Lent 3: Praise the mount...

Sunday, March 3, 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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Jesus and his disciples are together, and he asks how the people describe him—who do they say he is? They give several answers: Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. John the Baptist. Elijah. Jesus presses them: Who do YOU say that I am? Simon Peter answers: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responds with powerful words, words envisioning a future, a church, and Peter one of its cornerstones.

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

Third Sunday in Lent

Praise the Mount

Psalm 19; Matthew 16:13-20

Union Presbyterian Church

March 3, 2024

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

Liturgist: Barbara Ann Dailey Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Announcements Barbara Ann Dailey

Prelude Colin DeLap

“He Is Exalted,” Twila Paris.

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

* Call to Worship (responsive) Barbara Ann Dailey

If you ask the sky who God is,

the sky will tell you of God’s reach.

If you ask the day who God is,

The sun will tell you of God’s warmth.

If you ask the night who God is,

the moon will tell you of God’s comfort.

“The heavens are telling the glory of God.”

Are you listening?

We are listening!

We will sing of God’s glory.

Let us worship holy God.

* Hymn # 146 W & R “Glorify Thy Name”

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Father, we love you,

We worship and adore you,

Glorify thy name in all the earth;

Glorify thy name, glorify thy name,

Glorify thy name in all the earth.

Jesus, we love you,

We worship and adore you,

Glorify thy name in all the earth;

Glorify thy name, glorify thy name,

Glorify thy name in all the earth.

Spirit, we love you,

We worship and adore you,

Glorify thy name in all the earth;

Glorify thy name, glorify thy name,

Glorify thy name in all the earth.

* Call to New Life

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (responsive)

Holy God,

Some days we are quick to declare your goodness.

Like Peter, we see you in our midst and we are confident in our faith.

Other days, we are distracted and uncertain, desperate for answers.

Forgive us for losing sight of you.

Some days we are quick to trust your blessings—

trusting that we are called, that we can make a difference.

Other days, our praise fall silent and doubt creeps in.

Forgive us for losing sight of ourselves.

We know that fear and doubt are part of the journey of faith.

But for the days when we are far from you and far from ourselves,

we ask for your tender grace.

Pull us closer toward you.

Remind us of the mountaintop moments of our faith. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

Friends, whether we speak to God in a whisper or with clear conviction,

with questions or with answers,

with hope in our heart or with doubt in our throat—

God will always listen with love and mercy.

So rest in this good news:

regardless of how loudly we live our faith—we belong to God.

We are loved. We are claimed. We are forgiven.

Let us speak that good news with confidence.

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 19

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    and the sky proclaims its Maker’s handiwork.
One day tells its tale to another,
    and one night imparts knowledge to another.
Although they have no words or language,
    and their voices are not heard,
their sound has gone out into all lands,
and their message to the ends of the world,

    where God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
    it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
    and runs about to the end of it again;
    nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

The teaching of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
and gives wisdom to the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
and gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, and endures forever;
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold;
sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.

By them also is your servant enlightened;
and in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can detect one’s own offenses?
Cleanse me from my secret faults.

Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;

let them not get dominion over me;
then I shall be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Sing Praise to the Father”

Anthem Choir

“Upon This Rock,” Pepper Choplin

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

You are the Son,

The Son of the living God.

You are the Son,

The Son of God, the living God.

Upon this rock, I’ll build My church.
Upon this rock, I’ll build My kingdom

On this earth. I’ll build my church

Upon this rock, this solid rock.

And we say, “You are the Christ,

You are the Son of the living God.

You are the Christ, You are the first begotten Son,

Born from the love, the love of heaven.

And we are the church, and we will serve and glorify.

We are the church, to be a living sacrifice,

Offered to You through all we are.”

And so our love, our love for Christ

Will be the cause, the reason why

We live our days, to walk in faith,

Faith in the rock, the solid rock.

“You are the Christ,

You are the Son of the living God.

You are the Christ, You are the first begotten Son,

Born from the love, the love of heaven.

And we are the church, and we will serve and glorify.

We are the church, to be a living sacrifice,

Offered to You through all we are.”

Upon this rock, I’ll build My church.
Upon this rock, I’ll build My kingdom

On this earth. I’ll build my church

Upon this rock, this solid rock.

I’ll build My church upon this rock.

You are the Christ, the Son of God.

Scripture Matthew 16:13-20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “Praise the Mount”

Statement of Faith

Jesus asked the disciples, “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?

Church, what do you say?

Jesus is a hand reaching out in the storm,

the voice of truth spoken over us,

and love without walls.

Jesus is justice for the weary,

healing for the hurt,

and welcome for the stranger.

Jesus is teacher, Messiah, and friend—

with me on the mountain

and beside me in the valley.

Jesus is a star in the night,

and the love that knows my name.

Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?”

Like Peter, we say,

“Jesus, you are the Messiah, son of the Living God.”

Hymn (sung to #335 PH)

“Here at the Peak,” Rev. Anna Strickland

Used with permission.

Here at the peak I clearly see

All of the pieces you’ve laid out

And in this brief though timeless peace

Such clarity occludes my doubts

Here I proclaim the truths I know

Beyond the knowledge of this world

Truths planted deep within my bones

Brought to the light as gold unearthed

Here my Creator stands enfleshed

Infinite glory here contained

Humble and rugged, simply dressed

Savior of all on earth to reign

Here at the peak you clearly name

Who you created me to be

Identified not by my shame

But by the gifts you gave to me

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 #712 W & R

“Sent Forth By God’s Blessing,” Omer Westendorf, Leland Sateren

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Sent forth by God’s blessing

Our true faith confessing,

The people of God from this dwelling take leave.

The services is ended,

O now be extended

The fruits of our worship in all who believe.

The seed of the teaching,

Receptive souls reaching,

Shall blossom in action for God and for all.

God’s grace did invite us,

And love shall unite us

To work for God’s kingdom and answer the call.

With praise and thanksgiving

To God ever living,

The tasks of our everyday life we will face.

Our faith ever sharing,

In love ever caring,

Embracing God’s children of each tribe and race.

With your grace you feed us,

With your light now lead us:

Unite us as one in this life that we share.

Then may all the living

With praise and thanksgiving

Give honor to Christ and that name which we bear.

Benediction

Beloved wanderer,

as you leave this place,

may you carry your curious heart on your sleeve.

May you look for God in every face.

May you find the courage to get out of the boat,

to run to the tomb,

and to speak of your faith.

And when the world falls apart,

may you hear God’s voice deep within,

saying, “Take heart, it is I, be not afraid.”

You are called.

You are blessed.

In both your ups and your downs,

you always belong to God.

Go now in peace.

Go trusting that good news.

Amen.

Postlude Colin DeLap

"Come, Thou Fount!,” Bethany K. Smith.

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: “Who Do You Say That I Am” by the Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman | A Sanctified Art | sanctifiedart.org