Lent 3: Imagination!

Sunday, March 23, 2025
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

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When you live under a cloud, it can be hard to imagine the sun ever returning. When you dwell at the bottom of a pit, it’s almost impossible to remember being on top of the world. And yet: Isaiah brings a message of beauty, hope, and a radical vision of love to a people who have been conquered and exiled. He brings a vision of home to a people who are displaced and hardly recognize where they are laying their heads. Imagine! How can we imagine together the world as is should be—and take, not only comfort, but hope from that imagining?

You can join us for worship in our beautiful sanctuary, or right here online. Worship is live-streamed; videos are available here or on Youtube following the service. You are always welcome!

Lent 3

Imagination!

Psalm 63:1-8; Isaiah 55:1-9

Union Presbyterian Church

March 23, 2025

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Liturgist: Jim Mica Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“The God of Abraham Praise,” Lloyd Larson

Prayer Joys and Concerns Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome

Announcements Jim Mica

Prelude Chris Bartlette

Offertory on “Kedron,” Lani Smith

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Call to Worship

Our God, eagerly we seek you:

Your enduring love is the greatest of gifts.

We call upon you, knowing you are near:

Our great homecoming is in returning to you.

And so, we will bless you, as long as we live:

We hear your call: come and worship.

* Hymn  # 13 W & R (Pat guitar)

“Sing a New Song to the Lord,” Timothy Dudley-Smith, David G. Wilson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Sing a new song to the Lord,
He to whom wonders belong;
Rejoice in his triumph and tell of his power,
O sing to the Lord a new song!

Now to the ends of the earth
See his salvation is shown;
And still he remembers his mercy and truth,
Unchanging in love to his own.

Sing a new song and rejoice,
Publish his praises abroad;
Let voices in chorus, with trumpet and horn,
Resound for the joy of the Lord!

Join with the hills and the sea
Thunders of praise to prolong;
In judgment and justice he comes to the earth,
O sing to the Lord a new song!

* Call to New Life

God, who loves us ferociously, is ready to hear our complaints, to remove our burdens, and to restore us to life. Let us open our hearts to God’s healing.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

O God, you have searched us out and known us, and all that we are is open to you. We confess that we have sinned: we have used our power to dominate and our weakness to manipulate; we have evaded responsibility and failed to confront evil; we have denied dignity to ourselves and to each other, and fallen into despair.

(Silent prayer)

And we pray,

We turn to you, O God.

We renounce evil.

We claim your love.

We choose to be made whole.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

Siblings in Christ, the love of God is from everlasting to everlasting.

Your sins are forgiven.

God has healed us. God has made us whole. We can be at peace.

* Sharing of the Peace

May the peace of God, which passes understanding,

Keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Psalm 63:1-8 NRSVUE (Responsive)

O God, you are my God; I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
    I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
    and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed
    and meditate on you in the watches of the night,
for you have been my help,
    and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Seek Ye First,” Karen Lafferty

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Anthem Choir

“’Neath Vine and Fig Tree,” Hal H. Hopson

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

‘Neath vine and fig tree we shall live,

Shall live in peace and unafraid.

‘Neath vine and fig tree we shall live,

Shall live in peace and unafraid.

Nations shall turn swords into plows,

Nations shall be at war no more.

Nations shall turn swords into plows,

Nations shall be at war no more.

Nations go toward Mount Zion;

They dream of peace and joy.

Oh, see the throng march along.

This is the song they sing.

‘Neath vine and fig tree we shall live,

Shall live in peace and unafraid.

‘Neath vine and fig tree we shall live,

Shall live in peace and unafraid.

Nations shall turn swords into plows,

Nations shall be at war no more.

Nations shall turn swords into plows,

Nations shall be at war no more.

See them enter the city,

They go up to God’s house.

The word goes out, hear the shout,

This is the song they song.

‘Neath vine and fig tree we shall live,

Shall live in peace and unafraid.

‘Neath vine and fig tree we shall live,

Shall live in peace and unafraid.

Nations shall turn swords into plows,

Nations shall be at war no more.

Nations shall turn swords into plows,

Nations shall be at war no more.

Scripture Isaiah 55:1-9 (NRSVUE)

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah, beginning at chapter 55, verse 1.

Hear, everyone who thirsts;
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread
    and your earnings for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
    listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
    my steadfast, sure love for David.
See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
    a leader and commander for the peoples.
Now you shall call nations that you do not know,
    and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has glorified you.

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way
    and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon

Affirmation of Faith From the Confession of 1967 (Section 9.16)

God has created the world of space and time to be the sphere of God’s

dealings with humanity. In its beauty and vastness, sublimity and awfulness, order and disorder, the world reflects to the eye of faith the majesty and mystery of its Creator.

* Hymn # 655 W & R

“Come Away from Rush and Hurry,” Marva J. Dawn, Jack Schrader

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Come away from rush and hurry

To the stillness of God’s peace;

From our vain ambition’s worry,

Come to Christ to find release.

Come away from noise and clamor,

Life’s demands and frenzied pace;

Come to join the people gathered

Here to seek and find God’s face.

In the pastures of God’s goodness

We lie down to rest our soul.

From the waters of God’s mercy

We drink deeply, are made whole.

At the table of God’s presence

All the saints are richly fed.

With the oil of God’s anointing

Into service we are led.

Come, then, children, with your burdens—

Life’s confusions, fears and pain.

Leave them at the cross of Jesus;

Take instead his kingdom’s reign.

Bring your thirsts, for he will quench them—

He alone will satisfy.

All our longings find attainment

When to self we gladly die.

Minute for Mission Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Ondra Murray

Prayers of the People   (Responsive)

Jesus remember us when we come into your kingdom. Hear our intercessions.

For your church around the world,

we ask new life.

For all who carry out ministries in your church,

we ask grace and wisdom.

For people who have accepted spiritual disciplines,

we ask inspired discipleship.

For Christians of every land,

we ask new unity in your name.

For Jews and Muslims and people of other faiths,

we ask your divine blessing.

For those who cannot believe,

we ask your faithful love.

For governors and rulers in every land,

we ask your guidance.

For people who suffer and sorrow,

we ask your healing peace.

Loving God,

you want us to give thanks for all things,

to fear nothing except losing you,

and to lay all our cares on you,

knowing that you care for us.

Protect us from all worldly anxieties,

and grant that no clouds in this mortal life

may hide from us the light of your immortal love

shown to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

He is the one who taught us to pray together:

The Lord’s Prayer   

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. 

Prayer Response # 461 W & R (verse 1)

“Breathe on Me, Breath of God”

(Public Domain)

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love whate'er you love,
And do what you would do.

Call for Offering

* Doxology # 244 W & R (verse 6)

“O Love, How Deep, How Broad”

(Public Domain)

All glory to our Lord and God
For love so deep, so high, so broad–
The Trinity whom we adore
Forever and forevermore.

* Prayer of Dedication

* Hymn # 714 W & R

“Shalom, Chaverim,” Donald Hustad

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Shalom, my friends, shalom, my friends, shalom, shalom.
Shalom, my friends, shalom, my friends, shalom, shalom.

Share peace, dear friends, share peace, dear friends, God's peace, God's peace.

Share peace, dear friends, share peace, dear friends, God's peace, God's peace.

* Benediction

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“The God of Abraham Praise,” Mark Hayes

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.

“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal

“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace taken from All Desires Known: Inclusive Prayers for Worship and Meditation, by Janet Morley.

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Lent 3: Imagination!