Lenten Evening Prayer: Love Your Enemies

Wednesday, March 1, 2023
6:15 PM 7:15 PM 18:15 19:15

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

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Join us each Wednesday in Lent as we gather for a simple supper at 5:30 pm (in our Fellowship Hall) followed by Evening Prayer in our sanctuary. Throughout this season we will be exploring Jesus’ sermon on the Mount, filled with beautiful words for faithful living. This week’s theme: Love your enemies.

Wednesday Evening Prayer

Union Presbyterian Church, Endicott, NY

The Sermon on the Mount: Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5:33-48

March 1, 2023

Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Colin DeLap

“I Need Thee Every Hour,” Judy East Wells

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Call to Worship Rev. Pat Raube

Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening…

And the day is almost over.

Behold, now is the acceptable time.

Now is the day of salvation.

Hymn #655 W & R “Come Away from Rush and Hurry”

Marva J. Dawn, Jack Schrader

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Scripture Matthew 5:33-48

“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also, and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Response We live not by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation “Love Your Enemies”

Music Meditation Colin DeLap

“Create In Me a Clean Heart,” Mark Hayes

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Prayers

Let my prayer rise before you as incense, O Lord,

and the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

…God of all joy,

fill our souls to overflowing

with the fullness of your grace.

In this season,

remind us of your triumph over the tragedy of the cross.

and your victory for us over the powers of sin and death,

so that we may reflect your glory

as disciples of Jesus Christ,

the One who taught us to pray together, saying:

The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)

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. 

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.

Blessing  

Bless the Lord. 

God’s name be praised! 

May God bless us in our sleep with rest, 

in our dreams with vision, 

in our waking with a calm mind, 

and in our souls with the friendship of the Holy Spirit, 

this night and every night.  

Amen! 

Postlude Colin DeLap

“There Is a Redeemer,” Glenda Austin

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847