Finding God in the Flames 3: Peter Denies Jesus

Sunday, July 16, 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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After Jesus’ arrest, Peter follows him to the palace of the high priest, and warms himself by a fire. Even though he has declared his allegiance to Jesus again and again, Peter denies even knowing him when confronted. This passage helps us to explore how we can betray ourselves in the choices we make, and explores what “campfires” are available to warm and comfort us again.

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Finding God in the Flames 3 

Peter Denies Jesus

Psalm 119:105-112; John 18:15-18, 25-27

Union Presbyterian Church   

July 16, 2023   

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

Liturgist: Patrick Sullivan Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube    

Preludes Rev. Robin Lostetter  

“Brother James’ Air,” Ronald Arnatt

“Beautiful Saviour,” Flor Peeters

Prayer Concerns Rev. Pat Raube   

Announcements Patrick Sullivan    

Prelude Rev. Robin Lostetter 

“Prelude in C Major,” David N. Johnson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.       

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube   

Call to Worship (responsive) Patrick Sullivan   

Christ, we are here to commit to you
Quiet our anxious minds,
and still our troubled hearts.
We are here to commit to you,
Focus our wandering thoughts
and deepen our good intentions.
We love you, Lord, with all we are:
as sinners and saints, failures and faithful,
we commit our lives to you! 

Hymn #33 W & R

“Let’s Sing Unto the Lord,” Carlos Rosas

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.       

Let’s sing unto the Lord a hymn of glad rejoicing.

Let’s sing a hymn of love, at the new day’s fresh beginning.

God made the sky above, the stars, the sun, the oceans;

And God saw it was good, for those works were filled with beauty.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Let’s sing unto the Lord. Alleluia!

Let’s sing unto the Lord a hymn of adoration,

Which shows our love and faith and the hope of all creation.

Through all that has been made; the Lord is praised for greatness,

And so we sing to God, who bestows such lovely blessings.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Let’s sing unto the Lord. Alleluia!

Call to New Life Patrick Sullivan   

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace    

Jesus Christ, friend and Savior,
we confess to denying you
in thought, word, and deed. 
We act as if we have not heard your commands,
your calling, or even your name. 
Lord, forgive us for our weakness,
our fear, and our daily denials. 

[silent prayer]

Give us the courage to bear your strong name,
to be the Christians you would have us be,
wherever we go.
In your holy name we pray.
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 119:105-112 

Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light upon my path.
I have sworn and am determined,
    to keep your righteous judgments.
I am deeply troubled;
    preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.
Accept O Lord, the willing tributes of my lips, 

   and teach me your judgments.
My life is always in danger,
    yet I do not forget your teaching.
The wicked have set up a trap for me,
    but I have not strayed from your commandments.
Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
    truly, they are the joy of my heart.
I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes
    forever, and to the end. 

Time for Young Disciples   Rev. Pat Raube  

Music: “Blessed Jesus, We Are Here” (Public Domain)

Scripture John 18:15-18; 25-27   

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word   

Thanks be to God!   

Sermon “Peter Denies Jesus”   

Affirmation of Faith From the Iona Community, Scotland  (Ryan: #3A)

We believe in God above us, 

maker and sustainer of all life, 

of sun and moon, of water and earth, of all God’s children. 

We believe in God beside us, 

Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, 

born of a woman’s womb, servant of the poor. 

He was tortured and nailed to a tree. 

A man of sorrows, he died forsaken. 

He descended into the earth to the place of death. 

On the third day he rose from the tomb. 

He ascended into heaven to be everywhere present, 

and his kingdom will come on earth. 

We believe in God within us, 

the Holy Spirit of Pentecostal fire, 

life-giving breath of the church, 

Spirit of healing and forgiveness, 

source of resurrection and of life everlasting.  

Amen.  

Solo

“Give Me Jesus,” Evelyn D. White

Used by permission.

In the mornin’ when I rise,

In the mornin’ when I rise...give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.

You can have all this world; give me Jesus.

Twixt the cradle and the grave,

Twixt the cradle and the grave... give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.

You can have all this world; give me Jesus.

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 Rev. Pat Raube   

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  #330 W & R

“Come Down, O Love Divine” 

(Public Domain)

Come down, O love divine,
Seek out this soul of mine
And visit it with your own ardor glowing:
O Comforter, draw near,
Within my heart appear,
And kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn,
Till earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming:
And let your glorious light
Shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

And so the yearning strong
With which the soul will long
Shall far surpass the power of human telling:
For none can guess God's grace,
Till love creates a place,
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

Benediction    

Postlude    Rev. Robin Lostetter

“Psalm 75,” Emma Lou Diemer

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   

The Call to Worship and the Prayer for Wholeness and Peace were adapted from the resource “Finding God in the Flames” by the Rev. Carol H. Prickett. The Affirmation of Faith was taken from The Iona Community Worship Book, Wild Goose Publications. 