God Light 7: The Hard Work of Love

Sunday, February 20, 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

Sometimes we are called to dig deep, in order to share God’s light with the world. Jesus offers some of his hardest teachings to the people he’s come to heal.

Join us this morning for another glimpse of the ways in which God light shines through the words and actions of Jesus. Worship with us in our sanctuary, or join us right here online if you are traveling or joining us from home. God’s light is for you, too. You are invited!

Online Bulletin
7th Sunday After Epiphany

God-Light 7: The Hard Work of Love

Psalm 103:1-133, 22; Luke 6:27-38

Union Presbyterian Church

February 20, 2022

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

Liturgist: Carlton Sackett Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude “You Are My All in All,” Glenda Austin Colin DeLap, piano

Used By Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship Carlton Sackett

God calls us, and we have come:

We come, that we may delight in the Lord!

God calls us, and we are here, now:

We come, one in the body of Christ!

God calls us, for this is the day that the Lord has made:

We come, that we might rejoice and be glad in it!

Hymn # 606 W & R “As Your Family, Lord, Meet Us Here”

(Public Domain)

As your family, Lord, meet us here,
As your family, Lord, meet us here,
As your family, Lord, meet us here,
O Lord, meet us here.

At your table, Lord, we are fed,
At your table, Lord, we are fed,
At your table, Lord, we are fed,
O Lord, feed us here.

Fill our spirits, Lord, with your love,
Fill our spirits, Lord, with your love,
Fill our spirits, Lord, with your love,
O Lord, with your love.

Make us faithful, Lord, to your will,
Make us faithful, Lord, to your will,
Make us faithful, Lord, to your will,
O Lord, to your will.

As your family, Lord, meet us here,
As your family, Lord, meet us here,
As your family, Lord, meet us here,
O Lord, meet us here.

Call to New Life

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Eternal God, your Word is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. So, we can see the ways we have failed to respond fully to your gracious presence in our lives. In Jesus you show us new life, fulfillment, and the freedom to serve you. But we recognize that we are bound by false pride, and we know that the wrong we do is made worse by the good we leave undone. But you are the source of everything we need. You can give us the healing we long for.

[silent prayer]

Holy God, help us to do that hard work of loving one another. Reconcile us to you and to all people. God of mercy, heal our hearts, and strengthen us anew for life as you intend it, through Jesus Christ our brother and savior. Amen.

Assurance of God’s Love

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

Put your trust in God:

See what God will do!

God is determined to bring us to wholeness and 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 Psalm 103:1-13, 22

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless God’s holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all God’s benefits—

who forgives all your sins,

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the grave,

and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy;

who satisfies your desires with good things;

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

O Lord, you provide vindication

and justice for all who are oppressed.

You made known your ways to Moses,

and your works to the children of Israel.

Lord, you are full of compassion and mercy,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

You will not always accuse us,

nor will you keep your anger forever.

You have not dealt with us according to our sins,

nor repaid us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

so great is your steadfast love toward those who fear you.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far have you removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion for his children,

so you have compassion for those who fear you, O Lord.

Bless the Lord, all you works of God,

in all places where God rules.

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “How Majestic Is Your Name,” Glenda Austin

Used By Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Scripture Luke 6:27-38

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return [despairing of no one]. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation “The Hard Work of Love” Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem “Christ, Your Words of Love Confound Us,” Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

(melody to W&R 477)

Christ, your words of love confound us, even as we give you praise,
For the lessons that you teach us seem so far from this world's ways.
How can we love those who hate us? How can we love enemies?
What of people who abuse us? How can we love even these?

Make us mindful: love is action, not a feeling that uplifts.
In each daily situation, love's the greatest of all gifts.
It's the wiser, stronger person who will break the chain of hate.
Love can usher in redemption; love can make a people great.

Faced with those who seek to hurt us, make us confident and free:
You don't call us to be helpless but to stand with dignity.
Lord, when others are demanding, may we know they matter more
Than our money or possessions. May we share, not keeping score.

If we love just those who love us, where's the giving? Where's the grace?
Even sinners try to do this; they have friends that they embrace.
May we do, Lord, unto others as we'd have them also do.
You have shown us: Love is action. May we love, and make things new.

Prayers of the People

In peace, let us pray to the Lord, saying, God, hear our prayer.

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  # 173 W & R “Magnificat”

Taize Community/ Jacques Berthier

Sing out, my soul. Sing out, my soul.

Sing out and glorify the Lord who sets us free.

Sing out, my soul. Sing out, my soul.

Sing out and glorify the Lord God!

Call for Offering  

Doxology   “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” 

Tune: Public Domain

Text: 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  

Hymn # W & R 729 “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

(Public Domain)

Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our people sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast, by thy might, led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee,
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee;
Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land.

Benediction  

Go out into the world in peace;

have courage;

hold onto what is good;

return no one evil for evil;

strengthen the fainthearted;

support the weak, help the suffering;

honor all people;

Let us love and serve the Lord,

rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Postlude  “This Is Amazing Grace,” Arr. Phillip Keveren Colin DeLap, piano

Used By Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847