Who Does She Think She Is?

Sunday, September 8, 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 speaks to a woman whose daughter is in dire need of healing—and he does so in a way that shocks us. What is the gentile woman’s response? What does this moment reveal to us about Jesus?

You can join us for worship in our beautiful sanctuary, or right here online. Worship is live-streamed; videos are available here or on Youtube following the service. You are invited! You are always welcome.

Prelude

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan.

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

* Call to Worship (from Romans 13)

Love one another,

for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

The commandments are fulfilled in these words:

Love one another as I have loved you.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor;

therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

Let us worship God!

* Hymn # 649 W & R

“Gather Us In,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Here in this place, the new light is streaming;

Shadows of doubt are vanished away.

See in this space our fears and our dreamings,

Brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken;

Gather us in, our spirits inflame.

Call to us now, and we shall awaken;

We shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young, our lives are a mystery;

We are the old, who yearn for your face.

We have been sung throughout all of history,

Called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty;

Gather us in, the proud and the strong;

Give us a heart so meek and so lowly;

Give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we receive new life in the waters;

Here we receive the bread of new birth;

Here you shall call your sons and your daughters,

Call us anew to be salt for the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion;

Give us to eat the bread that is you;

Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion

Lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Not just in buildings, small and confining,

Not in some heaven, light years away,

Here in this place the new light is shining;

Now is God present, and now is the day.

Gather us in and hold us forever;

Gather us in and make us your own;

Gather us in, all peoples together,

Fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

* Call to New Life

When we pass through deep waters, or go through times of fiery trial, the Lord our God is with us. With confidence in God, our Creator and Redeemer, let us open our hearts to be healed from all that separates us from God and from one another.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

O Lord our God, you call us to work for a world where all will be fed and have dignity, but we find ourselves distracted by our own desires. You call us to seek out justice and peace, but we are satisfied with injustice and discord. You call us to bring liberty for the oppressed, but we do not insist on freedom for all. Forgive us, Lord. Turn us to your will by the power of your Spirit so that all may know your justice and peace, through Jesus Christ your son. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

The Lord is kind and merciful.

God overflows with steadfast love.

By the love and mercy of God, we are forgiven and made whole!

Thank be to God! Amen!

* Sharing of the Peace

Let us work and pray for a world where justice is done.

If we know justice, then we will know 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 146:5-10 (Responsive) NRSVUE

The Israelites called the psalter the “Hallel,” or Book of Israel’s praises. The last five psalms form what might be called a “Hallelujah Chorus,” five ever-intensifying songs of praise to our God.

A responsive reading from the Psalter, Psalm 146, selected verses.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
    who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers,
    and upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked God brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

Anthem

“Maybe Yes and Maybe No," Linda Bonney Olin.

God, I know you’re always there

When I come to you in prayer.

But it’s still a mystery:

What’s your answer going to be?

Oftentimes you answer, “Yes,”

Kindly granting my request.

Oh, the joy and peace it brings

To have your blessing in those things!

Other times you tell me, “No,

That is not the way to go.”

You are wise enough to see

Danger waiting there for me.

Maybe yes and maybe no.

What more do I need to know?

I will trust you, either way,

To love and guide me every day.

Scripture Mark 7:24-30 NRSVUE

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark, beginning at chapter 7, verse 24.

From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” And when she went home, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “Who Does She Think She Is?”

* Statement of Faith from the Confession of Belhar, South Africa

We believe that this unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active in a variety of ways; in that we love one another; in that we experience, practice and pursue community with one another; in that we are obligated to give ourselves willingly and joyfully to be of benefit and blessing to one another; in that we share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind; in that we have one God and Father, are filled with one Spirit, are baptized with one baptism, eat of one bread and drink of one cup, confess one name, are obedient to one Lord, work for one cause, and share one hope.

* Hymn #359 W & R

“Give Thanks,” Henry Smith

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

(2x:)

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

Give thanks to the Holy One,

Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ his Son.

(2x:)

And now let the weak say, “I am strong,”

Let the poor say, “I am rich,”

Because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give thanks!

Prayers of the People

Gracious God,

because we do not know how

to pray as we should,

you provide Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit

to intercede for us in power.

In this confidence we ask you

to accept our prayers.

God of mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the church.

Faithful God,

you formed your church from the despised of the earth

and showed them your love,

that they might proclaim your salvation to all.

Strengthen those whom you choose today,

that they may faithfully share the good news of your boundless love for us.

God of mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray for creation.

Creator of all,

you entrusted the earth to the human race,

yet we disrupt its peace with violence

and corrupt its purity with our greed.

Stop us in our tracks as we ravage creation,

and instead, guides us so that coming generations

may inherit lands brimming with life.

God of mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the world.

Sovereign God,

you hold both the history of nations

and the humble life of villages in your care.

Preserve the people of every nation from tyrants,

heal them of disease,

and protect them in time of upheaval and disaster,

that all may know your reign of justice and peace.

God of mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray for peace.

Judge of the nations,

you created humanity for salvation,

not destruction,

and came Jesus to guide us

into the way of peace.

Enable people of every race and nation

to accept each other as siblings,

your children, on whom you lavish honor and favor.

God of mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those who govern us.

God Most High,

in Jesus of Nazareth you show us the authority that pleases you:

for he rules not by power or might,

but serves in obedience to your will.

We pray for all in authority over us:

Deliver them from vain ambitions

that they may govern in wisdom and justice.

God of mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray for this community.

Merciful God,

since Jesus longed to protect Jerusalem

as a hen gathers her young under her wings,

we ask you to guard and strengthen all who live and work here.

Deliver your people from jealousy and contempt

that they may show kindness and recognize dignity in all their neighbors.

God of mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray for all who suffer any sorrow or trial.

Compassionate God,

Jesus gives rest to those weary with heavy burdens.

Heal the sick in body, mind, and spirit, especially:

…

and all who are in our hearts this day.

Lift up the depressed.

Befriend those who grieve,

especially …

Comfort the anxious.

Stand with all victims of abuse and other crime.

Awaken those who damage themselves and others

by the way they live.

Fill all people with your Holy Spirit

that they may bear each other’s burdens

and so fulfill the law of Christ.

God of mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us give thanks for the lives of the departed

who now have rest in God.

Eternal God,

your love is stronger than death,

and your passion more fierce than the grave.

We rejoice in the lives of those

whom you have drawn into your eternal embrace.

Keep us in joyful communion with them

until we join the saints of every people and nation,

gathered before your throne in ceaseless praise.

God of glory,

you see how all creation groans in labor

as it awaits redemption.

As we work for and await your new creation,

we trust that you will answer our prayers with grace,

and fulfill your promise

that all things work together for good

for those who love you;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who taught us to pray together:

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

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

The Invitation

There was a time when Jesus tried to get away from it all,

for a time of rest and prayer.

But the crowds saw the healing in him, and followed him wherever he would go.

So he welcomed them, and healed their sick.

At the end of the long day, his disciples urged him to send the crowds away,

so that they could have their evening meal.

Jesus said, You give them something to eat.

They said, We have nothing here but five loaves of bread, and two dried fish.

That is enough, thought Jesus, and he told the crowd to sit on the grass.

He took the crusty loaves, and he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke them,

and he did the same with the fish.

He told his disciples to share the food with the crowd.

And he was right.

It was enough. Everyone ate. There were twelve basketsful left over.

At these tables, where we can feel the breeze and hear the buzzing of insects,

we remember that great picnic,

and we are hungry for what God can and will give to us.

We are all invited.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

God of fields and forest, grass and the good earth,

we come before you with thanksgiving in our hearts.

You have made all of it, every molecule,

from the grain that becomes bread

and the vine that becomes juice

to the rain that causes all things to grow, and

to dividing cells that became each one of us.

We praise you for all the works of creation, from the nearest flower

the stars an infinity away.

And we lift our voices with others,

your people, past, present and future,

your angelic choirs and cricket choruses,

and we sing to the glory of your name:

Sanctus

“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power, God of might,

Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is He who comes

In the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest,

Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you, too, for coming to live among us

in Jesus, our brother and Lord.

Humbly born, a son of the Covenant,

he walked among us

through the dusty roads of Galilee and beyond,

healing the sick, casting out demons,

eating with sinners, welcoming the children,

and bringing good news to the poor, the lonely, and the lost.

Nailed to a cross because his life and love

threatened the powers and principalities,

he lay in the tomb for three days

until you raised him from the dead,

showing your victory over sin and death,

and reminding us that your love for us knows no limits.

The Words of Institution

We remember the night before he died,

when Jesus took bread,

blessed it, broke it, and shared it with his friends, saying,

This is my body, given for you. Take and eat.

And in the same way he took the cup,

blessed it and shared it with his friends, saying,

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

given for the world for the forgiveness of sin.

When you eat this bread and drink of this cup, remember me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:

When we eat this bread and drink this cup,

we proclaim your life, death, and resurrection until you come again.

The Generous Spirit

Spirit of Gentleness, come now to this place,

to this bread and this fruit of the vine,

and to these people, all of us one in the body of Christ,

and bless us.

Bless this meal, that it may become for us a true and loving communion

with you and with one another.

Music for Communion: “For the Fruit of All Creation,” Anna Laura Page.

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Prayer After Communion

Thank you God

Thank you God

for all this food

for all this food

for all this love

for all this love

for being here with us

for being here with us

and for sending us out

and for sending us out.

Lord, send us out

Lord, send us out

into your world

into your world

a world of pain

a world of pain

that needs your love

that needs your love.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

in Jesus’ name, Amen.

* Hymn # 425 W & R “Christ Beside Me”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Christ beside me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me—King of my heart;

Christ within me, Christ below me,

Christ above me—never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,

Christ all around me—shield in the strife;

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,

Christ in my rising—light of my life.

Christ be in all hearts thinking about me,

Christ be on all tongues telling of me;

Christ be the vision in eyes that see me,

In ears that hear me Christ ever be.

Christ beside me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me—King of my heart;

Christ within me, Christ below me,

Christ above me—never to part.

* Benediction

May God bless us. May God keep us in the Spirit’s care,

and lead our lives with love.

May Christ’s warm welcome shine from our hearts,

and Christ’s own peace prevail through this and every day,

till greater life shall call. Amen.

Postlude

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” Edward Hodges.

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

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

Call to New Life and Prayer for Wholeness and Peace taken and/ or adapted from the Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church (USA), 2018.