Sunday July 21: The Rev. Dr. Cheryl Ann Elfond, Guest Preacher

Sunday, July 21, 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. Dr. Cheryl Ann Elfond steps into our pulpit as guest preacher. The Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the day are:

2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Psalm 89:20-37
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34; 53-56

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

16th Sund ay in Ordinary Time

Chasing Loving Kindness

Psalm 23; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Union Presbyterian Church

July 21, 2024

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

Liturgist: Pat Sullivan Preacher: Rev. Dr. Cheryl Ann Elfond

WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS Pat Sullivan

PRELUDE Chris Bartlette

“My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” Lloyd Larson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

* CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) Pat Sullivan

Praise God for all the wonders of creation; praise God for saving acts of mercy.

Rejoice in the God of peace who welcomes us here; God is listening to our words and to our hearts.

We will not turn away from God's invitation; we are here to celebrate with our host.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall chase me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Let us worship God!

* HYMN #376 PH

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

(Public Domain)

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit,
Let us find that second rest;
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

* CALL TO NEW LIFE

It is only by the power of God’s love that we are able to stand against evil. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.

* PRAYER FOR WHOLENESS AND PEACE (unison)

O God, your repeated invitations to us have fallen on deaf ears. Your promises are revealed before unseeing eyes. We have resisted your companionship and failed to grasp the peace you offer. We are anxious about many things, and we allow our differences to divide us. Have compassion on us, gracious God, and forgive us our lack of faithfulness. Center us once again on Jesus Christ and on the peace you are eager to give us. Amen.

* WORDS OF ASSURANCE

God is merciful and gracious and ever ready to forgive. In the name of Jesus the Christ, we are loved and forgiven!

* SHARING OF THE PEACE

O God, teach us to be still, and to know that you are God.

Teach us to be still, and to rest in your presence.

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 23 Pat Sullivan

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I fear no evil;

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff—

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

my whole life long.

TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES Rev. Dr. Cheryl Ann Elfond

Music: “The Potter’s Hand,” Darlene Zschech

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

ANTHEM

“Mansion Over the Hilltop”

SCRIPTURE Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

RESPONSE

Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

SERMON “Chasing Loving Kindness” Rev. Dr. Cheryl Ann Elfond

*STATEMENT OF FAITH (unison)

Adapted from PC(USA) A Brief Statement of Faith 10.3. 10.5 and the Confession of 1967 9.17

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.

Life is a gift to be received with gratitude and a task to be pursued with courage. People are free to seek life within the purpose of God: to develop and protect the resources of nature for the common welfare, to work for justice and peace in society, and in other ways to use their creative powers for the fulfillment of human life.

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 #358 PH

“Help Us Accept Each Other,” Fred Kaan, Doreen Potter

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

Help us accept each other
As Christ accepted us;
Teach us as sister, brother,
Each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us
And bring us to believe
We are ourselves accepted
And meant to love and live.

Teach us, O Lord, Your lessons,
As in our daily life
We struggle to be human
And search for hope and faith
Teach us to care for people,
For all, not just for some,
To love them as we find them
Or as they may become.

Let Your acceptance change us,
So that we may be moved
In living situations
To do the truth in love;
To practice Your acceptance
Until we know by heart
The table of forgiveness
And laughter's healing art.

Lord, for today's encounters
With all who are in need,
Who hunger for acceptance,
For righteousness and bread,
We need new eyes for seeing,
New hands for holding on:
Renew us with Your Spirit;
Lord, free us, make us one!

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 #386 PH

“O for a World,” Miriam Therese Winter

O for a world where everyone

Respects each other’s ways.

Where love is lived and all is done

With justice and with praise.

O for a world where goods are shard

And misery relieved,

Where truth is spoken, children spared,

Equality achieved.

We welcome one world family

And struggle with each choice

That opens us to unity

And gives our vision voice.

The poor are rich, the weak are strong,

The foolish ones are wise.

Tell all who mourn: Outcasts belong,

Who perishes will rise.

O for a world preparing for

God’s glorious reign of peace,

Where time and tears will be know more,

And all but love will cease.

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Chris Bartlette

“Jesus Loves Me,” Robert D. Vandall

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