Stewardship 4: Faithfulness Across the Generations

Sunday, October 29, 2023
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 gorgeous Psalm (“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations”) combined with the tender writing of Paul in the earliest New Testament writing we have reminds us of God’s unfailing love and care for us. If God is faithful across the generations, can we be, too?

Join us for worship in our beautiful (air conditioned!) sanctuary, or right here online. Worship videos are available here or on Youtube following the service. You are invited!

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reformation Sunday

Stewardship 4: Faithfulness Across the Generations

Psalm 90:1-6; 13-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Union Presbyterian Church

October 29, 2023

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

Liturgist: Rev. Jeff Kellam Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Colin DeLap

“Blessed Assurance,” Phoebe Palmer Knapp

Prayer Concerns Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome

Announcements Rev. Jeff Kellam

Prelude Colin DeLap

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Philip Keveren.

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Call to Worship (responsive) Rev. Jeff Kellam

What is the chief goal of humanity?

Our chief goal is to glorify and enjoy God forever.

What is our only comfort, in life and in death?

That we are not our own, but belong—

body and soul, in life and in death—

to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let us glorify God together.

Hymn #77 W & R

“I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art”

(Public Domain)

I greet thee, who my sure Redeemer art,
My only trust and Saviour of my heart,
Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
Reigning omnipotent in every place:
So come, O King, and our whole being sway;
Shine on us with the light of thy pure day.

Thou art the life by which alone we live
And all our substance and our strength receive;
Comfort us by thy faith and by thy power,
Nor daunt our hearts when comes the trying hour.

Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
Thou hast no harshness and no bitterness:
Make us to taste the sweet grace found in thee
And ever stay in thy sweet unity.

Our hope is in no other save in thee;
Our faith is built upon thy promise free;
Come, give us peace, make us so strong and sure,
That we may conquerors be and ills endure.

Call to New Life

What does God’s law require of us?

Christ teaches us this in summary in the gospel of Matthew:

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

This is the greatest and first commandment.

“And a second is like it:

‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Can anyone live up to all this perfectly?

No. It is impossible, without the help and grace of God.

Let us pray:

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Lord, bring new life where we are worn and tired; new love where we have turned hard-hearted; forgiveness where we have been hurt and where we have wounded others; and the joy and freedom of the Holy Spirit where we are prisoners of ourselves. We trust in your help, that where regret is real, you pronounce pardon, and grant us grace to begin again. Amen.

Words of Assurance

The Lord is kind and merciful;  

Slow to anger and filled with steadfast love.  

In the name of our brother, our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ,  

We are forgiven. We are free. Alleluia! 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 90:1-6; 13-17

Lord, you have been our refuge
from one generation to another.

Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the land and the earth were born,
from age to age you are God.

You turn us back to the dust and say,

“Turn back, O children of earth.”

For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past
and like a watch in the night;

you sweep them away like a dream,
they fade away suddenly like the grass:

in the morning it is green flourishes;
in the evening it is dried up and withered.

Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry?
Be gracious to your servants!

Satisfy us by your steadfast love in the morning;
so we shall rejoice and be glad all our days.

Make us glad as many days as you afflicted us
and as many years as we suffered adversity.

Show your servants your works,
and your splendor to their children.

May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us;
prosper the work of our hands;
prosper our handiwork!

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”

Scripture 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals but to please God, who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed, nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “Faithfulness Across the Generations”

Affirmation of Faith From the Confession of 1967

God has created humanity in a personal relation with Godself that we may respond to the love of the Creator. God has created all humanity and given us a life which proceeds from birth to death in a succession of generations and in a wide complex of social relations. God has endowed humanity with capacities to make the world serve our needs and to enjoy its good things. Life is a gift to be received with gratitude and a task to be pursued with courage. Human beings are free to seek life within the purpose of God: to develop and protect the resources of nature for the common welfare, to work for justice and peace in society, and in other ways to use our creative powers for the fulfillment of human life.

Anthem Choir

“I Am Not My Own,” Craig Courtney

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

I am not my own, I am not my own,

Not in body, not in soul,

In life, nor even death.

I am not my own, I am not my own.

I belong unto my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am not my own.

I am not my own, I am not my own,

Not in body, not in soul,

In life, nor even death.

I am not my own, I am not my own.

His own blood has ransomed me,

From evil set me free.

I am not my own.

For my salvation all things work together,

In eternal life He gives me hope.

By the power of the Holy Spirit,

I will live for Him.

I am not my own, I am not my own.

I belong unto my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

I belong to Him, I belong to Him,

In life, in death, my only comfort,

I belong to Him, I will live for Him.

Forever and ever, forever and ever,

Forevermore.

Minute for Mission: Stewardship Rich Kastl

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.

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.

Time of Self-Offering/ Prayer of Dedication of Pledges for 2024

The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.
We remember, mighty God,

and give thanks for all the gifts of your creation.
We offer our thanks, for you are good;

your steadfast love endures forever.

We give thanks, God our Maker,

and we release the anxiety

that tells us that we are not enough.
You love a cheerful giver.
We give you thanks, generous God,

and reimagine our lives enriched by the joy of giving.
Accept our gifts, Lord God, and bless them.
Accept our offerings, Mighty One, and make them fruitful.
Take these gifts, Creating God, and use them to do your work in the world.
Take the works of our hands, Giving One,

and let our footprints upon this earth be gentle and nurturing.
Restore us, O God, restore all of who we are to you.

Let us be the people you have created and called us to be.

For yours is the glory, Holy One of Israel.
We restore to you what is yours, in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn #685 W & R

“What Gift Can We Bring,” Jane Marshall

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

What gift can we bring, what present, what token?
What words can convey it–the joy of this day?
When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing,
What song can we offer in honor and praise?

Give thanks for the Past, for those who had vision,
Who planted and watered so dreams could come true.
Give thanks for the Now, for study, for worship,
For mission that bids us turn prayer into deed.

Give thanks for Tomorrow, full of surprises,
For knowing whatever Tomorrow may bring,
God gives us his word that always, forever,
We rest in his keeping and live in his love.

This gift we now bring, this present, this token,
These words can convey it–the joy of this day!
When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing,
This song we now offer in honor and praise!

Benediction

Go out into the world in peace.

Have courage.

Hold onto what is good.

Return no one evil for evil.

Strengthen the faint-hearted.

Support the weak.

Help the suffering.

Honor all persons.

Honor all creation.

Love and serve the Lord,

rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Postlude Colin DeLap

“Great is the Lord,” Michael W. Smith and Deborah D. Smith

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

The Call to Worship is taken from the Heidelberg Catechism and the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

The Call to New Life is adapted from the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

The Prayer for Wholeness and Peace is adapted from the A Wee Worship Book, c) 1999 by Wild Goose Worship Group.