Hello Union Church Presbyterians,
Worship this Sunday, August 28 will be in-person and streamed on YouTube to view at home. We will share prayers, songs, and reflections. We will be celebrating Communion this Sunday.
YouTube broadcast will begin at 10:25 AM, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewburghPresby
OFFICE CLOSED Fri, Sept 2 and Mon, Sept 5 for an extended Memorial Day weekend.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
September 4, 2022 10:30 AM
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
FLOWERS today are given to the Glory of God and in memory of George and Edna Negus, celebrating their 76th wedding anniversary in heaven on September 8th. Love and God bless, Susan Sloat and Linda Smith.
USHERS today are Dan Olson and Jim Alber. If you would like to usher, contact Dan Olson.
FELLOWSHIP HOSTS today are Theresa and Teri. Thank you to all who signed up to host fellowship hour this Fall.
CHRISTIAN ED resumes SUN, SEPT 18. Thank you all for your generous donations for the Back-to-school supply drive. We now have plenty of crayons, pencils, and glue sticks.
We still need: pencil cases, erasers, tissues, earbuds, scissors, 1”-2” binders.
FALL FAIR: NOW accepting clothes. Please label clothes for “Fall Fair” and drop off in the Nursery. DROP-OFF every other Monday & Wednesday corresponding with Food Pantry and Sunday from 10-12PM. NO electronics and only small furniture.
FALL FAIR MEETING Sept 11 at 9:30 am to discuss assignments.
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE created to study and recommend solutions regarding our financial position and next steps moving forward. Members are Mary Whidden, James Phillips, Merle Hennessey, Dan Olson, Brittany Brooks, and Richard Smith. If you have any comments, contact Pastor John.
CHOIR: We are looking for volunteers to help lead the congregational singing. If you're interested or have questions, contact Nancy Thomas (845) 562-8076.
OUTREACH COMMITTEE meeting in the Parlor on Sun, Sept 11 after church services. The homework assignment is for each member to bring 2 ideas (or more) that they would like to see the committee implement this year. If you have any questions, contact Karen Olson.
FOOD PANTRY: OPEN Monday, Sept 12 Wednesday, Sept 14 from 9:30-11:30 AM. Serving LOTS of people! If you would like to help, contact Kathy or Debby.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
If you have individual prayer requests, please write them on prayer cards in the pews and bring them up or give them to an usher during the prelude.
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE “Meditation” from Symphony No.1 Charles Marie Widor
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 139)
Leader: Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in his commandments. PEOPLE: Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Leader: Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. PEOPLE: They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. Leader: It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. PEOPLE: For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.
INVOCATION
Through the waters of oppression and death, Lord God, you led a people into the burning presence of your love. As you fed them in the desert, now feed us with the finest bread, your spirit of grace and forgiveness, fill us with the liberating power of Jesus’s undying message, and let us feel the warm breath of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
**OPENING HYMN “Help Us Accept Each Other” Red #437
CALL TO CONFESSION
So much light in our world, yet we choose darkness; so many paths to take, and we go down the wrong ones; so much good we could do, and all we do is offer empty words. Let us bring our lives and hearts to our God, who is our help and hope, in this and every moment. Let us pray together.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, hear our prayer: For the mending of our hearts, torn apart by our unkindness; For the healing of our souls, wasting away from the despair around us; For the forgiveness we seek, for the sin we have allowed to persist; For the courage to choke out our fears. For the reconciliation of the world, whose division condemns us; We pray for the courage to admit our faults, and the strength to change our ways, Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Sisters and brothers in faith, by the Glory of Jesus and the unending power of God our Father, we are forgiven, Amen.
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak” Red #574
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God of heaven, you not only provide more than we need in our harvest, but You send the gospel to the ends of the earth and Your messengers to every nation: Send Your Holy Spirit to transform us by the good news of everlasting life in Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Mary Whidden
GOSPEL Luke 14: 25-35
SERMON “The Cost of Discipleship” John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S 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.
COMMUNION HYMN “For the Bread Which You Have Broken” Red #772
HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation to the Table
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (EUCHARISTIC PRAYER)
May the composer of heaven's music be with you! And also with you! Beloved, God has created you for faithful living. We lift our hearts to the One who calls us to be Christ's Body. People of God, sing to the One who cleanses us of our fears. We will dance with joy to the Table of peace and hope.
Chaos trembled as you spoke, not wanting to hear … … we join our voices in praise to you:
Your Word opens our eyes to all creation; your Word is the sweet taste of joy for hungry hearts; your Word endures through every trial and triumph.
Blessed is your Word who comes in your name! Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of all creation, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Yearning for us to know you … As we celebrate his life in us, …. we would speak of that mystery we call faith:
Setting aside all he valued, Christ became our treasure; setting aside his own life, Christ rescued us from sin; setting aside our doubts and fears, we yearn for Christ's return in glory.
Here at your Table, Redeemer of all creation … … so we may be peacemakers for our communities.
And when we stand around your Table, all hurtful words silenced, all pain left behind, with hope and grace our closest friends, we will join our hearts and voices with our sisters and brothers who forever sing of your glory, God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Words of Institution
Prayer after Communion
**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.
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We can hoard the gifts with which you bless us, God of generosity, or we can share them with others. May what we offer in these moments be the very blessing, the very hope, the very peace others need. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY “Sicilienne” Maria Theresia von Paradis
(transcribed from the original score by Charles Macdonald)
**DOXOLOGY Traditional, Red #808
PRAYER OF THANKS
We thank you, our Lord for those gifts to us that we send to you for your work and ours in congregation, community, and culture. Guide us in good use as we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
**HYMN OF PARTING “May the Grace of Our Savior” Red #841
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Toccata in Seven” John Rutter
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955