Being Human Toolbox 5: Something New!

Wednesday, April 9, 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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Not a lot of people like change, but change is the one constant in the whirling world we inhabit. What happens when we look at the change that startles or discombobulates or even angers us as something new that God is doing?

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 welcome!

Being Human Toolbox 5: Something New!

Isaiah 43:16-21

Union Presbyterian Church

April 9, 2025

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

Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude

“Be Still and Know / Be Still, My Soul,” Mark Hayes

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

*Service of Light

“Holden Evening Prayer: Processional,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

One: Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world,

All: The light no darkness can overcome.

One: Stay with us now, for it is evening,

All: And the day is almost over.

One: Let your light scatter the darkness,

All: And shine within your people here.

*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.

Evening Thanksgiving

“Holden Evening Prayer: Evening Thanksgiving,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

One: May God be with you all.

All: And also with you.

One: Let us sing our thanks to God.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

One: ... you are the light and life of all creation.

All: Amen.

Scripture Reading Isaiah 43:16-21 (NRSVUE)

Thus says the Lord,
    who makes a way in the sea,
    a path in the mighty waters,

who brings out chariot and horse,
    army and warrior;
they lie down; they cannot rise;
    they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:

Do not remember the former things
    or consider the things of old.

I am about to do a new thing;
    now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.

The wild animals will honor me,
    the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
    rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
   the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise.

Response We live, not by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from God.

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Being Human Toolbox 5: A New Thing!

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  # 429 W & R

“If You Will Trust in God to Guide You,” Jaroslav J. Vaida

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

If you will trust in God to guide you,
And hope in God through all your ways,
God will give strength, whate'er betide you,
And bear you through the evil days.
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
Builds on the rock that will not move.

God will embrace your pain and weeping,

Your helpless anger and distress.

If you are in God’s care and keeping,

In sorrow will God love you less?

For Christ, who took for you a cross,

Will bring you safe through every loss.

Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving;
So do your own part faithfully,
And trust God's word; though undeserving,
You'll find God's promise true to be.
God never will forsake in need
The soul that trusts in God indeed.

*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

“O God Beyond All Praising,” Lloyd Larson

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.

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Being Human Toolbox 5: Something New!