ORDER OF WORSHIP
October 15, 2023 10:30 AM
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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 ”Organ Prelude” Mary Lee Farris, Organ
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 106)
Leader: Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast
love endures forever.
PEOPLE: Who can utter the mighty doings of the LORD, or declare all his praise?
Leader: Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.
PEOPLE: Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people; help me
when you deliver them;
Leader: that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory in your
heritage.
PEOPLE: Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity,
have done wickedly.
Leader: Therefore he said he would destroy them -- had not Moses, his chosen one
PEOPLE: stood in the breach before him to turn away the Lord’s wrath from
destroying them.
INVOCATION
We acknowledge that we gather today on land that was homeland for the Munsee-Lenape peoples. We understand that this land on which we gather was cared for by people who lived here for thousands of years before colonizing Europeans. With humility, we express our gratitude to these peoples for their faithful stewardship of this land, its water and its creatures, then and now. We also acknowledge the many injustices of the past and present experience of Indigenous people and the historical, and contemporary trauma these honorable people still endure. We pause to recognize their presence among us. (Time for silent reflection)
Amen
**OPENING HYMN: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty” Red #2
CALL TO CONFESSION
We are often blinded by the radiant light of God’s love when we should instead bathe in its warmth as it rises around us. Let us join together in prayer:
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of mercy, we live lives of illusion and act in ways that don’t always match your Holy intent. We boast of our deeds and flaunt our behavior in arrogance, while forgetting the damage it causes. Free us from our deceptions and through Jesus make us free. Amen.
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Despite the damage we cause, the fouling of the earth and its waterways, the slaughter of fish and sea creatures, and the poisons in the very air that we breathe, our Lord yet loves us and forgives us. Amen.
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Give to Our God Immortal Praise” Red # 16
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Cherokee Creed)
I believe in the Creator of our people and our language, the one we call U-net-lan-hee
Who gifted us with ancient streams and new forests, with creatures who run and birds who fly.
I believe in Jesus Christ, our relative, who said he would always be with us. I believe in Jesus Christ who knew the pain of our people who were forced from their homeland as they walked the lonely trail of tears. I believe in Jesus Christ who promised us eternity with him.
I believe in the Great Spirit who touches us with the flame of belief to witness to the people and to the world. I believe in the Holy Spirit as our guide who leads us on the journey to new life and to live with our spirits in lives to come.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Guide us, O God, by your Word, and Holy Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover peace; through Christ our Lord, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING ISAIAH 25: 1-9 Theresa Cotanche
GOSPEL READING Matthew 22: 1-14
SERMON MESSAGE What? Yet Another Parable? John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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:
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
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We give freely from the bounty we have been given by our Gracious God. May what we offer in these moments help to become the very blessing and hope that others need. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY “This is the Good News”
**DOXOLOGY (Traditional)
PRAYER OF THANKS
Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. As we follow in faith, may we find ways to honor you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
**CLOSING HYMN “Go With Us, Lord” Blue #535
BENEDICTION (from the Cherokee tradition)
“May the warm winds of Heaven blow softly upon your house. May the Great Spirit bless all who enter there. May your moccasins make happy tracks in many snows, and may the rainbow always touch your shoulder.”
POSTLUDE “Many and Great, O God are Thy Things” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
https://www.newburghpresby.org/
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955
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