RDER OF WORSHIP
June 25, 2023 10:30 AM
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
If you have individual prayer requests, please write them on prayer cards in the pews and bring them up or give them to an usher during the prelude.
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE “Melody” by C.W. Gluck Mary Lee Farris, Organ
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 86)
Leader: Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
PEOPLE: For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
Leader: Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication.
PEOPLE: In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me.
Leader: There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
PEOPLE: All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.
Leader: For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
PEOPLE: Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
INVOCATION
Gracious Creator of all that is, and all that will be, we come before you in a special week of remembrance of injustice and oppression, and in a month of celebration of our diversity and pride of it and for it. Look upon each of us, your children as we seek to claim justice, to fight
oppression and to eliminate hatred and prejudice. Amen.
**OPENING HYMN: “Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life” Red#433
CALL TO CONFESSION
In this week of Juneteenth, let us remember all of those who struggled and those who still
struggle, with injustice and oppression. Let us come before our God together.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, source of all that is, you create all people in your image and call us to love one another as you love us. We confess that we have failed to honor you in our diversity. We have desired to live in freedom while building walls between ourselves and others. We have longed to be accepted for who we are, while making judgments on others based on the color of skin, or the shape of features, or the varieties of human experience. Forgive us and give us eyes to see you as you are revealed in all people. Strengthen us for reconciliation and restore us in your image to unite us even in our diversity, as you are one with Christ and the Spirit, Holy and undivided Trinity, now and forever. Amen
(A moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
My fellow travelers in this journey of faith, the Lord of Heaven sees, hears, and knows our actions and all our prayers. In the name of all that is sacred, we are forgiven. Amen.
**HYMN OF PRAISE: “All Creatures of Our God and King” Red #356
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
APOSTLES CREED (Adapted for Pride month from the Choctaw Creed)
I believe in God, Creator of our unique spirits and outlooks,
Who gifted us the identity as a distinct people through our Pride, our differences and yet the similarities that all God’s children share, so that through our own lives we can relay God’s love to our people who could not be understood by others.
I believe in Jesus Christ, our relative, who talked of us when he said, “I have other sheep out there, besides those I have here.” I believe in Jesus Christ who knew the pain of all people who were forced into discomfort and had no place to lay their head. I believe in Jesus Christ who does not say “goodbye” in any language but says “I am with you to the end.”
I believe in the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire lighting upon our people to witness to their own people and to the world. I believe in the Holy Spirit as our guide and the driving force for our unique people to do a new thing as we walk a new journey, toward better lives for all
humankind.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Draw us close, Holy Spirit, as the Scriptures are read and the Word is proclaimed. Let the word of faith be on our lips and in our hearts, and let all other words slip away. May there be one voice we hear today — the voice of truth and grace. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Genesis 21: 8-21 Theresa Cotanche
GOSPEL READING Matthew 10: 24-39
SERMON MESSAGE Justice for All? John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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:
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
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We give freely from the bounty we have been given by our Gracious God. May what we offer in these moments help to become the very blessing and hope that others need. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY: “In Christ Alone”
**DOXOLOGY (Traditional)
PRAYER OF THANKS
Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. As we follow in faith, may we find ways to honor you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
**CLOSING HYMN: “May the Grace of Christ our Savior” Red #841
BENEDICTION
May the sun warm your face each morning and the afternoon rains touch your gardens with growth. And as you stand in the light of the setting sun, may the rainbow stretch out over the heavens above us all. Amen.
POSTLUDE “Make Me a Channel of Thy Peace”
Mary Lee Farris, Piano
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955
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