Everyone is welcome here

Our worship service is livestreaming on Facebook: facebook.com/UPCBinghamton/videos

Join via phone call on Zoom: +1-646-558-8656, Meeting ID 865 274 8433 #

Sunday, June 21, 2020 • 10:00am

John Shayn, “Modern Hagar.”

Welcome to the Celebration!

June 21, 2020 • 10:00am

We Gather as a Community of Faith

GATHERING MUSIC “The Lone, Wild Bird”

The lone, wild bird in lofty flight is still with thee, nor leaves thy sight.

And I am thine! I rest in thee. Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.

The ends of earth are in thy hand, the sea's dark deep and far-off land.

And I am thine! I rest in thee. Great Spirit, come, and rest in me. Come, rest in me.

WORDS: Henry Richard McFayden (alt.), © 1927 The Homiletic and Pastoral Review, Catholic Polls, Inc.

MUSIC: Dan Locklair, © 1981 GIA Publications. Used by Permission. CCLI License #11598067

WORDS OF WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive)

One: O Beloved, spring of mercy, call us,

and no matter the path ahead, we will go with you.

All: In strange cities of change and challenge,

you will guard us and guide us.

One: In meadows of beauty and grace,

you will open our eyes to see.

All: Through deserts of hardship you will provide.

In narrow passages of hurt and suffering, you will be present.

One: In landscapes of loss and sorrow, you will be enough.

When you lead us into the world's pain and move us to act for justice,

you will be our nerve and our strength.

All: When we step into the unknown, you are with us;

you are the light in the darkness;

yes, even the darkness itself is light to you.

One: O Holy One,

Lover, Beloved and the Flowing of Love:

beckon, and we will go with you.

All: Bless us and be with us as we look to the future

and step into the present. Amen!

SONG OF GATHERING “God! When Human Bonds Are Broken” (W&R #416; see next page)

PRAYER FOR WHOLENESS (together)

Holy God,

We struggle with the world that just seems to get worse and worse and worse.

But we come to you in prayer, knowing you are with us, as we

Pray for our nation.

Pray for the grieving and the broken-hearted.

Pray for justice.

Pray for black lives to really matter.

Pray for no more death.

Pray that we listen.

Pray that we learn.

(continued )

Used by Permission. CCLI License #11598067

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Set our hearts on fire.

Purify us, cleanse us, and restore us on the path of justice, mercy, love, and

peace.

For you are our God.

You made us in your image.

You sent your son Jesus to us so that we might have life, now and always.

You sent your Spirit to be with us forever, so that we might build your reign on

earth as it is in heaven, that we might fulfill the vision when all people of

every nation and tribe and language come together, and know you are God,

and know your love and peace.

We pray for that day, and we pray for our hearts to turn to you, to do justice, to

love mercy, and to go humbly in your ways.

Come, Holy Spirit, come. Amen!

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE (responsive)

One: With the whole church,

All: we affirm that we are made in God’s image,

befriended by Christ, and empowered by the Spirit.

One: With people everywhere,

All: we affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity,

planted more deeply than all that is wrong.

One: With all creation,

All: we celebrate the miracle and wonder of life and the unfolding

purposes of God, forever at work in ourselves and in the world.

Thanks be to God. Amen!

We Hear the Word

SCRIPTURE Genesis 16

TIME FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART

REFLECTIONS Rev. Kimberly P Chastain

We Respond to the Word

SONG OF RESPONSE “The Lone, Wild Bird” (PH #320; see next page)

WE SAY WHAT WE BELIEVE (together) from “A Brief Statement of Faith,” PC(USA), 1991

In life and in death we belong to God.

Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit,

we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel,

whom alone we worship and we serve.

In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit,

we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks,

and to live holy and joyful lives,

even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth,

praying “Come, Lord Jesus!”

With believers in every time and place

we rejoice that nothing in life or in death

can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen!

OFFERING

You are invited to support the ministry of this congregation through online giving

at upcbgm.org/giving/donate or by sending a check to the church office.

OFFERTORY “Hymn of Promise”

CCLI License #11598067

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

In grace, we bind ourselves to those who have no hope;

in hope, we bind ourselves to those who live in despair;

in peace, we bind ourselves to all who are damaged by violence and hate;

in gratitude, we offer our gifts and bind ourselves to you, O God, in the work

of justice, love, and wonder as you build your community in the world.

In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen!

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (responsive)

As each petition is concluded, the prayer leader and congregation respond:

One: Lord, in your loving kindness,

All: hear our prayer.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (together)

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!

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INVITATIONS

We Bless Each Other on the Way

SONG OF SENDING “Surely It is God Who Saves Me” (W&R #423; see next page)

BLESSING EACH OTHER ON THE WAY (responsive)

One: May God bless us with discomfort

at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,

so that we may live deeply within our hearts.

All: May God bless us with anger

at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,

so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

One: May God bless us with tears to shed

for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war,

so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them

and turn their pain into joy.

All: May God bless us with enough foolishness

to believe that we can make a difference in this world,

so that we can do what others claim cannot be done.

One: And when we are deep in the earthy, messy thick of it,

All: May we remember to look up at the stars and wonder. Amen!

THE SHARING OF CHRIST’S PEACE

“Namaste” is a Sanskrit greeting that means “the divine within me bows to the divine

within you.” The greeting includes a slight bow with palms pressed together.

In these social distancing days, it is a greeting that we can share across distance,

and still be connected. So I say to you, and invite you to say to each other, both now

as we close our time in worship and when we gather for our virtual coffee hour:

Namaste.

We invite you to join us in the Zoom room https://upcbgm.org/zoom

for a time of sharing and fellowship — our “virtual coffee hour”.

To dial in as a phone call: 646-558-8656, Meeting ID: 865 274 8433 #

Used by Permission. CCLI License #11598067

Announcements

Looking ahead, the Worship Team has decided that our worship services will continue to be remote-only at least until the end of August. As we approach the fall, the Worship Team will determine whether we’re ready to resume in-person services.

Zoom Study Group — Exploring Issues in Presbyterian-ism: Pastor Kimberly is leading a class that explores issues in Presbyterian thought and practice, especially as it relates to our congregation. They meet in UPC’s Zoom room on Thursdays at 4pm. This week, they’ll be talking about predestination. All are welcome to join the conversation. It would be good to have you with us!

Zoom Book Discussion, Strength in the Storm: We’re offering a Zoom book discussion group on the book Strength in the Storm by Eknath Easwaran. Judy Westcott will lead this group. The book discusses creating calm in difficult times, along with practical skills to reduce frustration, anger, and stress. Books have been ordered and will be available at the church starting Wednesday, June 24. Please contact Judy or the church office if interested.

Planning for summer worship: The worship team would like to hear from you as we plan for summer worship. What engages you in our online services? Are there things that you would like to see more of, or less? You can talk to the pastors, or to any of the musicians, or to Worship Team chair Suzie Raboy, to share your thoughts. Let us know what you think and especially if there are ways you’d like to contribute!

Regular events on Zoom:

All are invited to “Zoom in” with us as we stay connected from afar. Join us if you are able!

Mondays: Noon Bible Study, 12–1pm We continue our study of the book of Revelation, looking at the book in its historical and political context.

Wednesdays: Sewing Group lunch hour, 12–1pm

Fridays: Cocktail hour, 5–6pm Join us as we catch up on the events of the week.

How to get to UPC’s “Zoom Room”

We are using the same “Meeting ID” for all of our programs and worship services, and

no password is needed, just the Meeting ID. You can join online or call in on your phone.

To join online: https://upcbgm.org/zoom

To dial in as a phone call: 646-558-8656 Then enter Meeting ID: 865 274 8433 #

Tip: If you’re joining online but your internet is slow or unstable, you may want to turn off your camera so you use less of

your internet signal.

Song of Gathering and Song of Sending are reprinted from Worship & Rejoice. © 2001 Hope Publishing Company.

Song of Response is reprinted from The Presbyterian Hymnal: Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs.

© 1990 Westminster/John Knox Press. Used by Permission. CCLI License #11598067

Pastors Rev. Kimberly P Chastain and Rev. Becky Kindig ~ Liturgist Jenni McKeage

Music and Technology Aimee Backus, Margaret Davis, Scott Kindig,

Rebecca Mebert, Starletta Noll-Long, Phil Westcott, and David Williams