Being Human Toolbox 3: Wisdom!

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
6:30 PM 7:15 PM 18:30 19:15

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

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Rabbi Steve Leder says, “If you’re going through hell, don’t come out empty handed.” In other words, what wisdom do we glean from our lives, the good and the bad? What wisdom did Paul glean, after going from being a persecutor of the church to being a hardcore Jesus freak? Tonight, we talk about wisdom.

Our Lenten Evening Prayer services take place at 6:30 PM in our sanctuary. You are invited! If you can’t come in person, please consider joining us by livestream here or at the link below. Videos are available after the service. You are always welcome!

Being Human Toolbox 3: Wisdom!

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Union Presbyterian Church

March 26, 2025

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

Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude

“Create In Me a Clean Heart,” Mark Hayes

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Opening Sentences

Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening,

And the day is almost over.

Jesus, you give us words and wisdom

That no one can contradict.

From the fullness of Jesus Christ,

We have all received, grace upon grace.

Hymn

“Holden Evening Prayer: Evening Hymn/Joyous Light,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Joyous light of heav’nly glory,

Loving glow of God’s own face,

You who sing creation’s story,

Shine on ev’ry land and race.

Now as evening falls around us,

We shall raise our songs to you.

God of daybreak, God of shadows,

Come and light our heart anew.

In the stars that grace the darkness,

In the blazing sun of dawn,

In the light of peace and wisdom,

We can hear your quiet song.

Love that fills the night with wonder,

Love that warms the weary soul,

Love that bursts all chains asunder,

Set us free and make us whole.

You who made the heaven’s splendor,

Ev’ry dancing star of night,

Make us shine with gentle justice,

Let us each reflect your light.

Mighty God of all creation,

Gentle Christ who lights our way,

Loving Spirit of salvation,

Lead us on to endless day.

Prayer of the Evening

Scripture Reading 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (NRSVUE)

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we no longer know him in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Response We live, not by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from God.

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Being Human Toolbox 3: Wisdom!

Psalm 141

“Holden Evening Prayer: Psalm 141,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,

The lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

O God, I call to you, come to me now;

O hear my voice when I cry to you.

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,

The lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

Keep watch within me, God: deep in my heart

May the light of your love be burning bright.

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,

The lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

All praise to the God of all, Creator of life;

All praise be to Christ and the Spirit of love.

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,

The lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

Prayers of the People

“Holden Evening Prayer: Litany and Prayers,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Response: God of mercy, hold us in love.

Final response:

One: Help us, comfort us, all of our days:

All: Keep us, hold us, gracious God.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our father in heaven,

Hallowed by your name,

Your kingdom come, your will be done,

On earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive our sins

As we forgive those

Who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

And deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

And the glory are yours,

Now and forever. Amen.

Hymn  # 477 W & R

“Come and Find the Quiet Center,” Shirley Erena Murray

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Come and find the quiet center
In the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter,
Find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter,
Clear our eyes, that we can see
All the things that really matter,
Be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us,
Cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
Knows our being, touches base,
Making space within our thinking,
Lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we're shrinking,
Finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel,
Open to each other's pain,
Let our loves and fears unravel,
Celebrate the space we gain:
There's a place for deepest dreaming,
There's a time for heart to care,
In the Spirit's lively scheming
There is always room to spare!

Benediction

“Holden Evening Prayer: Final Blessing,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

One: Let us bless our God:

All: Praise and thanks to you.

One: ... be our guide and path for all of our days.

All: Amen.

Postlude

“All Through the Night,” Larry Shackley

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

Some Words About Lent

Welcome to Lent, the season focused on Jesus’ journey to the cross and resurrection. Almost since the church was birthed, people have set this season aside as a time to prepare for the great mystery of Easter, as well as a time to deepen our faith using certain practices. The gospels tell us that Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days, and this formed the bases of practice in the early church. By the fourth century there was a strong practice of fasting, associated with prayer and with giving food and alms to the poor and hungry. It was also the time when newcomers to the faith prayed and prepared themselves for baptism. Welcome. Breathe deeply. God is love, and our journey this season will be a re-discovery of that love.

Worship With Us

Being Human Toolbox 3: Wisdom!