Watchfulness

Sunday, August 10, 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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Jesus is still talking about priorities, but this week he adds the urgency of watchfulness. What does Jesus want us to watch for? What are we feeling called to watch for?

You can join us for worship in our beautiful sanctuary or by livestream right here, every Sunday at 10:30 AM. We would love to see you!

19th Sunday of Ordinary Time 

Watchfulness

Psalm 33:12-22; Luke 12:32-40

Union Presbyterian Church 

August 10, 2025 

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

Liturgist: Barbara Lustgarten Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Welcome  

Announcements          Barbara Lustgarten 

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“It Is Well with My Soul,” Robert D. Vandall

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

*Call to Worship Written for UPC by the Rev. Michelle Wahila

Gather in, beloveds.

You are welcome:

The wanderers and wonderers,

The dreamers and disillusioned,

The brokenhearted and the brave.

There is a place for you here.

God meets us all, exactly where we are, exactly as we are.

* Hymn # 15 W & R

“O Sing to the Lord,” Jack Schrader

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

O sing to the Lord, O sing God a new song. (3X)

O sing to our God, O sing to our God.

For God is the Lord, and God has done wonders. (3X)

O sing to our God, O sing to our God.

For Jesus is Lord! Amen! Alleluia! (3X)

O sing to our God, O sing to our God.

* Call to New Life   

Sometimes God shows up in surprising places. Are we looking in the wrong direction? Let us approach God with our struggles in faith. Let us open our hearts to God’s healing.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace  

O God, our God, you call upon us to be ready for you to come to us—to watch for your shadow, to listen for your knock, to keep our lamps trimmed and burning. What if we have been waiting in the wrong place? What if we have assumed that your holy sanctuary is the only place we will find you? What if you are waiting for us to walk out these doors, to come to you, to seek your face on the streets, and in the grocery store, and at the gas station?

~ Silent Prayer~

O God, our God, help us, your wayward people, who want to be with you but don’t know how. Make us bold to share your love. Make us alert for the unexpected voice, the stranger’s eyes, the light hand on our shoulder that will show the way. Satisfy us with your love, the richest of feasts. Help us to follow your path, wherever that may lead. We pray in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

* Assurance of God’s Love  from Psalm 63

Our lips will praise you, God of lovingkindness.

You have been our helper;

under the shadow of your wings we sing for joy!

Our whole being clings to you; you hold us close.

By the tender love of our God in Jesus Christ,

we are forgiven and made whole.

Thanks be to God!

* Sharing of the Peace 

Eagerly we seek our God;

we thirst for the peace that only God can give.

May the peace of God be with you. 

And also with you. 

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

Scripture Psalm 33:12-22

A responsive reading from Psalm 33, beginning at verse 12.

Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

The Lord looks down from heaven;
    he sees all humankind.
From where he sits enthroned he watches
    all the inhabitants of the earth—
he who fashions the hearts of them all
    and observes all their deeds.
A king is not saved by his great army;
    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
    and by its great might it cannot save.

Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
    on those who hope in his steadfast love,
to deliver their soul from death
    and to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the Lord;
    he is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in him
    because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Arise, Your Light Is Come!”

(Public Domain)

Anthem  

“Where Your Treasure Is,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be.

All that you possess will never set you free.

Seek the things that last; come and learn from me.

Where your treasure is, your heart shall be.

What do you gain from all your worry,

What you should eat or what to wear?

There is no peace in stress or hurry.

Do you not know that you are held within God’s care?

Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be.

All that you possess will never set you free.

Seek the things that last; come and learn from me.

Where your treasure is, your heart shall be.

Look at the ravens high above you.

They do not work their whole life through,

And yet God feeds them and protects them.

So how much more will God protect and care for you?

Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be.

All that you possess will never set you free.

Seek the things that last; come and learn from me.

Where your treasure is, your heart shall be.

Behold the lilies in their splendor.

In grace and beauty are they dressed,

And yet so soon their bloom is faded.

So how much more will those who look to God be blessed?

Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be.

All that you possess will never set you free.

Seek the things that last; come and learn from me.

Where your treasure is, your heart shall be.

Do not fear, little flock,

For God delights to give you the blessed reign of God.

Give your possessions to the needy;

Gain a treasure that will not fade.

Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be.

All that you possess will never set you free.

Seek the things that last; come and learn from me.

Where your treasure is, your heart shall be.

Scripture Luke 12:32-40 

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” 

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “Watchfulness”

* Affirmation of Faith  by the Rev. Mary Luti, sicutlocutusest.com

We believe that the day is coming

when God’s grace will change the human heart,

and we will live as one with every living thing.

We believe that the day is coming

when Christ’s compassion will fill the earth,

and no one will do harm, be hurt, or feel alone.

We believe that the day is coming

when the Spirit’s freedom will unbind our souls,

and we will live generous lives for each other

with a joy no circumstance can alter.

We believe this day is coming,

and we wait and work for it with steadfast hope,

for God has promised it, and God is faithful.

Amen!

Come, Lord Jesus!

* Hymn #461 W & R

“Breathe on Me, Breath of God”

(Public Domain)

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love whate'er you love,
And do what you would do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with you I will one will,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
So that your will is mine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with your fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with you the perfect life
Of your eternity.

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.   

* Dedication of Offering 

* Hymn  # 55 W & R

“Great God Your Love Has Called Us Here,” Brian Wren, Erik Routley

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.  

Great God, your love has called us here,
As we, by love, for love were made.
Your living likeness still we bear,
Though marred, dishonored, disobeyed.
We come, with all our heart and mind
Your call to hear, your love to find.

We come with self-inflicted pains
Of broken trust and chosen wrong,
Half-free, half-bound by inner chains,
By social forces swept along,
By powers and systems close confined,
Yet seeking hope for humankind.

Great God, in Christ you call our name
And then receive us as your own,
Not through some merit, right or claim,
But by your gracious love alone.
We strain to glimpse your mercy seat
And find you kneeling at our feet.

Then take the towel, and break the bread,
And humble us, and call us friends.
Suffer and serve till all are fed,
And show how grandly love intends
To work till all creation sings,
To fill all worlds, to crown all things.

Great God, in Christ you set us free
Your life to live, your joy to share.
Give us your Spirit's liberty
To turn from guilt and dull despair
And offer all that faith can do
While love is making all things new.

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” 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 

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Watchfulness