Lent 5: Where Your Treasure Is: At the Table

Sunday, March 22, 2026
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

Google Calendar ICS

“Try not to get worried,
try not to turn onto
problems that upset you…
You know that everything’s alright, yes,
Everything’s fine.
And I want you to sleep well tonight…”
”Everything’s Alright” from Jesus Christ Superstar
Lyrics by Tim Rice, Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber

All four gospels tell a story about a woman anointing Jesus, days before his crucifixion. In the gospel according to Matthew, this takes place at a festive dinner party. What is the meaning of this gesture? Why is it so important? And why is it so controversial?

Join us for Sunday morning worship in our beautiful Sanctuary at 200 East Main Street, Endicott, NY. Or, you can join us online here for our livestream (by clicking on the Youtube video), throughout both the Wednesdays (6:15) and Sundays (10:30 AM) of Lent. UPC: always joyful, always welcoming.

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Where Your Treasure Is: At the Table

Psalm 68:4-11; Matthew 26:6-13

March 22, 2026 

Union Presbyterian Church 

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

Liturgist: Peggy Williams Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Welcome

This is the day that the Lord has made!

Let us rejoice and be glad in it! ~Psalm 118:24

Announcements          Peggy Williams

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“A Beautiful Day,” Julia Davis

Used by permission.

* Call to Worship
God, our beloved, receives the enormity of our love.

Blessed be God, who lifts us up, day by day.

God, our beloved, embraces our yearning.

Blessed be God, who lifts us up, day by day.

God, our beloved, is not overwhelmed by our need.

Blessed be God, who lifts us up, day by day.

* Hymn # 394

“Christ is Made the Sure Foundation”

(Public Domain)

Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
Chosen of the Lord and precious,
Binding all the church in one;
Holy Zion's help forever,
And our confidence alone.

To this temple, where we call you,
Come, O Lord of hosts, and stay;
Come, with all your loving-kindness;
Hear your people as we pray,
And your fullest benediction
Shed within these walls today.

Here bestow on all your servants
What they seek from you to gain;
What they gain from you, forever
With the blessed to retain;
And hereafter in your glory
Evermore with you to reign.

Laud and honor to the Father,
Laud and honor to the Son,
Laud and honor to the Spirit,
Ever three and ever one:
One in might and one in glory
While unending ages run!

* Call to New Life

The apostle Paul reminds us: If we have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if we have faith that moves mountains but do not have love, we have nothing. Let us open our hearts to the love of God.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison)

O God, you have searched us out and known us, and all that we are is open to you. We confess that we have sinned: we have used our power to dominate and our weakness to manipulate; we have evaded responsibility and failed to confront evil; we have denied dignity to ourselves and to each other, and fallen into despair.

~ Silent Prayer~

And we pray,

We turn to you, O God: we renounce evil; we claim your love; we choose to be made whole, in your holy name. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

Let us love God with all that we are.

Let the love of God stretch us wider still.

The steadfast love of God is from everlasting to everlasting.

God is kind and compassionate,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

Let us hear and receive the words of Jesus:

Peace be with you. You are forgiven. Follow me.

* Sharing of the Peace

God our beloved created us in love

and offers us the deepest peace.

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

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

Scripture Psalm 68:4-11

Sing to God, sing praises to her Name;

exalt her who rides upon the clouds;

Holy is her Name, rejoice before her!

Mother of orphans and defender of widows,

is God in her holy habitation!

God settles the solitary in a home, bringing prisoners into prosperity;

while the rebellious shall live in a wasteland.

God, when you marched before your people,

when you moved out through the wilderness,

the earth shook, even the heavens poured down,

at the presence of God, the One of Sinai,

at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

Rain in abundance, God, you showered abroad;

when your heritage grew weary you prepared rest.

Your creatures found a dwelling in her;

God, you provided in your goodness for the oppressed.

The Author of Life gave the word;

the women who proclaim the good news are a great army.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Surely, It Is God Who Saves Me” (Hymn #71)

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Anthem Choir

“All the Glory,” Graham Kendrick

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

My heart is full of admiration

For you, my Lord, my God and King.

Your excellence, my inspiration,

Your words of grace have made my spirit sing.

All the glory, honor and power

Belong to you, belong to you.

Jesus, Savior, anointed One,

I worship you, I worship you.

You love what’s right and hate what’s evil

Therefore your God sets you on high

And on your head pours oil of gladness

While fragrance fills your royal palaces

All the glory, honor and power

Belong to you, belong to you.

Jesus, Savior, anointed One,

I worship you, I worship you.

Your throne, O God, will last forever

Justice will be your royal decree

In majesty, ride out victorious

For righteousness, truth and humility.

All the glory, honor and power

Belong to you, belong to you.

Jesus, Savior, anointed One,

I worship you, I worship you.

Scripture Matthew 26:6-13

Now Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon with the skin disease, a woman came to him who had an alabaster vessel of extremely valuable balm, and she poured it on his head as he sat at table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “What purpose does this waste serve? For this could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus understanding, said to them, “Why are you making this trouble for the woman? She has done something good for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this balm on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon “At the Table”

Affirmation of Faith for Lent

We believe in a God who so loves the world,

he came among us in Jesus:

Emmanuel, God-With-Us.

Deeply human and fully God,

Jesus was born of a woman.

He was called by God into a ministry

of teaching, feeding, and healing,

but first, he underwent a time of testing.

In the wilderness for forty days,

Jesus embraced the treasure

of his unwavering faith in God

and resisted the temptation

to use godly powers in self-service.

Jesus called a gathering of faithful individuals

to follow him and learn from him.

Understood fully by people on the margins

as a loving preacher, prophet, and healer,

Jesus was seen by those in power as a threat.

He was betrayed by one of his own,

was tried as a traitor to Rome,

and was nailed to a tree, where he died.

With his last breath

he commended his spirit into God’s hands.

Death could not hold back his power or his goodness;

on the third day he was raised to life by God almighty.

When at last he entered the heavenly realm,

he sent his Holy Spirit to be with us forever:

Emmanuel: God-With-Us.

* Hymn # 201

“A Prophet Woman Broke a Jar,” Brian Wren

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

A prophet-woman broke a jar,
By Love’s divine appointing.
With rare perfume she filled the room,
Presiding and anointing.
A prophet-woman broke a jar,
The sneers of scorn defying.
With rare perfume she filled the room,
Preparing Christ for dying.

A faithful woman left a tomb
By Love’s divine commission.
She saw; she heard; she preached the Word,
Arising from submission.
A faithful woman left a tomb,
With resurrection gospel.
She saw; she heard; she preached the Word,
Apostle to apostles.

Though woman-wisdom, woman-truth,
For centuries were hidden,
Unsung, unwritten, and unheard,
Derided and forbidden,
The Spirit’s breath, the Spirit’s fire,
On free and slave descending,
Can tumble our dividing walls,
Our shame and sadness mending.

The Spirit knows; the Spirit calls,
By Love’s divine ordaining,
The friends we need, to serve and lead,
Their powers and gifts unchaining.
The Spirit knows; the Spirit calls,
From women, men, and children,
The friends we need, to serve and lead.
Rejoice, and make them welcome!

Minute for Mission One Great Hour of Sharing Spirit Squad

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 see insert

“Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ,” Frank von Christierson  (verse 1)

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Eternal Spirit of the living Christ,

I know not how to ask or what to say;

I only know my need, as deep as life,

And only you can teach me how to pray.

Call for Offering     

* Doxology # 582

“Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me,” Paul M. Vasile (verse 1)

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,

And to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,

And to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.

As it was in the beginning,

Is now, and ever shall be. Amen.

* Dedication of Offering 

* Hymn # 49

“The God of Abraham Praise”

(Public Domain)

The God of Abraham praise,
Who reigns enthroned above,
The Ancient of Eternal Days,
The God of love!
The Lord, the great I AM,
By earth and heaven confessed,
We bow before your holy name,
Forever blest.

Your spirit still flows free,
High surging where it will.
In prophet's word you spoke of old
And you speak still.
Established is your law,
And changeless it shall stand,
Deep writ upon the human heart
By your strong hand.

Your goodly land we seek,
With peace and plenty blest,
A land of sacred liberty
And Sabbath rest.
There milk and honey flow,
And oil and wine abound,
And trees of life forever grow
With mercy crowned.

You have eternal life
Implanted in the soul;
Your love shall be our strength and stay,
While ages roll.
We praise you, living God!
We praise your holy name:
The first, the last, beyond all thought,
And still the same!

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“O God Beyond All Praising,” Lloyd Larson

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.

Liturgy taken and/or adapted from prayers contained in All Desires Known: Inclusive Prayers for Worship and Meditation, by Janet Morley, Morehouse Publishing, 1992.

Worship With Us

Lent 5: Where Your Treasure Is: At the Table