Sunday July 28, The Rev. Lea Harding, Guest Preacher

Sunday, July 28, 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. Lea Harding steps into our pulpit as guest preacher. The Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the day are:

2 Samuel 11:1-15
Psalm 14
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21

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

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 14; John 6:1-21

Union Presbyterian Church

July 28, 2024

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

Liturgist: Carlton Sackett Preacher: Rev. Lea Harding

WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS Carlton Sackett

PRELUDE Chris Bartlette

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

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

* CALL TO WORSHIP Carlton Sackett

Leader: In Jesus Christ, a light of hope shines brightly in all the world.

People: May the light of Jesus Christ shine brightly upon us.

Leader: May this light nourish and guide us.

People: May Christ’s light show us our pathway to new life.

All: Let us now worship in the joy of Christ’s light shining brightly for us.

* HYMN #405 W & R

“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”

(Public Domain)

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, his covenant, his blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

* CALL TO NEW LIFE

Blessed be the Holy Trinity, the one who fashions us, the one who heals us, the one who reforms us again and again. Let us confess our sin, calling for God’s transforming power. (Silence for reflection and self-examination.)

* PRAYER FOR WHOLENESS AND PEACE

Source of all life,

We confess that we have not allowed your grace to set us free. We fear that we are not good enough. We hear your word of love freely given to us, yet we expect others to earn it. We turn the church inward, rather than moving it outward. Forgive us. Stir us. Reform us to be a church powered by love, willing to speak for what is right, act for what is just, and seek the healing of your whole creation. Amen.

* WORDS OF ASSURANCE

God hears our cry and sends the Spirit to change us and empower our lives in the world. Our sins are forgiven, God’s love is unconditional, and we are raised up as God’s people, who will always be made new in the name of Jesus Christ.

* SHARING OF THE PEACE

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 14 Carlton Sackett

Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;

there is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind

to see if there are any who are wise,

who seek after God.

They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse;

there is no one who does good,

no, not one.

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers

who eat up my people as they eat bread,

and do not call upon the Lord?

There they shall be in great terror,

for God is with the company of the righteous.

You would confound the plans of the poor,

but the Lord is their refuge.

O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!

When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,

Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES Rev. Lea Harding

Music: “Break Now the Bread of Life”

(Public Domain)

ANTHEM Choir

“We Will Take What You Offer,” John L. Bell

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

We will take what you offer,

We will live by your word;

We will love one another

And be fed by you, Lord.

SCRIPTURE John 6:1-21 Rev. Lea Harding

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

RESPONSE Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

SERMON Rev. Lea Harding

* STATEMENT OF FAITH

We believe in God, who created our world and every living thing in it.

Because all people in all places are God’s children, we believe they have the right to be treated with dignity. We believe in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save us from our sins.

We understand and believe that the power of his redeeming grace is available to all who seek it.

As recipients of that grace, we also believe we are called to live out and share the good news of the gospel. We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to make all things new through God’s grace and love.

As we are forgiven, so must we forgive others.

We believe in the Triune God, who continues to create, wash us clean in the water of baptism, and inspire and empower us to serve in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

* HYMN #705 W & R

“You Satisfy the Hungry Heart,” Robert E. Kreutz, Omer Westendorf

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

You satisfy the hungry heart

With gift of finest wheat;

Come give to us, O saving Lord,

The bread of life to eat.

As when the shepherd calls his sheep,

They know and heed his voice;

So when you call your family, Lord,

We follow and rejoice.

You satisfy the hungry heart

With gift of finest wheat;

Come give to us, O saving Lord,

The bread of life to eat.

With joyful lips we sing to you

Our praise and gratitude,

That you should count us worthy, Lord,

To share this heavenly food.

You satisfy the hungry heart

With gift of finest wheat;

Come give to us, O saving Lord,

The bread of life to eat.

Is not the cup we bless and share

The blood of Christ outpoured?

Do not one cup, one loaf, declare

Our oneness in the Lord?

You satisfy the hungry heart

With gift of finest wheat;

Come give to us, O saving Lord,

The bread of life to eat.

The mystery of your presence, Lord,

No mortal tongue can tell:

Whom all the world cannot contain

Comes in our hearts to dwell.

You satisfy the hungry heart

With gift of finest wheat;

Come give to us, O saving Lord,

The bread of life to eat.

You give yourself to us, O Lord;

Then selfless let us be,

To serve each other in your name

In truth and charity.

You satisfy the hungry heart

With gift of finest wheat;

Come give to us, O saving Lord,

The bread of life to eat.

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” 

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 
Praise him, all creatures here below; 
Praise him above, ye heavenly host: 
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION

* HYMN #121 W & R

“Christ Is the World’s Light,” Fred Pratt Green

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

Christ is the world's light, Christ and none other;
Born in our darkness, he became our brother–
If we have seen him, we have seen the Father:
Glory to God on high!

Christ is the world's peace, Christ and none other;
No one can serve him, and despise another.
Who else unites us, one in God the Father?
Glory to God on high!

Christ is the world's life, Christ and none other;
Sold once for silver, murdered here, our brother–
He, who redeems us, reigns with God the Father:
Glory to God on high!

Give God the glory, God and none other;
Give God the glory, Spirit, Son and Father;
Give God the glory, God with us our brother:
Glory to God on high!

* BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE       Chris Bartlette

“Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ,” John Carter

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