A whispered argument on the road, revealed in all its embarrassing detail. A keen observer of human nature, talking about ambition and how it roils community. It all comes down to two kinds of wisdom: do we dare to choose between them?

Join us this morning as Jesus and his brother James seem to be in dialogue on how to choose. We worship together at 10:30 AM in our sanctuary, live-streaming the service for those at home or on the road right here. You are invited!

Online Bulletin

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Union Presbyterian Church

September 19, 2021

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

Liturgist: Doug Moore Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Chris Bartlette, organ

“If with All Your Hearts,” Robert Lau

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship Doug Moore

Surely, God is our helper—the upholder of our lives.

God is with us, in all our days.

Hear our prayer, O God, hear the words of our mouths:

Fill us with your wisdom.

We give thanks to God, who is so very good.

God is faithful and true. Let us worship!

Hymn #9 W & R

“Come, Let Us Praise the Lord,” Timothy Dudley-Smith

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Come, let us praise the Lord, with joy our God acclaim,

His greatness tell abroad and bless his saving name.

Lift high your songs before his throne

To whom alone all praise belongs.

Our God of matchless worth, our King beyond compare,

The deepest bounds of earth, the hills, are in his care.

He all decrees, who by his hand

Prepared the land and formed the seas.

In worship bow the knee, our glorious God confess;

The great Creator, he, the Lord of Righteousness.

He reigns unseen: His flock he feeds

And gently leads in pastures green.

Come, hear his voice today, receive what love imparts;

His holy will obey and harden not your hearts.

His ways are best; and lead at last,

All troubles past, to perfect rest.

Call to New Life

Every day is filled with choices, and sometimes we get lost. Let us open our hearts to God, who is always ready to heal and to guide.

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

God of all goodness, you are our source, guide, and goal. You are the eternal font of wisdom. We are limited. We are finite. We can’t hope to figure it all our on our own. But we know when we have wandered in the wrong direction—when pride, envy, or anger take control. Help us God. We do not know the way.

We will pause for a moment of silent prayer.

And we pray,

Teach us, loving God, the wisdom that gives rise to gentleness. Show us the path to which you call us. Let us rest in your great heart, in your peace that passes understanding. We pray in your holy name. Amen.

Assurance of God’s Grace

Scripture reminds us of an eternal truth:

The Lord is kind and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

God reminds us of another eternal truth:

You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.

Love is stronger than death.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Amen. Alleluia!

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 Mark 9:33-37 Doug Moore

Then they came to Capernaum; and when Jesus was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

(Music: “Jesus Loves Me” Public Domain)

Scripture James 3:13-18, 4:7-8a

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for (or by!) those who make peace.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and [God] will draw near to you.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem #273 W & R

“Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love,” Tom Colvin

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,

Show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends,

Silently washes their feet,

Master who acts as a slave to them.

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,

Show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Neighbors are wealthy and poor,

Varied in color and race,

Neighbors are near us and far away.

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,

Show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

These are the ones we should serve,

These are the ones we should love,

All these are neighbors to us and you.

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,

Show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Loving puts us on our knees,

Silently washing their feet,

This is the way we should live with you.

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,

Show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

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 Claire (bells), Chris (piano)
(text on screen)

“Spirit of the Living God,” Daniel Iverson

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”

Tune: Public Domain

Text: Brian Wren

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

(text on screen)

Congregation

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures high and low.

Praise God, in Jesus fully known:

Creator, Word, and Spirit one.

Prayer of Dedication  

Hymn # 616 W & R

“We Meet You, O Christ,” Fred Kaan

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Congregation

We meet you, O Christ, in many a guise;

Your image we see in simple and wise.

You live in a palace, exist in a shack.

We see you, the gardener, a tree on your back.

In millions alive, away and abroad,

Involved in our life, you live down the road.

Imprisoned in systems, you long to be free.

The tree must be planted by human decree.

We hear you, O Man, in agony cry;

For freedom you march, in riots you die.

Your face in the papers we read and we see.

The tree must be planted by human decree.

You choose to be made at one with the earth;

The dark of the grave prepares for your birth.

Your death is your rising, creative your word:

The tree springs to life and our hope is restored!

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 Chris Bartlette, piano

“Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” Lloyd Larson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Worship With Us

Two Kinds of Wisdom