Sunday Morning Worship with Guest Preacher Lea Harding

Sunday, October 23, 2022
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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Join us at Union Presbyterian Church this morning, we we welcome the Rev. Lea Harding, chaplain at United Methodist Homes’ Hilltop Campus, to our pulpit!

Join us for worship in our sanctuary, or right here, if you are at home or on the road. You can also find the live-stream and worship videos on the Union Presbyterian Church of Endicott YouTube page! Worship videos are available Sunday after 1:00 PM.

Sunday Morning Worship

Psalm 65, Luke 18:9-14

Union Presbyterian Church

October 23, 2022

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

Liturgist: Rev. Jeff Kellam Preacher: Rev. Lea Harding

Prelude Colin DeLap

 “Brethren We Have Met To Worship,” Mark Hayes.

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Welcome Rev. Lea Harding

Call to Worship (responsive) Rev. Jeff Kellam

Like a whisper that lures us to safety,

Strong as a shout that bids us to come,

Gentle as a prayer that eases our worry,

Like a clear bell that rings out our name,

Your Word comes to us, Loving God.

It calls us, comforts us and urges us to depart from evil and do good,

to seek peace and pursue it.

Talking God, open our hearts to hear you

And free our voices to praise you.

Hymn #354 W & R

“Just As I Am”

(Public Domain)

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidd'st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Call to New Life Rev. Jeff Kellam

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace Rev. Jeff Kellam

Merciful God, you call us to be salt and light and to live as your righteous, holy people. We want to, Lord, but we fall short! We admit that there is good and bad, as well as light and dark within our own hearts. We want to do what is right, but our fears and anxieties lead us to self-protection rather than vulnerability, to holding on rather than freely sharing, to self-righteousness rather than compassion. Forgive us, O God. Restore us by your mercy that having received the gift of your infinite love, we might turn to our neighbor and give your love away. For the sake of Christ, we pray. Amen.

Words of Assurance (from the Iona Community)

With the whole church:

We affirm that we are made in God’s image,

befriended by Christ, and empowered by the Spirit.

With people everywhere:

We affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity,

planted more deeply than all that is wrong.

With all creation:

We celebrate the miracle and wonder of life and the unfolding purposes of God, forever at work in ourselves and the world. Thanks be to God. Amen!

Sharing of the Peace

May the peace of God be with you. 

And also with you.

Let us share a sign of God’s peace with one another.

Scripture Psalm 65 [NRSV] Rev. Jeff Kellam

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion;

and to you shall vows be performed,

O you who answer prayer!

To you all flesh shall come.

When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,

you forgive our transgressions.

Happy are those whom you choose

and bring near to live in your courts.

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,

your holy temple.

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,

O God of our salvation;

you are the hope of all the ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas.

By your strength you established the mountains;

you are girded with might.

You silence the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves,

the tumult of the peoples.

Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds

are awed by your signs;

you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it,

you greatly enrich it;

the river of God is full of water;

you provide the people with grain,

for so you have prepared it.

You water its furrows abundantly,

settling its ridges, softening it with showers,

and blessing its growth.

You crown the year with your bounty;

your wagon tracks overflow with richness.

The pastures of the wilderness overflow,

the hills gird themselves with joy,

the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,

the valleys deck themselves with grain,

they shout and sing together for joy.

Children’s Message Rev. Lea Harding

Music: “In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful,” public domain (W&R 448)

Scripture Luke 18:9-14 [NRSV] Rev. Lea Harding

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Meditation Rev. Lea Harding

Anthem Choir

“Lord of Life,” J. Paul Williams, James Stevens

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Lord of Life, I give my all to You.

Lord, I know Your love will see me through.

Lead me, Lord, in everything I do.

Lord of Life, I give my all to You.

Lord of Life, I need Your cleansing power.

Lord, I need Your presence every hour.

Lord of Life, lead me, Lord.

Lord of Live, I give my all to You.

You are the Holy One.

You are the Ancient of Days.

You alone are great and greatly to be praised.

Lord of Life, I give my all to You.

Lord, I know Your love will see me through.

Lead me, Lord, in everything I do.

Lord of Life, I give my all to You.

Minute for Mission Stewardship Diane Sommerville

Prayers of the People    Rev. Lea Harding

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  #475 W & R     

“Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ,” Frank von Christierson 

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Eternal Spirit of the living Christ, 
We know not how to ask or what to say; 
We only know our need, as deep as life, 
And only you can teach us how to pray. 

Call for Offering Rev. Lea Harding

Doxology  

“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow,” Brian Wren  

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

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 Rev. Lea Harding

Hymn  #61 W & R

“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”

(Public Domain)

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in his justice
Which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner
And more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Savior;
There is healing in his blood.

For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more simple,
We would take him at his word,
And our lives would be illumined
By the presence of our Lord.

Benediction Rev. Lea Harding

Postlude  Colin DeLap

“Today We Are Called to Be Disciples,” Jason Krug

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.

“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal.

“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal