Hello Union Church Presbyterians,
Worship this Sunday, May 1 will be in-person and streamed on YouTube to view at home. We will share prayers, songs, and reflections. We will be celebrating Communion this Sunday.
YouTube broadcast will begin at 10:25 am, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewburghPresby
ORDER OF WORSHIP
May 1, 2022 10:30 am
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
CHANCEL FLOWERS today are given by Lauren Conklin to the Glory of God and in honor of Quinn Elizabeth Emhoff’s birthday.
LECTURN FLOWERS today are by Dave & Sue Young to the Glory of God and in honor of our mothers, Pearl and Louise.
USHERS today are Dan Olson and Jim Alber. If you would like to usher, contact Dan Olson.
FELLOWSHIP HOSTS today are Donna, Sue S., and Jane. 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. If you have Prom-like dresses that you are no longer using, please donate! 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.
FOOD PANTRY: NEXT OPEN Monday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 11 from 9:30-11:30 am. Serving LOTS of people! If you would like to help, contact Kathy or Debby.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE “This Joyful Eastertide” arr. by Michael Burkhardt
(based on the 17th c. Dutch tune VREUCHTEN)
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 30) Leader: I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. PEOPLE: O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. Leader: O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. PEOPLE: Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. Leader: Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be my helper!" PEOPLE: You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
INVOCATION
Creator God, open our hearts in compassion and receive our petitions on behalf of the needs of your church and the world. You call us to love and serve you and our sisters and brothers with hearts, minds, and spirits. This we gladly do as we pray in Jesus name, Amen.
**OPENING HYMN “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” BLUE #463
CALL TO CONFESSION
In the warmth of spring, it’s so easy to lose our way on the pathway to God. Straighten our steps, and bring us along on the walk of faith as we confess together:
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Our Creator God, we are amazed at finding the beauty of your world, even as we seek to destroy it through our own neglect. Bring us closer to you in thoughts and prayers and in every step we take in our lives that should bring us closer to you in this wondrous journey of sharing in the resurrection of your son and the celebration of everlasting life.
(A moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Eastertide and the Good News of Resurrection bring us once again to the knowledge of your unending love and forgiveness, and by that in Jesus’ name we are forgiven. Amen.
**GLORIA PATRI
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Open My Eyes, That I May See” BLUE #324
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Gracious God, we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from your mouth. Make us hungry for this heavenly food, that it may nourish us today in the ways of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, the bread of heaven. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 61: 1-3 Paul and Debby Hill
NEW TESTAMENT Acts 9: 1-20
GOSPEL John 21:1-21
SERMON What Did You See? John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S 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.
COMMUNION HYMN “Break Thou the Bread of Life” BLUE # 329
HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation to the Table
Responsive Prayer of Thanksgiving
RESPONSIVE COMMUNION PRAYER
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
PEOPLE: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
PEOPLE: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Leader: It is right to praise you, Father, Lord of all creation; in your love you made us for yourself. When we turned away you did not reject us but came to meet us in your Son.
PEOPLE: You embraced us as your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
Leader: In Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us. He opened his arms of love upon the cross and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin. On the night he was betrayed, at supper with his friends he took bread, and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
PEOPLE: Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his body is the bread of life.
Leader: At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; do this in remembrance of me.
PEOPLE: Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his blood is shed for all.
Leader: As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory, send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this cup may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son. As we eat and drink these holy gifts. With your whole Church throughout the world we offer you this sacrifice of praise and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
PEOPLE: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! AMEN.
Words of Institution
Concluding Prayer
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Heidelberg Catechism, 1562)
I believe that the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything within, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ his Son. I trust him so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and he will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends me in this sad world. He is able to do this because he is almighty God; He desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.
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 “Awake, My Heart, with Gladness” setting by Robert Hobby
**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 “I Danced in the Morning” BLUE #302
BENEDICTION
May the love of ‘God – which enables us to love everyone, the grace of Christ – which renews us daily, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit – which unifies us in one body called our church, hold and keep each of us until we meet again. Amen.
POSTLUDE “Cristo Vive” (ARGENTINA) BLUE #109, Pablo Sosa
(Feel free to join in singing 2 stanzas of the hymn, English or Spanish, your choice!)
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955