The Great Chasm

Sunday, September 28, 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 shares another parable this morning. This one goes to the heart of one of his central teachings, a drum beat heard throughout the gospel of Luke: our responsibility toward those who have been called “the least, the lost, and the left out.”

You can join us on Sunday mornings in our beautiful sanctuary at 200 East Main Street, Endicott, NY. Or, you can join here, by clicking on the Youtube screen in this event. You are always welcome!

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time 

The Great Chasm
Psalm 146; Luke 16:19-31

Union Presbyterian Church 

September 28, 2025 

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

Liturgist: Karl Wokan Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Welcome  

Announcements Karl Wokan

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love,” John Carter

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

* Call to Worship

Let us praise the God who created us.

We will praise the One who made all that exists.

Let us praise Jesus, who lived, and died, and lived again, among us.

We will praise the One who is God-With-Us.

Let us praise the Spirit, who breathes new life into us.

We will praise our spark, our fire, the One who hovers just out of sight.

We will praise our God forever!

* Hymn # 21 W & R

“This is My Father’s World”

(Public Domain)

This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world:
O let us not forget
That though the wrong is great and strong,
God is the ruler yet.
He trusts us with his world,
To keep it clean and fair—
All earth and trees, all skies and seas,
All creatures everywhere.

This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King, let heaven ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

* Call to New Life   

A great disparity in wealth plagues our world and harms God’s children. Let us open our hearts to God’s plan for creation and seek healing for ourselves and the world.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace  

God of all abundance, you fashioned the world and everything that is in it; you created for us a gracious home in which there is enough for all, a feast of beauty, flavor, and nourishment. And yet, so many of your children do not have enough—not enough to eat, not enough to pay for medicine, not enough to afford a simple space of shelter and peace. How is it, God, that so many are struggling and suffering when you have provided us with all we need? It can only be sin.

~Silence~

And we pray,

Hear our prayers, our Judge, for a righting of these wrongs. Hear our pleas, Merciful One, for the will and the way to do better. Activate in our hearts and lives a determination to serve your hurting children, that all may know the dignity of enough. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

* Assurance of God’s Love 

The Lord heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds.

God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting.

Our God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Thanks be to the God who heals our hearts and sets us on the right path.

Thanks be to God!

* Sharing of the Peace 

Where, O God, is peace?

You can give us peace, even in the turmoil.

Friends, 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 146 (Responsive)

A responsive reading from the Psalter, Psalm 146.

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.

When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,

who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;

   who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;

the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love,” Tom Colvin

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Anthem Choir

“Poor Man Lazrus,” Jester Hairston

(Public Domain)

Poor man Lazrus, sick and disable,

He had to eat crumbs from the rich man’s table.

(Dip your finger in the water, come and cool my tongue,

‘Cause I’m tormented in the flame)

Rich man Divies, he lived so well,

And when he died, he went straight to hell.

(Dip your finger in the water, come and cool my tongue,

‘Cause I’m tormented in the flame)

Love to shout, I love to sing.

I love to praise my heavenly King.

(Dip your finger in the water, come and cool my tongue,

‘Cause I’m tormented in the flame)

Scripture Luke 16:19-31

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “The Great Chasm”

* Affirmation of Faith From the Confession of Belhar, South Africa (10.2e)

We believe that this unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active in a variety of ways: that we share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind; have one God and Father, are filled with one Spirit, are baptized with one baptism, eat of one bread and drink of one cup, confess one name, are obedient to one Lord, work for one cause, and share one hope; together come to know the height and the breadth and the depth of the love of Christ; together are built up to the stature of Christ, to the new humanity; together know and bear one another’s burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ; that we need one another and upbuild one another, admonishing and comforting one another; that we suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness; pray together; together serve God in this world; and together to fight against all which may threaten or hinder this unity. 

* Hymn  (Sung to the tune of # 335 PH, "Though I May Speak”)

“Outside My Gate, Outside My Door,” Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

Used with permission.

Outside my gate, outside my door,
Is someone there who's lost or poor?
Is someone there I do not see—
That I walk by—who has a need?

Is there a child who longs for care?
An older friend who needs a prayer?
Someone who seeks a helping hand?
A refugee new to this land?

Outside our church, is someone near
Who cries in pain, who lives in fear?
Is someone close who has no way
To buy the food she needs this day?

Some gates are made of wood or stone,
And some are made of sin alone.
Some doors are made of greed and pride;
They also keep the poor outside.

As we look out, Christ, may we see
Our common, shared humanity.
May we kneel down and serve you more
Outside our gate, outside our door.

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 (Sung to the tune of # 346 W & R)

“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”

(Public Domain)

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“Come unto Me and rest;

Lay down, thou weary one, lay down

Thy head upon My breast!”

I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary, and worn, and sad;

I found in Him a resting-place,

And He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“Behold, I freely give

The living water; thirsty one,

Stoop down, and drink, and live!”

I came to Jesus, and I drank

Of that life-giving stream;

My thirst was quench'd, my soul revived,

And now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“I am this dark world’s Light;

Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,

And all thy day be bright!”

I looked to Jesus, and I found

In Him my Star, my Sun;

And in that Light of life I’ll walk,

Till all my journey's done.

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette, piano and recording

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” Mark Hayes

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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The Great Chasm