Easter 4: The Commandment to Love

Sunday, May 8, 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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On the night he is betrayed, Jesus shows and tells his disciples what love and service look like.

Join us for worship in our sanctuary, or right here if you are worshiping from home or on the road. You can also find the live-stream on our YouTube page. All are welcome!

4th Sunday in Eastertide

The Commandment to Love

Acts 11:4-9, 16-18, John 13:1, 31-35

Union Presbyterian Church

May 8, 2022

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

Liturgist: Carlton Sackett Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude       Chris Bartlette

“O Perfect Love,” Robert J. Powell

Announcements Carlton Sackett

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Our Hearts in Christian Love,” Mark Roberts

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. 

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship Carlton Sackett
All we need is love.

Love is all we need!

Love lifts us up where we belong,

Where eagles cry on a mountain high!

In the name of love,

Would you serve in the name of love?

Beloved, let us love one another,

because love is from God.

Let us worship the God who is Love.

Hymn  #403 W & R

“Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life”

(Public Domain)

Come, my way, my truth, my life:

Such a way as gives us breath;

Such a truth as ends all strife;

Such a life as conquers death.

Come, my light, my feast, my strength:

Such a light as shows a feast;

Such a feast as mends in length;

Such a strength as makes his guest.

Come, my joy, my love, my heart:

Such a joy as none can move;

Such a love as none can part;

Such a heart as joys in love.

Call to New Life Carlton Sackett

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

God, your holy messenger John told us: Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. What does that mean? How can we even understand it? Can we truly grasp a love that creates, and redeems, and sustains all humanity? Can we ever comprehend the miracle of grace, God’s goodness toward us that we have not earned? Where is love?

(a moment for silent prayer)

God, before we can begin to consider loving others, we must first understand how deeply you love us. Help us to do that now. Help us to pause in your goodness. Help us to rest in your kindness. Help us to bask in your love, until our gratitude overflows and we are ready to share what we have so freely been given. In your holy name we pray. 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

God is love,

and those who abide in love abide in God,

and God abides in them. 

Friends, this is the beginning of 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 Acts 11:4-9, 16-18

Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’

And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “God’s Love Made Visible!” Iola Brubeck, Dave Brubeck

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Scripture John 13:1, 31-35 Rev. Pat Raube

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Meditation “The Commandment to Love” Rev. Pat Raube

Hymn

“Lord, Be Glorified,” Bob Kilpatrick

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

In our lives, Lord, be glorified, be glorified,

In our lives, Lord, be glorified today.

In our songs, Lord, be glorified, be glorified,

In our songs, Lord, be glorified today.

In our prayers, Lord, be glorified, be glorified,

In our prayers, Lord, be glorified today.

In your church, Lord, be glorified, be glorified,

In your church, Lord, be glorified today.

Prayers of the People    Rev. Pat Raube

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 

“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   Rev. Pat Raube

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 Rev. Pat Raube

Hymn  #400 W & R

“Not for Tongues of Heaven’s Angels”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Not for tongues of heaven’s angels,

Not for wisdom to discern,

Not for faith that masters mountains,

For this better gift we yearn:

May love be ours, O Lord.

Love is humble, love is gentle,

Love is tender, true and kind;

Love is gracious, ever patient,

Generous of heart and mind:

May love be ours, O Lord.

Never jealous, never selfish,

Love will not rejoice in wrong;

Never boastful nor resentful,

Love believes and suffers long:

May love be ours, O Lord.

In the day this world is fading

Faith and hope will play their part;

But when Christ is seen in glory

Love shall reign in every heart:

May love be ours, O Lord.

Benediction Rev. Pat Raube

Postlude  Chris Bartlette

“All You Need Is Love,” Lennon/McCartney

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847