Hello Union Church Presbyterians,
Worship this Sunday, September 19 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 19, 2021 10:30 am
SEVENTEENTH 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.
USHERS today are Bob Beams and Gayle McKenzie
FELLOWSHIP TIME HOSTS today are Libby Szymanowicz and Paul & Debby Hill.
Thank you to all the volunteer hosts. Hosting can be simple. Host with a friend! Use the signup chart in the Fellowship Hall 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.
CHRISTIAN ED Meeting NEXT 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.
BARN SALE Saturday, Oct. 2 from 8-4pm. Volunteers needed, contact Jeff Bousche. Baked goods needed, contact Nancy Thomas. After Sept 25, the barn will be off limits for early purchases.
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, Oct 17 at 2 pm.
Dr. Jonathan Hall, Music Minister at First Presbyterian Church in Goshen, will present a recital of traditional and contemporary organ works specially selected for the “personality” of our Union Church organ.
FOOD PANTRY: OPEN Monday, Sept. 27 and Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 9:30-11:30 am.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
PRELUDE Nearer My God to Thee
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
You watch over us, O God and show us the way to prosper in relationships that contribute to our wholeness and well-being. We come to you for instruction. Thank you for meeting us here and helping us to deal with our selfish ambition, disorder, and conflicts. Help us to be honest with ourselves and with you, voicing our doubts as well as our faith. Create in us a space for quiet listening and thoughtful meditation. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION
We are called to resist evil and to purify our hearts. Often our need for such cleansing is not apparent to us. We are hard pressed to find anything bad that we need to confess. Yet the peaceful community God seeks, the serving church that embodies Christ, the spirit-filled company we are meant to be, are not yet realized.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the gospel, the One who sends, the one who is sent and returns, the One who is sent and remains with the church, we declare our need of the wisdom that comes from above, pure, peace-loving, considerate, open to reason. We can be devious rather than straightforward, hypocritical rather than sincere, unforgiving rather than merciful, cruel rather than kind. Forgive the bitter jealousy that leads to quarreling, the selfish ambition that destroys those who are in the way, the ungoverned passions that lead to disorder and evil of every kind. Temper your justice with mercy for the sake of your obedient Son, Jesus our peacemaker. Amen.
(A moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends in Christ, we know that our Lord is most merciful, forgiving us always. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven Amen
GLORIA PATRI
PASSING OF THE PEACE
HYMN OF PRAISE When Morning Gilds the Skies
When morning gilds the skies My heart awaking cries: May Jesus Christ be praised! Alike at work and prayer, To Jesus I repair: May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find, May Jesus Christ be praised! Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this, May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around Ring joyous with the sound: May Jesus Christ be praised! In Heaven’s eternal bliss The loveliest strain is this: May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine, My canticle divine: May Jesus Christ be praised! Sing this eternal song Through all the ages long: May Jesus Christ be praised!
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Gracious God, revealed to us as we welcome children in the name of Jesus, grant us childlike openness and honesty to explore your word. Teach us as Jesus taught the disciples that we may not so much aspire to greatness as to faithfulness, counting service in Christ’s name a joyous privilege. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
EPISTLE James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a John Safran, Lay reader
GOSPEL Mark 9:30-37
SERMON God's Children; Our Children Gaye Hartwig, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
A Prayer of Protection for Children Crossing the U.S./Mexico Border by Reverends Sarah Henkel and Jeniffer Rodriguez. We pray… For children from Central America who, seeking safety, make the dangerous journey to the U.S./Mexico border. For parents who travel beside their children, for parents who must remain at home and for parents who have gone ahead. For children being held in temporary Immigration and Customs Enforcement shelters across this country. For Border Patrol and Immigration Officials that they would respond with compassion to the children in their care. For the churches and humanitarian organizations, especially those in the border region of this country, that will respond with open doors. For children who are reunited with family in the United States. For children who now face deportation. For children who return to the fear they tried to escape. For the countries of Central America experiencing the crises of poverty and violence. For the United States as we see the result of U.S. foreign policies that have destabilized Central America. For the PC(USA) as we follow Jesus Christ who loved and honored children and who came to give abundant life to all. Lord, hear our prayer.
A prayer from Zaire for World Unity: O God, you love justice and you establish peace on earth. We bring before you the disunity of today’s world: The absurd violence, and the many wars; wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Israel/Palestine, Iraq, Yemin, and more, which are breaking the courage of the peoples of the world; militarism and the arms race, which are threatening life on the planet. Send your Spirit and renew the earth; teach us to be compassionate; strengthen the will of all those who fight for justice and for peace; lead all nations into the path of peace, and give us that peace which the world cannot give. Lord, hear our prayer.
God of earthquake, wind, and fire, tame natural forces that defy control, or shock us by their fury. Hurricanes, wildfires, and floods. Keep us from calling disaster your justice; and help us, in good times or in calamity, to trust your mercy which never ends, and your power, which in Jesus Christ stilled storms, raised the dead, and put down demonic powers. Lord, hear our prayer.
O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers, mercifully hear our prayers and grant to your ill servants the help of your power, that their sickness may be turned into health and our sorrow into joy; Lord, hear our 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 us 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.
OFFERTORY ANTHEM Brethren, We Have Met to Worship
PRAYER OF THANKS
We are pleased to share that others may obtain the necessity of body and spirit. Thank you, God, for this opportunity to support the ministry and mission of our congregation. May there be an outflowing of righteousness, shown in the peaceful handling of disputes, in mutual love and support, and in courageous outreach to people near and far who need the help we can give. Bless each gift and each giver. Amen.
DOXOLOGY
BENEDICTION
Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous and strong. Let all that you do be done in love. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord be kind and gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
POSTLUDE Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine
We welcome Gaye Hartwig returning to our pulpit today. Gaye is a CRE serving within the Hudson River Presbytery. Her home church is First Presbyterian, Port Jervis, NY. She lives in Montague, NJ, where she and her husband, Dennis, raised their three children on the edge of High Point State Park. They are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren ages 1year to 23. She enjoys traveling, hiking and bike riding with Dennis and playing with her grandchildren. She also enjoys sewing and needlework.
Blessings!
Gaye Hartwig, CRE
Pastor contact:
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955