God's Table - "Y'all Come!"

Sunday, October 11, 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 live in a culture that is soaked in anxiety. We live in a time in which the “normal” worries about jobs and grades in school and our health (or the health of those we love) pale in comparison to our worries about our nation and our world, climate change and war, and too many other Big Issues to name. Who is not affected by any and all of these things? And what words of wisdom does Jesus have for us at such a moment?

You can join us for worship Sunday at 10:30 AM in our beautiful sanctuary at 200 East Main Street in Endicott, NY. Or, you can click on the video link below and join us from your home or wherever you might be. You are invited! And you are always welcome.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God’s Table—"Y’all Come!”

Philippians 4:1-9; Psalm 19; Matthew 22:1-14

Union Presbyterian Church

October 11, 2026

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

Liturgist: Cindy Surrena Preacher: Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“They’ll Know We Are Christians,” Lyndell Leatherman

Welcome Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

Announcements Cindy Surrena

Prelude Chris Bartlette

"Psalm 19,” Robert Lau

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Call to Worship Psalm 106:1-3

Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good;
for God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all God’s praise?
Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.

* Hymn # 475

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

(Public Domain)

Come, thou Fount of every blessing;

Tune my heart to sing thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above;

Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,

Mount of God’s unchanging love!

Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Hither by thy help I’m come;

And I hope, by thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,

Interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace now, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart; O take and seal it;

Seal it for thy courts above.

* Call to New Life

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace
Loving God,
When we have wandered, and when we are lost,
We pray that you would find us and help us find our way home.
When we cannot quench our thirst, when we want that which is harmful to ourselves or others,
Satisfy us with your love and grace.
When we need forgiveness, shower us with your unending mercy.
Receive this prayer, and the silent prayers of our hearts.

(Silence)

* Assurance of God’s Love

Friends in Christ, Know this:

the mercy of God is from everlasting to everlasting,

and I remind you of this surpassing grace—in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

Alleluia! Amen.

* Sharing of the Peace

The peace of God is available to you right now.

May the peace of our loving God be with you.

And also with you.

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

Scripture Philippians 4:1-9 NRSVUE

It is believed that Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from the jail in Rome. This makes the joyful tone of the letter even more remarkable

A reading from the letter of Paul to the church at Philippi, beginning at chapter 4, verse 1.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.

Psalter Psalm 19

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

The skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

Night after night they make him known.

They have no speech, they use no words;

No sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

Their words to the ends of the world.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.

The statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making the wise simple.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are true, and all of them are righteous.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

They are more precious than gold, than the finest gold;

They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

Be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

Music: “Lord, We Have Come at Your Own Invitation” (Hymn #503)

(Public Domain)

Anthem Chancel Choir

“Come and Feast,” Lee Dengler

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Eat this bread. Drink this wine.

Join the table, come and dine.

There is healing for your soul,

So come and feast, and be made whole.

In this time you will be blest.

Come to Christ, He is your rest.

There is healing for your soul,

So come and feast, and be made whole.

Eat this bread. Drink this wine.

At this table you will find

There is life for all who eat,

So come and feast, be made complete.

Lay your cares and burdens here.

You are free, no need to fear.

There is life for all who eat,

So come and feast, be made complete.

Eat this bread. Drink this wine.

Earthly signs of Love divine.

We remember what they mean,

And so we feast, and are made clean.

At this table you will find

There is more than bread and wine.

There is food to feed the soul,

So come and feast, and be made whole.

Scripture Matthew 22:1-14 NRSVUE

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Sermon God’s Table - “Y’All Come!”

* Affirmation of Faith A New Creed of the United Church of Canada

We are not alone,
    we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:
    who has created and is creating,
    who has come in Jesus,
       the Word made flesh,
       to reconcile and make new,
    who works in us and others
       by the Spirit.

We trust in God. 

We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

* Hymn (Sung to the tune of Hymn #37)

“A King Planned a Party”

Used by permission.

A king planned a party — a feast, rich and hearty.
He sent invitations to all of his guests.
So what could be better than getting a letter
And being invited and welcomed and blessed?
"My work needs attention," said one, "Not to mention,
My family is growing. There's so much to do."
"My farm," said another, "Is big, and — oh, brother —
I'm busy with hobbies I want to pursue."

"The wedding is ready! My guests are not worthy!"
The king told his servants when nobody came.
So go search the alleys, the hills and the valleys,
And bring in the poor and the blind and the lame."
That day there was singing and halls that were ringing
With laughter and joy in that wonderful place.
For those who attended knew how they depended
Upon the king's generous mercy and grace.

O God, you invite us! You seek to delight us.
Your table is ready for those who say "Yes!"
Do we make excuses when you want to choose us
To sit at your table, forgiven and blessed?
And, Lord, as you welcome us into your kingdom,
May we reach to welcome the world by your grace.
You love the outsider. Now may we reach wider
To welcome the world with your loving embrace.

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.

Call for Offering

* Doxology # 605 "Praise to God the Father"

Praise to God the Father; praise to God the Son;

Praise to God the Spirit: praise to the Three-in-One.

Sing praise, sing praise to the Lord on high.

Praise to God Almighty; praise to the Holy One.

* Dedication of the Offering

* Hymn # 770

“I’m Gonna Eat at the Welcome Table”

(Public Domain)

I'm gonna eat at the welcome table;
I'm gonna eat at the welcome table, Alleluia.
I'm gonna eat at the welcome table;
I'm gonna eat at the welcome table, Alleluia.

I'm gonna eat and drink with my Jesus;
I'm gonna eat and drink with my Jesus, Alleluia.
I'm gonna eat and drink with my Jesus;
I'm gonna eat and drink with my Jesus, Alleluia.

I'm gonna join with sisters, brothers;
I'm gonna join with sisters, brothers, Alleluia.
I'm gonna join with sisters, brothers;
I'm gonna join with sisters, brothers, Alleluia.

Here all the world will find a welcome;
Here all the world will find a welcome, Alleluia.
Here all the world will find a welcome;
Here all the world will find a welcome, Alleluia.

We're gonna feast on milk and honey;
We're gonna feast on milk and honey, Alleluia.
We're gonna feast on milk and honey;
We're gonna feast on milk and honey, Alleluia.

* Benediction

Postlude  Chris Bartlette

"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” Sean Paul

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

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

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God's Table - "Y'all Come!"