Wisdom Under Pressure

Sunday, November 16, 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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Today Jesus shares with the disciples something that definitely feels like “bad news.” The temple, which they are admiring as they pass by, will one day be just rubble. What are they to take from that prophesy? What are we?

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33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 

Wisdom Under Pressure

Psalm 98; Luke 21:5-19

Union Presbyterian Church 

November 16, 2025 

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

Liturgist: Jim Mica Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Welcome  

Announcements          Jim Mica 

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Sing a New Song,” Douglas E. Wagner

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

* Call to Worship

In life and in death, we belong to God.

We sing to God a new song, because God has done marvelous things!

In a broken and fearful world, God gives us courage.

God’s steadfast love and faithfulness are with us always.

We watch for God’s new heaven and new earth.

Let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord,

for God is coming to judge the earth.

* Hymn # 48 W & R

“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

(Public Domain)

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish but naught changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render, O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.

Call to New Life

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (responsive)

Almighty and merciful God, you created and are creating still. In your presence our limits lie stark before us. We confess our unkind lips, our cold hearts, our turning away from neighbors, our broken promises and our unrepentant hours. Forgive us, O Holy One.

We confess that we have squandered the gifts you have given. We have neglected the land. We have grasped for goods. We have used each other. We have loved power more than people. Forgive us, O Holy One.

~ silence ~

And we pray,

Cleanse us from the illusion of innocence. Come into our hearts and make us new again. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

Hear the good news!

God’s steadfast love and faithfulness are with us always.

In Jesus Christ, God knows and receives us as we are.

Let us listen, give thanks, and live. 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 98 (NRSVUE)

O sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
    have gotten him victory.

The Lord has made known his victory;
    he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the sound of melody.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

Let the sea roar and all that fills it,
    the world and those who live in it.

Let the floods clap their hands.
    Let the hills sing together for joy

at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Goodness is Stronger Than Evil,” John L. Bell

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Anthem Choir

“Go Forth In His Name,” Graham Kendrick, John F. Wilson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

We are His children, the fruit of His suffering,

Saved and redeemed by His blood;

Called to be holy, a light to the nations,

Clothed with His power, filled with His love!

Go forth in His name, proclaiming, “Jesus reigns!”

Now if the time for the church to arise, and

Proclaim Him, “Jesus, Savior, Redeemer, and Lord.”

Countless the souls that are stumbling in darkness,

Why do we sleep in the light?

Jesus commands us to “Go make disciples.”

This is our cause, this is the fight!

Go forth in His name, proclaiming, “Jesus reigns!”

Now if the time for the church to arise, and

Proclaim Him, “Jesus, Savior, Redeemer, and Lord.”

Listen, the wind of the Spirit is blowing,

The end of the age is so near;

Powers in the earth and the heavens are shaking,

Jesus, our Lord, soon shall appear!

Go forth in His name, proclaiming, “Jesus reigns!”

Now if the time for the church to arise, and

Proclaim Him, “Jesus, Savior, Redeemer, and Lord.”

Jesus is Lord!

Scripture Luke 21:5-19

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “Wisdom Under Pressure”

* Affirmation of Faith from A Brief Statement of Faith (PCUSA 1983)

In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. 

In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.

In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

* Hymn # 622 W & R

“When Will People Cease Their Fighting?” Constance Cherry

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

When will people cease their fighting?

When will armies wage no war,

Nations conquer not their neighbor,

Weapons idle, used no more?

When will guns and bombs be silent?

When will captives be set free?

All creation groans in longing

For the world’s true liberty.

Floods and earthquakes, drought and famine

Plague the world with awesome ill,

But far greater is war’s horror

Caused by human, stubborn will.

Blest are those who, working, praying,

Purpose in their hearts to be

Instruments of peace, committed

To the nations’ harmony.

As we strive for peace with vigor,

Hoping to be shown the way,

We are strengthened in the knowledge

Of a future, perfect day;

For we know that deeper, richer

Peace is ours when Christ shall reign:

Then will all our swords be plowshares

And God’s children free from pain.

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.   

* Prayer of Dedication of Our Pledges for 2026

Generous God, maker of all that is dear to us, Giver of faith, hope, and love, we come before you with the gifts of our lives—those set aside and saved, those nurtured and earmarked for this moment, and those we have just discovered this week. We ask you to bless our gifts and make them fruitful. Let them multiply like the loaves and fishes with which Jesus fed thousands. Let them support this congregation in its mission and ministry throughout the next year. With the help of these gifts, let your love go out into the world, carried by your grace. We pray in your holy name. Amen.

* Hymn #96 W & R

“O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

(Public Domain)

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread thro' all the earth abroad
The honors of your name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease,
'Tis music in the sinner's ears,
'Tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

To God all glory, praise, and love
Be now and ever given
By saints below and saints above,
The Church in earth and heaven.

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Sing Out, Earth and Skies,” Jeanne Cotter

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 Words of Assurance adapted from the Book of Worship, United Church of Christ (1986).

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Wisdom Under Pressure