Fifth Sunday in Easter: Love Abides

Sunday, May 2, 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

Two scripture passages weave together this day, to deepen our understanding of this resurrection season. “I am the vine; you are the branches,” Jesus says. And in a letter to a community, the writer of 1 John declares: God is Love. The Lord’s Supper brings everything together.

Join us this day as we worship in our sanctuary at 10:30 AM, or here online at 1:00 PM. (Due to anticipated rain, we are moving worship indoors.) You are invited!

We encourage 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.

Easter 5

Union Presbyterian Church

May 2, 2021 Worship Bulletin

God’s Story and Our Story: Love Abides

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

Liturgist: Doug Moore Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Heather Ingraham, Piano

Announcements Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Heather Ingraham, Piano

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube
Welcome to outdoor worship with the faith community
of Union Presbyterian Church, in Endicott, NY.

Welcome to those of you gathered here,

and those of you joining us from home.

We will be gathering around Jesus’ welcome table,

and we invite those at home to prepare by lighting a candle, if you wish,

and certainly by bringing some bread and fruit of the vine.

Jesus reminds us this morning: I am the vine, you are the branches.

We are connected in a way that does not change with distance.

We are so grateful for each one who walks this journey with us.

Invocation Liturgist Claire Bombard

Loving God, as you gather us for worship,

as you gather us around this table,

we ask you to gather us into one heart and mind.

Help us to love what you love, and desire what you promise,

so that, even amidst the changes and complications of this world,

our hearts are fixed where true joy is found.

We pray in your holy name. Amen.

Hymn #649 W&R

“Gather Us In,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Here in this place, the new light is streaming,

Shadows of doubt are vanished away.

See in this space our fears and our dreamings,

Brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken;

Gather us in; our spirits inflame.

Call to us now, and we shall awaken;

We shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young, our lives are a mystery;

We are the old, who yearn for your face.

We have been sung throughout all of history,

Called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty;

Gather us in, the proud and the strong;

Give us a heart so meek and so lowly;

Give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we receive new life in the waters;

Here we receive the bread of new birth;

Here you shall call your sons and your daughters,

Call us anew to be salt for the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion;

Give us to eat the bread that is you;

Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion

Lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Not just in buildings, small and confining

Not in some heaven, light years away,

Here in this place the new light is shining;

Now is God present, and now is the day.

Gather us in and hold us forever;

Gather us in and make us your own;

Gather us in, all peoples together,

Fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

Call to New Life

Let us open our hearts to the newness of life promised in this resurrection season.

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Holy God, we know that all love comes from you;

we love, because you first loved us.

But we find that we have not loved you

with our entire heart and soul, mind and strength.

We have not loved one another as you have loved us.

We have not done unto others, as we hope in our hearts they would do unto us.

We open our hearts and lives to you, for only in you is there full and perfect healing.

By the power of your Spirit, transform us, Holy One.

Break our hearts of stone, and give us hearts for love alone.

Let us know the joy of your presence and peace, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

* silent prayer *

Assurance of God’s Grace

Loving God, you came in Jesus Christ that we might know life through him.

We have known, and we believe the love you have for us.

As your love abides in us, so we abide in you.

By that great power, we are healed; we are made free.

Thanks be to God.

Sharing of the Peace

Hear the teaching of Christ:

A new commandment I give to you,

that you love one another as I have loved you.

Let us share the peace of God’s love with one another—

together, even at a distance.

May the peace of God be with us all.

Scripture

A reading from the Gospel According to John, beginning at chapter 15, verse 1.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed [pruned!] by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and be[come] my disciples.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Dear God,

You are the vine, and we are the branches.

Thank you for making trees and flowers.

Thank you for reminders of your love.

Thank you for reminding us to connected to you,

like the branches are connected to the vine.

Help us to share your love with everyone.

We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture 1 John 4:7-21

A reading from the first letter of John, beginning at chapter 4, verse 7.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem

“I Am the Vine,” Bob Hurd

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Remain in me, you shall be fruitful.

Love for the world, hope for the hopeless.

If you love, then you must root yourself in me;

For the branch will fail and die without the tree.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Remain in me, you shall be fruitful.

Love for the world, hope for the hopeless.

If you give, then you must give yourself to me;

For the well will soon run dry without the sea.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Remain in me, you shall be fruitful.

Love for the world, hope for the hopeless.

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper/ Prayers of the People

The Invitation

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

…Therefore we praise you, joining our voices

with those of the universal church and the angel-choir:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

The Words of Institution

…We remember the mystery of our faith:

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Prayers of the People

Invocation of the Spirit

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.

The Communion

Jesus said, I am the bread of life.

Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches.

Jesus said, Come to me and never be hungry;

Believe in me and never thirst.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Communion Music

“Dove of Peace," Harry Strack

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Prayer After Communion

Gracious God, you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth.

We have remembered your mighty acts in holy history.

We have seen your power, sending light to conquer shadow,

water to give us life, and the bread of heaven to nourish us in love.

Send us out now with the good news of salvation, a message of joy,

and bread for all the world, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn #695 W & R

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

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 will 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 bind us nor will pride our peace destroy,

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

Benediction

Let us go out into a world deeply hungry, for bread and for meaning.

Let us go, knowing we can make a difference in God’s beautiful and broken world.

And as we go,

may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit

be with each and with all of us, this day and forever more.

Christ is risen. Go in peace.

Thanks be to God.

Postlude