Please join us on Sunday July 26 when Rev. Bruce Gillette is our guest preacher. Bruce has spent much of his life and ministry advocating for the care of this fragile earth, our island home. On this day he will show how scripture encourages our care for all of that which God created—earth, water, wind, air. We hope you will join us!

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!

Loving God’s Creation

Hosea 4:1-3; John 3:16-17

Union Presbyterian Church

July 26, 2026

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

Liturgist: Kevin Kelley Preacher: Rev. Bruce Gillette

Welcome

Announcements Kevin Kelley

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“All Things Bright and Beautiful,” J.B. Taylor

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Call to Worship Psalm 8

Lord, our Lord, how majestic
is your name throughout the earth!
You made your glory higher than heaven!

From the mouths of nursing babies

     you have laid a strong foundation
     because of your foes,
     in order to stop vengeful enemies.

When I look up at your skies,
     at what your fingers made—
     the moon and the stars
     that you set firmly in place—

what are human beings
that you think about them;
what are human beings
that you pay attention to them?

You’ve made them only slightly less than divine,
crowning them with glory and grandeur.

You’ve let them rule over your handiwork,
putting everything under their feet—

all sheep and all cattle,
the wild animals too,

the birds in the sky,
the fish of the ocean,
everything that travels the pathways of the sea.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!

* Hymn # 14

“For the Beauty of the Earth”

(Public Domain)

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light:

Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight:

Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild:

Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For thyself, best gift divine
To the world so freely given;
For that great, great love of thine,
Peace on earth and joy in heaven:

Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

* Call to New Life   1 John 1:8-9

If we say we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

But if we confess our sins,

God who is faithful and just

will forgive us our sins

and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In humility and faith

let us confess our sin to God.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Merciful God,

in your gracious presence

we confess our sin and the sin of this world.

Although Christ is among us as our peace,

we are a people divided against ourselves

as we cling to the values of a broken world.

The profit and pleasures we pursue

lay waste the land and pollute the seas.

The fears and jealousies that we harbor

set neighbor against neighbor

and nation against nation.

We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom,

of intellect and reason,

and have turned them into bonds of oppression.

Lord, have mercy upon us;

heal and forgive us.

Set us free to serve you in the world

as agents of your reconciling love in Jesus Christ. Amen.

* Assurance of God’s Love Romans 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Hear the good news!

Who is in a position to condemn?

Only Christ,

and Christ died for us,

Christ rose for us,

Christ reigns in power for us,

Christ prays for us.

Anyone who is in Christ

is a new creation.

The old life has gone;

a new life has begun.

Know that you are forgiven

and be at peace.

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 Hosea 4:1-3 (CEB)

Hear the Lord’s word,
        people of Israel;
    for the Lord has a dispute
        with the inhabitants of the land.
    There’s no faithful love or loyalty,
        and no knowledge of God in the land.
Swearing, lying, murder,
        together with stealing and adultery are common;
        bloody crime followed by bloody crime.
Therefore, the earth itself becomes sick,
        and all who live on it grow weak;
        together with the wild animals
            and the birds in the sky,
        even the fish of the sea are dying.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Bruce Gillette

Music: “Earth and All Stars” (Hymn #26)

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Anthem Summer Choir

“Canticle of the Sun,” Hans Peterson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Praise to you O God most high,

From all who walk or swim or fly.

Brother sun, he lights the way

For every creature singing praise.

Radiating light creating day.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Praise to you from mother earth,

Growing life and giving birth.

Brother fire so fair and strong

Praises you with brilliant song.

Burning mighty bright the whole night long.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Brother wind, he praises you

With rain clouds and clear sky blue.

Storms blow in and then relent.

Your creatures find their nourishment.

Sister water pours out precious praise.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Praise to you O God most high,

From sister moon and stars of night.

You light up heaven clear and fair,

Creating beauty everywhere,

Constellations circling in the sky.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Scripture John 3:16-17 (CEB)

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Sermon “Loving God's Creation” Rev. Bruce Gillette

* Affirmation of Faith A New Creed from the United Church of Canada (rev. 1995)

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. Amen.

* Hymn

“We Have a Common Calling”

Used by permission.

We have a common calling, O God of love and grace —
To care for your creation, to tend what you embrace.
We have one home, one future; we're not in this alone.
We're called to work together for this our common home.

You call us to be partners — to notice and to care;
You make us loving stewards of land and sea and air.
We see our climate changing; God, show us what to do
To care for your creation, to heal the earth with you.

We'll work to build strong leaders; we'll listen to our youth.
We'll strengthen congregations to help them speak the truth.
We'll work with other partners in our communities —
For moral, wise perspectives must shine in times like these.

We see our neighbors suffering — especially the poor —
And so we'll work toward justice and toward an earth restored.
We'll work as loving neighbors to plan and to prepare.
We'll allocate for climate; the earth deserves its share.

O God, as congregations, we don't act out of fear;
Our moral obligations will motivate us here.
We seek a blest tomorrow; our voices rise above.
May we, today, be faithful in this great work of love.

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 # 370

“This Is My Father’s World”

(Public Domain)

This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world;
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world.
O, let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world.
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heaven be one.

* Benediction

Postlude Chris Bartlette

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

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

Bruce Gillette retired last month from serving with Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, his wife, at the First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego where they served since 2019. He continues to serve on the Cabinet (coordinating council) for Susquehanna Valley Presbytery, as co-moderator of the joint Presbyteries’ Social Justice Team, and as a Nominating Committee member. Carolyn is a gifted writer of over 550 hymns sung throughout the world and posted on over 18,000 websites. Bruce wrote the overture approved by the 2016 PC(USA) General Assembly and Presbyteries that amended the Book of Order (national church constitution) by adding the phrase “caring for God’s creation” as a part of the ministry of all church members (G-1.0304, “The Ministry of Members,” https://www.pc-biz.org/search/6285). Bruce has taught workshops on Creation Care for congregations, presbyteries and national church events. The Gillettes are blessed with three adult children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and six grandchildren (hundreds of photos of them are available on request) and a 75-pound rescue mutt named “Annie.”

Worship With Us

Loving God + Loving Neighbor = Loving Creation!