It All Falls Down

Sunday, November 17, 2024
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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Imagine your church was the only church in the world. Then, imagine a friend from church telling you, that one day not to long from now, it would be gone, just a pile of rocks, in pieces. How would you feel? Would you believe them? Would you be upset? What would you do?

You can join us for worship in our beautiful sanctuary, or right here online. Worship is live-streamed; videos are available here or on Youtube following the service. You are invited! You are always welcome.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

It All Falls Down

Psalm 16; Mark 13:1-8

Union Presbyterian Church

November 17, 2024

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

Liturgist: Jim Mica Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome

Announcements Jim Mica

Prelude Chris Bartlette

Prelude on “Pleading Savior,” Lani Smith

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

* Call to Worship (from Psalm 127 and Isaiah 12)

Good people of God, we are called into the holy presence.

The Lord is our light and our salvation: who shall we fear?

Surely God is our salvation:

We will trust the Lord; we will not be afraid.

For God is our strength and our might:

Give thanks to the Lord! Let us call upon God’s name!

* Hymn # 545 W & R

“How Lovely, Lord,” Arlo D. Duba, Hal Hopson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

How lovely, Lord, how lovely
Is your abiding place;
My soul is longing, fainting,
To feast upon your grace.
The sparrow finds a shelter,
A place to build her nest;
And so your temple calls us
Within its walls to rest.

In your blest courts to worship,
O God, a single day
Is better than a thousand
If I from you should stray.
I'd rather keep the entrance
And claim you as my Lord
Than revel in the riches
The ways of sin afford.

A sun and shield forever
Are you, O Lord Most High;
You shower us with blessings;
No good will you deny.
The saints, your grace receiving,
From strength to strength shall go,
And from their life shall rivers
Of blessing overflow.

* Call to New Life

If God is our hope and our salvation, we can trust in God to hear our fears and worries, to hold us close and give us strength. Let us open our hearts to God.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Ever-living God, before the earth was formed and even after it shall cease to be, you are God. Still, we fret and worry over things we cannot control or manage. We plan, and our plans crumble like dried autumn leaves underfoot. We build our dreams, and watch as they disappear like the clouds in our coffee. Break into our short span of life, O God, and show us the things that are eternal. Show us your plans for us, dream your dreams in us, that we may serve your purpose in all we do. We pray in the name of Jesus our brother. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

The Lord is kind and merciful.

God overflows with steadfast love.

By the love and mercy of God, we are forgiven and made whole!

Thanks be to God! Amen!

* Sharing of the Peace

Peace is not something relegated to a distant future.

The Spirit of God can bless us with peace now.

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

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

Scripture Psalm 16

A responsive reading from the book of Psalms, Psalm 16.

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble ones
    in whom is all my delight.

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    I have a goodly heritage.

I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
    my body also rests secure.

For you do not give me up to Sheol
    or let your faithful one see the Pit.

You show me the path of life.
    In your presence there is fullness of joy;
    in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Awesome God,” Rich Mullins

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Anthem Choir

“Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place,” Jack Schrader

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

(Sung twice:)

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place;

I can feel his mighty power and his grace.

I can hear the brush of angels’ wings,

I see glory on each face;

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

Christ beside me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me – king of my heart;

Christ within me, Christ below me,

Christ above me – never to part.

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place;

I can feel his mighty power and his grace.

I can hear the brush of angels’ wings,

I see glory on each face;

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

Scripture Mark 13:1-8 (NRSVUE)

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark, beginning at chapter 13, verse 1.

As [Jesus] came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “It All Falls Down”

* Statement of Faith Adapted from the Shorter Westminster Catechism

Q. 98. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God for things

agreeable to God’s will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our

sins, and thankful acknowledgment of God’s mercies.

Q. 99. What rule has God given for our direction in prayer?

A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but

the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught

his disciples, commonly called “the Lord’s Prayer.”

Q. 100. What does the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?

A. The preface of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, “Our Father

who art in heaven,” teaches us to draw near to God with all holy

reverence and confidence, as children to a parent, able and ready to

help us; and that we should pray with and for others.

* Hymn # 411 W & R

“How Firm a Foundation”

(Public Domain)

How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

"Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,
For I am your God, and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

"When through the deep waters I call you to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with you in trouble to bless,
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.

"When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply;
The flame shall not hurt you, I only design
Your dross to consume, and your gold to refine.

"The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake!"

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 #489 W & R

“Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” Ken Medema

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Lord, send your Spirit in this place;

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Send us love, send us power, send us grace.

Call for Offering

* 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 # 722 W & R

“Praise and Thanksgiving,” Albert F. Bayly

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Praise and thanksgiving, God, we would offer

For all things living, you have made good:

Harvest of sown fields, fruits of the orchard,

Hay from the mown fields, blossom and wood.

God bless the labor we bring to serve you;

That with our neighbor we may be fed.

Sowing or tilling, we would work with you;

Harvesting, milling for daily bread.

You are providing food for your children,

Your wisdom guiding teaches us share

One with another so that, rejoicing,

Others may know you and praise your care.

Then will your blessing reach every people,

All lands confessing your gracious hand.

Where you are reigning no one will hunger,

Your love sustaining, fruitful the land.

* Benediction

May God bless us. May God keep us in the Spirit’s care,

and lead our lives with love.

May Christ’s warm welcome shine from our hearts,

and Christ’s own peace prevail through this and every day,

till greater life shall call. Amen.

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Foundation,” Roger Summers

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 Prayer for Wholeness and Peace is adapted from a prayer in the Book of Common Worship (PCUSA), 2018.