Trinity Sunday: The Great Commission

Sunday, June 4, 2023
10:30 PM 11:30 PM 22:30 23:30

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

Google Calendar ICS

Today we mark the only day in the church calendar devoted to theology. We explore the doctrine of the Trinity as we hear the story of a family who answers God’s call to do something new and unexpected. We also welcome the Rev. Robin Lostetter as our guest preacher!

Join us as we celebrate Trinity Sunday, worshiping outdoors for the first time in 2023. We will worship on the Liberty avenue parking lot as we hear the Word and gather around the table for the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. A video of the service will be available later in the day.

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Pass It On,” Kurt Kaiser, Mark Hayes

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Welcome Rev. Robin Lostetter

Call to Worship Becky Conklin

How majestic is our God!

How worthy of worship and praise!

When we stand in awe of our Creator, marveling at the heavens,

the moon and the stars, we ask:

What are we, that you are mindful of us?

Who are we, that you care for us?

How majestic is our God!

How worthy of worship and praise!

Hymn #138 W & R

“Holy God, We Praise Your Name”

(Public Domain)

Holy God, we praise your name,
Lord of all, we bow before you;
All on earth your scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore you;
Infinite your vast domain,
Everlasting is your reign.

Hark! the glad celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and seraphim
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy Lord.

All apostles join the strain
As your sacred Name they hallow;
Prophets swell the glad refrain,
And the white robed martyrs follow;
And from morn to set of sun,
Through the Church the song goes on.

Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name you;
While in essence only one,
Undivided God we claim you,
Then, adoring, bend the knee,
While we own the mystery.

Call to New Life

In the name of the Triune God, we gather for worship. Jesus has commissioned us to go out into all the world with his gospel of love. Let us acknowledge how our hearts and actions have strayed from faithfulness to God.

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Spirit of the Living God, you call us to share the Good News, to live the gospel, to teach Jesus’ way to future generations. But we skirt our responsibilities and fail to act on your Great Commission. Forgive our silence. Forgive our apathy. Forgive our lack of fire. Help us to be bold in faith, loving the world as Christ loves us, and embodying our Savior’s Church. 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

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus is giving his disciples his last words as he ascends to heaven. Contained within is something called “The Great Commission,” instructions to them and to us. Listen for it!

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew, beginning at chapter 28, verse 16.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him, but they doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Time For Young Disciples Rev. Robin Lostetter

Music: “God of Abraham, Lead Us,” Bernadette Farrell

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Scripture Genesis 1:1-4; 12:1-4

When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “The Great Commission”

Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed-Ecumenical Version

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn (#507 Glory to God Hymnal)

“Come to the Table of Grace,” Barbara Hamm

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Come to the table of grace.
Come to the table of grace.
This is God's table; it's not yours or mine.
Come to the table of grace.

Come to the table of peace.
Come to the table of peace.
This is God's table; it's not yours or mine.
Come to the table of peace.

Come to the table of love.
Come to the table of love.
This is God's table; it's not yours or mine.
Come to the table of love.

Come to the table of hope.
Come to the table of hope.
This is God's table; it's not yours or mine.
Come to the table of hope.

Come to the table of joy.
Come to the table of joy.
This is God's table; it's not yours or mine.
Come to the table of joy.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper/ Prayers of the People

The Invitation

The Great Thanksgiving

Sanctus “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,” Joseph Roff

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is He who comes

In the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest,

Hosanna in the highest.

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.

The Communion

Music during Communion:

“Come, Share the Lord,” Bryan Jeffery Leech

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Prayer After Communion

Holy and eternal God, Holy One, Holy Three:

You are as far away as the distant stars,

and as close as our breath.

You meet us at this table,

and we discover our hearts burning within us.

Go with us as we leave this place,

so that your light and your life

may shine brightly for all to see. Amen.

Hymn #20 W & R

“Like a Mighty River Flowing,” Michael Perry

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Like a mighty river flowing,
Like a flower in beauty growing,
Far beyond all human knowing
Is the perfect peace of God.

Like the hills serene and even,
Like the coursing clouds of heaven,
Like the heart that's been forgiven
Is the perfect peace of God.

Like the summer breezes playing,
Like the tall trees softly swaying,
Like the lips of silent praying
Is the perfect peace of God.

Like the morning sun ascended,
Like the scents of evening blended,
Like a friendship never ended
Is the perfect peace of God.

Like the azure ocean swelling,
Like the jewel all-excelling,
Far beyond our human telling
Is the perfect peace of God.

Benediction

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” John Carter

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.

The Call to Worship, Call to New Life, and Prayer for Wholeness and Peace have been taken and adapted from the Liturgy for June 4 by the Rev. Teri McDowell Ott, courtesy of the Presbyterian Outlook.

The Words of Assurance have been taken and adapted from the Iona Community Worship Book.

The Communion Prayers are taken from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship, 2018.