Evening Prayer: Where Your Treasure Is: The Parable of the Sower

Wednesday, March 4, 2026
6:15 PM 7:15 PM 18:15 19:15

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

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The seeds scattered by a sower fall in all kinds of places: on a path, on rocky ground, among thorns, and on rich soil. We see where this is going…or do we?

We invite you to join us for a simple supper in our Fellowship Hall at 5:30 pm and Lenten Evening prayer at 6:15 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 and Sundays (10:30 AM) of Lent. UPC: always joyful, always welcoming.

Where Your Treasure Is 2: The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-9

Union Presbyterian Church

March 4, 2026

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

Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube Musician: Robin Lostetter

Prelude

“Two Pieces from Parthenia,” William Byrd, E. Power Biggs

*Service of Light

“Holden Evening Prayer: Processional,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

One: Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world,

All: The light no darkness can overcome.

One: Stay with us now, for it is evening,

All: And the day is almost over.

One: Let your light scatter the darkness,

All: And shine within your people here.

*Hymn

“Holden Evening Prayer: Evening Hymn/Joyous Light,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Joyous light of heavenly glory,

Loving glow of God’s own face,

You who sing creation’s story,

Shine on every land and race.

Now as evening falls around us,

We shall raise our songs to you.

God of daybreak, God of shadows,

Come and light our hearts anew.

In the stars that grace the darkness,

In the blazing sun of dawn,

In the light of peace and wisdom,

We can hear your quiet song.

Love that fills the night with wonder,

Love that warms the weary soul,

Love that bursts all chains asunder,

Set us free and make us whole.

You who made the heaven’s splendor,

Every dancing star of night,

Make us shine with gentle justice,

Let us each reflect your light.

Mighty God of all creation,

Gentle Christ who lights our way,

Loving Spirit of salvation,

Lead us on to endless day.

Evening Thanksgiving

“Holden Evening Prayer: Evening Thanksgiving,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

One: May God be with you all.

All: And also with you.

One: Let us sing our thanks to God.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

One: ... you are the light and life of all creation.

All: Amen.

Psalm

“Holden Evening Prayer: Psalm 141,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,

The lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

O God, I call to you, come to me now;

O hear my voice when I cry to you.

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,

The lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

Keep watch within me, God; deep in my heart

May the light of your love be burning bright.

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,

The lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

All praise to the God of all, Creator of life;

All praise be to Christ and the Spirit of love.

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,

The lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

Scripture Reading Matthew 13:1-9 NRSVUE

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. If you have ears, hear!”

Response We live, not by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from God.

Thanks be to God!

Meditation “The Parable of the Sower”

Prayers of the People

“Holden Evening Prayer: Litany and Prayers,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Response: God of mercy, hold us in love.

Final response:

One: Help us, comfort us, all of our days:

All: Keep us, hold us, gracious God.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our father in heaven,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come, your will be done,

On earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

As we forgive those

Who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

And deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

And the glory are yours,

Now and forever. Amen.

*Hymn  # 171

“A Sower Came from Ancient Hills”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

A Sower came from ancient hills

And cast good seed abroad:

His field, ten thousand human hearts;

His seed, the word of God.

And some who listened would not hear,

And some who heard forgot.

But some received in fertile soil

The truth the Sower sought.

A Sower walked throughout the land

And, everywhere he trod,

He sowed his life because he was

Himself the Seed of God.

But then, atop a barren hill,

Beneath a darkening sky,

They threw God’s Seed on stony ground

And left it there to die.

The Seed was buried deep in death

Beneath a blood-red sky,

And deeper still was buried hope

For those who watched him die.

But then, in Joseph’s garden fair,

As dawn broke o’er the land,

The Seed, from three days’ silent sleep,

Awoke at God’s command!

O Christ, you come among us still,

The Sower and the Seed.

As once you sowed the truth of God

In glowing word and deed,

Implant your Word in waiting hearts,

And let it there take hold,

Until it bears in fruitful lives

A harvest hundredfold.

*Benediction

“Holden Evening Prayer: Final Blessing,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

One: Let us bless our God:

All: Praise and thanks to you.

One: ... be our guide and path for all of our days.

All: Amen.

Postlude

“Dialogo per Organo,” Adriano Banchieri, E. Power Biggs

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

Worship With Us

Evening Prayer: Where Your Treasure Is: The Parable of the Sower