28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Guest Preacher Rev. Robin Lostetter

Sunday, October 15, 2023
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

Google Calendar ICS

This morning we welcome Rev. Robin Lostetter to UPC!

PLEASE NOTE:

DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH OUR SANCTUARY PC THIS MORNING, WE MAY BE UNABLE TO LIVE STREAM. IF SO, THE WORSHIP SERVICE VIDEO WILL BE UPLOADED FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE SERVICE.

Cold Water, Hot Coffee

Genesis 18:1-15; Matthew 10:40-42

Union Presbyterian Church

October 15, 2023

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

Liturgist: Karl Wokan Preacher: Rev. Robin Lostetter

Welcome Rev. Robin Lostetter

Announcements Karl Wokan

Prelude Choir

“Christ, Be Our Light,” Bernadette Farrell

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.

Longing for truth, we turn to you.

Make us your own, your holy people,

Light for the world to see.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.

Longing for hope, many despair.

Your word alone has power to save us.

Make us your living voice.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

Longing for food, many are hungry.

Longing for water, many still thirst.

Make us your bread, broken for others,

Shared until all are fed.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

Longing for shelter, many are homeless.

Longing for warmth, many are cold.

Make us your building, sheltering others,

Walls made of living stone.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

Many the gifts, many the people,

Many the hearts that yearn to belong.

Let us be servants to one another,

Making your kingdom come.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

Call to Worship (responsive) Karl Wokan

Open the window of our spirits, O Lord,

and fill us full of light.

Open wide the door of our hearts,

that we may receive and entertain thee,

with all our powers of adoration and love.

Hymn #488 PH

“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;
The first, the last, beyond all thought,
And still the same!

Call to New Life

Friends, if we place our trust in human strength alone, we find ourselves in a position of weakness. Let us confess our failure to affirm God’s strength in our lives. Let us pray:

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Eternal God, you love us steadfastly, but we have trouble loving in return; you call us, but we have deaf ears; you reveal yourself, but our eyelids are heavy; you lead us toward our neighbor, but we build walls around ourselves; you hate evil, injustice and alienation, but we get used to them. O God, we pray, help us to see ourselves both as we are and as we might be before you. Draw us by your Spirit’s tether into your forgiving and renewing grace, through the mercies of Christ. Amen.

Words of Assurance

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 Genesis 18:1-15 Rev. Robin Lostetter

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Robin Lostetter

Music: “There’s a Spirit in the Air,” John W. Wilson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Scripture Matthew 10:40-42 Karl Wokan

“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Anthem

“We Walk His Way,” Anders Nyberg

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Refrain: We walk his way.

Unarmed, he faces forces of demons and death.

He breaks the bonds of hell, dying on the cross.

The tree of wisdom blooms by his empty grave.

Sermon “Cold Water, Hot Coffee” Rev. Robin Lostetter

Prayers of the People

God, in your loving kindness

Hear our prayer.

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.

Come with the vision and the strength I need

To serve my God, and all humanity;

Fulfillment of my life in love outpoured—

My life in you, O Christ, your love in me.

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 #391 W & R

“Will You Let Me Be Your Servant,” Richard Gillard

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Will you let me be your servant,

Let me be as Christ to you?

Pray that I might have the grace to

Let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,

Here together on the road;

We are here to help each other

Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you,

In the nighttime of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you,

Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping,

When you laugh I’ll laugh with you;

I will share your joy and sorrow

Till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God and heaven,

We shall find such harmony,

Born of all we’ve known together

Of Christ’s love and agony.

Benediction

Postlude Chris Bartlette

"Brethren, We Have Met to Worship,” Joel Raney

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