Sunday June 30: The Rev. Robin Lostetter, Guest Preacher

Sunday, June 30, 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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Join us this Sunday as the Rev. Robin Lostetter steps into our pulpit as guest preacher. The Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the day are:

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
Psalm 130
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43

Join us in our beautiful sanctuary, or right here online. Worship is live-streamed; videos are available here or on Youtube following the service.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God’s Economy

Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Union Presbyterian Church

June 30, 2024

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

Liturgist: Diane Sommerville Preacher: Rev. Robin Lostetter

Welcome

Announcements Diane Sommerville

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Just As I Am, Without One Plea,” Dale Wood

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

* Call to Worship Diane Sommerville

The steadfast love of God never ceases.
God’s mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning.
Great is your faithfulness, O God.
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning,
for you hear us when we cry.
So we will praise you and will not be silent.
Sing praises, O you faithful ones,
and give thanks to God’s holy name.

* Hymn  #276 PH

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

(Public Domain)

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not;
As thou has been thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided--
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided--
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided--
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Call to New Life Diane Sommerville

Because of such great mercy,

God is ready to forgive

all the ways we fail to live in faithfulness.

Relying on that mercy,

let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (Ps 133, Mark 4:35-41)

Trusting you does not always come easy

when each day we are faced with the ugliness of the world.

We do not believe that love conquers fear.

We are not convinced that power comes through weakness.

We cannot conceive how you could heal us.

Forgive our lack of faith, O God,

and renew our trust in you,

for we would be disciples of Jesus,

in whose name we pray. Amen.

* Words of Assurance (Ps. 130)

If the Lord kept count of all our sins,

who could stand?

But with God there is forgiveness;

Christ gives us peace.

Thanks be to God!

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 130 (CEB)

A pilgrimage song

I cry out to you from the depths, Lord—

my Lord, listen to my voice!

Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy!

If you kept track of sins, Lord—

my Lord, who would stand a chance?

But forgiveness is with you—

that’s why you are honored.

I hope, Lord.

My whole being hopes,

and I wait for God’s promise.

My whole being waits for my Lord—

more than the night watch waits for morning;

yes, more than the night watch waits for morning!

Israel, wait for the Lord!

Because faithful love is with the Lord;

because great redemption is with our God!

He is the one who will redeem Israel

from all its sin.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Robin Lostetter

Music: “Wait for the Lord”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Piano Anthem Chris Bartlette

“Dignity,” Joseph M. Martin

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Scripture 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (CEB)

Be the best in this work of grace in the same way that you are the best in everything, such as faith, speech, knowledge, total commitment, and the love we inspired in you. I’m not giving an order, but by mentioning the commitment of others, I’m trying to prove the authenticity of your love also. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you could become rich through his poverty.

I’m giving you my opinion about this. It’s to your advantage to do this, since you not only started to do it last year but you wanted to do it too. Now finish the job as well so that you finish it with as much enthusiasm as you started, given what you can afford. A gift is appreciated because of what a person can afford, not because of what that person can’t afford, if it’s apparent that it’s done willingly. It isn’t that we want others to have financial ease and you financial difficulties, but it’s a matter of equality. At the present moment, your surplus can fill their deficit so that in the future their surplus can fill your deficit. In this way there is equality. As it is written, The one who gathered more didn’t have too much, and the one who gathered less didn’t have too little.

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon GOD’S ECONOMY

* Statement of Faith (from A Brief Statement of Faith)

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.

* Hymn #421 PH [Stanzas 1, 2, 3]

“The Church of Christ,” Fred Pratt Green

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

The church of Christ in every age,
Beset by change but Spirit led,
Must claim and test its heritage
And keep on rising from the dead.

Across the world, across the street,
The victims of injustice cry
For shelter and for bread to eat,
And never live until they die.

Then let the servant church arise,
A caring church that longs to be
A partner in Christ's sacrifice,
And clothed in Christ's humanity.

Prayers of the People   

Congregational response:

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

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

We return to you, O God, the gifts you have given,

that our lives might bear witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

* Hymn  #422 PH

“God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending,” Robert L. Edwards

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

God, whose giving knows no ending,
From Your rich and endless store,
Nature's wonder, Jesus' wisdom,
Costly cross, grave's shattered door:
Gifted by You, we turn to You,
Offering up ourselves in praise;
Thankful song shall rise forever,
Gracious donor of our days.

Skills and time are ours for pressing
Toward the goals of Christ, your Son:
All at peace in health and freedom,
Races joined, the church made one.
Now direct our daily labor,
Lest we strive for self alone;
Born with talents, make us servants
Fit to answer at Your throne.

Treasure too You have entrusted,
Gain through powers Your grace conferred;
Ours to use for home and kindred,
And to spread the gospel Word.
Open wide our hands, in sharing,
As we heed Christ's ageless call,
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming,
Serving You by loving all.

* Benediction

Postlude  Chris Bartlette

“Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart,” Lloyd Larson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.