ORDER OF WORSHIP
FEBRUARY 16, 2025 10:30 AM
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE Mary Lee Farris, Organ
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 1)
Leader: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
PEOPLE: but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
Leader: They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
PEOPLE: The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Leader: Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
PEOPLE: for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
INVOCATION
Eternal God, we come rejoicing with gladness of heart, singing your praises, and adoring your wondrous gifts of love. The dawn comes earlier each day as we rise to greet the good news of the Gospel. Dwell here among us, Creator Spirit, as we seek to worship you in thought, word and deed. Amen.
**OPENING HYMN “Give to the Winds Your Fears” Red# 618
CALL TO CONFESSION
We say we are faithful when we are not. We claim compassion but may not really follow through with it. We nod in understanding even as we know we can never come to grips
with what it truly means. Let us pray together.
PRAYER OF UNDERSTANDING
Dearest Lord we think we can comprehend the beauty and bounty of your creation and your love for us even as we break your commandments. We gather security about us while others go hungry. We arm ourselves as though that will buy peace of mind. We hear the words of Christ, but do we really live them out? Forgive us, dear parent of us all and bring to us a greater understanding of your love and grace. Amen
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Even though we can never fully understand the expansive and unending dimension of God’s love we know that we are forgiven. Amen.
**GLORIA PATRI (Avery & Marsh, back cover of the Red Hymnal)
ACCEPTANCE OF NEW MEMBERS
Today we welcome Laura Schick-Cormier by Affirmation of Faith and Jane Wise by Letter
of Transfer into the membership of our congregation.
**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 “Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven” Red #25
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Holy God, Word made flesh, let us come to this word open to being surprised. Silence our agendas; banish our assumptions; cast out our casual detachment. Confound our expectations; clear the cobwebs from our ears; 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 READING: Jeremiah 17: 5-10 Cathy McCarty
NEW TESTAMENT READING. 1 Corinthians 15: 12-20
GOSPEL READING LUKE 6: 17-26
SERMON MESSAGE: Sermon on the Plain John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORDS 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 “Take My Life and Let it Be”
**DOXOLOGY Traditional
** PRAYER OF THANKS
Gracious God, accept our gifts that they may be used wisely in your service for those who hunger, or thirst, or merely seek a greater understanding of your love. This we gratefully pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
HYMN OF PARTING “Lord, Let Us Now Depart in Peace” Red #842
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
Candles in Our Worship Service: A bit of History: The seven-light candelabra are symbolic of the seven days of the week, meaning we ‘worship’ God every day, not just on Sunday. The two altar candles symbolize that Jesus is both God and Man, and the Christ candle is symbolic of Christ being the Light of the World.
The Christ candle is lit first and extinguished last. The ushers leave its light with the other candles during worship, and when extinguished after worship, the ushers carry the light out into the world.
The reason the Christ candle is larger and placed by the pulpit, is that in the past, it also provided light for reading!
Blessings! JTR |
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954
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