Lent 4: The Boy Who Ran Away!

Sunday, March 30, 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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Sometimes you need, as the Chicks have sung so well, wide open spaces… room to make a big mistake. That’s what a young man—a boy, really—decides he needs, in one of Jesus’ most beloved parables.

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 4

The Boy Who Ran Away!

Psalm 32; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Union Presbyterian Church

March 30, 2025

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

Liturgist: Joan Kellam Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Just As I Am,” Joel Raney

Prayer Joys and Concerns Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome

Announcements Joan Kellam

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Come Just As You Are,” Mark Hayes

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

* Call to Worship from Psalms 139 and 51

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from far away.

You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,
    O Lord, you know it completely.

O Lord, open our lips,

And our mouths shall sing your praise.

* Hymn  # 654 W & R

“Holy Ground,” Geron Davis

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

(Sing two times:)

We are standing on holy ground,

And I know that there are angels all around.

Let us praise Jesus now;

We are standing in his presence on holy ground.

* Call to New Life

The Chicks sang the song, with some edits:

We need wide open spaces;

room to make a big mistake.

We need new faces.
We know the high stakes…

But what about those big mistakes? What if it turns out we were running from God all along? Let us open our hearts to God and confess what ails us, so that God might lead us home again.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

And our mouths shall sing your praise.

(Silent prayer)

And we pray,

God of homecomings, bring us back. Lead us by the hand to your heart. Impart to us your deep wisdom. Lead us by love to our true home, found only in you. In the name of our brother Jesus we pray. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

Where can we go from God’s spirit?
    Or where can we flee from God’s presence?

If we ascend to heaven, God is there;
    if we make our beds in Sheol, God is there.

If we take the wings of the morning
    and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

even there God’s hand shall lead us,
    and God’s right hand shall hold us fast.

God has searched us, and known our hearts;

God is kind and gracious;

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

God loves us, and has forgiven us;

God will lead us in the way everlasting.

Thanks be to God!

* Sharing of the Peace

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 32 NRSVUE (Responsive)

Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silent, my body wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
    and you forgave the guilt of my sin. 

Therefore let all who are faithful
    offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
    shall not reach them.
You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. 

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
    whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
    else it will not stay near you.

Many are the torments of the wicked,
    but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Amen” (Public Domain)

Anthem

“The Prodigal,” Sally DeFord

Used with permission.

Somewhere a mother waits,

Somewhere a father prays,

Somewhere a faithful friend

Entreats the Lord for a miracle.

Somewhere a daughter wanders,

Somewhere a son has strayed,

Somewhere the first of faith is cold,

Someone doubts and turns away.

If my hands are willing,

If my heart is warm,

The Lord can use these simple tools

For the miracles He performs.

And as He seeks the straying

Down the years, across the miles,

He can make of me a miracle,

For someone’s wandering child.

Somewhere someone wonders,

Is there a homeward road?

Somewhere a wayward lamb is lost,

Who seeks the shelter of the fold.

Lord, my heart is willing,

Make my hands thine own,

Use these simple tools to turn

The prodigal for home.

Oh Lord who seeks the straying

Down the years, across the miles,

Make of me a miracle,

For someone’s wandering child.

Lord who seeks the straying

Down the years, across the miles,

Make of me a miracle,

For someone’s wandering child.

Scripture Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32 (NRSVUE)

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke, beginning at chapter 15, verse 1. Selected verses.

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable:

Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the wealth that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant region, and there he squandered his wealth in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that region, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that region, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ ”

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “The Boy Who Ran Away”

Affirmation of Faith From the Confession of 1967 (Section 9.07)

In Jesus Christ, God was reconciling the world to Godself. Jesus Christ is God with humanity. He is the eternal Son of the Father, who became human and lived among us to fulfill the work of reconciliation. He is present in the church by the power of the Holy Spirit to continue and complete his mission. This work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the foundation of all confessional statements about God, humanity, and the world. Therefore the church calls humanity to be reconciled to God and to one another.

* Hymn # 355 W & R

“This is a Day of New Beginnings,” Brian Wren, Carlton R. Young

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

This is a day of new beginnings,
Time to remember and move on,
Time to believe what love is bringing,
Laying to rest the pain that's gone.

For by the life and death of Jesus,
Love's mighty Spirit, now as then,

Can make for us a world of difference,
As faith and hope are born again.

Then let us, with the Spirit's daring,
Step from the past and leave behind
Our disappointment, guilt, and grieving,
Seeking new paths, and sure to find.

Christ is alive, and goes before us
To show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
Our God is making all things new.

Minute for Mission One Great Hour of Sharing Becky Conklin and Laura Keibel

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.

God of mercy, you are full of tenderness and compassion,

slow to anger, rich in mercy, and always ready to forgive.

Grant us grace to cling to Christ,

that in every way we may learn to be your loving children;

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 # 469 W & R

“Lord of All Hopefulness,” Jan Struther

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.    

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,

Whose trust, ever childlike no cares could destroy,

Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,

Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,

Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,

Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,

Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,

Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,

Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,

Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,

Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,

Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

* Benediction

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound,” Lloyd Larson

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

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Lent 4: The Boy Who Ran Away!