The Great Chasm

Sunday, September 25, 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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We hear a parable today, about a reversal of fortunes for a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. What does Jesus tell us about the reign of God in this story? What are the great chasms in our world and how will they be healed?

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The Great Chasm

Psalm 146; Luke 16:19-31

Union Presbyterian Church

September 25, 2022

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

Liturgist: Barbara Lustgarten Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude       Colin DeLap

“On Eagle’s Wings,” Lloyd Larson

Announcements Barbara Lustgarten

Prelude Colin DeLap

 “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” Chris Tomlin

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship

Come, you who dwell in the shelter of the Lord.

Sing praise, you who abide in the shadow of the almighty.

Say to the Lord: You are my rock! My refuge.

You are my God, in whom I trust.

Let us praise our God, our rock, our deliverer.

Glory to you, Lord God Almighty! Glory and praise forever.

Hymn  #16 W & R “The God of Abraham Praise” (Public Domain)

The God of Abraham praise,
Who reigns enthroned above;
The ancient of eternal days,
The God of love!
The Lord, the great I Am,
By earth and heaven confessed,
We bow before your holy name,
Forever blest.

Your Spirit still flows free,
High surging where it will;
In prophet's word you spoke
Of old and you speak still.
Established is your law,
And changeless it shall stand,
Deep writ upon the human heart,
On sea or land.

You have eternal life
Implanted in the soul;
Your love shall be our strength and stay,
While ages roll.
We praise you, living God!
We praise your holy name;
Who was, and is, and is to be,
Fore'er the same!

Call to New Life Barbara Lustgarten

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

God Almighty, our rock, our deliverer, you have called us to love you with all that we are—heart and soul, mind and strength. And you have called us to love our neighbors as ourselves. You have created us in love, but we neglect our connection with you. You have made us in your own image, but we fail to recognize you in one another. Great God, heal our stony hearts. Powerful God, deliver us now. Loving God, show us your way, in the name of Jesus, your son and our brother. 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 146

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes,

in mortals, in whom there is no help.

When their breath departs, they return to the earth;

on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord their God,

who made heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that is in them;

who keeps faith forever;

who executes justice for the oppressed;

who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;

the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the strangers;

he upholds the orphan and the widow,

but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,

your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord!

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Everlasting God,” Lloyd Larson

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Scripture Luke 16:19-31

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Meditation

Anthem Choir

“Thankful,” Tom Fettke

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Some days we forget to look around us.

Some days we can’t see the joy that surrounds us.

So caught up inside ourselves,

We take what we should give.

So for today, we pray for what we know can be,

And on this day we hope for what we still can’t see.

It’s up to us to be the change.

And even though we all can still do more,

There’s so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves, there’s so much sorrow.

It’s way too late to say, “I’ll cry tomorrow.”

Each of us must find the truth; it’s so long overdue.

So for today, we pray for what we know can be,

And on this day we hope for what we still can’t see.

It’s up to us to be the change.

And even though we all can still do more,

There’s so much to be thankful for.

Thanks for prayers God answers,

Thanks for what He does deny.

Thanks for storms we’ve weathered,

Thanks for all God has supplied.

Thanks for pain and pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair.

Thanks for His grace unmeasured,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

So for today, we pray for what we know can be,

And on this day we hope for what we still can’t see.

It’s up to us to be the change.

And even though we all can still do more,

There’s so much to be thankful for.

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  #454 W & R “He Came Singing Love,” Colin Gibson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

He came singing love
And he lived singing love;
He died singing love.
He arose in silence.
For the love to go on
We must make it our song:
You and I be the singers.

He came singing faith
And he lived singing faith;
He died singing faith.
He arose in silence.
For the faith to go on
We must make it our song:
You and I be the singers.

He came singing hope
And he lived singing hope;
He died singing hope.
He arose in silence.
For the hope to go on
We must make it our song:
You and I be the singers.

He came singing peace
And he lived singing peace;
He died singing peace.
He arose in silence.
For the peace to go on
We must make it our song:
You and I be the singers.

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

“I Will Rise,” Heather Sorenson

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847