Sermon Series 6: The Lord Moves in Mysterious Ways

Sunday, July 25, 2021
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

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

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Have you ever noticed that there are things we think are in the Bible, but which might not actually be there? This week’s saying is hard to dispute, and may offer the key to all the others.

There are all sorts of sayings that we like to quote, in all sorts of situations. Some of these can be found in scripture—but some of them have other origin stories. Join us today as we conclude our series on things we may think are in the Bible— and seek to find the Good News, and a deeper connection with God’s Word. Worship in our sanctuary or watch our live stream. You are invited!

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Online Bulletin
Sermon Series: Is That In the Bible? 

6: The Lord Moves in Mysterious Ways

Union Presbyterian Church  

July 25, 2021  

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

Liturgist: Cathie Makowka Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube  

Prelude  Chris Bartlette, Piano 

“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,” John Carter 

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Welcome  Rev. Pat Raube   

Call to Worship Cathie Makowka

Adapted from a prayer by the Rev. Teri MacDonald, minister in the Church of Scotland.

Come, the shepherd is calling.
The sheep know the shepherd’s voice.
Come and rest
Come and be nourished
Come and be comforted
Come and be fed
Come and be led into righteousness
Come and know goodness and mercy
Our shepherd is calling, and we know his voice.

Hymn #48 W & R

“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

(Public Domain)

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;

Thy justice like mountains high soaring above

Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life thou givest, to both great and small;

In all life thou livest, the true life of all;

We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,

And wither and perish—but naught changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,

Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;

All praise we would render, O help us to see

‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.

Call to New Life Cathie Makowka   

The Good Shepherd wants to lead us to a place of well-being and peace. Let us open our hearts and lives to following in God’s way.

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

O God our Shepherd, you are eager to lead us where we should go. You offer rest… but we are too busy. You offer wholesome nourishment… but we would rather ingest what’s quick and cheap. You offer righteousness… but we are led elsewhere by the devices and desires of our limited vision. Help us, gentle Shepherd. Show us the way.

~silence~

And we pray.

O God, how marvelous: your goodness and mercy will follow us, all the days of our lives. You pursue us. You will not let us go. And so we can rest, in you. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Assurance of God’s Grace   Cathie Makowka    

Hear these comforting words from scripture:

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

Hear God’s own assurance to us:

Know that I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go.

The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

Sharing of the Peace  

…Peace be with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer each other a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Isaiah 55:6-11 Cathie Makowka

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 55, beginning at verse 6.

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
    call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
    and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
    and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube 

“Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”

(Public Domain)

Scripture  Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark, beginning at chapter 6, verse 30. 

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

… When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Response   Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:  

Thanks be to God!  

Meditation  “The Lord Moves in Mysterious Ways” Rev. Pat Raube 

Anthem    #467 W & R

“The Power of Your Love,” Geoff Bullock

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace that I've found in You
Lord I've come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away by the power of Your love

Hold me close, let Your love surround me
Bring me near, draw me to Your side
And as I wait, I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on in the power of Your love

Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love as You live in me
Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day by the power of Your love

Hold me close, let Your love surround me
Bring me near, draw me to Your side
And as I wait, I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on in the power of Your love

Prayers of the People      

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  #450 W & R  (verse 1)   

“Be Still and Know,” Jack Schrader  

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Be still and know that I am God.  

Call for Offering   

Doxology    Chris Bartlette, piano

“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”   

(Public Domain)  

Prayer of Dedication   

Hymn   #65 W & R

“God Moves in a Mysterious Way”

(Public Domain)

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

You fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds you so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err

And scan his work in vain:

God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain.

Benediction    

Go into the world in peace. Have courage!  

Hold fast to what is good. Return no one evil for evil.  

Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering.  

Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord your God,  

rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

And 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 all of us, 

This day and forevermore. 

God is with us, so go in peace. 

Thanks be to God. Amen 

Postlude  Chris Bartlette, Piano 

“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,” Larry Shackley

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   