Epiphany 2: Shadow and Light

Sunday, January 18, 2026
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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We turn to the prophet Isaiah this morning, hearing his beautiful promise of God restoring the world to a place of goodness and light through an inspired and indomitable leader. “The zeal of the Lord of hosts,” he assures us, “will do this.”

Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM in our beautiful sanctuary at 200 East Main Street, Endicott. Or, you can join our livestream by clicking on the Youtube Video right here. We would love to walk the Advent journey together.

Shadow and Light

Psalm 36:5-10; Isaiah 9:2-7

Union Presbyterian Church 

January 18, 2026 

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

Liturgist: Laura Keibel Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Prayer Joys and Concerns          Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome  

Announcements          Laura Keibel

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“We Are Marching in the Light of God,” John Carter

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Call to Worship ~from Psalm 19

The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Here comes the sun!

In the heavens has set a tent for the sun,

which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,

and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

Here comes the sun!

The rising of the sun is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them.

Here comes the sun!

The Light of Christ has dawned,

and creation gives God glory.

* Hymn # 401

“Gather Us In,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Here in this place the new light is streaming;

Now is the darkness vanished away;

See in this space our fears and our dreamings

Brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken;

Gather us in, the blind and the lame;

Call to us now and we shall awaken;

We shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young, our lives are a mystery.

We are the old who yearn for your face.

We have been sung throughout all of history,

Called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty;

Gather us in, the proud and the strong;

Give us a heart so meek and so lowly;

Give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we will take the wine and the water;

Here we will take the bread of new birth.

Here you shall call your sons and your daughters,

Call us anew to be salt for the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion;

Give us to eat the bread that is you;

Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion

Lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Not in the dark of buildings confining,

Not in some heaven, light years away:

Here in this place the new light is shining;

Now is the kingdom and now is the day.

Gather us in and hold us forever;

Gather us in and make us your own;

Gather us in, all peoples together,

Fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

* Call to New Life

The light of Christ prompts us to examine the shadows in our hearts, and to ask God for healing and wholeness. Let us pray together.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison)

Merciful God, in your gracious presence we confess our sin and the sin of this world. Although Christ is among us as our peace, we are a people divided against ourselves as we cling to the values of a broken world. The profit and pleasures we pursue lay waste the land and pollute the seas. The fears and jealousies that we harbor set neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation. We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom, of intellect and reason, and have turned them into bonds of oppression.

~silence~

And we pray,

Lord, have mercy upon us; heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve you in the world as agents of your reconciling love in Jesus Christ. In his name we pray. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

The One whose power is at work within us

is able to do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine!

The love of God is from everlasting to everlasting.

To God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

to all generations, forever and ever.

Amen! Alleluia!

* Sharing of the Peace

May the peace of Christ

be a light that shines within you always.

May the peace of God be with you. 

And also with you.

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

Scripture Psalm 36:5-10 (responsive)

Holy One, throughout the very heavens is your faithful love,

your faithfulness beyond the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the eternal mountains;
your judgments are like the mighty deep;
you save humankind and animalkind alike, Faithful One.

How precious is your faithful love, O God!
All the woman-born take shelter in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

Extend your faithful love to those who know you
and your justice to the upright of heart!

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “The People Who Walked in Darkness" (Hymn #86)

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Anthem Choir

“Now Rises,” Pat Raube

We’ve walked in the darkness so long;

We’ve made our home in the night.

We’ve sung our laments and our songs,

We’ve pined away for the light.

And slowly your candle flickers

Into a burning flame.

And the hope of the world returns:

Emmanuel is his name.

A sorrow has burdened our hearts,

A yoke has weighed us down.

We’ve felt our oppressor’s rod,

We’ve lived beneath his frown.

But now the boots of warriors

All will be burned in fire.

Now rises the peace beyond words.

Now rises our hearts’ desire.

O Wisdom, come visit again.

O Flower of Jesse, bloom!

O Key that opens all doors,

Come make in our hearts a room.

O Dawn that is ever radiant,

Kindle in us your flame.

O Ruler of all, come in,

And bind us all in your name.

Scripture Isaiah 9:2-7

The people—women, children, and men—who walked in bleakness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in the land of shadow of death—
    on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation;
    you have magnified its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as people—women, children, and men—exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden
    and the staff on their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the trampling warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders,
    and his name shall be called
a Wonder, a Counselor, a Mighty God,
    Perpetual Parent, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually
    and there shall be peace without end,

for the throne of David and his monarchy.
    God will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of God, Commander of heaven’s vanguard, will do this.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon “Shadow and Light”

* Affirmation of Faith

In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. 

We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

* Hymn # 665

“As Morning Dawns,” Fred R. Anderson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

As morning dawns, Lord, hear our cry.

O sovereign God, now hear our sigh.

As first light brings the sun’s warm rays,

Accept our sacrifice of praise.

Before you, Lord, the wicked fall,

And none shall dwell within your hall.

The proud shall never gain a place,

Nor evil live to see your face.

Your steadfast love shall welcome all

Who seek your house and on you call.

O lead us, Lord, in righteousness,

As through this day your name we bless.

Let all who seek you then rejoice,

And sing to you with joyful voice.

For you shall bless the righteous, Lord.

Forever be your name adored.

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 # 144 (verse 4) “In the Bleak Midwinter” (Public Domain)

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a wise man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

Call for Offering     

* Doxology # 584 “Glory, Glory, Glory”

Glory, glory, glory,

Glory be to God on high!

Glory, glory, glory,

Glory be to God on high!

And on earth peace to all people

In whom God is well pleased.

And on earth peace to all people

In whom God is well pleased.

* Dedication of Offering 

* Hymn # 662

“Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies”

(Public Domain)

Christ, whose glory fills the skies;
Christ, the true, the only light;
Sun of Righteousness, arise;
Triumph o'er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Daystar, in my heart appear.

Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by thee;
Joyless is the day's return
Till thy mercy's beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Cheer my eyes and warm my heart.

Visit then this soul of mine;
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, radiancy divine;
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“The Light of the World is Jesus,” Mark Hayes

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.     

Scripture Translations are from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney, unless otherwise noted.

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Epiphany 2: Shadow and Light