Lent 4: Prodigal Grace

Sunday, March 27, 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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One of the most well-known and beloved parables is a story of grace—and also a story of one who thinks grace can go too far.

Where do you stand?

Join us throughout this grace-filled season of Lent! Worship with us in our sanctuary, or join us right here by live-stream. You are invited to join us as we discover a season filled to the brim with God’s extravagant love!

Full to the Brim

Lent 4: Prodigal Grace

Union Presbyterian Church

March 27, 2022

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

Liturgist: Peg Williams Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude (organ) Chris Bartlette

“Lenten Meditation,” Gerald Peterson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship Peg Williams

God’s reach is endless.

God’s mercy is unstoppable.

God’s grace is lavish.

God’s love is constant

God’s wisdom is vast.

God’s hope is stubborn.

God’s presence is here—

with us, among us, moving through us.

Breathe easy. Breathe deeply.

We are in God’s house.

Let us worship the One who welcomes us home.

Hymn

“Jesus' Wondrous Words of Grace”

Tune: “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” (#721 W & R; Public Domain)

Jesus' wondrous words of grace
Welcome all to God's embrace:
Welcome if you're rich or poor,
If you're knocking at the door,
If you come from far away,
If you need a place to stay.
If you suffer want or pain,
You are welcome in God's reign!

Do you live in fear and doubt?
Do you seek to leave some out?
Do you think that some can't get
To the table God has set?
Think there is no room for you?
Jesus says you're welcome, too.
Think you're different, sinful, odd?
You are welcome, child of God!

Jesus says to all the church:
Welcome in the ones who search,
Welcome in the ones who mourn,
Welcome in the tired and worn,
Welcome those who live in fear,
Welcome in the sinners here.
As you do to these, you see,
So you also welcome me.

Call to New Life  

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace  

The prodigal son isn’t given a name, but we know his name.

It sounds like ours.

And we know his story.

It sounds like ours.

For who among us hasn’t burned a bridge?

Who among us hasn’t forgotten that we belong to one another?

Who among us has not ached for home?

The prodigal son isn‘t given a name, but we know his name.

Heal us God. We want to come home.

Amen.

Assurance of God’s Love 

Family of faith, the word “prodigal” can be defined

as wasteful, or imprudent, hence the name “Prodigal Son.”

However, “prodigal” can also be defined as extravagant or excessive.

Friends, we worship a prodigal God,

a God who is extravagant in mercy and excessive in grace.

For no matter how many times we run, no matter how far we go or how lost we get, God is waiting for us, arms open wide.

The doors are open.

The feast is for us.

The grace is extravagant.

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 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “God of the Sparrow,” Carl Schalk

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Scripture Luke 15:11-32

[Jesus] told them this parable:

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’  Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation “Prodigal Grace” Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem

“I Will Arise,” John Bell

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

I will arise and go to my father,

Come to my senses, confess what I’ve done;

I will implore his peace and his pardon:

All will be well and all be one,

All will be well and all be one.

I will arise and watch at the window,

Wait to recover and welcome my child;

I will prepare a feast in his honor:

All will be well and all be one,

All will be well and all be one.

I will arise and bury my envy,

Stretch out my hand to the one I have scorned;

I will lay down the resentment I harbor:

All will be well and all be one,

All will be well and all be one.

I will arise and go to my father;

I will arise and welcome my child;

I will lay down the resentment I harbor:

All will be well and all be one,

All will be well and all be one.

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 #450 W & R (with Claire on bells)

“Be Still and Know,” Jack Schrader

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Be still and know that I am God,

Be still and know that I am God.

Call for Offering   

Doxology  

“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Tune: Public Domain 

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  #422 W & R (organ, with Claire on bells)

“Amazing Grace”

(Public Domain)

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

Benediction

As you leave this place,

may you be awestruck by the beauty of the world.

May you laugh, and may it be contagious.

May you overflow with love for those around you.

May you be effusive with hope, and quick to point out joy.

And in all of your living, and breathing, and being,

may you find yourself full to the brim with God’s Holy Spirit,

and may it change your life.

In the name of the Lover, the Beloved, and Love itself,

go in peace, full to the brim.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Postlude (organ) Chris Bartlette

“Go Forth for God,” Robert Powell

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Portions of liturgy taken or adapted from “A Sanctified Art.” Used with permission.