On Sheep and Coins

Sunday, September 14, 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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In the 15th chapter of the Gospel According to Luke, Jesus tells three parables, often called “the Lost and Found” parables. Today we share the first two of these, the famous parable of the lost sheep and the not-so-famous parable of the lost coin. What does it mean to be lost and found by God?

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!

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time 

On Sheep and Coins

Psalm 14; Luke 15:1-10

Union Presbyterian Church 

September 14, 2025 

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

Liturgist: Becky Conklin Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Prayer Joys and Concerns          Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome  

Announcements          Becky Conklin 

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Shepherd,” Roger Summers

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

* Call to Worship

O God, you summon the day to dawn;

you teach the morning to waken the earth.

Great is your name; great is your love!

For you, the valley shall sing for joy;

the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Great is your name; great is your love!

For you, the monarchs of the earth shall bow;

the poor and persecuted shall shout for joy.

Great is your name; great is your love!

Your love and mercy shall last forever;

fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise.

Great is your name; great is your love!

* Hymn # 458 PH

“Earth and All Stars,” David N. Johnson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Earth and all stars,

Loud rushing planets

Sing to the Lord a new song!

Hail, wind, and rain,

Loud blowing snowstorm

Sing to the Lord a new song!

God has done marvelous things.

We will sing praises with a new song.

Steel and machines,

Loud pounding hammers

Sing to the Lord a new song!

Limestone and beams,

Loud building workers

Sing to the Lord a new song!

God has done marvelous things.

We will sing praises with a new song.

Classrooms and labs,
Loud boiling test tubes

Sing to the Lord a new song!

Athlete and band,

Loud cheering people

Sing to the Lord a new song!

God has done marvelous things.

We will sing praises with a new song.

Knowledge and truth,

Loud sounding wisdom

Sing to the Lord a new song!

Daughter and son,

Loud praying members

Sing to the Lord a new song!

God has done marvelous things.

We will sing praises with a new song.

* Call to New Life   

Early in the morning, in the multicolored company of your church on earth and in heaven, we celebrate your church; your life; your death and resurrection; and your interest in us. So, together, we open our hearts and pray:

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace  

Lord, bring new life where we are worn and tired. Bring new love where we have turned hard-hearted. Bring forgiveness where we feel hurt and where we have wounded others. And loving God, we pray, bring the joy and freedom of your Holy Spirit where we are the prisoners of ourselves. In your holy name we pray. Amen.

* Assurance of God’s Love 

To all and to each, God pronounces pardon.

God grants us the grace to begin again.

The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

* Sharing of the Peace 

Early in the morning, when the world was young,

You gave birth to all we know.

You planted in our hearts the longing for the peace of new beginnings.

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 14

A responsive reading from Psalm 14, selected verses.

Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt; they do abominable deeds;
    there is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
    to see if there are any who are wise,
    who seek after God.

They have all gone astray; they are all alike perverse;
    there is no one who does good,
    no, not one.

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
    who eat up my people as they eat bread
    and do not call upon the Lord?

There they shall be in great terror,
    for God is with the company of the righteous.
You would confound the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.

O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
    When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
    Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

Time for Young Disciples

Music: “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (Public Domain)

Anthem

“A Shepherd I’ll Be to You,” Kevin Bates

Used by Permission.  CCLI License #CSPL068847     

A shepherd I’ll be to you, I know your name,

I know the heart of your story.

A shepherd I’ll be, I hope you feel at home,

No matter how long since you saw me.

Some people think I’ve lost interest in them,

Just because they’ve got dust on their clothes,

Or because on the track somewhere something was said

That made them feel sheep without homes.

A shepherd I’ll be to you, I know your name,

I know the heart of your story.

A shepherd I’ll be, I hope you feel at home,

No matter how long since you saw me.

And some people think that a shepherd’s no fun,

Just because the road sometimes gets narrow.

But I love looking out just to find where you’ve been.

What a joy when your face turns to home.

A shepherd I’ll be to you, I know your name,

I know the heart of your story.

A shepherd I’ll be, I hope you feel at home,

No matter how long since you saw me.

And just while I’ve got your attention on me,

There are other sheep I need to find.

Will you seek them and welcome wherever they be,

‘Cause I’m dyin’ with them on my mind.

A shepherd I’ll be to you, I know your name,

I know the heart of your story.

A shepherd I’ll be, I hope you feel at home,

No matter how long since you saw me.

Scripture Luke 15:1-10

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “On Sheep and Coins”

* Affirmation of Faith From the Confession of Belhar, South Africa 

We believe in the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who gathers, protects and cares for the church through Word and Spirit. This, God has done since the beginning of the world and will do to the end.

We believe in one holy, universal Christian church, the communion of saints called from the entire human family.

We believe that Christ’s work of reconciliation is made manifest in the church as the community of believers who have been reconciled with God

and with one another.

We believe that unity is, therefore, both a gift and an obligation for the church of Jesus Christ; that through the working of God’s Spirit it is a binding force, yet simultaneously a reality which must be earnestly pursued and sought: one which the people of God must continually be built up to attain.

* Hymn # 261 PH

“God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us”

(Public Domain)

God of compassion, in mercy befriend us;
Giver of grace for our needs all availing,
Wisdom and strength for each day do Thou send us,
Patience untiring and courage unfailing.

Wandering and lost, Thou hast sought us and found us,
Stilled our rude hearts with Thy Word of consoling;
Wrap now Thy peace, like a mantle, around us,
Guarding our thoughts and our passions controlling.

How shall we stray, with Thy hand to direct us,
Thou who the stars in their courses art guiding?
What shall we fear, with Thy power to protect us,

We who walk forth in Thy greatness confiding?

Minute for Mission Becky Conklin

Farewell to Departing Members Rich and Sally Kastl

…God has blessed you and made you a blessing in our lives together.

You have deepened our joy

and lightened our sorrow.

We will miss your love and support,

yet we rejoice that you will now bless others as you have blessed us.

Go in the peace of Christ.

Sally and Rich: 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  # 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 # 172 PH

“My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” Dale Grotenhuis

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

My Shepherd will supply my need;
Jehovah is His Name:
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy’s sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay;
One word of Your supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Your hand, in sight of all my foes,
Does still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Your oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Your house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, or a guest,
But like a child at home.

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Amazing Grace,” Jack Schrader

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 

The prayers and liturgy have been taken and/or adapted from the Wee Worship Book of the Iona Community, Scotland.

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On Sheep and Coins