Hello Union Church Presbyterians,
Worship this Sunday, September 26 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 26, 2021 10:30 am
EIGHTEENTH 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 Donna Trafagander and Sue Sloat
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.
FELLOWSHIP TIME HOSTS today is the Outreach Committee—Sue Young, Lauren Conklin, and Karen Olson
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.
BARN SALE Saturday, Oct. 2 from 8-4pm. Volunteers needed, contact Jeff Bousche. Baked goods needed, contact Nancy Thomas. The barn is now off limits for early purchases.
SAVE THE DATE: “SPORTS STORIES ON STAGE”
Cornerstone Theatre Arts presents a performance of monologues on various sports. Pastor John will be portraying Ernest Hemingway speaking on his passion for bullfighting. Performances are October 8 and 9 at 7 pm, October 10 at 2 pm. Admission is free but reservations are required. Call (845) 294-4188 to reserve.
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 Aria by Flor Peeters
CALL TO WORSHIP Adapted from Psalm 111
Leader: Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. PEOPLE: Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Leader: Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. PEOPLE: He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the LORD is gracious and merciful. Leader: He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. PEOPLE: He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. Leader: The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. PEOPLE: He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.
INVOCATION
Dear God, our Creator, you call us to love and serve you and our sisters and brothers with hearts, minds and spirits. Open our hearts in compassion and our minds to focus on your message of love and hopefulness and help us we look to the needs of the church and the world. This we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION
We think of ourselves as faithful, but we aren’t always faithful. We think of ourselves as just, but we often are not just. Let us confess our sins together:
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God or unending mercy, we come to you in plain confession of our shortsighted and selfish behaviors, our boasting of our good deeds that comes of arrogance and conceit. We deceive ourselves, but not you, oh Great Creator. Forgive us by your mercy and through the example of Jesus, may we be set free.
(A moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
By the Grace of God Jesus met death for everyone. Now be assured that Christ who sanctifies and we who are sanctified have all one origin. Amen.
GLORIA PATRI
PASSING OF THE PEACE
APOSTLES CREED
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 Morning Has Broken
Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven Like the first dewfall on the first grass Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden Sprung in completeness where His feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning Born of the one light, Eden saw play Praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Almighty God, in you are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Open our eyes that we may see the wonders of your Word; and give us grace that we may clearly understand and freely choose the way of your wisdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c Theresa Cotanche EPISTLE 2 Timothy 2:8-15
GOSPEL Luke 17:11-19
SERMON Gratitude John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Creator God, we pray for all those who wander in the wilderness in these days of pandemic, days of broken covenants and shattered dreams. Keep us from judging them as weak or inferior. Help us to lend them understanding as they are led by you to find their way just as our Savior promised to search for those who stray and fold them in the Shepherd’s arms of abundant love. We ask for help for those suffering across our world from Afghanistan to Haiti and even to our southern border. And watch over all our children as they return to schools and those activities that have been so missed for so long. And Lord, we ask you to watch over and bring comfort and healing to those whom 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 Holy Spirit, Light Divine
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 our gifts in tribute, they be put to good and purposeful use in assisting those in greater need even as we seek to serve you and our community and the greater world. This we gratefully pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
DOXOLOGY
RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION
Leader: God sends us into the world, PEOPLE: so we may see Jesus at work in all the desolate places. Leader: As one with compassion, Jesus calls, PEOPLE: so we may follow him to those who live on the fringe of life. Leader: The Spirit opens our ears and our hearts, PEOPLE: so we may hear the cries looking for hope.
POSTLUDE Bunessan Gaelic melody and the basis of Morning Has Broken
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955