Jesus is invited to the home of a Pharisee for dinner. When he notices how the guests choose their seats, he is inspired to give a lesson, not on etiquette, but on discipleship.
Join us this morning as UPC welcomes guest preacher the Rev. Robin Lostetter to our pulpit! Rev. Lostetter will explore what Jesus’ advice means for our lives today.
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!
What Will You Put In Your Suitcase?
Psalm 112; Luke 14:1, 7-14
Union Presbyterian Church
August 28, 2022
Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Liturgist: Kevin Kelley Preacher: Rev. Robin Lostetter
Prelude Chris Bartlette
“Come, Christians, Join to Sing,” Robert D. Vandall
©2010, Alfred Music Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Welcome Rev. Robin Lostetter
Call to Worship (Psalm 81) Kevin Kelley
Sing aloud to God our strength!
Shout for joy to the Lord of Life!
Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
Glory to God forever!
Let us worship God!
Hymn #35 W & R
“Morning Has Broken,” Eleanor Farjeon, David Evans
©1927, Oxford University Press, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!
Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning,
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!
Call to New Life Kevin Kelley
Trusting in the power of God
not only to fashion the world,
but to mend and refashion our hearts,
let us bring our broken hearts
into the presence of the Holy One:
Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison) Kevin Kelley
Lord, all that we have is a gift from you,
yet we do not live lives of gratitude.
We ignore strangers
and turn away from those in need.
We seek honor for ourselves
and allow pride to take root in us.
Forgive our foolish ways, O God,
and restore us to you,
that we may walk in the way of love.
We pray in the name of the One of Love. 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 Kevin Kelley
A reading from the Psalter, Psalm 112.
Praise the Lord!
Those who honor the Lord,
who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!
Their descendants will be strong throughout the land.
The offspring of those who do right will be blessed;
wealth and riches will be in their houses.
Their righteousness stands forever.
They shine in the dark for others who do right.
They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous.
Those who lend generously are good people—
as are those who conduct their affairs with justice.
Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken;
the righteous will be remembered forever!
They won’t be frightened at bad news.
Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.
Their hearts are firm; they aren’t afraid.
In the end, they will witness their enemies’ defeat.
They give freely to those in need.
Their righteousness stands forever.
Their strength increases gloriously.
The wicked see all this and fume;
they grind their teeth, but disappear to nothing.
What the wicked want to see happen comes to nothing!
Children’s Message
Music: “God of Many Names,” Brian Wren, William P. Rowan
©1986, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Prayer for Illumination (unison)
Holy God, your word is a light in darkness
and a source of blessing.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us:
enliven our hearts and minds
as we hear your word for us today;
through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Scripture Luke 14:1, 7-14 Rev. Robin Lostetter
A reading from the Gospel According to Luke, beginning at chapter 14, verse 1.
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to share a meal in the home of one of the leaders of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely.
When Jesus noticed how the guests sought out the best seats at the table, he told them a parable. “When someone invites you to a wedding celebration, don’t take your seat in the place of honor. Someone more highly regarded than you could have been invited by your host. The host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give your seat to this other person.’ Embarrassed, you will take your seat in the least important place. Instead, when you receive an invitation, go and sit in the least important place. When your host approaches you, he will say, ‘Friend, move up here to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”
Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.”
Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:
Thanks be to God!
Meditation “What Will You Put In Your Suitcase?” Rev. Robin Lostetter
Anthem
“At the Table, All Are Equal,” David Bjorlin, Benjamin Brody
©2020, GIA Publications, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
At the table, all are equal,
All approach the feast as guest.
None sit in the seat of honor:
At the table, none are best.
At the table, none go hungry,
None must steal or beg for bread;
All receive from God’s abundance:
At the table, all are fed.
At the table, none go hungry,
At the table, all are fed.
At the table, all are cherished,
All are sought at any cost,
None abandoned or forsaken,
At the table, none are lost.
At the table, none are finished,
None sit selfishly content;
All are called to love in service:
From the table, all are sent.
At the table, all are cherished,
At the table, all are sent.
At the table, all are equal,
At the table, all are fed.
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
©1989, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Be still and know that I am God,
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
©1989, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
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 (unison)
God of all creation,
your claim on us is total;
your desire for us, complete.
We cannot follow Christ from a comfortable distance.
Yet we ask that you would receive us this day
and use what we bring.
Keep sending your Spirit into our hearts,
until we yield all that we love
and all that we fear
to your holy purpose.
For we long to cede our lives to you;
we long to know the fullness of your joy.
We dare to pray in the name of Jesus,
who gave his life out love for the world. Amen.
Hymn #386 PH
“O For a World,” Miriam Therese Winter
©1990, Medical Mission Sisters, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
O for a world where everyone
Respects each other’s ways,
Where love is lived and all is done
With justice and with praise.
O for a world where goods are shared
And misery relieved,
Where truth is spoken, children spared,
Equality achieved.
We welcome one world family
And struggle with each choice
That opens us to unity
And gives our vision voice.
The poor are rich; the weak are strong;
The foolish ones are wise.
Tell all who mourn: outcasts belong,
Who perishes will rise.
O for a world preparing for
God’s glorious reign of peace,
Where time and tears will be no more,
And all but love will cease.
Charge and Benediction
Postlude Chris Bartlette
“All Creatures of Our God and King,” Lee Dengler
©2012, Hal Leonard Corporation, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
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