Lent 1: Wilderness-Testing

Sunday, February 26, 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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We go back to the beginning with Jesus—to the time immediately after his baptism, when he is led by the Spirit into the wild, to be tempted by the devil. What does this even mean? What does temptation mean to us? And how can we learn from Jesus’ response to temptation?

Join us for worship this morning in our beautiful sanctuary or here, online, if you are at home or on the road. You are invited! Come with us, into the wild with Jesus.

“Lent 1: Wilderness-Testing”

Psalm 32; Matthew 4:1-11

February 26, 2023  

Union Presbyterian Church  

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

Liturgist: Pat Sullivan Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube   

Prelude Colin DeLap 

“Open the Eyes of My Heart” with “Be Thou My Vision,” Mark Hayes

Used with permission, CCLI license #CSPL068847

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship    Pat Sullivan

We come before God, as do all the faithful in time of trouble.

Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord;
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

We come ready for this new season, filled with discoveries.

We come, ready to be awed at the marvelous works of our God.

Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord;
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

For you, O God, are our hiding place.

You surround us with songs of deliverance.

Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord;
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

* Hymn # 252 W & R “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” (Public Domain)

Lord, who throughout these forty days
For us did fast and pray,
Teach us with you to mourn our sins
And close by you to stay.

As you with Satan did contend,
And did the victory win,
O give us strength in you to fight,
In you to conquer sin.

As you did hunger and did thirst,
So teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and so to live
By your most holy Word.

And thro' these days of penitence,
And thro' your Passiontide,
Forevermore, in life and death,
O Lord, with us abide.

Abide with us, that through this life
Of doubts and hope and pain,
An Easter of unending joy
We may at last attain!

* Call to New Life  

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison)  

Almighty God, your beloved child Jesus fasted in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, but his heart remained steadfast and true. We are here, our souls bared to you. In your mercy, heal all within us that is broken. Create in us hearts that are true, and spirits that join with yours. As you know our weakness, may we know your power to heal and to save. We pray in the name of our brother and savior, 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 

After his wilderness journey,

Jesus was welcomed and soothed by holy hospitality.

Let this mark the beginning of peace:

May the peace of God be with you. 

And also with you. 

Let us offer one another a sign of peace. 

Scripture Reading Psalm 32

Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sin is put away.

Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
    and in whose spirit there is no guile.

While I held my tongue, my bones withered away,
    because of my groaning all day long.

For your hand was heavy upon me day and night;
    my moisture was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
    Then you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble, 

when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.

You are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will guide you with my eye.
Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding,
    who must be fitted with bit and bridle,
    or else they will not stay near you.

Great are the tribulations of the wicked,
    but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.

Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord;
    shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube 

Music: “Lord, I Want To Be A Christian” (Public Domain)

Scripture Reading Matthew 4:1-11 

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
    and

‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
    and serve only him.’”

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Response We do not live by bread alone,

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

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon Testing in the Wilderness Rev. Pat Raube  

Affirmation of Faith Colossians 1:15-20

Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created,

things visible and invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—

all things have been created through him and for him.

He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He is the head of the body, the church;

he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,

so that he might come to have first place in everything.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things,

whether on earth or in heaven,

by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Anthem Choir; Barbara Gannon, flute

“Still Be My Vision,” Mary McDonald

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that thou art:

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

O be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord.

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son,

Thou in my dwelling, and I with Thee one.

I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;

Thou mine inheritance now and always;

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, High King of heaven,

King of heaven, treasure Thou art!

High King of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Son!

The heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all!

Minute for Mission Laura Keibel

CALL TO LENTEN DISCIPLINES Rev. Pat Raube

IMPOSITION OF ASHES

Remember that we are dust, and to dust we shall return.

Music: “Ashes,” Tom Conry.

ã 1978, OCP.

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation,

that we may show forth your glory in the world.

By the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,

bring us with joy into the fullness of your realm of love, justice, and peace.

Prayers of the People 

The Lord’s Prayer (Traditional Version) 

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  #166 W & R      

“Wait for the Lord,” Taizé Community

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

(Sing two times:)

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.   

Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart.

Call for Offering 

Doxology  

“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”  

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 # 254 W & R “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley,” Jack Schrader

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

Jesus walked this lonesome valley,
He had to walk it by himself;
O, nobody else could walk it for him,
He had to walk it by himself.

Jesus prayed for his disciples;
He prayed alone for you and me.
O, nobody else could bear such sorrow;
He prayed alone for you and me.

Jesus died on Calvary's mountain;
He died alone for you and me.
O, nobody else could die for sinners;
He had to die for you and me.

Jesus rose from death's dark prison;
He lives again for you and me.
O, nobody else could bring us victory;
He is alive to set us free.

* Benediction

Postlude Colin DeLap   

 “In These Days of Lenten Journey,” Ricky Manalo

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  

Portions of today’s liturgy were adapted from the PCUSA Book of Common Worship. 

Invitation to the Lenten Disciplines from Tom Sherwood, Carleton University Chaplain.

“40-A Video of Jesus in the Wilderness” by Adam Young, Images by Simon Smith.