Mary Magdalene: A Celebration

Sunday, July 24, 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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She is arguably the New Testament woman about whom we know the most, and yet her story has been twisted beyond all recognition. Today we meet her in the garden with the risen Jesus: Mary Magdalene, apostle to the apostles.

Today we continue our engagement with the translations of Dr. Wil Gafney, as found in “A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: Year W.” (More about this can be found on the Home Page of this website.)

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. Worship videos are available Sunday after 1 PM. Come along for this adventure—all are welcome!

Apostle to the Apostles

Genesis 16:10-13; John 20:1-2, 11-18

Union Presbyterian Church

July 24, 2022

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

Liturgist: Diane Sommerville Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Colin DeLap
“Claire de Lune/Blessed Assurance,” Kendall Lord

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship Diane Sommerville

The Spirit calls, and we respond: we are here!

We have brought our hearts, our minds, our souls and our strength.

The Spirit speaks, and we open our hearts to listen:

We come for the Good News of life, hope, and love.

The Spirit descends, and we are commissioned:

We come to be sent out again, with Good News for all.

Hymn  #649 W & R “Gather Us In,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Here in this place, the new light is streaming;

Shadows of doubt are vanished away.

See in this space our fears and our dreamings,

Brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken;

Gather us in, our spirits inflame.

Call to us now, and we shall awaken;

We shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young, our lives are a mystery;

We are the old, who yearn for your face.

We have been sung throughout all of history,

Called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty;

Gather us in, the proud and the strong;

Give us a heart so meek and so lowly;

Give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we receive new life in the waters;

Here we receive the bread of new birth;

Here you shall call your sons and your daughters,

Call us anew to be salt for the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion;

Give us to eat the bread that is you;

Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion

Lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Not just in buildings, small and confining,

Not in some heaven, light years away,

Here in this place the new light is shining;

Now is God present, and now is the day.

Gather us in and hold us forever;

Gather us in and make us your own;

Gather us in, all peoples together,

Fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

Call to New Life

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

God of all goodness, we come to you with hearts and eyes open wide, longing for your healing touch, and that is different for each of us. Some of us come wracked with trauma. Some of us come cloaked in fear. Some of us come steeped in anger. Some of us come weary to the bone. Some of us come sick at heart. Some of us come burdened with grief. Some of us come trembling with hope. Only you know what in us truly needs transformation. Heal us, Great Physician. Make us whole and well, and set us on the path to life, in the name of Jesus our brother and Lord. Amen.

Words of Assurance

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

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 Genesis 16:10-13 Diane Sommerville

The messenger of the Wellspring of Life said to Hagar, “Greatly will I multiply your seed, so they cannot be counted for multitude. Then the messenger of the Fount of Life said to her,

“Look! You are pregnant, and shall give birth to a son,

and you shall call him Ishmael (meaning God hears),

for the Faithful One has heard of your abuse.

He shall be a wild ass of a man,

with his hand against everyone,

and everyone’s hand against him;

and he shall live in the sight of all his kin.”

So Hagar named the Living God who spoke to her, “You are El-ro’i”; for she said, “Have I ever seen God, and remained alive after seeing God?”

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Every Time I Feel the Spirit” (Public Domain)

Scripture John 20:1-2, 11-18 Rev. Pat Raube

Now it was the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene came, early on while it was still dark, to the tomb and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Messiah out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Now Mary stood outside, facing the tomb, weeping. As she wept, she bent down to see in the tomb. Then she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?” She said to them, “Because they have taken my Savior, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why do you weep? For whom do you look?” Thinking it was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. Rather, go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Abba and your Abba, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Savior”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Meditation ”Apostle to the Apostles” Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem “Lift Your Voice Rejoicing, Mary,” Rusty Edwards

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. 

Lift your voice rejoicing, Mary—

Christ has risen from the tomb;

On the cross a suffering victim,

Now as victor he is come.

Whom your tears in death were mourning,

Welcome with your smiles returning.

Let your alleluias rise!

Raise your weary eyelids, Mary—

See him living evermore;

See his countenance so gracious,

See the wounds for you he bore.

All the glory of the morning

Pales before those wounds redeeming.

Let your alleluias rise!

Life is yours forever, Mary,

For your Light is come once more

And the strength of death is broken;

Now your songs of joy outpour.

Ended now the night of sorrow,

Love has brought the blessed morrow.

Let your alleluias rise!

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,” 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  “Mary Magdalene Was Suffering”

Tune: EBENEZER (Public Domain)

Email: carolynshymns@gmail.com New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com/

Mary Magdalene was suffering

In her body, mind and soul—

Until Jesus met her, offering

Love that made the wounded whole.

God, may we like Mary meet you

And accept your healing grace.

May we be—like Mary—grateful

As we serve you in this place.

“Tower of Strength,” the people called her—

Christ’s disciple, come what may.

She with other women traveled,

Funding Christ’s work on the Way.

We are also on a journey

Sharing in Christ’s ministry.

Make us strong in Christ to serve you

With great generosity.

Mary was a weeping witness

As she stood there at the cross.

At the tomb, she grieved for Jesus;

Love had paid a heavy cost.

Three days on, the risen Savior

Gave her good news to proclaim.

She was first to preach the gospel.

May we share it, just the same!

Mary’s one that we’ve lost sight of

In our church’s history.

She’s been labeled and made light of;

She’s been called a mystery.

May we see her loving witness

In these stories we’ve been told;

And may her example help us

To be faithful, strong and bold.

Benediction Rev. Pat Raube

Go into the world in peace.

Have courage!

Hold fast to what is good.

Return no one evil for evil.

Strengthen the faint-hearted,

support the weak,

help the suffering.

Honor all people.

Love and serve the Holy One, your God,

rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit,

be with each and all of us,

This day and forevermore.

The Spirit is among us, so go in peace.

Thanks be to God. Amen

Postlude  Colin DeLap

“Whom Shall I Fear,” Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Scott Cash

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

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

Scripture translations by the Rev. Dr. Wilda A. Gafney can be found in “A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: Year W.”