Hello Union Church Presbyterians,
Worship this Sunday, September 13 will be hosted on Zoom. We will share prayers, songs, and reflections.
Full service video: https://youtu.be/4WKyYTHXPYI
The Zoom meeting will open at 9:45 am to allow folks to connect and greet each other. If you have a camera, you will have the option to share your face and smile—be prepared. You can also have a cup of your favorite morning beverage at hand.
The worship will include familiar elements (although recorded rather than live) as well as live leadership of prayers, scripture reading, and the sermon.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Union Church, Newburgh NY
September 13, 2020 10:00 am
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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Food Pantry open every other week. Next: Mon. Sept. 14 and Wed. Sept. 16 from 9:30-11:30 am. Serving LOTS of people! If you would like to help, contact Kathy or Debby.
VIRTUAL Coffee Hour: Begins immediately after worship. If you have joined worship on Zoom you don’t need to do anything more. If you are joining us for fellowship time only, use the same Zoom instructions for Worship. Check email or website for access instructions.
Choral Music will precede the worship service beginning at 9:45 as people ‘tune in’ to the zoom service.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
PRELUDE Be Thou but Near Me Bach
INTRODUCTION TO ZOOM WORSHIP Mary Whidden
CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 103 Mary Whidden
Leader: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name. The Lord forgives all your iniquity, and heals all your diseases, People: The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Leader: God does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. As far as the east is from the west, so far, he removes our transgressions from us. People: As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.
OPENING PRAYER
Hear us when we pray O Lord, whether aloud or in the silence, whether shouted in exasperation or wept in sorrow and remorse. As we see each other’s faces or just hear one another’s sighs and laughter in this hour, may we be aware of your Loving presence and welcome each one just as You do.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Mary Whidden
Lord we come to you confessing our frustrations and confusion. Those of us who are extroverts chafe at the distances we are told to keep. We long to hug our friends and neighbors. Those of us who are free spirits long to fly again and laugh and sing aloud together. Some of us express our righteous fury on Facebook about those who refuse to wear a mask. We fear they keep the virus spreading and thus keep our children from school. We don’t understand their carelessness or stubbornness. Some of us don’t understand our neighbors’ fears or think they are overblown. Lord, help us, for we judge one another harshly and we are losing our capacity to forgive. Without forgiveness there is no future. Turn our hearts to repentance so that our thoughts and actions will follow. Please take some moments to lift up your own thoughts of confession. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Because Jesus lived and died and rose again for us, we know that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. That is why when the leader says, “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.”
GLORIA PATRI
ANTHEM Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURES
Old Testament Exodus 14:19-31 Mary Whidden
New Testament Romans 14:1-12 Rev. Cathy Surgenor
SERMON No Future without Forgiveness Rev. Cathy Surgenor
HYMN I Love You Lord
OFFERING
You can support the work of Union Church by mailing donations to 44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh, NY 12550 or visit newburghpresby.org/donate to donate online.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
DOXOLOGY
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER
We are all your people Lord: the vegetarians and the meat eaters; the ones who attend church on Zoom and the ones who wait for ‘real church’ to return; the ones who fear nothing and so risk everything, and those whose fears overwhelm them. We lift up all to receive your love, strength, forgiveness and healing. Lifting up the names.
Response: Lord bless them and keep them safe.
BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION The Lord Bless You and Keep You
INVITATION TO COFFEE HOUR
Blessings!
Rev. Cathy Surgenor Rev. Peter Surgenor
(845) 216-4328 (914) 907-9685
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955