The Wedding at Cana

Sunday, June 18, 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 gospel of John departs from the storytelling of the other three gospels in many ways. One of the most striking is the first miracle, or sign, Jesus performs: changing water to wine at a local wedding. What is the meaning of this? Why does Jesus begin here? Guest Preacher Rev. Taryn Mattice will share her insights on this fascinating story.

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

Ordinary Time: The Wedding at Cana

Isaiah 25:6-9; John 2:1-11

Union Presbyterian Church

June 18, 2023

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

Liturgist: Doug Moore Preacher: Rev. Taryn Mattice

Announcements Doug Moore

Prelude Colin DeLap

“Good, Good Father,” Phillip Keveren

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Welcome Rev. Taryn Mattice

Call to Worship (responsive) Doug Moore

Our wisdom is shattered by God's absurd love;
God's vulnerability strengthens our feeble faith:
God's words place joy in our hearts;
we follow them to peace and hope.

Hymn #464 PH

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

(Public Domain)

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the gloom of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Mortals, join the happy chorus
Which the morning stars began;
Love divine is reigning o’er us,
Joining all in heaven's plan.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

Call to New Life Doug Moore

At the center of the law is God's love —  that divine nonsense shown in becoming human for our sake; that weakness for us which defeats the strongest powers.  This love, this grace is of more value to us than anything we possess.  Let us open ourselves to such love as we open our hearts to confess our sins to God.

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Delight of the Ages, we cannot remain silent, but must speak of the ways we misuse your gifts.  In our desire to have more and more, we cause more damage to your good creation.  In our obsession with ourselves, we have desolated the lives of those around us.  When we hoard what you have given us, we cannot be a blessing to other people.
    

Forgive us, Restless God, so we might be restored to life.  May your steadfast love save and strengthen us to share our gifts with others, even as you have shared the Gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  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

Our God is the Delight of the Ages,

and it is God’s delight pour down peace like an abundance of wine.

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 Isaiah 25:6-9

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, beginning at chapter 25, verse 6.

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
    of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
    the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
    the covering that is spread over all nations;
    he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
    and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
    for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day,
    “See, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
    This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
    let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Time for Young Disciples

“My Lord! What a Morning” (Public Domain)

Scripture John 2:1-11 Rev. Taryn Mattice

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the person in charge of the banquet.” So they took it. When the person in charge tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), that person called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “The Wedding at Cana” Rev. Taryn Mattice

Affirmation of Faith From A Brief Statement of Faith, PCUSA

In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. 

We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children; healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted; eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. 

With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Music Meditation Colin DeLap

“This Is My Father’s World,” Chris Rice

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Prayers of the People    Rev. Taryn Mattice

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 Rev. Taryn Mattice

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  #288 PH

“I Sing the Mighty Power of God”

(Public Domain)

I sing the mighty power of God
That made the mountains rise;
That spread the flowing seas abroad
And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command,
And all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord
That filled the earth with food;
God formed the creatures with a word
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
Where’er I turn my eyes;
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the skies!

There’s not a plant or flower below
But makes Thy glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee
Is ever in Thy care,
And everywhere that we can be,
Thou, God, art present there.

Benediction

Postlude 

“Majesty,” Jack Hayford

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