Cause for Celebration

Sunday, September 11, 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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Jesus tells parables about those who are lost, and then found again. And at the end of each parable, there is a big party! What’s up? What’s the big cause for celebration?

We are celebrating life at UPC this Lord’s Day by worshiping in a Pavilion at Highland Park in Endwell. Worship will be followed by a picnic! There will be no livestream, but the service will be filmed and then added to this page later in the day. We hope you can join us, in person or online! See your Tower newsletter for more information about worship and the picnic. All are welcome!

A Reason to Celebrate

Union Presbyterian Church

Psalm 23; Luke 15:1-10

September 11, 2022

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

Liturgist: Becky Conklin Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Colin DeLap

“Jesus Paid It All,” Mark Hayes

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship Becky Conklin

Creator of the world, eternal God:

You are our Shepherd.

Compassionate Christ, persistent lover:

You are our Seeker.

Spirit of God, Holy Breath:

You are our Guide.

Blessed Trinity of love:

We come to worship!

Hymn #15 W & R “O Sing to the Lord,” Jack Schrader

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

O, sing to the Lord, O, sing God a new song.

O, sing to our God, O, sing to our God.

Pues nuestro Señor ha hecho prodigios.

¡Cantad al Señor, Cantad al Señor!

For Jesus is Lord! Amen! Alleluia!

O, sing to our God, O, sing to our God.

Call to New Life

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

God our Good Shepherd, you know that we can lose our way. We are prone to wander, prone to stray. But you, loving protector, seek us out, in all the highways and byways where we land, wondering how on earth we got there. Seek us God, and find us. Find us, God, and heal us.

~A pause for silent prayer~

From your goodness, O Lord, we have already received, grace upon grace. Lift us up, loving God, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, set us on your path, whole and well, and ready to follow our son Jesus, our Teacher and Redeemer. 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 offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
    You make me lie down in green pastures,
and lead me beside still waters;
    you restore my soul.
You lead me in right paths
    for your name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil;
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff—
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Thy Holy Wings” (Public Domain)

Scripture Luke 15:1-10

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Affirmation of Faith

The Apostles’ Creed, Traditional Version

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn #172 PH “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” Dale Grotenhuis

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

My Shepherd will supply my need;
Jehovah is His Name:
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy’s sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay;
One word of Your supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Your hand, in sight of all my foes,
Does still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Your oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Your house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, or a guest,
But like a child at home.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

The Invitation 

God spreads a banquet before us: 

        Our cup of blessing overflows! 

The Lord be with you. 

        And also with you. 

Lift up your hearts.  

We lift them up to the Lord.  

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. 

        It is right to give our thanks and praise. 

The Great Thanksgiving 

…Therefore we join our voices with those of travelers the world over, who seek this table and this communion, and we sing our ancient hymn of praise: 

Holy, holy, holy, Lord, 

God of power, God of might, 

        Heaven and the earth are full of your glory, love and light. 

Blessed is the One who comes in your holy name O Lord: 

Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! 

For it is through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, that all honor and glory are yours, great God, forever and ever.  Amen.  

The Words of Jesus 

Prayers of the People

The Communion

Communion music:

“Prayer For A Friend,” Mark Hall

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Prayer of Thanksgiving After Communion 

Great Shepherd of all your sheep, you have given us rest in the green meadows of your loving embrace. We thank you for this time of refreshment. We thank you for the deep nourishment of your own life given to us and for us. We ask that this bread and cup strengthen us for the journeys ahead, that we might walk through every valley confident of your abiding presence. We pray in your holy name. Amen. 

Hymn  #715 W & R “Now Let Us From This Table Rise,” Fred Kaan

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Now let us from this table rise,
Renewed in body, mind, and soul;
With Christ we die and rise again,
His selfless love has made us whole.

With minds alert, upheld by grace,
To spread the Word in speech and deed,
We follow in the steps of Christ,
At one with all in hope and need.

To fill each human house with love,
It is the sacrament of care;
The work that Christ began to do
We humbly pledge ourselves to share.

Then give us grace, Companion God,
To choose again the pilgrim way;
And help us to accept with joy
The challenge of tomorrow's day.

Benediction  

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 Lord 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

“Be Still, My Soul,” Timothy Shaw

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