Wednesday Evening Prayer: Bedtime Stories 2 and 3, Jacob Dreams, and Then He Wrestles

Wednesday, March 23, 2022
7:00 PM 8:00 PM 19:00 20:00

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

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Jacob, on the run and alone, finds a stone for a pillow and an unexpected holy place. Then, on another night in the wilderness, his dreams are interrupted by a stranger who challenges him to a wrestling match.

Join us throughout Lent for our Wednesday Evening Prayer series, Bedtime Stories. Worship with us in our sanctuary, or right here via live-stream. You are invited to join us in a season brimming with God’s extravagant love and grace!

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Wednesday Evening Prayer

Union Presbyterian Church, Endicott, NY

Bedtime Stories: Jacob Dreams / Jacob Wrestles

March 23, 2022

Liturgist: Jane Park Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Wiegenlied,” Johannes Brahms, arr. Leopold Godowsky

(Public Domain)

Call to Worship Jane Park

Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening,

And the day is almost over.

Tell us of your servant,

Tell us of a dreamer, who got into all kinds of trouble.

Lift our spirits to the heavens,

Lift our hearts with your love.

Hymn #425 W & R

“Christ Beside Me”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Christ beside me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me—King of my heart;

Christ within me, Christ below me,

Christ above me—never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,

Christ all around me—shield in the strife;

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,

Christ in my rising—light of my life.

Christ be in all hearts thinking about me,

Christ be on all tongues telling of me;

Christ be the vision in eyes that see me,

In ears that hear me Christ ever be.

Christ beside me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me—King of my heart;

Christ within me, Christ below me,

Christ above me—never to part.

Scripture Genesis 28:10-17, 32:22-32 Jane Park

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.  And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

… Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Music Meditation #654 W & R (Pat: guitar and cantor)

“Holy Ground,” Geron Davis

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

We are standing on holy ground,

And I know that there angels all around.

Let us praise Jesus now;

We are standing in his presence on holy ground.

Prayers Rev. Pat Raube

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. 

Hymn #521 W & R (verses 1, 3, and 4)

“Abide With Me”

(Public Domain)

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I need your presence every passing hour;

What but your grace can foil the tempter’s power?

Who, like yourself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with you at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, your victory?

I triumph still, if you abide with me.

Blessing   Rev. Pat Raube

Bless the Lord. 

God’s name be praised! 

May God bless us in our sleep with rest, 

in our dreams with vision, 

in our waking with a calm mind, 

and in our souls with the friendship of the Holy Spirit, 

this night and every night.  

Amen! 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Bring Many Names,” Carlton R. Young

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.