How are our lives, histories, stories, and actions woven together? What have our ancestors in faith passed along to us? What seeds are we sowing that will affect future generations? This first Sunday in Advent we look at Jesus’ genealogy in the Gospel According to Matthew—imagine all the stories we find there, across forty-two generations from Abraham to Jesus!
This Advent we share the many stories that combine to create THE story, the one that comes to its culmination on Christmas Eve. We will begin to tell the story of God’s tender love for us as we light the first Advent candle and gather around the Lord’s Table. You, too, are a part of this story. You are invited!
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.
First Sunday in Advent
From Generation to Generation: There’s Room for Every Story
Matthew 1:1-17; Isaiah 2:1-5
Union Presbyterian Church
November 27, 2022
Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Liturgist: Barbara Ann Dailey Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube
Prelude Chris Bartlette
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” Gregory Hamilton
©2017, Lorenz Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Welcome Rev. Pat Raube
Call to Worship / Lighting of the Advent Candle of Hope
Barbara Ann Dailey, Emily Cirillo, Child, Carleen Rynick, and Jay Rivera
Barbara Ann: Over a hundred people, from the ages of two to eighty years old, were asked the question: “What gives you hope?” From the voices of different generations, hear their answers:
Emily: My toddler’s grin.
Child: Dogs wagging their tails.
Carleen: Talking with young people.
Jay: Kindness from strangers.
Emily: Long walks outdoors.
Child: Waffles.
Carleen: Hands clasped in prayer
Jay: Social progress.
Emily: Laughter with friends.
Child: The ringing of church bells.
Carleen: Babies trying over and over to take their first step.
Jay: The turning of the seasons.
Emily: Christian community.
Child: Books.
Carleen: Friendship with my adult children.
Jay: Advocates for justice.
Emily: Children singing hymns.
Child: The sunrise every morning.
Carleen: What gives you hope?
Jay: Today we light the candle of hope to remind ourselves that God is at work in this world.
(The liturgist lights the candle)
Barbara Ann: From generation to generation, God has brought good news of love and compassion, justice and community. Let us rest and abide in that good news. Amen.
Hymn “O Come, O Come Immanuel”
Tune: Traditional
Lyrics: The Rev. Barbara Lundblad, used with permission.
O come, O come, Immanuel
And bless each place your people dwell.
Melt ev'ry weapon crafted for war,
Bring peace upon the earth forever more.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Take heart and do not fear,
God's chosen one, Immanuel, draws near.
O come green shoot of Jesse, free
Your people from despair and apathy;
Forge justice for the poor and meek,
Grant safety for the young ones and the weak.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Take heart and do not fear,
God's chosen one, Immanuel, draws near.
O come, now, living water, pour your grace
And bring new life to every withered place;
Speak comfort to each trembling heart;
"Be strong! Fear not! For I will ne'er depart."
Rejoice! Rejoice! Take heart and do not fear,
God's chosen one, Immanuel, draws near.
O come, dear child of Mary, Come,
God's Word made flesh within our earthly home;
Love stir within the womb of night,
Revenge and hatred put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Take heart and do not fear,
God's chosen one, Immanuel, draws near.
Call to New Life
Prayer for Wholeness and Peace
God of today and God of tomorrow,
you say, “Bring your full self, there’s room for you here.”
But we say, “Our lives are too messy.”
You say, “Bring your hopes and your dreams. There’s room for you here.”
But we say, “It’s too risky to hope.”
You say, “Bring your grief and your prayers. There’s room for you here.”
But we say, “Some things are easier to forget.”
God of today and God of tomorrow,
we know in our hearts that there’s room for us here.
Forgive us for withholding our full selves from you.
Forgive us for giving only our Sunday best.
Help us remember, today and tomorrow,
There’s room for every story. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Family of faith, we who feel scattered are held together.
We who have lost our way are forgiven and found.
And we who are lonely are brought into the fold and told,
“There’s room for you here.”
From generation to generation, this is the good news of the gospel.
In Jesus Christ we are held, forgiven, found, and welcomed.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
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 Isaiah 2:1-5 Barbara Ann Dailey
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord!
Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube
Music: “Star-Child,” Shirley Erena Murray, Carlton R. Young
©1994, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Scripture Matthew 1:1-17
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:
Thanks be to God!
Meditation “There’s Room for Every Story” Rev. Pat Raube
Affirmation of Faith
We believe in a God
who promised to Abraham,
who wrestled with Jacob,
who walked with Ruth,
who spoke with Moses,
who grieved with Bathsheba,
who danced with David,
who dreamed with Joseph,
and who hoped like Mary.
We believe in a God who has been
loving, inviting, transforming, and challenging us,
from generation to generation.
And we believe that same God
is here with us now,
saying, “Come on in, there’s room for you here.”
Amen.
Hymn #190 W & R “Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming” (Public Domain)
Lo! how a Rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung,
Of Jesse's lineage coming
As saints of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it,
The virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright
She bore to us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
This flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere.
True man yet very God,
From sin and death he saves us
And lightens every load.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper/ Prayers of the People
The Invitation
The Wonderful Counselor of all peoples and nations is coming.
Our Mighty God and Prince of Peace is at the door.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Give thanks to God, for God is good.
God’s love is everlasting.
The Great Thanksgiving
…Therefore, with the prophets and all our ancestors in faith, with all people of every age, we lift our hearts to you and sing,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord:
Hosanna in the highest!
…O Generous God, as we come to this joyful feast, we take this bread and this cup, giving you praise and thanksgiving as we proclaim the mystery of our faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
The Story of the Supper
The Gracious Spirit
…All glory and honor are yours, almighty God,
Forever and ever. Amen.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)
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
Music during Communion:
“There is a Redeemer,” Joel Raney
©2004, Birdwing Music
Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847
Prayer After Communion
At your coming, Lord, waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. We thank you, Loving God, for the promise of your reign made real at the Communion table. By the mystery of this joyful feast help us to be strong and without fear. Let us be like the prophets, watching by night for signs of your coming. Let us be like the people of old, gathered at the river to share the wondrous news of forgiveness. And let us be like Mary and Joseph, opening our hearts and our lives to receive our Lord. Come, Lord Jesus, Come. Amen.
Hymn #176 W & R “Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates” (Public Domain)
Lift up your heads, O mighty gates:
Behold, the King of glory waits!
The King of kings is drawing near,
The Savior of the world is here.
Fling wide the portals of your heart:
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for heaven's employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to you: here, Lord, abide!
Let me your inner presence feel:
Your grace and love in me reveal.
So come, my Sovereign, enter in!
Let new and nobler life begin!
Your Holy Spirit guide us on,
Until the glorious crown be won.
Benediction (Responsive)
As you leave this place, may you go knowing that
from generation to generation,
we have been claimed and loved.
From generation to generation,
God has been by our side.
From generation to generation,
we are not alone.
The God of yesterday and the God of tomorrow
knows you by name, loves you, and calls you forth,
saying, “Go be the person you are called to be,
love wildly, do justice, and come back soon.”
May it be so. Amen.
Postlude Chris Bartlette
“Everlasting Power and Glory,” Lani Smith
©2020, Lorenz Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
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
Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
Communion Liturgy by Rev. Pat Raube