God's Prayers

Sunday, October 19, 2025
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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Can you image: God praying to us? I know. It’s an absurd idea. And yet… sometimes scripture reveals to us a God who begs us for justice.

You can join us on Sunday mornings in our beautiful sanctuary at 200 East Main Street, Endicott, NY. Or, you can join here, by clicking on the Youtube screen in this event. You are always welcome!

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time 

Stewardship 1

God’s Prayers

Psalm 121; Luke 18:1-8

Union Presbyterian Church 

October 19, 2025 

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

Liturgist: Laura Keibel Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Welcome  

Announcements          Laura Keibel 

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“I Need Thee Every Hour,” Lloyd Larson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Call to Worship

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

maker of heaven and earth.

Blessed be God, who knows us and loves us.

Blessed be the Almighty, who cares for us and keeps us.

May grace and peace greet us all this day.

May grace and peace be with us all.

* Hymn # 234 PH

“I to the Hills Will Lift Mine Eyes”

(Public Domain)

I to the hills will lift my eyes;
From whence shall come my aid?
My help is from the Lord alone,
Who Heaven and earth has made.

He will not let your foot be moved,
Your Guardian never sleeps;
God's watchful and unslumbering care
Protects and safely keeps.

Your faithful keeper is the Lord,
Your shelter and your shade;
'Neath sun or moon, by day or night,
You shall not be afraid.

From evil He will keep you safe,
Provide for all you need;
Your going out, your coming in,
God will forever lead.

* Call to New Life   

If we say we are without flaws, we are fine, we deceive ourselves. But we do not deceive God, who sees our brokenness and invites us to healing. Let us pray together.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace  

Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you and against one another, in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

~ Silent Prayer ~

And we pray,

In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, that we might delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

* Assurance of God’s Love 

The steadfast love of the Lord is sure:

God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting.

Let the people say together:

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven,

healed, and made free.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

* Sharing of the Peace 

God’s steadfast love is sure,

and can lead us to perfect 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 121 (NRSVUE)

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
    from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time on and forevermore.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “O Lord, Hear My Prayer,” Jacques Berthier

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Anthem Choir

“Hear My Prayer,” Moses Hogan

(Public Domain)

O Lord, please hear my prayer,

In the mornin’ when I rise.

It’s your servant bound for glory.

O dear Lord, please hear my prayer.

O Lord, please hear my prayer,

Keep me safe within Your arms.

It’s your servant bound for glory.

O dear Lord, please hear my prayer.

When my work on earth is done,

And You come to take me home,

Just to know I’m bound for glory,

And to hear You say well done.

Done with sin and sorrow,

Have mercy. Amen.

Scripture Luke 18:1-8

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “God’s Prayers” Rev. Pat Raube

* Affirmation of Faith from A Brief Statement of Faith, PCUSA

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.

* Hymn # 282 PH

“If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee”

(Public Domain)

If thou but trust in God to guide thee,
With hopeful heart through all thy ways,
God will give strength, whate'er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that nought can move.

Only be still, and wait God's leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate'er thy Keeper's pleasure
And all-discerning love hath sent;
No doubt our inmost wants are clear
To One who holds us always dear.

Sing, pray, and swerve not from God's ways,
But do thine own part faithfully;
Trust the rich promises of grace,
So shall they be fulfilled in thee.
God never yet forsook at need
The soul secured by trust indeed.

Minute for Mission: Stewardship Campaign Kevin Kelley

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  # 352 W & R (verse 2)      

“Spirit Song,” John Wimber     

O come and sing this song with gladness     

As your hearts are filled with joy.    

Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name.    

O give him all your tears and sadness;     

Give him all your years of pain,     

And you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name.   

Call for Offering     

* Doxology # 145 W & R (verse 1)    

“Glory Be to God, Creator,” Richard K. Carlson   

Used by Permission.  CCLI License #CSPL068847    

Glory Be to God, Creator,    
Glory be to God the Son,    
Glory be to God the Spirit,    
Known as three, yet God the One.   

* Dedication of Offering 

* Hymn # 420 PH

“God of Grace and God of Glory”

(Public Domain)

God of grace and God of glory,

On Thy people pour Thy power;

Crown Thine ancient church’s story;

Bring its bud to glorious flower.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

For the facing of this hour,

For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil round us

Scorn Thy Christ, assail Thy ways!

From the fears that long have bound us

Free our hearts to faith and praise.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

For the living of these days,

For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness,

Bend our pride to Thy control;

Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

Rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,

Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places;

Gird our lives that they may be

Armored with all Christ-like graces,

Pledged to set all captives free.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

That we fail not them nor Thee!

Save us from weak resignation

To the evils we deplore;

Let the gift of Thy salvation

Be our glory evermore.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

Serving Thee whom we adore,

Serving Thee whom we adore.

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Come, Ye Thankful People, Come,” Dan Sigmon

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 

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace and Assurance of God’s Love adapted from prayers found in “Glory to God,” The Presbyterian Hymnal (2014).

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