Lent 4: I'm fixed upon it...

Sunday, March 10, 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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The third and fourth Sundays in Lent are one story in two parts. Last Sunday we saw how Jesus boldly named Jesus the Messiah, and Jesus’ strong words to him in affirmation—even a visioning of the future. Moments later, thought, Jesus names the one nonnegotiable thing about his ministry: it will lead him to the cross. Peter responds with a passionate denial of this plan. Jesus responds with even greater passion, and words that shock and stir.

Join us throughout the season of Lent as we participate in the Sanctified Art Series “Wandering Heart: Figuring out faith with Peter.” Join us in our beautiful sanctuary, or right here online. Worship is live-streamed; videos are available here or on Youtube following the service.

Wandering Heart

Fourth Sunday in Lent

I’m fixed upon it…

Psalm 107:1-3; 17-22

Matthew 16:21-23

Union Presbyterian Church

March 10, 2024

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

Liturgist: Peg Corwin Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Announcements Peg Corwin

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” Edward Broughton

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Call to Worship (responsive) Peg Corwin

On our worst days,

God is good.

On our best days,

God is good.

When life is consistent,

God is good.

And when life turns on its head,

God is good.

Day and night, Monday through Sunday,

God is good, God is here, God is love.

Hold tight to that good news. Let us worship God!

Hymn #93 W & R “Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness,” Rusty Edwards

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Praise the One who breaks the darkness
With a liberating light.
Praise the One who frees the prisoners,
Turning blindness into sight.
Praise the One who preached the gospel,
Healing every dread disease,
Calming storms and feeding thousands
With the very bread of peace.

Praise the One who blessed the children
With a strong yet gentle word.
Praise the One who drove out demons
With a piercing two edged sword.
Praise the one who brings cool water
To the desert's burning sand.
From this well comes living water
Quenching thirst in every land.

Praise the one true love incarnate:
Christ who suffered in our place.
Jesus died and rose for many
That we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness,
Seeing what our God has done.
Praise the one redeeming glory;
Praise the One who makes us one.

Call to New Life

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (responsive)

Holy God,

We often find ourselves moving through

a world that does not make sense.

Like Peter, we want to yell out, “This should not happen!”

We want to control scenarios beyond our reach.

We want to hold your world in our hands.

Forgive us for the moments

when we lead with declarations instead of curiosity.

Forgive us for arguing when we could listen.

Forgive us for fixating on one truth,

when we could open ourselves up to many.

Soften our hard edges and teach us how to listen.

With hope in our hearts we pray. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Friends, no matter how many times we have dug our heels in,

no matter how many fights we have wanted to pick with God,

no matter how many times we have disagreed, raged,

or clung to what we know instead of embracing holy change—

we worship a God of grace.

Nothing can separate us from God’s love,

not even a stubborn attitude or a tense heart.

So hear and believe the good news of the gospel:

God’s love for us will always be deeper than we can imagine.

We are seen. We are loved. And we are forgiven.

Now follow Peter, and go be the Church in 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 share a sign of God’s peace with one another.

Scripture Psalm 107:1-3; 17-22

O give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good,
for God’s mercy endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim,
that God redeemed from the hand of the foe,

gathering them in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

Some were fools and took rebellious paths;
through their sins they were afflicted.

They loathed all manner of food,
and drew near to death’s door.

Then in their trouble they cried to the Lord
and you delivered them from their distress.
You sent forth your word and healed them
and rescued them from the grave.

Let them give thanks to you, Lord, for your steadfast love,
and your wonderful works for all people.

Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of your deeds with shouts of joy.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Thank You, Lord”

(Public Domain)

Anthem Choir

“Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said,” Howard Helvey

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Take up your cross, the Savior said,

If you would my disciple be;

Take up your cross with willing heart,

And humbly follow after me.

Take up your cross; let not its weight

Fill your weak spirit with alarm;

Christ’s strength shall bear your spirit up

And brace your heart, and nerve your arm.

Take up your cross, heed not the shame,

And let your foolish heart be still;

The Lord for you accepted death

Upon a cross, on Calvary’s hill.

Take up your cross, then, in his strength,

And calmly every danger brave:

It guides you to abundant life

And leads to victory o’er the grave.

Take up your cross, and follow Christ,

Nor think till death to lay it down;

For only those who bear the cross

May hope to wear the glorious crown.

Scripture Matthew 16:21-23

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “I’m fixed upon it…”

Statement of Faith A Sanctified Art | Wandering Heart

I believe in a God of second chances,

a God who sees through my stubbornness

and hold my fear with tenderness.

I believe that this God of second chances

uses ordinary people like Peter to do good in the world.

Therefore, I believe and hope that God can use me too.

I believe that, from time to time, God invites us to imagine the impossible.

I believe that, from time to time, God invites us to change our minds.

This change is holy and important work, although challenging.

When fear and scarcity plague me,

or when the impossible feels out of reach,

I believe that God meets me with grace and invites me to follow.

Thanks be to God for a love like that. Amen.

Hymn “The Way,” Rev. Anna Strickland (sung to #264 W & R)

Used with permission.

Faithfully I learned to follow

Step by step and not to stray

Marching on with proud bravado

Claiming Jesus as the way

Life was easy, faith was stable

Then the pathway climbed uphill

Life got harder past the cradle

Jesus Christ I followed still

Thread by thread my faith unraveled

When the way became unknown

Solid ground gave way to gravel

So I cling to Christ alone

Though the way leads through steep canyons

I surrender my control

Christ is still my sure companion

As the path before unfolds

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

“Jesus, Remember Me,” Jacques Berthier

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.

Call for Offering

Doxology

“Lenten Doxology,” R.G. Huff, Pat Raube

Used with permission.

Lord, we are wand’ring through these forty days,

Walking with Peter as he walks with you.

We tune our hearts, lift them to you in praise:

Come now, our fount of all that’s good and true.

We praise the Father, we praise you the Son,

We praise the Spirit, our God, Three in One.

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn #117 W & R “There Is a Redeemer”

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

There is a Redeemer—

Jesus, God’s own Son;

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,

Holy One.

Thank you, O my Father,

For giving us your Son,

And leaving your Spirit till

The work on earth is done.

Jesus, my Redeemer,

Name above all names;

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,

Hope for sinners slain.

Thank you, O my Father,

For giving us your Son,

And leaving your Spirit till

The work on earth is done.

When I stand in Glory,

I will see his face;

There I’ll serve my King forever

In that holy place.

Thank you, O my Father,

For giving us your Son,

And leaving your Spirit till

The work on earth is done.

Benediction

…Go trusting that good news.

Amen.

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“I Will Sing of My Redeemer,” John F. Wilson

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

“Words for Worship” by the Rev. Sarah Are Speed (some adapted) |A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org. Image: “Beseeching” by Hannah Garrity | A Sanctified Art LLC |santifiedart.org