Reputation

Sunday, February 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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The beatitudes are famous—those sayings of consolation, searching out the blessedness in life’s hardest moments. The “woes” are not so famous, possibly because it can be difficult to hear Jesus in such a condemning tone. But that is what we find here—both the blessings and the woes. And in it all, we find the question of reputation: What do people think of us? Jesus has some sage advice on this issue.

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!

Epiphany 6: Reputation

Jeremiah 17:5-10; Luke 6:17-26

Union Presbyterian Church

February 16, 2025

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

Liturgist: Pat Sullivan Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome

Announcements Pat Sullivan

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Come, Ye Disconsolate,” Dale Wood

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

* Call to Worship from Jeremiah 17

Blessed are those who trust in God!

They shall be like a tree planted by water,

sending out its roots in the stream.

They shall not fear the ravages of heat.

They shall know the cool breezes in the summer,

and drink abundantly from the living water.

In the year of drought, they will not be anxious.

Rather, they shall be strong and green.

They shall bear abundant fruit.

Blessed are those who trust in God!

* Hymn  # 80 W & R

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” Eugene Thomas

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

He’s got the whole world in his hands,

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands,

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

He’s got the tiny little baby in his hands,

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

He’s got you and me, brother, in his hands,

He’s got you and me, sister, in his hands,

He’s got all of us together in his hands,

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

* 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 the confidence of the children of God, let us humbly open our hearts to God’s healing.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Merciful God, in your gracious presence we confess our brokenness and the brokenness of the world. Although Christ is among us as our peace, we are a people divided against ourselves as we cling to the values of a broken world. The profit and pleasures we pursue lay waste to the land and pollute the seas. The fears and jealousies that we harbor set neighbor against neighbor and nation and against nation. We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom, of intellect and reason, and have turned them into bonds of oppression.

[Silent Prayer]

And we pray,

Lord, have mercy on us. Heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve you in this world, as agents of your reconciling love in Jesus Christ. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

Do not fear, says the Lord, for I have redeemed you.

I have called you by name, and you are mine.

God is doing a new thing, now it springs forth!

By the grace of Jesus Christ,

we are forgiven, made whole, and set free!

Thanks be to God.

* Sharing of the Peace

The grace of God is a balm like no other.

God has called us by name; we belong to God.

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Jeremiah 17:5-10

A reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah, beginning at chapter 17, verse 5.

Thus says the Lord:
Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
    and make mere flesh their strength,
    whose hearts turn away from the Lord.

They shall be like a shrub in the desert
    and shall not see when relief comes.
They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness,
    in an uninhabited salt land.

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
    whose trust is the Lord.

They shall be like a tree planted by water,
    sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
    and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
    and it does not cease to bear fruit.

The heart is devious above all else;
    it is perverse—
    who can understand it?

I the Lord test the mind
    and search the heart,
to give to all according to their ways,
    according to the fruit of their doings.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Come to the Waterfall,” Richard Colligan

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Anthem Choir

“Blessed,” Pamela Stewart, Brad Nix

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Blessed are the broken hearts, betrayed by pain and loss.

I was once forsaken, and alone upon a cross.

Blessed are the faces of uncertainty and dread.

I had no home in this world, no place to lay My head.

Blessed are the givers who take nothing for themselves.

I became a servant, too, and offered up Myself.

Blessed are the innocent with wonder in their hearts.

Every child who came to Me I welcomed in My arms.

All who hunger for Me and do as I have done,

I will give you comfort and fill you, every one.

You are all God’s children, and great is your reward.

You will see the Father, the kingdom shall be yours.

Blessed are the merciful, who share the gift of grace.

Out of love I pardoned you and suffered in your place.

Blessed are the ones who build the bridges that restore.

I was born the Prince of Peace with power to transform.

Blessed are the broken hearts, blessed are the givers,

Blessed are the innocent, blessed are the merciful,

Blessed are the ones who build, for the kingdom shall be yours.

Scripture Luke 6:17-26 (NRSVUE)

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke, beginning at chapter 6, verse 17.

He came down with them and stood on a level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. Then he looked up at his disciples and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.

“Blessed are you who are hungry now,
    for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

“But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have received your consolation.
“Woe to you who are full now,
    for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who are laughing now,
    for you will mourn and weep.

“Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “Reputation”

Affirmation of Faith From the Confession of 1967 (Section 9.17)

God has created humanity [so] that we may respond to God’s love… God has endowed humanity with capacities to make the world serve our needs and to enjoy its good things. Life is a gift to be received with gratitude and a task to be pursued with courage. Human beings 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 our creative powers for the fulfillment of human life.

* Hymn # 506 W & R

“I Want Jesus to Walk with Me”

(Public Domain)

I want Jesus to walk with me;
I want Jesus to walk with me;
All along my pilgrim journey,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

In my trials, Lord, walk with me;
In my trials, Lord, walk with me;
When my heart is almost breaking,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me;
When I'm in trouble, Lord, walk with me;
When my head is bowed in sorrow,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

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 # 48 W & R (verse 1) “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.

* Prayer of Dedication

* Hymn # 368 PH

“I’ve Got Peace Like a River”

(Public Domain)

I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in-a my soul.

I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in-a my soul.

I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in-a my soul.

* Benediction

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” Joel Raney

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

Call to New Life, Prayer for Wholeness and Peace, and Words of Assurance adapted from prayers found in the Book of Common Worship of the PCUSA (2018),

Worship With Us

Reputation