UNION CHURCH OF POCANTICO HILLS

AUGUST 9, 2020 TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST VIRTUAL WORSHIP AT 10:00 A.M.

Flowers for anyone out there feeling testy

© Tucker Nichols

Words spoken or sung by the congregation are noted in bold type.

PRELUDE FOR ORGAN Richard Coffey, Organist Improvisation on the Spiritual “This Little Light of Mine” Charles Callahan (b. 1956)

WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP

Children of God, come to the waters. We gather to be restored and renewed. Come, with your faith and your doubt. We respond to the one who claims and calls us. Come, Christ summons us to draw near. Let us worship God with joy and thanksgiving!

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HYMN

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CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, we long to draw close to you, but we are afraid. We are afraid to heed your summons for we do not know what awaits us when we step out in faith. We are wary of taking risks for your sake because the forces of chaos seem stronger than your assurances to us. We worry that we will not have enough faith

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in you or in the gifts you’ve given us to do the things you ask. Forgive us Lord, and save us. Reach out your hand, and lift us from our fear that we might follow you faithfully.

PRAYERS OF SILENT AND INDIVIDUAL CONFESSION

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

Now stand firm in your faith, covered by the saving grace of God and ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God.

RESPONSE OF PRAISE “Glory Be to the Father” Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, And to the Son, And to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, Is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen. Amen.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST LESSON Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b

1O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. 2Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. 3Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually. 5Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, 6O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones… 16When he summoned famine against the land, and broke every staff of bread, 17he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron; 19until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD kept testing him.

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20The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free. 21He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions, 22to instruct his officials at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom… 46bPraise the LORD!

SOLO “Hear My Prayer, O Lord” Text: Psalm Paraphrase Setting: Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Jonathan Mildner, baritone

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear unto my cry. Thou art my refuge and my hope,

Thou shalt tread down my enemies. I will dwell forever in thy tents

And hide me in the shadow of thy wings. Lord, Thou art indeed my God,

Yea, will I seek Thee early. My soul is faint, my body longeth after Thee In a barren desert where there is no water.

Now I will bless Thee daily And lift my hands in prayer and adoration.

Yea, my lips shall praise Thee all my life long.

SECOND LESSON Romans 10:5-15

5Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”

12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

SERMON “Preaching Without Distinction” Dr. DeGarmo

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HYMN

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PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

We pray for the needs of the world, saying, Save us, O Lord, we come to you.

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.

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

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HYMN

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CHARGE AND BLESSING

POSTLUDE FOR ORGAN Charles Callahan (b 1956) Fanfare on McKee “In Christ There Is No East or West”

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Everyone has something to offer. Just your joining with us today is an offering of yourself to our communal worship. If this is your first time with us, we want to hear from you. Please let us know your name and how best to contact you after today’s service. You can do this in the Zoom chat room, by commenting on the Facebook Live Stream or by emailing Dr. DeGarmo directly at ldegarmo@comcast.net. He or one of our deacons would love to be in touch with you in the coming days. Anyone is able to offer prayers. You can offer prayer requests in the chat room or on the Facebook Live Stream. Finally, you can offer your monetary gifts to support the mission and ministry of our congregation. To give online, you can visit the giving page on our website to make a one time or recurring gift. If you prefer to give by check, you can send it to 555 Bedford Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591. We thank you for joining us today and offering your voice, prayers and presence to our gathering.

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NOTES ON THE OFFERING

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SONG LEADERS

The congregation will be led in singing today by Jonathan Mildner and Ruth Tedder DiLorenzo.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday, August 11

8:30 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom – contact Dr. DeGarmo for the link

Wednesday, August 12

7:00 p.m. Virtual Bible Study via Zoom – contact Dr. DeGarmo for the link

Sunday, August 16

10:00 a.m. Virtual Worship– contact Dr. DeGarmo for the links

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