We all have our own notions of what eternal life means, and they mostly signify experiences of the soul after death. We imagine things ranging from the actual gates encrusted with pearls, complete with angels playing harps on the clouds, to the great family reunion, when we get to see our loved ones who have gone before us. And God is there, though this is where our imaginations fail. What must we do to inherit eternal life? But first of all, what IS eternal life?
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26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
What Must I Do?
Psalm 49; Matthew 19:16-26
September 27, 2026
Union Presbyterian Church, Endicott, NY
Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Liturgist: Joan Kellam 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 Joan Kellam
Prelude Chris Bartlette
“O Jesus, I Have Promised,” Kenneth Lowenberg
©2008, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
* Call to Worship
God of All Creation, you call us to spend time with you:
We give thanks, O God, for the joy of worship and praise.
Jesus our Brother, you call us to follow you:
We give thanks, Christ Jesus, for your Way of Life.
Holy Spirit, Holy Breath, you call us to respond to you:
We give thanks, Great Spirit, for your guidance and inspiration.
Holy Trinity, you invite us into community:
We give thanks for this community, as together we worship you.
* Hymn # 5
“God the Sculptor of the Mountains,” Amanda Husberg
©1996, Abingdon Press, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
God the sculptor of the mountains,
God the miller of the sand,
God the jeweler of the heavens,
God the potter of the land:
You are womb of all creation;
We are formless; shape us now.
God the nuisance of the Pharaoh,
God the cleaver of the sea,
God the pillar in the darkness,
God the beacon of the free:
You are fount of all deliverance;
We are aimless; lead us now.
God the dresser of the vineyard,
God the planter of the wheat,
God the reaper of the harvest,
God the source of all we eat:
You are host at every table;
We are hungry; feed us now.
God the unexpected infant,
God the calm, determined youth,
God the table-turning prophet,
God the resurrected truth:
You are present every moment;
We are searching; meet us now.
* Call to New Life
When Jesus called his followers to leave their nets and their lives behind, he asked a lot of them. He asked them to completely realign their priorities, to be re-formed into a new way of living. Jesus still asks this of his followers today. Let us open our hearts and minds to God’s hopes and dreams for his followers; for us.
* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison)
God of all Creation, you made us, and before you made us, you made the world we live in. All was designed in perfect balance, with fertile land and fruit trees and plenty of resources for all. By your careful design, everyone would always have enough. But we don’t always agree with what “enough” means. For some, the questions are: Do we have enough money to pay the rent? Do we have enough food? For some the questions are: Are ten houses enough? Are ten million dollars enough? Things are out of balance, God. Your people are going hungry, with no place to lay their heads. What must we do? Teach us, O Great Designer, what you have in mind. Help us to understand your concept of “enough,” and help us to learn how, in these days, we might best follow the Way of your Son Jesus. We pray in his name. Amen.
* Words of Assurance From Psalm 103
Give praise to the Holy One, who does not deal with us according to our sins.
Give praise to the Holy One,
who does not repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is God’s steadfast love toward God’s people.
And just as a father has compassion for his children,
so God has compassion for us.
Give thanks to God, who is endlessly good:
Give thanks to God, whose mercy endures forever!
* Sharing of the Peace
A life of following the way of Jesus is a life where our priorities are re-aligned.
A life of following the way of Jesus is a life where the soul is at peace.
May the peace of God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us share a sign of God’s peace with one another.
Psalter Psalm 49
©1992, Liturgical Press, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
[Pat on her wireless mic for this part]
Let not the wise glory in their wisdom.
Let not the mighty glory in their might.
Let not the rich glory in their riches,
Let those who glory, glory in the Lord.
Let not the wise glory in their wisdom.
Let not the mighty glory in their might.
Let not the rich glory in their riches,
Let those who glory, glory in the Lord.
Hear this! Open your ears!
Listen, all people everywhere,
Both great and small, rich and poor.
Listen to these words of wisdom!
Let not the wise glory in their wisdom.
Let not the mighty glory in their might.
Let not the rich glory in their riches,
Let those who glory, glory in the Lord.
Even the wise die.
They leave all their riches to others.
Their money will not let them live forever.
Their greatness cannot keep them from death.
Let not the wise glory in their wisdom.
Let not the mighty glory in their might.
Let not the rich glory in their riches,
Let those who glory, glory in the Lord.
Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube
Music: “Faith Begins by Letting Go” (Hymn #684)
©1996, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Anthem Chancel Choir
“O Come and Follow Me,” Rick Modlin
©2025, OCP, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
From mountains high to valleys low,
From sea to shining sea
The call goes forth to one and all:
O come and follow me.
Abandon earthly power and fame,
From chains of wealth fly free!
Embrace the homeless, weak, and poor.
O come and follow me.
In seasons light, in seasons dark,
From housetops high decree
A time to turn, a time to change.
O come and follow me.
To build a world where creeds diverse
Can live in harmony,
To build a world of lasting peace:
O come and follow me.
The poor raised up, the proud brought low,
The world one family,
With you my hands, my heart, my voice:
O come and follow me,
O come and follow me!
With fervent hope, unbounded faith
And steadfast charity,
Proclaim good news to all the world.
O come and follow me.
With joy and expectation rise!
Look up and you shall see
The glory of the Lord of Hosts!
O come and follow me!
O come and follow me!
Scripture Matthew 19:16-26
Someone came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about “goodness”? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. Also, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I yet lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, then give to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you all, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the realm of the heavens. Again I tell you all, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the realm of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “What Must I Do?” Rev. Pat Raube
* Affirmation of Faith From the Confession of 1967, PC (USA)
God has created humanity in a personal relation with Godself that we may respond to the love of the Creator. God has created all humanity and given us a life which proceeds from birth to death in a succession of generations and in a wide complex of social relations. God has endowed humanity with capacities to make the world serve our needs and to enjoy its good things. Life is a gift to be received with gratitude and a task to be pursued with courage. Human beings are free to seek life within the purpose of God: to develop and protect the resources of nature for the common welfare, to work for justice and peace in society, and in other ways to use our creative powers for the fulfillment of human life.
* Hymn (Sung to the tune of Hymn #41)
“Lord, What Must I Do?”
©2013, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, All rights reserved.
Used by permission.
"Lord, what must I do?" A man asked one day.
The kingdom of God still seemed far away.
Christ spoke with compassion, "Just do one thing more;
Sell all your possessions, and give to the poor ... "
The man was upset and started to grieve;
Did he even hear what he would receive?
For Jesus continued, " ... Then come, follow me,
And you will have treasure in heaven! You'll see!"
O Lord, we have much and so we confess
Wealth gets in the way; possessions possess!
Our money distorts how we hear your good news;
It changes our vision, obscuring our views.
O Lord, may we have the courage today
To get rid of all that gets in your way;
And may the impossible now be found true:
By grace, we are blest and find treasure in you.
Minute for Mission Laura Keibel
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 # 466 "Come and Fill Our Hearts,” Jacques Berthier
©1991, GIA Publications, All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
You alone, O Lord, are holy.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
Alleluia!
Call for Offering
* Doxology # 605 "Praise to God the Father"
©2011, Alfred V. Fedak, All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Praise to God the Father; praise to God the Son;
Praise to God the Spirit: praise to the Three-in-One.
Sing praise, sing praise to the Lord on high.
Praise to God Almighty; praise to the Holy One.
* Dedication of Offering
* Hymn # 309
“Come, Great God of All the Ages”
Text: Mary Jackson Cathey, ©1990, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Music: Cyril Vincent Taylor, ©1970, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
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
“All People That on Earth Do Dwell,” Lloyd Larson
©2007, Lorenz Publishing Co., All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.
All spoken scripture translated by the Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney unless otherwise indicated. A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year A. Kindle Edition.