When the Bad Guy's the Hero

Sunday, September 18, 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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The phrase “good Samaritan” has become associated with every generous helper, but the story is even more powerfully about how we view those we consider our enemies. Who is our neighbor? Could it possibly be our most reviled enemy? This morning we listen to Jesus answer a question with one of the most beloved parables of all time.

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. All are welcome!

When the Bad Guy’s the Hero

Psalm 25:1-10; Luke 10:25-37

Union Presbyterian Church

September 18, 2022

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

Liturgist: Doug Moore Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“How Can I Keep From Singing?” Edward Broughton

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. 

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship Doug Moore

Come, let us sing to the Lord!

Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving,

and raise a loud shout to the Lord with psalms!

Let us love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul, mind and strength.

Let us love our neighbor as ourselves.

Let us enter into God’s reign of justice, love and peace.

Hymn  #64 W & R

“O God Beyond All Praising,” Michael Perry

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. 

O God beyond all praising,
We worship you today
And sing the love amazing
That songs cannot repay;
For we can only wonder
At every gift you send,
At blessings without number
And mercies without end;
We lift our hearts before you
And wait upon your Word,
We honor and adore you,
Our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Savior,
Accept the love we bring,
That we who know your favor
May serve you as our King;
And whether our tomorrows
Be filled with good or ill,
We'll triumph through our sorrows
And rise to bless you still:
To marvel at your beauty
And glory in your ways,
And make a joyful duty
Our sacrifice of praise.

Call to New Life

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

God our Creator, we have been called to embody your reign of justice, love, and peace. We have been called to see one another as bearing your image, and to see the face of Christ in everyone, kin and stranger alike. What a high and hard calling this is. We are afraid to answer it, afraid to get involved, afraid to take time away from the routine of the day. Healing God, light a spark in us, a spark that lights the way. Let your Spirit be our guide, lest we stumble. Heal us and make us whole, that we might share your healing with all we meet. We pray in the name of our brother, your son, Jesus. 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 Psalm 25:1-10

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

My God, I put my trust in you;
let me not be put to shame;
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Let none who look to you be put to shame;
    rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous.

Show me your ways, O Lord,
    and teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    in you have I trusted all day long.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,
    for they are from everlasting.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;
    remember me according to your steadfast love
    and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

You are gracious and upright, O Lord;
    therefore you teach sinners in your way.
You lead the lowly in justice
    and teach the lowly your way.
All your paths, O Lord, are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    to those who keep your covenant and your testimonies.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “To You, O God, I Lift Up My Soul”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Scripture Luke 10:25-37

An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Meditation

Minute for Mission Nicole Barron, Executive Director of Rise

Anthem Choir

“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” Sebastian Temple, Mark Hayes

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Make me a channel of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me bring Your love,

Where there is injury, Your pardon, Lord,

And where there’s doubt, true faith in You.

Make me a channel of Your peace.

Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope,

Where there is darkness, only light,

And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek

So much to be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love, with all my soul.

Make me a channel of Your peace.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

In giving of ourselves that we receive,

And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek

So much to be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love, with all my soul.

Make me a channel of Your peace.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

In giving of ourselves that we receive,

And in dying that we’re born to eternal life,

And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

Amen.

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  #475 W & R  “Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ”

Frank von Christierson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Eternal Spirit of the living Christ,
We know not how to ask or what to say;
We only know our need, as deep as life,
And only you can teach us how to pray.

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  #335 PH “Though I May Speak,” Hal Hopson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.

Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship and are freed.

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  Chris Bartlette

“Fanfare of Praise,” Jason W. Krug

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. 