A Deeper Life 5: Loving Our Comfortable Neighbors

Sunday, July 12, 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

This week we move from loving God to loving our neighbors…though, if we are all made in the image of God, then loving our neighbors is also loving God, right? This week we focus on loving those who are very present to us in the body of Christ: those with whom we worship and serve. What does this love look like? How do we connect with those who share our faith?

You are invited to join us for worship this Sunday in our beautiful sanctuary at 200 East Main Street in Endicott. Or. if you wish, you can join our livestream from home or travel by clicking on the Youtube video below. You are always welcome!

A Deeper Life 5
Loving Our Comfortable Neighbors
Acts 2:43-47; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13

Union Presbyterian Church

July 12, 2026

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

Liturgist: Cindy Surrena 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 Cindy Surrena

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying,” John Carter

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Call to Worship

The world belongs to God,

the earth and all its people.

How good it is, how wonderful,

to live together in unity.

Love and faith come together,

justice and peace join hands.

If Christ’s disciples keep silent,

the very stones would shout aloud.

Open our lips, O God, and

our mouths shall proclaim your praise.

* Hymn # 4

“Holy God, We Praise Your Name”

(Public Domain)

Holy God, we praise your name;
Lord of all, we bow before you.
All on earth your scepter claim;
All in heaven above adore you.
Infinite your vast domain,
Everlasting is your reign.

Hark! The glad celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord!”

All apostles join the strain
As your sacred name they hallow;
Prophets swell the glad refrain,
And the blessed martyrs follow,
And from morn to set of sun,
Through the church the song goes on.

Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit: three we name you,
While in essence only one;
Undivided God we claim you,
And adoring, bend the knee
While we own the mystery.

* Call to New Life  

Let us confess our faults and admit our frailty to the One who loves us best, in the presence of those who love and pray for us.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Before God, with the people of God, we confess our brokenness; the ways we wound our lives, the lives of others, and the life of the world.

May God forgive us, Christ renew us, and the Spirit enable us to grow in love. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

* Assurance of God’s Love

The Lord is kind and merciful.

God overflows with steadfast love.

By the love and mercy of God, we are forgiven and made whole!

Thanks be to God! Amen!

* Sharing of the Peace

Our Lord, who overflows with steadfast love,

blesses us with peace.

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 Acts 2:42-47^

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were as one and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Daily they continued with the same purpose in the temple; they broke bread at home and ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. They praised God and had the gratitude of all the people. And day by day the Holy One added to their number those who were being saved.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table” (Hymn #506)

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Anthem Summer Choir

“We Are the Body of Christ,” Stephen DeCesare

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

We are the Body of Christ,

Redeemed by His merciful love.

We are called to be His hands.

We are called to be His feet;

To serve the Lord above.

We are the Body of Christ.

We gather here as one,

In faith we are united,

To share the Bread of Life,

The gift of love ignited.

Together we proclaim,

We are the Body of Christ.

We are the Body of Christ,

Redeemed by His merciful love.

We are called to be His hands.

We are called to be His feet;

To serve the Lord above.

We are the Body of Christ.

United in His love, we spread His peace and grace.

Together we will serve, in every time and place.

With open hearts we go, His mission to fulfill,

Called to do His will.

We are the Body of Christ,

Redeemed by His merciful love.

We are called to be His hands.

We are called to be His feet;

To serve the Lord above.

We are the Body of Christ.

As we receive this gift divine,

His presence is in our midst.

We vow to live in love,

As Christ Himself insists;

Reflecting Heaven’s light.

We are the Body of Christ,

Redeemed by His merciful love.

We are called to be His hands.

We are called to be His feet;

To serve the Lord above.

We are the Body of Christ.

Scripture 1 Corinthians 12:4-13^

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministries, but the same Sovereign. And there are diversities of works, but it is the same God who works all of them in everyone. To each person is given the manifestation of the Spirit for mutual good. To one woman or man through the Spirit is given a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit: To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to yet another working miracles, to another prophecy, to yet another discernment of spirits, to another families of tongues, to another the translation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “Loving Our Comfortable Neighbors” Rev. Pat Raube

* Affirmation of Faith “From A Brief Statement of Faith, PC(USA)”

We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church. The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the Church. In a broken and fearful world, the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.

* Hymn # 311

“Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather” (finger cymbals: Jim Mica or Pat)

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Here, O Lord, your servants gather, hand we link with hand;

Looking toward our Savior’s cross, joined in love we stand.

As we seek the realm of God, we unite to pray:

Jesus, Savior, guide our steps, for you are the Way.

Many are the tongues we speak, scattered are the lands;

Yet our hearts are one in God, one in love’s demands.

While in darkness hope appears, calling age and youth:

Jesus, teacher, dwell with us, for you are the Truth.

Nature’s secrets open wide, changes never cease;

Where, O where, can weary souls find the source of peace?

Unto all those sore distressed, torn by endless strife:

Jesus, healer, bring your balm, for you are the Life.

Grant, O God, an age renewed, filled with deathless love;

Help us as we work and pray; send us from above

Truth and courage, faith and power needed in our strife:

Jesus, Savior, be our Way; be our Truth, our Life.

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 # 414

“Be Still and Know That I Am God,” John L. Bell

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

(Sing twice:)

Be still and know that I am God.

Call for Offering     

* Doxology # 675 (verse 4)

“All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night”

(Public Domain)

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,

Praise God, all creatures here below:

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

* Dedication of Offering 

* Hymn # 309

“Come, Great God, of All the Ages”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Come, great God of all the ages;

Make your earthly mission known;

Speak through every deed and person;

Let your way and will be shown.

Guide the church to true commitment;

Give direction now, we ask;

Fit us for the work of building;

Dedicate us to the task.

Come, Christ Jesus, flesh and spirit,

Sure foundation, cornerstone;

Help us form the church eternal;

May your vision be our own.

Send a message to each follower;

Lead all people to your way;

As we build the church today.

Come, great Spirit, in and with us,

Tune our ears to hear your call;

Through the moving of your presence,

Let redeeming love recall

Ministry in dedication,

Love embodied in our deeds;

Challenge us to do your bidding,

See your purpose, fill all needs.

Come, O come, in celebration,

Household of the one true God;

In commitment and rejoicing

Let us go where Christ has trod;

As we act in faith and reverence,

Let us, Lord, the future see;

Place us in the church triumphant,

Now and for eternity.

* Benediction

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven,” Don Hustad

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

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

Scripture Translations from the Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney, “A Women’s Lectionary for the
Whole Church,” Year A, unless otherwise noted.

^ Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13: Scripture Translations from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

Liturgy from the Iona Community Worship Book, Iona, Scotland.

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A Deeper Life 5: Loving Our Comfortable Neighbors