Hello Union Church Presbyterians,
Worship this Sunday, April 3 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
ORDER OF WORSHIP
April 3, 2022 10:30 am
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT AND CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
TODAY is Marge Williamson's 75th anniversary of membership in Union Church and we will have something special at Fellowship time.
USHERS today are John Safran and Cathy McCarty. If you would like to usher, contact Dan Olson.
FELLOWSHIP TIME HOSTS today are Annie & Carl Schiller. Signup chart is in the Fellowship Hall.
CHRISTIAN ED: EASTER EGG HUNT TODAY right after service.
CE would love to restart the tradition of our youth marching with palms during service, Sunday April 10. Please contact Yvette so they can have enough palms for everyone. Please don’t hesitate to contact Yvette if you have any questions.
MID-WEEK MEDITATION A YouTube link will be sent out via email, Wednesday Apr 6.
EASTER LILIES available for purchase for $15 each. If you'd like to help enhance the beauty of our sanctuary in memory or honor of a loved one, please fill out an envelope in the pews. Please print the dedication and include a check made out to Union Church. Orders due NEXT Sunday, April 10.
FUNDRAISING: Palm Sunday Brunch Sunday, April 10 after worship, $10 each. Place your order by calling the church office (845) 562-09544.
BAPTISM: Magnolia Jo Redman will be baptized on Palm Sunday during worship.
MAUNDY THURSDAY: There will be a Meditation and virtual Communion for Maundy Thursday, April 14.
GOOD FRIDAY: The church sanctuary will be open from 12-3PM for private meditation or prayer with the Pastor for Good Friday, April 15.
EASTER SUNDAY SUNRISE SERVICE, April 17 at 6:30 am on the Riverfront.
OUTREACH biography project: Richard Smith will be collecting information from those who wish to participate in sharing a little of who they are. We look forward to your participation!
FOOD PANTRY: NEXT OPEN Monday, Apr 11 and Wednesday, Apr 13 from 9:30-11:30 am. Serving LOTS of people! If you would like to help, contact Kathy or Debby.
Union Food Pantry is part of Stop & Shop’s Bloomin' 4 Good program for April. For every Bouquet sold, $1 is donated to a local hunger organization. Should you need flowers in April, you can help to support our program!
ORDER OF WORSHIP
**Kindly stand if you are able
When you enter, converse with your neighbors; when the Prelude begins, converse with your God.
ORGAN PRELUDE “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” arr. Gilbert Martin
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Extinguishing the Lenten Candles – one through five
CALL TO WORSHIP (adapted from Psalm 128) Leader: When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
PEOPLE: Then our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us and we rejoiced.
Leader: Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
PEOPLE: May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
ALL: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, will come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
INVOCATION
Gracious God, we are coming to the end of our Lenten journeys and we thank you for this time of introspection and discovery. Direct us in the coming weeks, guiding us through your death and resurrection, bringing us home to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
**OPENING HYMN “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” RED #52
MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of wilderness and water, your Son was baptized and tempted as we are. Guide us through this Lenten season, so that we may not avoid struggle, but open ourselves to blessing, that we see ourselves the way you see us, through the cleansing depths of repentance and the freeing words of the Spirit. Amen.
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
In the journey of this Lenten season, we look for the new thing you are doing in our lives, knowing that you provide new beginnings for us and that we are indeed forgiven. Amen.
**GLORIA PATRI
**HYMN OF PRAISE “To God Be the Glory” RED #72
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**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.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Creator God, you prepare a new way in our wildernesses and your grace waters our deserts. Help us to recognize your hand in everything and open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 43: 16-21 Paul & Debby Hill
GOSPEL John 12:1-8
SERMON Smell Memory Lynn Costa, CRE
COMMUNION
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
PEOPLE: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
PEOPLE: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Leader: It is right to praise you, Lord of all creation; in your love you made us for yourself. When we turned away you did not reject us but came to meet us in your Son.
PEOPLE: You embraced us as your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
Leader: In Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us. He opened his arms of love upon the cross and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin. On the night he was betrayed, at supper with his friends he took bread, and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
PEOPLE: Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his body is the bread of life.
Leader: At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; do this in remembrance of me.
PEOPLE: Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his blood is shed for all.
Leader: As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory, send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son. As we eat and drink these holy gifts. With your whole Church throughout the world we offer you this sacrifice of praise and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
PEOPLE: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Leader: Prayer for the people.
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 AFTER THANKSGIVING
Leader: Generous and faithful God, you have fed us at your table. May the nourishment we have received enable us to enrich the lives of others wherever we may go from here. Whether the future be dark or bright, the road be smooth or rough, whether our cares be light or heavy, our song be strong or weak, keep our hearts warm and our hands open, our lives ever embracing and ever embraced by your love. Amen.
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
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.
OFFERTORY “We Pray Now to the Holy Spirit” Dietrich Buxtehude
**DOXOLOGY
PRAYER OF THANKS
Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. During this season of Lent may we find ways to honor you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and your son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
BENEDICTION
CLOSING VOLUNTARY Amen Siakudumisa Calvary and Union Combined Bell Choirs
“Amen Siakudumisa” is a hymn by Stephen Cuthbert Molefe, a South African composer and choir master. The original words are in Xhosa and translate as “Amen, We Praise Your Name, O God”
INVITATION TO FELLOWSHIP TIME
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955
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