Worship this Sunday, November 27 will be in-person and streamed on YouTube to view at home.
YouTube broadcast will begin at 10:25 AM, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewburghPresby
ORDER OF WORSHIP
November 27, 2022 10:30 AM
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
USHERS today are Paul Hill and Richard Smith. If you would like to usher, contact Dan Olson.
NEWBURGH LOAVES & FISHES received 72 thanksgiving bags from our congregation and the Good Fellowship Dart Ball League. THANK YOU to everyone who donated!
ADVENT begins TODAY. If your family would like to light Advent candles, please contact Pastor John.
HANGING OF THE GREENS: Christmas is coming! We need your help with decorating our beautiful church for the Holiday; it’s all hands-on deck TODAY after church. Many hands make light work so please consider helping. God bless you all and thank you!
Sun, Dec 11: LUNCHEON after worship, sponsored by the Deacons. Afterwards join us for a special musical program by Jonathan Hall of Goshen Presbyterian church, concluding with a Carol Sing.
POINSETTIAS available for purchase, $15 each. Envelopes available in the pews; please write neatly and leave in offering pate. Envelopes due Sun, Dec 11.
OUTREACH Committee meeting changed to SUN, DEC 4 after church in the Parlor.
PHOTO DIRECTORY: Outreachwill begin taking pictures of individuals and families, during Fellowship Hour after services, for the new photo directory.
CHRISTIAN ED: Holiday Ornament Workshops Fri, Dec 2 and Fri, Dec 9 from 4:30-6:30 PM. Includes 4 ceramic ornaments and the choice of 8 unique ornament. Learn how to decorate your clay creation using a variety of textures, tools, and bright underglaze colors. Pieces will be professionally bisque fired and clear glazed; and ready for pick up in 2 weeks. Wear an old shirt that you wouldn't mind getting a little dirty. ALL are welcome! $25 per person. Payment can be made by cash, check, or Venmo @Yvette-Pickard. Contact Yvette Pickard with any questions or concerns. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054BAAAF29AB9-1day
FOOD PANTRY: NEXT OPEN Monday, Dec 5 and Wednesday, Dec 7 from 9:30-11:30 AM. Serving LOTS of people! If you would like to help, contact Kathy or Debby.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
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 Ostinato on “VENI EMMANUEL” Alec Wyton
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE The Hennessey Family
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 122) Leader: I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
PEOPLE: Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Leader: Jerusalem built as a city that is bound firmly together.
PEOPLE: To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
Leader: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
PEOPLE: Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.”
Leader: For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.”
PEOPLE: For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.
INVOCATION
Shepherd of Israel, you open our lips in praise and prayer. With great expectation we enter a new year of worship and a new pathway in our journeys of faith. Guide us toward the truth of Christ’s message and the warm light of your love. Amen.
**OPENING HYMN “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” Red #135
CALL TO CONFESSION
We give thanks for family, for our good fortunes, for our plenty and our prosperity, but do we truly come to our God in honest humility? Let us approach heaven in seeking not just forgiveness but understanding as we pray together.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, in these days of late autumn, we are like faded leaves in our deeds and in our failings to your word, but still you refuse to scatter us like the wind. Gather us up in your understanding, like the hands of the potter on us as clay and may all that we do be the work of your hands. Amen. (a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends, believe in the Good News of the Gospels and in the infinite love and understanding of our God as we are as always, forgiven. Amen
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Comfort, Comfort Now My People” Red #132
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Guide us, O God, by your Word, and Holy Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover peace, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 2: 1-5 Cathy McCarty
GOSPEL Matthew 24: 36-44
SERMON Cornucopia John Redman, CRE
SPECIAL MESSAGE from Clara Skye Wilkinson on her work with the Choshen Farm in Zambia, Africa
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.
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We can hoard the gifts with which you bless us, God of generosity, or we can share them with others. May what we offer in these moments be the very blessing, the very hope, the very peace others need. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY “Comfort, Comfort Ye, My People” setting by Michael Burkhardt
**DOXOLOGY Avery & Marsh, back of Red hymnal
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 “The Lord Bless you and Keep You” Red # 845
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Sleepers Wake, A Voice is Crying!” WACHET AUF
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955