Bread and More Soup Kitchen continues to serve a free to-go meal every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-6:15.
October 2025
Church services are held at 10:00 am usually followed by a coffee hour. Please join us. All are welcome.
Thrift Shop: The thrift shop is open Tuesday and Thursday 10-2 and
Saturday 9-1. Half price sale on all items October 28, 30 and November 1.
Sunday School: Please call our church office at 631-727-2621 if you would like your child to join. Sunday School is held during church services at 10:00.
Bible Study: Please join us from
10:00-11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome.
Fall Association Meeting: The Suffolk County Association is scheduled to hold its fall meeting at Orient Congregational Church, 23045 Main Road in Orient (on the north side) on Saturday, November 1st beginning at 9:00 am. Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m.
Clocks Change: Be sure to turn your clocks back an hour when you hit the sack this Saturday. Daylight Savings Time ends November 2nd.
Litter Clean Up Day: The Riverhead Town Anti-Litter Committee is looking for volunteers to keep Riverhead clean on Saturday, Nov 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Gloves, Bags & Pickers will be available or you can bring your own. Two Community Service Credits will be available upon request. To sign up register yourself or a team by E-mailing Joanne Rizzo, Anti-Litter Chairperson, with your name and contact information at Jrizzohcs@optonline.net. Thank you.
If you would like to join us on Zoom , please follow the link
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86897065711?
pwd=a0FZcDg5MnRqKz-JMQXRLVzIBTGZFQT09 to start or join a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 850 1493 9172
Passcode: 7272621
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
A Service of the Word
October 26, 2025 ✦ 10am
OPENING WORDS:
We open our hearts to the presence of God and worship together.
PRELUDE: Ubi es o’ Domine Isabella Leonarda
(Once the music begins we ask that you would please maintain respectful silence)
*CHORAL INTROIT:
We are here this day to share God's love;
We have come with burdens and cares,
For within this place, we are bound as one
In this fellowship, we share.
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: This is God’s house, a holy temple.
We are in the midst of God’s dwelling place.
Many: My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of God.
My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
One: Happy are those whom God has chosen to be here.
Blessed are all whom God has forgiven and named.
Many: Our voices rise in praise of God’s awesome deeds.
Mountains and seas bow down before the Creator.
One: God crowns the year with a bountiful harvest.
Flocks and grain fill the meadows.
ALL: God’s presence is felt to the ends of the earth.
All creation is God’s dwelling place, God’s home.
HYMN: Wake, O My Soul
WELCOME
PRAYER OF INVOCATION:
….To you, O God, shall our vows be performed. To you we sing our praises and utter our prayers. Come among us to renew your covenant and offer your signs. Pour out your Spirit on your people gathered here, that we may dream and prophesy and follow the vision you set before us. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
Fall Association Meeting: The Suffolk County Association is scheduled to hold its fall meeting at Orient Congregational Church, 23045 Main Road in Orient (on the north side) on Saturday, November 1st beginning at 9:00 am. Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m.
Clocks Change: Be sure to turn your clocks back an hour when you hit the sack this Saturday. Daylight Savings Time ends November 2nd.
Litter Clean Up Day: The Riverhead Town Anti-Litter Committee is looking for volunteers to keep Riverhead clean on Saturday, Nov 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Gloves, Bags & Pickers will be available or you can bring your own. Two Community Service Credits will be available upon request. To sign up register yourself or a team by E-mailing Joanne Rizzo, Anti-Litter Chairperson, with your name and contact information at Jrizzohcs@optonline.net. Thank you.
A TIME OF PRAYER:
❖ Pastoral Prayer:
…Merciful God, You who understands our motives and knows our every thought, we seek in these moments to be attuned to your Word and will, that we may be humbly receptive to the proclamation you would have us share with the world. Grant us strength to persevere in our witness, so others may catch a vision of the joy you offer to all who serve you…
❖ Silent Prayer
❖ 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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory,
now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING & OFFERTORY: How Beautiful Twila Paris
DOXOLOGY AND BLESSING OF GIFTS:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, you heavenly host:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
❖ Joel 2:23-32 OT Page 801
❖ Psalm 65 Hymnal Page 661
❖ 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 NT Page 186
❖ Luke 18:9-14 NT Page 70
SERMON: “Well-Poised for Goodness to Come”
Again this week, I had occasion to hear the expression, “old age ain’t for wimps.” Those within earshot offered the appreciative chuckle or nodded in agreement. Most of us know well how it goes, especially as so many of our conversations either center on or touch on what doctor, or doctors, we have lined up to see. And if it’s not about us, it’s about our aging partners. Even the once easy tasks or chores we would do alone become more of a challenge, and help is more often needed.
When morning rises become difficult, driving after dark a concern, and opening jars become an exercise in frustration, any regularly positive attitude can seem fleeting. And God knows, it’s not just old age that can get us down, but any of life’s many trials that rattle us and attack our faith with darker thoughts about more problems to come.
The call and the challenge for us is to genuinely more ahead with a positive spirit of expectancy—believing that, despite whatever struggle or uncertainty we have faced, we are well-poised for goodness to come. The readings today—Joel’s message to a recovering people, Paul’s reflection from the brink of his life’s journey, and Jesus’ parable of two prayers—invite us to anchor ourselves in hope and humility as we await the unfolding grace of God.
Joel speaks to a community battered by locusts and drought, yet his words ring with promise: “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God.” He tells them to look for the rain, the restoration, and the Spirit poured out on all flesh. They are not defined by their losses but by what God is about to do. Even when life has stripped us bare, we are invited to anticipate the abundance that God can bring—healing, renewal, and dreams revived. We, too, can be well-poised for goodness when we trust in the restoration God promises.
Paul, writing near the end of his life, says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Despite moments of loneliness and opposition, he sees his journey as one preparing him for God’s ultimate goodness—a “crown of righteousness.” Paul’s honesty about feeling abandoned reminds us that even faithful people encounter hardship, but he also shows us how to live expectantly, knowing God’s presence and deliverance. In times of transition or uncertainty, Paul’s words encourage us to remain faithful and trust that God’s goodness is still ahead.
Throughout history, there are countless stories of people who faced immense adversity and, by trusting in hope and perseverance, experienced remarkable victory. One such story is that of Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. After spending 27 years in prison for his fight against racial injustice, Mandela emerged not with bitterness, but with a vision for reconciliation and a steadfast hope for his nation’s future. His eventual election as South Africa’s first Black president was not simply a political triumph; it was a testament to the power of faith, endurance, and the belief that goodness can break through even the darkest chapters of history. Like Joel’s people, Mandela and those who stood with him were not defined by their suffering, but by their unwavering anticipation of restoration and justice.
The hope today for the people of Ukraine, for Palestinians, and for all who are suffering after hardship, war, grief, and destruction, is the same. It’s hoping and believing in the goodness of God even when the reality of the day seems so bleak.
On a lighter side, a more contemporary illustration is one that I’ll lift out of these October evenings of ours. I’ve been quite taken with October baseball. Now it’s World Series time. It’s the LA Dodgers again the Toronto Blue Jays. The expectation was that the Dodgers, who are looking for a repeat of their Series Championship of last year, would just roll over the Blue Jays who haven’t made it to the World Series since 1993, that is 32 years ago. And yet, in the first game of the Series this Friday, the Blue Jays absolutely romped the Dodgers, winning 11-4. The Dodgers got a 5-1 victory last night, but that just evens out the Series. The underdogs, might, just might, prove the victors. But even if they don’t take the trophy home, they can still hold their heads up high after a wonderful season, despite the odds.
The ultimate victory story of the day is from our Gospel lesson. Jesus tells the story of two men praying in the temple: one confident in his own righteousness, the other painfully aware of his need for mercy. Jesus names only the humble tax collector as going home justified. Victory is shown to be the award of the seemingly have-nots, the strugglers, and faulters. There, to be well-poised for the goodness that comes means to be open and honest before God, recognizing our need and our dependence on grace. Sometimes, the greatest goodness comes not from our achievements but from admitting our weaknesses and letting God lift us up.
These passages together urge us to stand in hopeful anticipation—not based on our own perfection, but on God’s generosity and grace. Whether we are recovering from hardship like Joel’s people, finishing a difficult chapter like Paul, or seeking mercy like the tax collector, we are invited to trust that God is not done with us yet. We are well-poised for goodness to come when we open our hearts to God’s work, remain faithful in trials, and approach each new day with humility and hope. May we rejoice, remain faithful, and pray with humble hearts, knowing that goodness is indeed on its way.
*HYMN: If You But Trust in God to Guide You No. 410
https://youtu.be/99VRXaTqvb8
*BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION:
May the light of God shine on us today.
May the light of God shine on us today.
May it show us where to travel.
Lead us back if we should stray.
May the light of God shine on us today.
POSTLUDE: Toccata in D Minor BWV 565 J.S. BachTwentieth Sunday after Pentecost
A Service of the Word
October 26, 2025 ✦ 10am
OPENING WORDS:
We open our hearts to the presence of God and worship together.
PRELUDE: Ubi es o’ Domine Isabella Leonarda
(Once the music begins we ask that you would please maintain respectful silence)
*CHORAL INTROIT:
We are here this day to share God's love;
We have come with burdens and cares,
For within this place, we are bound as one
In this fellowship, we share.
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: This is God’s house, a holy temple.
We are in the midst of God’s dwelling place.
Many: My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of God.
My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
One: Happy are those whom God has chosen to be here.
Blessed are all whom God has forgiven and named.
Many: Our voices rise in praise of God’s awesome deeds.
Mountains and seas bow down before the Creator.
One: God crowns the year with a bountiful harvest.
Flocks and grain fill the meadows.
ALL: God’s presence is felt to the ends of the earth.
All creation is God’s dwelling place, God’s home.
HYMN: Wake, O My Soul
WELCOME
PRAYER OF INVOCATION:
….To you, O God, shall our vows be performed. To you we sing our praises and utter our prayers. Come among us to renew your covenant and offer your signs. Pour out your Spirit on your people gathered here, that we may dream and prophesy and follow the vision you set before us. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
Fall Association Meeting: The Suffolk County Association is scheduled to hold its fall meeting at Orient Congregational Church, 23045 Main Road in Orient (on the north side) on Saturday, November 1st beginning at 9:00 am. Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m.
Clocks Change: Be sure to turn your clocks back an hour when you hit the sack this Saturday. Daylight Savings Time ends November 2nd.
Litter Clean Up Day: The Riverhead Town Anti-Litter Committee is looking for volunteers to keep Riverhead clean on Saturday, Nov 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Gloves, Bags & Pickers will be available or you can bring your own. Two Community Service Credits will be available upon request. To sign up register yourself or a team by E-mailing Joanne Rizzo, Anti-Litter Chairperson, with your name and contact information at Jrizzohcs@optonline.net. Thank you.
A TIME OF PRAYER:
❖ Pastoral Prayer:
…Merciful God, You who understands our motives and knows our every thought, we seek in these moments to be attuned to your Word and will, that we may be humbly receptive to the proclamation you would have us share with the world. Grant us strength to persevere in our witness, so others may catch a vision of the joy you offer to all who serve you…
❖ Silent Prayer
❖ 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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory,
now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING & OFFERTORY: How Beautiful Twila Paris
DOXOLOGY AND BLESSING OF GIFTS:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, you heavenly host:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
❖ Joel 2:23-32 OT Page 801
❖ Psalm 65 Hymnal Page 661
❖ 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 NT Page 186
❖ Luke 18:9-14 NT Page 70
SERMON: “Well-Poised for Goodness to Come”
Again this week, I had occasion to hear the expression, “old age ain’t for wimps.” Those within earshot offered the appreciative chuckle or nodded in agreement. Most of us know well how it goes, especially as so many of our conversations either center on or touch on what doctor, or doctors, we have lined up to see. And if it’s not about us, it’s about our aging partners. Even the once easy tasks or chores we would do alone become more of a challenge, and help is more often needed.
When morning rises become difficult, driving after dark a concern, and opening jars become an exercise in frustration, any regularly positive attitude can seem fleeting. And God knows, it’s not just old age that can get us down, but any of life’s many trials that rattle us and attack our faith with darker thoughts about more problems to come.
The call and the challenge for us is to genuinely more ahead with a positive spirit of expectancy—believing that, despite whatever struggle or uncertainty we have faced, we are well-poised for goodness to come. The readings today—Joel’s message to a recovering people, Paul’s reflection from the brink of his life’s journey, and Jesus’ parable of two prayers—invite us to anchor ourselves in hope and humility as we await the unfolding grace of God.
Joel speaks to a community battered by locusts and drought, yet his words ring with promise: “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God.” He tells them to look for the rain, the restoration, and the Spirit poured out on all flesh. They are not defined by their losses but by what God is about to do. Even when life has stripped us bare, we are invited to anticipate the abundance that God can bring—healing, renewal, and dreams revived. We, too, can be well-poised for goodness when we trust in the restoration God promises.
Paul, writing near the end of his life, says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Despite moments of loneliness and opposition, he sees his journey as one preparing him for God’s ultimate goodness—a “crown of righteousness.” Paul’s honesty about feeling abandoned reminds us that even faithful people encounter hardship, but he also shows us how to live expectantly, knowing God’s presence and deliverance. In times of transition or uncertainty, Paul’s words encourage us to remain faithful and trust that God’s goodness is still ahead.
Throughout history, there are countless stories of people who faced immense adversity and, by trusting in hope and perseverance, experienced remarkable victory. One such story is that of Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. After spending 27 years in prison for his fight against racial injustice, Mandela emerged not with bitterness, but with a vision for reconciliation and a steadfast hope for his nation’s future. His eventual election as South Africa’s first Black president was not simply a political triumph; it was a testament to the power of faith, endurance, and the belief that goodness can break through even the darkest chapters of history. Like Joel’s people, Mandela and those who stood with him were not defined by their suffering, but by their unwavering anticipation of restoration and justice.
The hope today for the people of Ukraine, for Palestinians, and for all who are suffering after hardship, war, grief, and destruction, is the same. It’s hoping and believing in the goodness of God even when the reality of the day seems so bleak.
On a lighter side, a more contemporary illustration is one that I’ll lift out of these October evenings of ours. I’ve been quite taken with October baseball. Now it’s World Series time. It’s the LA Dodgers again the Toronto Blue Jays. The expectation was that the Dodgers, who are looking for a repeat of their Series Championship of last year, would just roll over the Blue Jays who haven’t made it to the World Series since 1993, that is 32 years ago. And yet, in the first game of the Series this Friday, the Blue Jays absolutely romped the Dodgers, winning 11-4. The Dodgers got a 5-1 victory last night, but that just evens out the Series. The underdogs, might, just might, prove the victors. But even if they don’t take the trophy home, they can still hold their heads up high after a wonderful season, despite the odds.
The ultimate victory story of the day is from our Gospel lesson. Jesus tells the story of two men praying in the temple: one confident in his own righteousness, the other painfully aware of his need for mercy. Jesus names only the humble tax collector as going home justified. Victory is shown to be the award of the seemingly have-nots, the strugglers, and faulters. There, to be well-poised for the goodness that comes means to be open and honest before God, recognizing our need and our dependence on grace. Sometimes, the greatest goodness comes not from our achievements but from admitting our weaknesses and letting God lift us up.
These passages together urge us to stand in hopeful anticipation—not based on our own perfection, but on God’s generosity and grace. Whether we are recovering from hardship like Joel’s people, finishing a difficult chapter like Paul, or seeking mercy like the tax collector, we are invited to trust that God is not done with us yet. We are well-poised for goodness to come when we open our hearts to God’s work, remain faithful in trials, and approach each new day with humility and hope. May we rejoice, remain faithful, and pray with humble hearts, knowing that goodness is indeed on its way.
*HYMN: If You But Trust in God to Guide You No. 410
https://youtu.be/99VRXaTqvb8
*BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION:
May the light of God shine on us today.
May the light of God shine on us today.
May it show us where to travel.
Lead us back if we should stray.
May the light of God shine on us today.
POSTLUDE: Toccata in D Minor BWV 565 J.S. Bach
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
A Service of the Word and Sacrament
October 19, 2025 ✦ 10am
OPENING WORDS:
We open our hearts to the presence of God and worship together.
PRELUDE: Exurge Isabella Leonarda
(Once the music begins we ask that you would please maintain respectful silence)
*CHORAL INTROIT:
We are here this day to share God's love;
We have come with burdens and cares,
for within this place, we are bound as one
In this fellowship, we share.
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: We gather to honor our covenant with God.
We gather to worship the God who has covenanted with us.
Many: Our help comes from God who made heaven and earth.
Our wisdom comes from the one who meets us here.
One: Open your eyes to meet God face to face.
Open your ears to hear God’s instruction.
Many: God takes us by the hand to lead us.
The Word of God is written in our hearts.
One: Come to taste God’s Word, which is sweeter than honey.
Come to touch the reality of God’s presence.
ALL: Surely God will welcome us and protect us.
We will walk with new understanding and truth.
HYMN: Rejoice, Give Thanks and Sing No. 303
https://youtu.be/KzuIi4fqjAQ
WELCOME
PRAYER OF INVOCATION:
…Sow your seed in our midst, O God, for we are prepared to receive what you offer. We want to know you and to bear fruit for your reign among us. We want to meditate on your law and keep your commandments. Draw us into the new covenant you have fashioned for us in Jesus Christ so that we may fulfill our ministry. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
Joint Board Meeting: We will be having a joint board meeting on October 26th immediately following service in the Fellowship Hall.
CHILDREN’S TIME
A TIME OF PRAYER:
❖ Pastoral Prayer
Just and listening to God, ever more ready to hear us than we are to pray, meet us where we are, lest we decide that you are beyond our reach. We bring our disappointments and complaints, our cries for justice, our concern for the needy, asking strength and courage to join in a more effective ministry among your people. Amen.
❖ Silent Prayer
❖ 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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory,
now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING: Neighbors in Need
OFFERTORY: Abide With Me William Monk
*DOXOLOGY AND BLESSING OF GIFTS:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, you heavenly host:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
❖ Jeremiah 31:27-34 OT Page 693
❖ Psalm 119:97-104 Hymnal Page 702
❖ 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 NT Page 188
❖ Luke 18:1-8 NT Page 70
SERMON: “From Childhood You Have Known”
Today’s a special day. Normally, that would be a very good thing, but it’s a bit unfortunate these days. It’s unfortunate because baptisms have become rare events in many of our churches. Consequently, when we celebrate one, it’s kind of a big deal.
Of course, that didn’t used to be the case. In the days of old, when nothing but churches were open on Sundays, when there were no sporting events, and many families only had one working parent, baptisms were rather common. They were also quite controversial. It used to be that people were very passionate about baptism, particularly how – by sprinkling (aspersion), pouring (affusion) or immersion -- and when to do it.
In some denominations, even today, baptism is only offered to people once they have reached “the age of reason.” That is, they have to be deemed old enough to decide for themselves that they believe in God, believe that Jesus died and was risen from the dead for us, and believe in the Holy Spirit, the active and perpetual presence of our God with us. Such is the practice of Baptists and many Pentecostals.
Yet when baptism normalized at a certain again, usually 13 or 14 years-old (for such was deemed a sufficient age of reason), the notion of a “believer’s baptism” fell into question. Are 13-year-olds really old enough to make such a decision for themselves? And are the kids getting baptized because they really want to, or because their parents have decided that it’s time? Do they answer the questions from their heart or just offer standard answers that have been supplied to them?
Despite such, curiously enough, some of those who believe in a believer’s baptism were the loudest critics against infant baptism.
The debate between infant baptism and believer’s baptism has shaped Christian practice and theology for centuries. Infant baptism is practiced by many denominations, such as Catholics, Orthodox, and main-line Protestant churches such as ours, who view baptism as a means of grace and initiation into the faith community. In these traditions of ours, parents and godparents make vows on behalf of the child, trusting that the child will grow into their faith as they mature. The act is seen as a sign of God’s covenant, much like circumcision in the Old Testament, and emphasizes the role of the faith community in nurturing spiritual growth.
Both approaches reflect different understandings of faith, community, and spiritual development. While infant baptism underscores the power of God’s grace and the supportive role of the faith community from the earliest age, believer’s baptism emphasizes personal choice and conscious commitment. The ongoing discussion between these traditions encourages reflection on how best to nurture faith in both children and adults, and how baptism serves as a milestone in one’s spiritual journey.
In order to make sure that infant baptism was a decision of the heart, the affirmation of baptism, that is Confirmation, was introduced. That rite was intended to insure that a person who reached the age of reason, understood the promises and covenant with God that was made for them long ago. That, too, made good sense. But the problem was to make sure that people (typically young people) were offered Confirmation or opted to do it. If they’re seldom in church at best, the chances for such are, of course, greatly reduced.
As we’ve seen, along with the scarcity of baptisms, comes the lack of kids in church. And I’m convinced that because of that, kids aren’t getting either the religious or the moral foundation they need. Such foundation goes far to keep kids from the evil of our days and decisions of the young to opt for violent antisocial behavior.
As we know, learning about God during childhood lays a strong spiritual foundation that long guides a person throughout life. Paul emphasizes the importance of knowing the Holy Scriptures from a young age and continuing in faith. This passage offers timeless wisdom on the lasting impact that early spiritual education can have on an individual's character, values, and resilience.
Paul writes to Timothy, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." These verses highlight two crucial points: the enduring value of early learning and the role of trusted teachers, such as parents or mentors, in shaping spiritual understanding.
Children are naturally curious and open to learning, making childhood a prime time for instilling faith and values. The truths learned in youth become deeply rooted, providing guidance when facing life's decisions and challenges.
The sacred writings—Scripture—are able to "make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Early exposure to God's Word equips children with wisdom that not only informs their minds but also transforms their hearts. This wisdom fosters a personal relationship with God and helps children discern right from wrong as they grow.
Paul warns Timothy about the coming challenges and the need to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." When children learn about God early, they are better prepared to stand firm in their faith even when faced with adversity or opposition. The principles and promises of Scripture become anchors in uncertain times.
The passage continues, warning that "the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." Early spiritual training helps children discern truth from error and encourages them to live according to God's standards rather than the ever-changing values of society.
Timothy's faith was influenced by his mother and grandmother, showing the powerful impact that family and community can have on a child's spiritual journey. By learning about God as a child, individuals can become positive influences on future generations, passing down faith and wisdom. And such touches on our responsibility: our responsibility as parents, grandparent, teachers, or even friends and colleagues. The call of God to us is to help other find their way to God.
As I remind young parents who want their infant baptized, faith is not learned by simple osmosis. It has to be modeled and taught. And often home and school life is not enough. Church time is needed. Such is true for children and such too is true for us.
“From childhood you have known....” The prayer is that we all long honor what we have long known about God, grace, and love, and that we offer others who come after us the same opportunity to learn and God in grace of our God.
BAPTISM: (please see insert)
*HYMN: Child of Blessing, Child of Promise No. 325
https://youtu.be/NTbuZvDpAJQ
*BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION:
May the light of God shine on us today.
May the light of God shine on us today.
May it show us where to travel.
Lead us back if we should stray.
May the light of God shine on us today.
POSTLUDE: Marche des Marseillois Claude Balbastre
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
A Service of the Word
September 28, 2025 ✦ 10am
OPENING WORDS:
We open our hearts to the presence of God and worship together.
PRELUDE: BWV 26 J.S. Bach
(Once the music begins we ask that you would please maintain respectful silence)
*CHORAL INTROIT:
We are here this day to share God's love;
We have come with burdens and cares,
For within this place, we are bound as one
In this fellowship, we share.
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Come, all who live in the shelter of the Most High.
Gather together, all who trust in God Almighty.
Many: God reigns through all generations.
We will praise God as long as we live.
One: We trust in God, our refuge and our fortress.
We can count on God’s faithfulness at all times.
Many: God lifts us up when we are threatened or afraid.
We call to God for protection and rescue.
One: Worship God, who richly provides us with all things.
Give thanks to the one who dwells in unapproachable light.
ALL: God, who made heaven and earth, keeps faith forever.
We will pour out our thankfulness in words and deeds.
HYMN: God Moves in a Mysterious Way No. 412
https://youtu.be/yjPR09kdCgc
WELCOME
PRAYER OF INVOCATION
…Ever-present God, let your Spirit fill this place, for we need to know that you are in charge. Through the terrors of night, amid the arrows that fly by day, we need to sense your power, your protection, our higher purpose. Show us here your saving, healing strength. Grant to us such confidence and contentment that we may look beyond ourselves to become a blessing to others. Amen.
CHILDREN’S TIME
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
Funeral Service: Funeral services for Bruce Sanford will be held October 2nd at 10:00 am in our sanctuary.
Funeral Service: Funeral services for Jerry Duvall will be held on Octobert.4th at 11:00am in our sanctuary.
County Fair: October 12th is our Riverhead County Fair. We will be having a brief 9:00 am prayer service out front before opening the sanctuary for our Quilt Show. Raffle tickets for the quilt will be available after worship in the Fellowship Hall.
A TIME OF PRAYER:
❖ Pastoral Prayer
Eternal God, whose will for humankind is that we live within your rule of love, call us out of our preoccupation with riches to sense our common plight with all who suffer. Help us to identify with rich and poor alike as your children, that through mutual care and compassion we might grow toward your eternal realm. May we hear and heed your life—changing warnings and promises….
❖ Silent Prayer
❖ 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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory,
now and forever. Amen.
MISSION MOMENT: Neighbors in Need
OFFERING & OFFERTORY: For the Autumn Sky
Ruth Elaine Schram
DOXOLOGY AND BLESSING OF GIFTS:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, you heavenly host:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
❖ Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 OT Page 694
❖ Psalm 91 Hymnal Page 681
❖ 1 Timothy 6:6-19 NT Page 186
❖ Luke 16:19-31 NT Page 69
SERMON: “Fight the Good Fight”
I’m pretty certain that most would agree with me when I say, given the choice, I’d really rather not fight. At this age, I don’t even know anyone who likes to fight. And I’ve wondered if those who fight for a living do so because they like it or only that it seemed to them to be the best option.
“Fight” doesn’t often get a good rap, or a good usage. Sometimes, when we’re dealing with a medication condition, I know some of us have been told we have to fight through the pain. (Although I know there are schools of thought challenging that.) Sometimes, women in childbirth have to fight through it. And those held under by unjust positions, the slaves, women, the LGBTQ crowd for example, have certainly had to fight, but it would have been considerable nicer if no fight had been necessary. Especially given all the violence and the losses, particularly those of the Civil War.
Yet, as Paul knows, sometimes we have to fight, and lest it’s interpreted in a physical manner, he adds, “of faith.” Fight the good fight of faith. I’ve long heard the expression. I’ve long learned the expression. And I’ve long questioned what exactly is that good fight for me.
As some commentators will note, Paul in this context warns against the empty pursuit of riches and urges Timothy to cling to eternal life. The good fight, the comments go, is about holding fast to what truly matters—faith, integrity, and the promise of God. Paul knows the cares and temptations of the world are much and wants younger Timothy to work hard at keeping his priorities right, namely holding onto hope and truth even when the world calls us to something else. I get it.
So did those who put together the lectionary. That particular interpretation or spin, fits well with Jesus’ story of the rich man, clothed in fine linen, and the poor beggar named Lazarus, suffering outside his gate. That account is certainly a warning about concerning oneself with riches more than with God or any needs of others, even those at the gate.
So what are the fights worth fighting today? In today’s world, fighting the good fight might look like standing up against bullying in schools or workplaces, even when it’s uncomfortable. It could mean advocating for those who can’t speak for themselves, such as supporting mental health initiatives, volunteering in soup kitchen, pantries or shelters. For some, it’s about resisting the pressure to compromise their values for success, choosing honesty and integrity when shortcuts seem easier. Others might fight the good fight by committing to environmental stewardship, working to protect the planet for future generations despite convenience or apathy.
These acts, though not always dramatic, reflect a deep commitment to faith, justice, and compassion—qualities that define a truly good fight in our time.
And there’s yet another fight which is particularly appropriate for all of us who struggle with the insecurity of our times and fear of what’s to come, especially as we age. That’s the subtle fight which Jeremiah points to.
Jeremiah’s story takes place in a time of great uncertainty. Jerusalem is under siege, and Jeremiah himself is imprisoned. Yet, in the midst of this turmoil, God tells him to buy a field—which given the circumstances at hand doesn’t seem at all logical. But Jeremiah obeys, trusting in God’s promise that restoration will come. He fights the good fight by believing in hope when everything around him says otherwise.
Jeremiah’s faith shows us that fighting the good fight is sometimes about believing what we cannot see. It is about planting seeds of hope, even when the future looks bleak. God’s promises are sure, even when our circumstances are not. When we put our trust in Him, we are fighting the good fight.
So what does it mean for us to fight the good fight today? It means waking up each morning and choosing faith over fear. It means loving our neighbors, seeking justice, and showing kindness, even when it’s hard. It means turning away from the distractions and temptations that try to pull us from God, and instead focusing on what is true, noble, and right. It means trusting God even when fear of the future mounts within us and around us.
Fighting the good fight is a daily practice—standing firm in prayer, refusing to give up when life gets tough, and believing that God is with us, through every test and trial. It means believing that God's grace is enough, and that God’s promises will never fail.
Our challenge is to remember that the fight of faith is not one of fists or anger, but one of courage and trust. It is a battle waged in our hearts -- to believe, to love, and to hope. May we follow Paul’s encouragement, take to heart Jesus’ warning, and learn from Jeremiah’s faith. Even when the road is difficult, hold on. Fight the good fight, and know that God is with you, every step of the way.
*HYMN: If You But Trust in God to Guide You No. 410
https://youtu.be/99VRXaTqvb8
*BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION:
May the light of God shine on us today.
May the light of God shine on us today.
May it show us where to travel.
Lead us back if we should stray.
May the light of God shine on us today.
POSTLUDE: Chromatic Fantasy J.S. Bach
We're biblical, traditional, yet progressive.
We honor and take pride in our
Congregational roots.
We covenant with one another and with God,
as revealed
in Jesus Christ through the illumination of
the Holy Spirit.
We endeavor to walk humbly with God and
strive for justice and peace.
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.
Isaiah 56.7
We are an open and affirming congregation in which all persons regardless of race, ethnic background, economic status, gender, age, or personal ability, are equally affirmed into membership, leadership and employment
and joyfully welcomed.
Our church office is open for phone calls at 631-727-2621. Pastor Sean will return your calls. Our secretary is in the office Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Our church office is open for phone calls at 631-727-2621. Pastor Sean will return your calls. Our secretary is in the office Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Worship on Sundays at 10:00am.
No matter who you are or where you are in life's journey, you are welcome here.
103 1st Street, Riverhead, New York 11901, United States
Open today | 09:00 am – 12:00 pm |
Our church office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am-12:00. Church services are held on Sunday at 10:00am, and coffee hour in the fellowship hall following the worship service. Sunday School will be held at 10:00 am. (To run concurrent with our worship service)
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