Reading the Signs of the Times

Sunday, August 14, 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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When we encounter Jesus in this morning’s scripture passage, he is filled with exasperated warnings about division and strife, little parables about rainclouds and wind. Finally, he exclaims: “You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

Join us this morning as UPC welcomes guest preacher the Rev. Earl Arnold to our pulpit. Rev. Arnold will explore Jesus’ words and ask, how do we interpret the signs of our own times?

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!

Reading the Signs of the Times

Isaiah 5:1-7; Luke 12:49-56

Union Presbyterian Church

August 14, 2022

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

Liturgist: Cathie Makowka Preacher: Rev. Earl Arnold

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down,” Mark Hayes

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Welcome Rev. Earl Arnold

Call to Worship (from Psalm 80) Cathie Makowka

Shepherd of Israel, listen,

You who lead Joseph like a flock,

Enthroned on the cherubim, shine forth!

Rouse your valor and come to our help!

God of Hosts, come back, we pray,

Look down from heaven and see our plight!

Never again will we turn away from you,

Give us life, and we will call upon your name.

Hymn #21 W & R

“This is My Father’s World”

(Public Domain)

This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world:
O let us not forget
That though the wrong is great and strong,
God is the ruler yet.
He trusts us with his world,
To keep it clean and fair--
All earth and trees, all skies and seas,
All creatures everywhere.

This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King, let heaven ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

Call to New Life Cathie Makowka

The proof of God's amazing love is this:

While we were sinners

Christ died for us.

Because we have faith in him,

we dare to approach God with confidence.

In faith and penitence,

let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Purifying God,

we grow comfortable with the way things are

in our lives, in the church, and in the world.

We do not often welcome the new life you offer in Christ,

for you overturn our notions of possessions, power and protocol.

Wanting to have more and more,

we exploit the resources of the world you have entrusted to us

with little concern for the needs of others or the future.

Forgive us, we pray, for seeking our gain at the expense of others.

Help us bend our lives toward your own life of self-giving and sacrifice.

Fill us, our homes and churches, the whole world,

with the abundant love of Christ until all are made new.

In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Words of Assurance (from the Iona Community)

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

O God, teach us to be still, and to know that you are God.

Teach us to be still, and to rest in your presence.

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 Isaiah 5:1-7

A reading from the Book of Isaiah, beginning at chapter 5, verse 1.

Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.

And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?

And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!

Children’s Message

Music: “Refiner’s Fire,” Brian Doerksen

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Scripture Luke 12:49-56

A reading from the Gospel According to Luke, beginning at chapter 12, verse 49.

“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:

father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation “Reading the Signs of the Times” Rev. Earl Arnold

Anthem

“God Has Chosen Me,” Bernadette Farrell

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

God has chosen me, God has chosen me

To bring good news to the poor.

God has chosen me, God has chosen me

To bring new sight to those searching for light.

God has chosen me, chosen me.

And to tell the world that God’s kingdom is near,

To remove oppression and break down fear,

Yes, God’s time is near, God’s time is near,

God’s time is near, God’s time is near.

God has chosen me, God has chosen me

To set alight a new fire.

God has chosen me, God has chosen me

To bring to birth a new kingdom on earth.

God has chosen me, chosen me.

And to tell the world that God’s kingdom is near,

To remove oppression and break down fear,

Yes, God’s time is near, God’s time is near,

God’s time is near, God’s time is near.

God is calling me, God is calling me

In all whose cry is unheard.

God is calling me, God is calling me

To raise up the voice with no power or choice.

God is calling me, calling me.

And to tell the world that God’s kingdom is near,

To remove oppression and break down fear,

Yes, God’s time is near, God’s time is near,

God’s time is near, God’s time is near.

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

“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,” 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  #632 W & R

“When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love,” Joy F. Patterson, Thomas Pavlechko

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

When aimless violence takes those we love,
When random death strikes childhood's promise down,
When wrenching loss becomes our daily bread,
We know, O God, you leave us not alone.

When passing years rob sight and strength and mind
Yet fail to still a strongly beating heart,
And grief becomes the fabric of our days,
Dear Lord, you do not stand from us apart.

Our faith may flicker low, and hope grow dim,
Yet you, O God, are with us in our pain;
You grieve with us and for us day by day,
And with us, sharing sorrow, will remain.

Because your Son knew agony and loss,

Felt desolation, grief, and scorn and shame,
We know you will be with us, come what may,
Your loving presence near, always the same.

Through long, grief-darkened days help us, dear Lord,
To trust your grace for courage to endure,
To rest our souls in your supporting love,
And find our hope within your mercy sure.

Benediction  

Postlude  Chris Bartlette

“Toccata Perpetua,” Lani Smith

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

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