Hello Union Church Presbyterians,
Worship this Sunday, April 24 will be in-person and streamed on YouTube to view at home. We will share prayers, songs, and reflections.
YouTube broadcast will begin at 10:25 am, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewburghPresby
ORDER OF WORSHIP
April 24, 2022 10:30 am
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
USHERS today are Jeff Bousche and James Phillips. If you would like to usher, contact Dan Olson.
FELLOWSHIP HOSTS today are Elders Theresa, Dave, and Janice. Hosts needed for May and June. Signup chart in the Fellowship Hall.
OUTREACH: Prom Night is coming in May to NFA and not all girls can afford a dress for the occasion. Sue Young has arranged for us to help! If you have Prom-like dresses that you are no longer using, please donate! Teachers are collecting them from various sources, advertising their availability, and allowing students to come and take a dress that works for them. Bring any dresses on hangers to church and hang them on the coat rack in the Narthex. DO NOT put these dresses with Food Pantry clothes. Call Karen Olson (845) 564-0572 or Sue Young (845) 561-4477 for more information.
HABITAT Annual Walk for Housing TODAY at 1 pm (registration at 12pm). Donations from Union church will go to Unity Build, a group of Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, and other congregations that will fund a Habitat Newburgh Home. More information is available on the bulletin board in the Narthex.
FOOD PANTRY: NEXT OPEN Monday, Apr 25 and Wednesday, Apr 27 from 9:30-11:30 am. Serving LOTS of people! If you would like to help, contact Kathy or Debby.
Union Food Pantry is part of Stop & Shop’s Bloomin' 4 Good program for April. For every Bouquet sold, $1 is donated to a local hunger organization. Should you need flowers in April, you can help to support our program!
ORDER OF WORSHIP
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE “Up from the Grave He Arose” arr. John Ferguson
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 150) Leader: Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! PEOPLE: Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Leader: Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! PEOPLE: Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Leader: Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! PEOPLE: Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
INVOCATION
Lord, you bring the dawn of each new day; we praise your name in the promise of new life. You scatter the clouds of darkness so our eyes can see the truth of your love. Through Jesus, you replace the finality of death with an affirmation of life without end as we worship in his name. Amen.
MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
**OPENING HYMN “Christ Arose” RED # 235
CALL TO CONFESSION
We are imperfect creatures who cannot help but fail despite our best intentions. Let us gather closer to our God as we confess together.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving God, you dry the tears of those who weep and bring hope and comfort to all who mourn. We cannot hide from your presence; our needs are all known to you. We are an open book to you who created us. Help us to awake to the assurance of Easter and be more attuned to your mercy and forgiveness as we journey ever closer to you and to our redeemer Jesus. Amen.
(A moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends in Faith, the Good News of the Gospel draws us to our creator and by that unending love we are forgiven. Amen.
**GLORIA PATRI
PASSING OF THE PEACE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles Creed (Traditional)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing” RED #255
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Holy God, Word made flesh, let us come to this word open to being surprised. Silence our agendas; cast out our casual detachment. Confound our expectations; penetrate the corners of our hearts with this word. We know that you can, we pray that you will, and we wait with great anticipation. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT Joel 2: 28-32 Libby Szymanowicz
NEW TESTAMENT Revelation 1:4-8
GOSPEL John 20:19-31
SERMON Receive the Holy Spirit John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, we come to you on this Eastertide Sunday with our cares and concerns, our joys and our sorrows, in humble requests for your blessing and assurance. We ask that you continue to watch over all those around us who keep our society working even in these dark days of pandemic, and even as we look to the brighter days of spring and summer. We know that a new day is coming even as we celebrate our resurrected Lord in these days of Easter celebration. And we ask you to help and healing and comfort to those we name here in our prayer:
And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who taught to pray, saying:
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.
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Let us all consider what we have been blessed with and how we can best share it with those in greater need, even as we gift our church for its greater work to the Glory of God and the undying love of Jesus.
OFFERTORY “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” Frank Ferko
(Tune: ORIENTIS PARTIBUS)
**DOXOLOGY
PRAYER OF THANKS
We thank you, our Lord for those gifts to us that we send to you for your work and ours in congregation, community, and culture. Guide us in good use as we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
**HYMN OF PARTING “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” RED #95
BENEDICTION
May the grace of Christ – which renews us daily, and the love of ‘God – which enables us to love everyone, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit – which unifies us in one body, hold and keep us until we meet again. Amen.
POSTLUDE “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain” setting by Wilbur Held
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955