Easter 4: Guest Preacher Rev. Robin Lostetter

Sunday, May 11, 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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On this Good Shepherd Sunday we welcome the Rev. Robin Lostetter to our pulpit! Rev. Robin has preached at UPC a number of times, and is a brilliant organist as well.

You are invited to worship with us in our beautiful sanctuary at 200 East Main Street in Endicott, NY, or to join us by watching our livestream (or the video of the livestream, later). We worship at 10:30 AM Sunday mornings…you are always welcome!

Easter 4: “A Tale of Two Masters”

Psalm 23; Acts 16:16-34 CEB

Union Presbyterian Church

May 11, 2025

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

Liturgist: Doug Moore Preacher: Rev. Robin Lostetter

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Here I Am, Lord,” Jack Schrader

Prayer Joys and Concerns Rev. Robin Lostetter

Welcome

Announcements Doug Moore

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Brother James’ Air,” Larry Shackley

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

Call to Worship

Our Good Shepherd is calling:

We know God's voice.

God gathers us together, for nurture, for well-being.

God leads us along the paths of righteousness.

Truly, goodness and faithful love will follow us, all our days.

May we dwell in God’s house our whole life long!

Let us worship.

* Hymn # 150 PH

“Come, Christians, Join to Sing”

(Public Domain)

Come, Christians, join to sing
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice;
Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our guide and friend;
To us He’ll condescend;
His love shall never end;
Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet our Christ again;
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore
His goodness we’ll adore,
Singing forevermore,
“Alleluia! Amen!”

* Call to New Life  

Scripture tells us that every nation and all peoples will stand before the throne of glory of our Alpha and Omega, Jesus Christ, shepherd of all. Seeking mercy, let us boldly come before the throne of grace. Let us confess our sins against God and neighbor.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

God of glory and righteousness, we confess that we do not live as citizens of your kingdom. We give allegiance to worldly thrones. We ignore the neediest in our midst.

We discount our own worth. We forsake your just rule and the rules of your kingdom. Take from us the spirit of isolation, greed, lust for power and false pride. Give us instead the spirit of interdependency, generosity, humility and love. In all things grant us time for amendment of life that we may serve you all the length of our days. Through Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.

* Assurance of God’s Love

Beloved in Christ, we are blessed by God to inherit the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world. By the power of the Holy Spirit we are refashioned every day to live according to God’s reign, in the freedom of Christ Jesus. Friends, know that you are loved and forgiven, and be at peace.

And let all God’s people say: Amen.

* Sharing of the Peace

In this joyful Eastertide,

we can find the peace that passes all understanding.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

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

Scripture Psalm 23 (Common English Bible)

Today’s version of Psalm 23 is a different translation of the Bible, The Common English Bible. Like the translation we normally use, the NRSVUE, it is translated from the original languages. It is accepted by the Presbyterian Church. So listen with fresh ears today!

A reading from the Psalter, Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd.
    I lack nothing.

He lets me rest in grassy meadows;
    he leads me to restful waters;

       he keeps me alive.
He guides me in proper paths
    for the sake of his good name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
    I fear no danger because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff—
    they protect me.

You set a table for me
    right in front of my enemies.
You bathe my head in oil;
    my cup is so full it spills over!

Yes, goodness and faithful love
    will pursue me all the days of my life,
    and I will live in the Lord’s house
    as long as I live.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Robin Lostetter

Music: “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” (Public Domain)

Anthem Choir

“I Am the Good Shepherd,” George Emlen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

I am the good shepherd.

I am the good shepherd,

And I know my sheep,

And am known of mine.

As the Father knoweth me,

Even so know I the father,

And I lay down my life,

And I lay down my life for the sheep.

And other sheep I have,

Which are not of this fold:

They also I must bring,

And they shall hear my voice;

And there shall be one fold,

And one shepherd.

Scripture Acts 16:16-34 (Common English Bible)

One day, when we were on the way to the place for prayer, we met a slave woman. She had a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She made a lot of money for her owners through fortune-telling. She began following Paul and us, shouting, “These people are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming a way of salvation to you!” She did this for many days.

This annoyed Paul so much that he finally turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave her!” It left her at that very moment.

Her owners realized that their hope for making money was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the officials in the city center. When her owners approached the legal authorities, they said, “These people are causing an uproar in our city. They are Jews who promote customs that we Romans can’t accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attacks against Paul and Silas, so the authorities ordered that they be stripped of their clothes and beaten with a rod. When Paul and Silas had been severely beaten, the authorities threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to secure them with great care. When he received these instructions, he threw them into the innermost cell and secured their feet in stocks.

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. All at once there was such a violent earthquake that it shook the prison’s foundations. The doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer awoke and saw the open doors of the prison, he thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted loudly, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”

The jailer called for some lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He led them outside and asked, “Honorable masters, what must I do to be rescued?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your entire household.” They spoke the Lord’s word to him and everyone else in his house. Right then, in the middle of the night, the jailer welcomed them and washed their wounds. He and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his home and gave them a meal. He was overjoyed because he and everyone in his household had come to believe in God.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “ A Tale of Two Masters” Rev. Robin Lostetter

* Hymn

"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)," Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now I’m found,

Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed!

My chains are gone. I’ve been set free,

My God, my Savior has ransomed me.

And like a flood His mercy reigns,

Unending love, amazing grace.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His Word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures.

My chains are gone. I’ve been set free,

My God, my Savior has ransomed me.

And like a flood His mercy reigns,

Unending love, amazing grace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine.

But God, who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

*Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed, Ecumenical Version

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

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  # 299 W & R (verse 3)

“That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright”

(Public Domain)

O Jesus, strong in gentleness,
Come now yourself, our hearts possess,

That we may give thee all our days
The tribute of our grateful praise.

Call for Offering   

* Doxology # 23 W & R (verse 5)

“All Creatures of Our God and King”

(Public Domain)

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship him in humbleness,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One,
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

* Dedication of Offering

* Hymn #108 PH

“Christ is Alive!” Brian Wren

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.

The cross stands empty to the sky.

Let streets and homes with praises ring.

Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound

To distant years in Palestine,

But saving, healing, here and now,

And touching every place and time.

Not throned afar, remotely high,

Untouched, unmoved by human pains,

But daily, in the midst of life,

Our Savior in the Godhead reigns.

In every insult, rift, and war,

Where color, scorn, or wealth divide,

Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,

And lives, where even hope has died.

Christ is alive, and comes to bring

Good news to this and every age,

Till earth and sky and ocean ring

With joy, with justice, love, and praise.

Benediction

Postlude Chris Bartlette 

“Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” Robert D. Vandall

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

Worship With Us

Easter 4: Guest Preacher Rev. Robin Lostetter