Reformation Sunday: That Guy's House?

Sunday, October 30, 2022
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

Today is Reformation/ Confirmation/ Dedication Sunday! This morning Jesus encounters a small man who seems to wonder at his worthiness to be in Jesus’ presence. (The crowd wonders, too.) But Jesus has good news for Zacchaeus, just as he does for us. He has good news for our Confirmands, too, who stand before the congregation to profess their faith. And, he has good news for us, as we dedicate the pledges which will fund our ministry in 2023.

Join us this Reformation and Confirmation Sunday 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.

Stewardship 4

Confirmation-Reformation-Dedication Sunday

That Guy’s House?

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

PRELUDE “Blessed Jesus, at Y our Word,” Lyndell Leatherman Chris Bartlette

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

WELCOME Rev. Pat Raube

*CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) Sue Troy

Be still!
We come to quiet ourselves in this haven of holiness.
Be still and know . . .
we come to discern the Word that can set us free.
Be still and know that God is . . .
our Hope, our Help, our Refuge, and our Redeemer.

*HYMN# 76 “We Are Singing, for the Lord is Our Light”Hal H. Hopson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

We are singing, for the Lord is our light.

The Lord is the strength of our lives; of whom should we be afraid?

Though foes may be near to destroy, the Lord will be our light.

We are marching, for the Lord is our light.

One thing have we asked of the Lord, yes, this is the thing we seek:

To dwell in the house of the Lord; to live with God forever.

We are dancing, for the Lord is our light.

When burdens are heavy to bear, our shelter is God alone.

Our feet are lifted high; yes, high upon a rock.

We are praying, for the Lord is our light.

We walk in the strength of the Lord, God’s love is ever sure.

We shout that the world may hear, we sing a joyful song.

We are singing, for the Lord is our light.

*CALL TO NEW LIFE Sue Troy

*PRAYER FOR WHOLENESS AND PEACE (unison)

Heart of the Covenant: we have known your hopes for us, and disappointed every one of them; we have heard your words of faithfulness, and forgotten every one of them; we have seen your dreams for us, and turned every one of them into ashes.

Forgive us, Hope's Heart. Silence every blustering word, so we may hear your mercy; still every feeble attempt to justify ourselves, so we may be made right with you; melt every frozen heart, so we might be drenched in your river of joy. May Jesus Christ continue to live in us, so we might be free to live forever with you. Amen.

*WORDS OF ASSURANCE (responsive) Sue Troy

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 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God: Sue Troy and Congregation

A Litany for Reformation Sunday

This litany interweaves Martin Luther’s great Reformation hymn with the words from Scripture that inspired it, the words of Psalm 46.

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

All Sing:
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.

All Sing:
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus it is he,
Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
God speaks and the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the Lord!
God makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
God breaks the bow, shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire.

All Sing:
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure,
one little word shall fell him.

Be still, and know that the Lord is God!:
God is exalted among the nations;
God is exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.

All Sing:
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth;
let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still,
his kingdom is forever.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

SCRIPTURE READING Luke 19:1-10 (NT pg. 82) Rev. Pat Raube

RESPONSE: Holy Wisdom, Holy Word

Thanks be to God!

Meditation That Guy’s House? Rev. Pat Raube

ANTHEM “Sing Hey for the Carpenter,” John Bell, Ralph Johnson Choir

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Come with me, come wander, come welcome the world

Where strangers might smile or where stones may be hurled;

Come leave what you cling to, lay down what you clutch

And find, with hands empty, that hearts can hold much.

Sing hey for the carpenter leaving his tools!

Sing hey for the Pharisees leaving their rules!

Sing hey for the fishermen leaving their nets!

Sing hey for the people who leave their regrets!

Come walk in my company, come sleep by my side,

Come savor a lifestyle with nothing to hide;

Come sit at my table and eat with my friends,

Discovering that love which the world never ends.

Sing hey for the carpenter leaving his tools!

Sing hey for the Pharisees leaving their rules!

Sing hey for the fishermen leaving their nets!

Sing hey for the people who leave their regrets!

Come share in my laughter, come close to my fears,

Come find yourself washed with the kiss of my tears;

Come stand close at hand while I suffer and die

And find in three days how I never will lie.

Sing hey for the carpenter leaving his tools!

Sing hey for the Pharisees leaving their rules!

Sing hey for the fishermen leaving their nets!

Sing hey for the people who leave their regrets!

Come leave your possessions, come share out your treasure.

Come give and receive without method or measure;

Come loose every bond that’s resisting the Spirit,

Enabling the earth to be yours to inherit.

Sing hey for the carpenter leaving his tools!

Sing hey for the Pharisees leaving their rules!

Sing hey for the fishermen leaving their nets!

Sing hey for the people who leave their regrets!

Confirmation

Confirmands: Benjamin Mann, Arianna Neal, and Jayvien Rivera

Mentors: Cindy Natoli, Sara Wokan, and Jeff Kellam

Presentation

Profession of Faith

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Laying On of Hands

Welcome

… May the Spirit continue to strengthen and sustain you

in the worship and mission of the church. Amen. Alleluia!

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

Minute for Mission Stewardship Campaign Laura Keibel

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   #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

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

God, who calls us to affirm our faith fresh every morning, we give you thanks for the many blessings of this day. We give you thanks for Ben and his mentor Cindy; for Arianna and her mentor Sara, and for Jay and his mentor Jeff. We thank you for the diligence with which they studied and encouraged one another, and for the courage they bring to this important moment. Accept all the gifts that are offered this day—gifts of time and talent; gifts of kindness and building up; and gifts of lives of commitment. Bless each gift and each giver, let them strengthen and uplift our mission and ministry, and keep us always in your love and care. We pray in your holy name. Amen.

*Hymn  # 685 W & R “What Gift Can We Bring” Jane Manton Marshall

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

What gift can we bring, what present, what token?
What words can convey I—the joy of this day?
When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing,
What song can we offer in honor and praise?

Give thanks for the Past, for those who had vision,
Who planted and watered so dreams could come true.
Give thanks for the Now, for study, for worship,
For mission that bids us turn prayer into deed.

Give thanks for Tomorrow, full of surprises,
For knowing whatever Tomorrow may bring,
God gives us his word that always, forever,
We rest in his keeping and live in his love.

This gift we now bring, this present, this token,
These words can convey it—the joy of this day!
When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing,
This song we now offer in honor and praise!

Benediction (responsive)

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.

The Spirit is among us, so go in peace.

Thanks be to God. Amen

Postlude Recessional on “Ein feste Burg,” Michael Ryan Chris Bartlette

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

Portions of the Liturgy from the Rev. Thom Shuman