Urbandale United Church of Christ God is still speaking

Transcription

1 Urbandale United Church of Christ God is still speaking No matter who you are or where you are on life s journey, you are invited and welcome here. A Just Peace and Open and Affirming congregation November 18, :00 a.m. Thanksgiving Sunday ~ Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost The Liturgical color for the Sundays of Ordinary time is Green, representing Growth and Vitality of the Christian Church. SERVING AT URBANDALE UCC THIS SUNDAY Liturgist: TBD Ushers & Greeters: Adam Dirks, Jim Nervig, Mason Thies, David Spaulding Acolytes: Jerry & Dianne Woods Nursery: Anjy Allen & TBD Opening the Church: Today, Mark Siegel Next Sunday, Jerry Woods Sound Booth: Scott Gardner The flowers were donated by the Gibbens Family in celebration of Nora s 9 th birthday. GATHERING We extend a special welcome to our visitors. Nametags and information packets are available at the welcome table at the main entrance to the sanctuary. Childcare is available in the nursery for children ages birth through seven. Please see an usher for location if you wish to use the nursery. GREETING Thanksgiving is a time when the world gets to see just how blessed and how workable the Christian system is. The emphasis is not on giving or buying, but on being thankful and expressing that appreciation to God and to one another. ~John Clayton TIME OF FRIENDSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE Be Though My Vision arr. Stan Pethel Raggedy Band Mary Byrne LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES Their flames symbolizing God s Spirit. This symbol invites the congregation to stand in body or spirit Bold type indicates a unison response CALL TO PRAISE AND PRAYER* ONE: Come, let us present ourselves before our God. Bring all your troubles and anxiety to God in prayer. ALL: Surely God knows our thoughts and hears our prayers We find strength for living as we praise God. ONE: Lay down your arrogance and false pride. Admit your needs as you seek God s favor.

2 ALL: We pour out our souls before the living God. We do not withhold from God our misery and distress. ONE: God grants our petitions and gives us peace. The counsel of our God gladdens our hearts. ALL: In God s presence there is fullness of joy. As we meet together, we are encouraged and comforted. OPENING HYMN Nun danket alle Gott Hymnal 419 (Now Thank We All Our God) INVOCATION PROCLAMATION ANTHEM Thanks Be to God Allen Pote Adult Choir Emily Sheridan, Oboe SCRIPTURE LESSON I Samuel 1:4-20(The Common English Bible) 4 Whenever he sacrificed, Elkanah would give parts of the sacrifice to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But he would give only one part of it to Hannah, though he loved her, because the LORD had kept her from conceiving. 6 And because the LORD had kept Hannah from conceiving, her rival would make fun of her mercilessly, just to bother her. 7 So that is what took place year after year. Whenever Hannah went to the Lord s house, Peninnah would make fun of her. Then she would cry and wouldn t eat anything. 8 Hannah, why are you crying? her husband Elkanah would say to her. Why won t you eat? Why are you so sad? Aren t I worth more to you than ten sons? 9 One time, after eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah got up and presented herself before the LORD. (Now Eli the priest was sitting in the chair by the doorpost of the LORD s temple.) 10 Hannah was very upset and couldn t stop crying as she prayed to the LORD. 11 Then she made this promise: LORD of heavenly forces, just look at your servant s pain and remember me! Don t forget your servant! Give her a boy! Then I ll give him to the LORD for his entire life. No razor will ever touch his head. 12 As she kept praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah was praying in her heart; her lips were moving, but her voice was silent, so Eli thought she was drunk. 14 How long will you act like a drunk? Sober up! Eli told her. 15 No sir! Hannah replied. I m just a very sad woman. I haven t had any wine or beer but have been pouring out my heart to the LORD. 16 Don t think your servant is some good-for-nothing woman. This whole time I ve been praying out of my great worry and trouble! 17 Eli responded, Then go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you ve asked from him. 18 Please think well of me, your servant, Hannah said. Then the woman went on her way, ate some food, and wasn t sad any longer. 19 They got up early the next morning and worshipped the LORD. Then they went back home to Ramah. Elkanah had sex with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, which means I asked the LORD for him. MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION 2

3 SERMON Provoked and Yet Blessed Rev. Susan Sickelka HYMN Welcome to This House SPP 7 PASTORAL PRAYER RESPONSE THE 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 and ever. Amen, Amen. Forever and ever. Amen, Amen. PRESENTATION OF OUR GIFTS ONE: God is good! ALL: All the time! ONE: All the time! ALL: God is good! ONE: Let us share the goodness of our God! When the offering plate comes to you, we invite you to hold it for a moment and consider the many gifts that you can share. You may pray for a person or a ministry; you may commit yourself to a specific act of compassion; or you may resolve to work on a relationship that is in need of repair. Allow the Spirit to guide your thoughts. OFFERTORY Give Thanks arr. Stan Pethel Raggedy Band Henry Smith Please sign the Pew Pad and pass it to your neighbor. DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia! PRAYER OF DEDICATION* tune: Lasst uns erfreuen Praise God the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! CLOSING HYMN For the Beauty of the Earth Hymnal 28 BENEDICTION The candles are extinguished. God s Spirit remains as a living flame in the hearts of God s people. POSTLUDE Dakota Hymn Philip Frazier Raggedy Band Please reshelve the hymnals and put this used Bulletin in the recycle basket. *The Call to Praise and Prayer, Prayer of Confession, and Dedication Prayer are reprinted by permission of the United Church Press from Led by Love by Lavon Baylor. Copyright 1996 by United Church Press. 3

4 PRAYER CONCERNS To list someone in this section, with their permission, please by the weekly bulletin deadline. Keep in your thoughts and prayers: Jamel Carter...Don Walters...Diann Miller And our dear ones: Alma Sims Lee & Margaret Messenger To notify the staff of a prayer concern, or to send a note of caring and support to someone, please use the cards in the pew rack and drop them in the offering plate. Please indicate whether prayer concerns should be forwarded to our Prayer Chain. Notes will be mailed on Tuesday, provided we have the recipient s full name and the sender s signature. The Prayer Shawl Ministry provides prayer shawls to people experiencing difficult circumstances or life transitions. For more information, prayer.shawls@urbucc.org. Thanksgiving Sunday, November 18 9:00 am Sunday School 9:00 am Adult Spiritual Formation 10:00 am Worship Special Music: Raggedy Band 12:30 pm Matu Bethel Church 12:30 pm Light Mission Pentecostal Church Monday, November 19 6:00 pm Hunger Hike Board 6:00 pm Book Club Tuesday, November 20 11:00 am Staff Meeting 7:00 pm Newcomers Gathering Sunday, November 25 NO SUNDAY SCHOOL OR ASF 10:00 am Worship Special Music: Adult Choir 12:30 pm Matu Bethel Church 12:30 pm Light Mission Pentecostal Church This Week at UUCC Upcoming Sundays Wednesday, November 21 7:30 pm AA Thursday, November 22 THANKSGIVING DAY~ OFFICE CLOSED Friday, November 23 OFFICE CLOSED Saturday, November 24 3:00 pm Light Mission Pentecostal Church 6:00 pm Matu Bethel Church Sunday, December 2 9:00 am Sunday School 9:00 am Adult Spiritual Formation 10:00 am Worship: Communion Special Music: Adult Choir 11:00 am OWL K-2 nd Grade Info Meeting 12:30 pm Matu Bethel Church 12:30 pm Light Mission Pentecostal Church Holiday Office Hours The office will be closed Thursday, November 23 rd for Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 24 th. Order Poinsettias in Memory or Honor of Loved Ones! If you haven t put in your order for Christmas poinsettias to decorate the chancel for Christmas, you have a week left to do so. There is a choice of size and color of plants. Order envelopes are out on the table in the Narthex. To buy or donate a poinsettia, you may place your order, including payment, in the box on the narthex table or in the office. The deadline to order will be Sunday, November 25 th. Thank you. 4

5 Sunday School & Adult Spiritual Formation 9:00-9:45 am Preschool to 5 th grade will begin their Christmas Program rehearsals in the sanctuary. 6-12th graders will meet in the NW corner of Fellowship Hall Adult Spiritual Formation (ASF) ~ 9:00-9:45am in Fellowship Hall: Today: Peace, War & Veterans: Presenter, Dr. Kelly Weiss-Kreps Dr. Kelly Weiss-Kreps will speak on mental health concerns of veterans. Prior to recently starting her business, Counseling International, Dr. Weiss-Kreps was a psychiatrist at the Des Moines VA hospital, where she served in outpatient clinic and was responsible for a 60-bed residential treatment center for PTSD, Homeless, Addictions/Substance treatment, Coping Skills. Next Week: NO CLASS 7-12 th Fundraiser for Simply Smiles & General Synod Recycling Cans & Bottles Do you not like the hassle of returning your cans and bottles? We have a solution for you! We have a recycling can ready to accept your refundable recyclables near the shed by the Memorial Garden. All the money received from redeeming cans and bottles will help the youth with our trips to South Dakota and Wisconsin next summer. If you are unable to bring your cans/bottles to church, please contact Anjy Allen to arrange a pick up. Thank you for supporting our youth! Newcomers Gathering A monthly informal social gathering is hosted at the home of one of our church members. It is open to anyone interested, especially those who have joined the church over the past few years, visitors who would like to get acquainted with others, and anyone in the congregation wanting to make connections with newer members and visitors. If this interests you, you are invited to the home of Duane Cuthrell and Gary Roccapriore on Tuesday, November 20 th, 7-8 p.m. at th Pl, Des Moines, Children are welcome. Please RSVP to Gary Roccapriore at or gary.roccapriore@gmail.com or Maryellen Knowles at NOVEMBER FOOD PANTRY In 2017, the generosity of our community helped the Urbandale Food Pantry provide a Thanksgiving turkey or turkey breast to 1,191 families (up from 875 families in 2016). In order to reach the goal of providing each of these families a Thanksgiving turkey or turkey breast, we need your assistance. Please consider helping in one of the following ways: Send a check or donate online to the Urbandale Food Pantry in October and November Donate a turkey or turkey breast to the Urbandale Food Pantry during our hours of operation: Monday-Thursday 9:30a-6:30p and Saturday 8a-12noon. YOU ARE INVITED TO BECOME A TRANSFORMER!! Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 1 st, at 10:00 a.m. That's the day you can be a transformer! Transformers are interested people willing to help transform our worship space by decorating for the Advent and Christmas seasons. No experience needed, -- and food will be served! 5

6 U R B A N D A L E U N I T E D C H U R C H O F C H R I S T th Street, Urbandale, IA Phone: Fax: We welcome into this community of faith, and affirm the participation in all aspects of church life, persons of every age, race, gender identity and expression*, nationality, ability, and sexual orientation. We will continue our efforts toward inclusiveness, and stand against all forms of discrimination. We will empower ourselves, our children, and one another to be fully present in the world, living in Christ s image and striving for justice and peace. *The statement adopted 25 years ago did not include the words identity and expression. Staff The Rev. David P. Sickelka, Senior Pastor... david.sickelka@urbucc.org The Rev. Amy Murray, Ministry Program Coordinator... amy.murray@urbucc.org Steven Linn, Music Program Director... steven.linn@urbucc.org Bobby Stinnett, M.M., Organist, Children/Youth Choirs and Handbell Director... bobby.stinnett@urbucc.org Sophiap Eng-Swanson, Office Coordinator... staff@urbucc.org Sadmir & Umihana Omerhodzic, Custodian... sadmir.omerhodzic@urbucc.org The Rev. John Chaplin Adjunct Minister for LGBTQ Concerns & Community Outreach... john.chaplin@urbucc.org Ministry Leaders Caregiving Ministries: Caregivers, Homebound... Rachel Siegel... caregivers. Caregivers 2... Bonita Wiley... caregivers.2@urbucc.org Prayer Circle... prayer.circle@urbucc.org Prayer Shawl Ministry... prayer.shawls@urbucc.org Leadership Team: Moderator... Gail George... moderator@urbucc.org Vice-Moderator... Bob Harding... vicemoderator@urbucc.org Treasurer... Jim Nervig... treasurer@urbucc.org Financial Secretary... Steve Looney... financial@urbucc.org Recording Secretary... Sandy Gahn... uuccrecorder@urbucc.org Ad Ministry Liaison... Adam Dirks... ad.ministry@urbucc.oeg Christian Growth Liaison... Chris Jordan... christian.growth@urbucc.org Membership Team... Jon Greising... membership.team@urbucc.org Small Groups Liaison... Rachel Siegel... small.groups@urbucc.org Worship Team... Patricia Goldberg...worship.team@urbucc.org At Large Members: Kathy Marean, Jennifer Gardner, James Schaeffer Other Contacts: Building & Grounds... B&G.team@urbucc.org Social Media Team... Sandy Gahn... social.media@urbucc.org Church Office hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm For pastoral care, please contact Pastor Dave at (church office), (cell) or david.sickelka@urbucc.org. Pastor Dave is off on Mondays but will still respond to emergencies if you call or text. 6