Lent 3: Where Your Treasure Is: On the Mountain

Sunday, March 8, 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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The Sermon on the Mount is such a rich repository of wisdom, Mahatma Ghandi read it every day. This Sunday, in a passage from that trove, we read Jesus’s wisdom on anger. He speaks of its dangers, both to others and to the angry one. What do we do with our anger? How can we tame or channel it? Is it possible that some anger can be for good?

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.

Third Sunday in Lent

Where Your Treasure Is: On the Mountain

Psalm 32:1-7; Matthew 5:21-26

March 8, 2026 

Union Presbyterian Church 

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

Liturgist: Cathie Makowka Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Welcome  

Announcements          Cathie Makowka

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“His Eye is On the Sparrow,” John Turner

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Call to Worship
God calls us away from the tumult of the world;

let us focus our thoughts on things that are lasting.

In God’s presence we see our lives more clearly;

the broken pieces are put back together.

God calls us out of loneliness into a life in community;

through worship and care, we find out what it is to be truly human.

In God’s presence, we learn where our treasure truly lies.

Come, let us worship.

* Hymn # 23

“God, You Spin the Whirling Planets”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

God, you spin the whirling planets,

Fill the seas and spread the plain,

Mold the mountains, fashion blossoms,

Call forth sunshine, wind, and rain.

We, created in your image,

Would a true reflection be

Of your justice, grace, and mercy

And the truth that makes us free.

You have called us to be faithful

In our life and ministry.

We respond in grateful worship

Joined in one community.

When we blur your gracious image,

Focus us and make us whole.

Healed and strengthened as your people,

We move onward toward your goal.

God, your word is still creating,

Calling us to life made new.

Now reveal to us fresh vistas

Where there’s work to dare and do.

Keep us clear of all distortion.

Polish us with loving care.

Thus, new creatures in your image,

We’ll proclaim Christ everywhere.

* Call to New Life

Oftentimes, new life can be found through return: returning to God, who will supply all our needs. Let us pray.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison)

God of all wisdom and power, you give us your light and truth to guide us along the way. You offer to share our burdens and give us your strength. Yet, we have relied on human wisdom and lost our way; we have trusted in our own efforts and found ourselves depleted. How long, O Lord, how long?

~ Silent Prayer~

And we pray,

Bring us back into your presence, O God. Overcome our separation from one another and from you. By your Word and Spirit, strengthen the gifts you have already given us, that we may meet life’s challenges enfolded in your peace. Help us to be your people in the world, joyful in the confidence and trust of your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

Do not fear.

The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.

Be at peace.

God is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Do not fear. Be at peace. We are forgiven. We are made whole.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

* Sharing of the Peace

Do not fear. Be at 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 32:1-7

Happy is the woman or man whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

Happy is the woman or man to whom the Holy One does not reckon iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my bones wasted away

in my groaning all the day.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me,

my strength melted away as by the heat of summer.

My sin I made known to you, and my iniquity I did not hide.

I said, “I will make known my transgressions to the Gracious One,”

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you;

who are found at such a time, for a rush of mighty waters shall not touch them.

You are a hiding place for me; you keep me from distress;

you surround me with cries of deliverance.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive” (Hymn #444)

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Anthem Choir

“Peace In Our Time,” Lee Dengler

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Peace in our time, O Lord,

To all the peoples, peace!

Peace surely based upon Your will

And built in righteousness.

Your power alone can break

The fetter that enchain

The sorely stricken soul of life

And make it live again.

Too long mistrust and fear

Have held our hearts in thrall.

Sweep through the earth keen breath of heaven

And sound a nobler call.

Come, as You did of old

In love so great that men

Shall cast aside all other gods

And turn to You again.

O shall we never learn

The truth all time has taught;

That without God as architect

Our building comes to naught.

O living Christ, who still

Does all our burdens share,

Come now and dwell within the hearts

Of people everywhere. Amen.

Scripture Matthew 5:21-26

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be subject to judgment.’ But I say to you all that if you are angry with a sister or brother, you will be liable to judgment, and if you call a sister or brother an idiot, you will be subject to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be subject to the hell of fire. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and you remember that your sister or brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your sister or brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to favorable terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way with them or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the court officer, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon “On the Mountain”

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  # 282

“Come Down, O Love Divine”

(Public Domain)

Come down, O Love Divine;
Seek out this soul of mine,
And visit it with your own ardor glowing.
O Comforter, draw near;
Within my heart appear,
And kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn,
Till earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming.
And let your glorious light
Shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

And so the yearning strong,
With which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling.
For none can guess God’s grace,
Till Love creates a place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

Minute for Mission One Great Hour of Sharing Ondra Murray

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 # 300

“We Are One in the Spirit,” Peter Scholtes

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord;

We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord,

And we pray that all unity may one day be restored:

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand;

We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand,

And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land:

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will work with each other; we will work side by side;

We will work with each other; we will work side by side,

And we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride:

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,

And all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son,

And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one:

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Standing in the Need of Prayer," Robert D. Vandall

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.

Call to Worship and Prayer for Wholeness and Peace adapted from prayers by Paul J. Flucke, in Bread for the Journey: Resources for Worship, ed. Ruth C. Duck, United Church Press, Cleveland, OH, 1981.

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Lent 3: Where Your Treasure Is: On the Mountain