2nd Sunday After Epiphany: Answering the Call

Sunday, January 14, 2024
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

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

Google Calendar ICS

This morning we travel back into the times of the Hebrew bible, when the prophet Samuel was just a boy. Watch and listen for this child’s experience of God’s call!

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

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Answering God’s Call

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Union Presbyterian Church

January 14, 2024

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

Liturgist: Carlton Sackett Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome

Announcements Carlton Sackett

Prelude Colin DeLap

“Above All,” Bill Wolaver

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Call to Worship (responsive) Carlton Sackett

Where can we go from God’s spirit?
Or where can we flee from God’s presence?

If we ascend to heaven, God is there;
if I make our beds in the depths of the earth, God is still there.

If we take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

even there God’s hand shall lead us,
and God’s right hand shall hold us fast.

Hymn #569 W & R

“God of Grace, and God of Glory”

(Public Domain)

God of grace and God of glory,
On your people pour your power;
Crown your ancient Church’s story,
Bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil round us
Scorn your Christ, assail his ways!
Fears and doubts too long have bound us–
Free our hearts to work and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Heal your children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to your control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal.

Save us from weak resignation
To the evils we deplore;
Let the gift of your salvation
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving you whom we adore,
Serving you whom we adore.

Call to New Life

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Gracious God, you know us better than we know ourselves. You know our struggles, our failures, the things we cling to instead of you. You know it all even before we try to open our hearts for your healing. Your knowledge is wonderful, but it is also challenging. We’d much rather avoid painful truths and deny our wrongdoing. Help us to face the truth of our hearts and lives, so that we can move forward in peace and wholeness. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Let us praise God, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.

We come to the end of our struggles,

and find that God has been with us all along.

By the love of God we are forgiven and made whole.

Thanks be to God!

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 139:1-6; 13-18

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
    O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is so high that I cannot attain it.

For it was you who formed my inward parts;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
    Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
   My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
    all the days that were formed for me,
    when none of them as yet existed.
How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
    I come to the end—I am still with you.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “He Came Down,” Jane Holstein.

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Scripture 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “Answering God’s Call”

Affirmation of Faith From “A Brief Statement of Faith” of the 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 God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.

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.

Anthem Choir

“Hush! Somebody’s Callin’ My Name,” Brazeal W. Dennard

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Hush, hush, somebody’s callin’ my name.