) Heather Ingraham, Organ

Scripture John 15:9-17 Rev. Pat Raube

A reading from the Gospel according to John, beginning at chapter 15, verse 9.

[Jesus said,] “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem “I Saw Water Flowing,” Curtis Stephan

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

Prayers of the People Rev. Pat Raube

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 #311 W&R (verse 4)

“Now the Green Blade Rises”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

When our hearts are wintery, grieving or in pain,
Your touch can call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat arising green.

Call for Offering Rev. Pat Raube

Abiding in God reminds us that we are part of a great communion of saints, spread throughout time and space. Together we seek to be God’s saints right here, sharing God’s grace with one another and with our neighbors. Let us bring our tithes and offerings, to do this work together.

Doxology Heather Ingraham, Organ

“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”

(Public Domain)

Prayer of Dedication Rev. Pat Raube

Great and loving Creator, we offer you our gifts—the gifts of each heart, each hope, and each life. We pray that these gifts will find the person, the place, and the situation that most needs them—that your love might spread out from this place, tangible, identifiable as your Spirit among us, bringing people together and healing lives. We pray in your holy name. Amen.

Hymn # 335 PH “The Gift of Love” Hal H. Hopson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

Benediction Rev. Pat Raube

Postlude “Sing to the Mountains!" Bob Dufford

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,