Hello Union Church Presbyterians,
Worship this Sunday, September 12 will be in-person and streamed on YouTube to view at home. We will share prayers, songs, and reflections. In-person Fellowship Time after worship.
HOW TO VIEW ON YOUTUBE: YouTube broadcast will begin at 10:25 am.
For ALL devices: https://www.youtube.com/user/NewburghPresby
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Union Church, Newburgh NY
September 12, 2021 10:30 am
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
WELCOME
We are glad that you are joining us today and hope you feel God’s blessings. If you do not have a church home, we sincerely invite you to be a part of the Union Church fellowship.
MASKS REQUIRED, regardless of vaccination status. In deference to those who are immunocompromised and considering the high transmissibility of the Delta variant, we are asking everyone to wear a mask in worship. The ushers will ask everyone to mask up as they enter.
FLOWERS today are given by Marylin Mazza to the glory of God and in loving memory of her parents, Margaret, Jack, and Emily Eger.
FELLOWSHIP TIME HOST today is Carl Schiller
Thank you to all the volunteer hosts. Hosting can be simple. Host with a friend! Use the signup chart in the entryway or call the office (845) 562-0954.
USHERS: Thank you to all the volunteer ushers who signed up for September and October. If you would like to usher, contact Dan and Karen Olson.
WELCOME our new Music Director, Benjamin Vise to Union Church!
FILM CREW: September 13-20, a film production has reserved the Fellowship Hall and parking lot.
BARN SALE Saturday, Oct. 2 from 8-4pm. Last day for drop off donations is Tuesday, Sept. 14. No longer accepting picture frames, baskets, coffee cups, and Christmas items. Volunteers needed. Baked goods needed, contact Nancy Thomas.
Barn Sale Meeting Wednesday, Sept 15 at 11:30 in the Sanctuary or Parlor.
NOTE: After Sept 25, the barn will be off limits for early purchases.
OUTREACH Meeting TODAY at 12 pm in the Parlor.
CHRISTIAN ED Meeting Sunday, Sept. 26 at 9:30 am in Fellowship Hall. We will discuss changes to the CE program and parent input. Contact Yvette Pickard for more info.
HABITAT WALK TODAY at 1 pm. Registration begins at 12 pm. The walk begins at Washington’s Headquarters at 84 Liberty St, Newburgh. For more info, please visit https://bit.ly/walk4Habitat.
Pastor John is walking, and you can support him! Sign-up form in the entryway.
FOOD PANTRY: OPEN Monday, Sept. 13 and Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 9:30-11:30 am.
Distributing from the upper-level Sanctuary entrance. If you are volunteering, please park outside the fence on Balmville Rd; the parking lot will be crowded. We also need to keep the fire lane clear for emergency vehicles and the tenants.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
PRELUDE God, Whose Loving Knows No Ending
CALL TO WORSHIP Adapted from Psalm 116
Leader: I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. PEOPLE: Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. Leader: I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray, save my life!" PEOPLE: Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. Leader: The LORD protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. PEOPLE: Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. Leader: For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. ALL: I walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
INVOCATION
Dear Lord, who created the universe and all within it, we praise you for your mercies that are boundless and your grace that is unending. Fill us now with your Sprit as we gather before you as we seek to be faithful. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION
As imperfect creatures, our failings are sometimes too many to count. But our God knows them all and forgives. Let us confess our sins:
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Oh Lord, giver of mercy, hear us as we confess our sin. We speak when we should listen; we hesitate when we should act. Anger prevents us from working righteously, and selfishness inhibits our responding in faith. We are called to proclaim the dawn of your Kingdom, but our shouts turn out to be mere whispers. Redeem us in Christ, in whose name we pray.
(A moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
By the Good News of the Gospels, through the Love of our heavenly father, in the name of Jesus, we are forgiven. Amen.
GLORIA PATRI
PASSING OF THE PEACE
HYMN OF PRAISE Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
1. Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of Heav’n to earth come down; Fix in us thy humble dwelling; All thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart.
2. Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit Into every troubled breast! Let us all in Thee inherit; Let us find that second rest. Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.
3. Come, Almighty to deliver, Let us all Thy life receive; Suddenly return, and never, Nevermore Thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, Serve Thee as Thy hosts above, Pray and praise Thee without ceasing, Glory in Thy perfect love.
4. Finish, then, Thy new creation; Pure and spotless let us be; Let us see Thy great salvation Perfectly restored in Thee; Changed from glory into glory, Till in Heav’n we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
O Lord, your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love, and strength to follow on the path you set before us; through Jesus Christ, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 50:4-9a Libby Szymanowicz EPISTLE James 3:1-12
GOSPEL Mark 8: 27-38
MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
SERMON Tongues Like Fire! John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Creator of us all and all that is, we come before you today in quiet admiration of all you have done for us and created, but still, we see injustice, pain, and sorrow all around us.
Help us to aid those in need, comfort those in grief, to shine as examples of your Love for all to see. And we ask for your special touch in healing and aiding those we name here:
Gracious God, keep in our hearts all those whose names you already know and who ask for healing in their own quiet ways, and let us join to pray as Jesus taught us, 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.
OFFERTORY ANTHEM Wonderful Grace of Jesus Benjamin Vise
Piano styling of a Gospel Hymn written by a Norwegian immigrant!
OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS
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.
PRAYER OF THANKS
Gracious God, accept the tributes we bring and bless our endeavors in your name. With our voices we sing your praises; with our hands we will care for the suffering. With our feet we will seek to walk in faith; with our hearts we will love you completely. What we have we return to you, who endow us with many gifts. Amen.
DOXOLOGY
RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION
Leader: May the strength of God sustain us.
PEOPLE: May the power of God preserve us.
Leader: May the hands of God protect us.
PEOPLE: May the way of God direct us.
Leader: May the love of God go with us this day and forever, and let the people say:
ALL: Amen
POSTLUDE God of Grace and God of Glory
INVITATION TO FELLOWSHIP TIME
It is a pleasure and an honor to welcome Benjamin Vise as our new Music Director.
He has both Bachelors and Masters degrees in music (organ performance). His journey began at sixteen when his home parish in Little Rock, Arkansas elected him the official church pianist and has taken him to multiple denominations over his 50-year career and still counting! This collective experience has nurtured his passion for working with volunteer singers of all ages. Mr. Vise has a passion for teaching hymnody from multiple traditions in all manner of creative ways, to both choirs and congregations. He is looking forward to new challenges at Union Church as we finally emerge from the scourge of this hideous pandemic. He joins us after 6 years as Director of Music at Christ Episcopal Church in Suffern, New York.
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955