First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin

Transcription

1 First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin November 25, 2018 We Believe: Where Your Story and God s Story Come Together October 21: God Creates October 28: God Saves November 4: God Judges November 11: God Gives November 18: God Comes November 25: God Calls December 2: God Promises

2 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN NOVEMBER 25, :00 & 10:30 am Christ the King Sunday The root of joy is gratitude. It is not that joy makes us grateful; it is that gratitude makes us joyful. ~Brother David Steindl-Rast Welcome to our guests who are visiting with us today! Join us for coffee in the Fellowship Hall between the 9:00 & 10:30 worship services. ~The Nursery is available for young children. ~Church Mouse activity bags are available for children. ~Large print bulletins and hearing impaired devices are available from the ushers. ~Please stand when noted by the * ~Congregation responses are in bold. No matter who you are. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here! As Jesus courageous disciples, living God s grace, we strive to: ~ Worship faithfully ~ Welcome openly ~ Grow spiritually ~ Care passionately ~ Serve generously PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS SILENCE AND RINGING OF THE BELL CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 100) L: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. P: Worship the Lord with gladness; come into God s presence with singing. L: Know that the Lord is God. God made us, and we are God s people. P: Enter God s house with thanksgiving and praise. L: Thank God and bless God s holy name. P: The Lord is good. God s love is steadfast and endures forever. L: God s faithfulness knows no boundary, no end. All: Come let us sing our thanks and praise! *HYMN All Hail the Power of Jesus Name #304

3 *PRAYER OF CONFESSION Beckoning God, you invite us to walk your path and to live lives worthy of the gospel. Yet how often we hold a grudge, sustain a pout, harbor a complaint. We are preoccupied with our hurts and absorbed in the little injustices done to us. We neglect our high calling to visit the sick, care for the poor, feed the hungry, confront the oppressors and work for the new reign of God. Empowering God, open our eyes and strengthen our wills to care for the ill, to shelter the homeless and provide security for the abused, to feed the hungry and to pester those in power to care for the well-being of all their citizens. Let our lives be worthy of Christ the King, the Prince of Peace, the Redeemer of us all. Amen. *ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS L: Friends, let us believe and live the good news: P: God has rescued us from the power of darkness. L: And in Jesus Christ, God has come and shown us the way to abundant life here and now. P: Let us live our lives in this light. L: In Christ we are forgiven! P: Thanks be to God! L: May the peace of the Lord be with you all. P: And also with you. *PASSING OF THE PEACE (Please greet one another with signs of peace) *GLORIA (Sung twice) (#236) Halle, Halle, Halle lu jah, Halle, Halle, Halle lu jah Halle, Halle, Halle lu jah, Hallelujah, Hal-le-lu-jah SPECIAL MUSIC TIME WITH CHILDREN (10:30 am) Jubilee Ringers Rev. Chris Myers

4 SONG OF BLESSING (10:30 am) (Children preschool through grade 8 may go to Sunday School. Worship bags and children s bulletins are available in the back.) He s got the whole world in his hands, He s got the whole wide world in his hands, He s got the whole world in his hands, He s got the whole world in his hands. He s got you and me, sister, in his hands, He s got you and me, brother, in his hands, He s got everybody in his hands, He s got the whole world in his hands. SCRIPTURE LESSON Philippians 1:3-11 PSALM 93 (Cantor will introduce; congregation, please join in when directed) R L: The LORD is king, robed in majesty; the LORD is girded with strength. P: God has established the world; it shall never be moved; L: Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. P: The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. L: More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the LORD! P: Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore. R GOSPEL LESSON John 18:33-37 SERMON Rev. Chris Myers

5 *HYMN We Gather Together #421 *STATEMENT OF FAITH United Church of Christ We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify: You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death. You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin. You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles. In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself. You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races. You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory. You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end. Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen. THE PRAYERS & LORD S PRAYER (debts/debtors) 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 and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

6 OFFERTORY We Give Thee But Thine Own *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Creator God, you have gifted us with a beautiful and abundant world in which to live. You have also gifted us with the responsibility of being stewards of your creation. We acknowledge that all that we have is yours, and we return now a portion of it to you. Accept our tithes and offerings, we pray, as our grateful response to your generosity with us. Amen. *HYMN You Servants of God, Your Sovereign Proclaim #305 *COMMISSIONING Just as God called us together, God now sends us to be a grateful presence in the world. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord your God. Amen. POSTLUDE Reprinted music used by permission under the following licenses: OneLicense.net A CCLI License

7 Assisting in today s worship service are: Liturgist: 9:00 am Jean Smith 10:30 am Lou Greub Coffee Fellowship: Carole Mottaz Ushers: 9:00 am Peter Rayne, Martha Olson, Traci Hagberg 10:30 am Evelyn Purdy, Linn Lawrence, Nathan Lawrence Welcomers: Jean Smith, Kathy Wochomurka, Lou Greub Nursery: Sheila Peterson Organist: Terry Mithun Trustee: Steve Pfeiffer Counters: Kris Roen, Mike Gardner Among Friends Coordinator: Norma Revels Music Coordinator: Marsha Pearson Choir Director: Scott Perau Bell Choir Director: Jamie Mills Church Moderator: Neal Prochnow Church Secretary: Missy Luedtke Youth Pastor: JaNae Westrich Minister for Community: Rev. Dave Ostendorf CE Minister: Rev. Stacy Johnson Myers Senior Pastor: Rev. Chris Myers Thanks to all who made our annual Giving Thanks Meal a success. 240 people served in 30 minutes!

8 Sun., Nov 25 Mon., Nov 26 Tues., Nov 27 Wed., Nov 28 Thurs., Nov 29 Sun., Dec 2 First Congregational UCC, 110 N. Third Street, River Falls, WI Tel: office@firstchurchrf.org Fax: :00 am - Bells Practice 9:00 am - Worship Service 9:00 am - Adult Forum 10:00 am - Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am - Worship Service 10:45 am - Sunday School 11:00 am - WEVR Broadcast - Endowment Grant Request Deadline 8:00 am - Men s Group 9:00 am - Yoga 9:00 am-3:00 pm - Among Friends 3:00 pm - Book Group Meeting 3:45-5:00 pm - Wednesday School 5:15-6:15 pm - Family Meal 5:00 pm - All Youth Go to Feed My Starving Children 6:00 pm - Jubilee Ringers 7:00 pm - Chancel Choir 9:00 am - Yoga 8:00 am - Music Practice 9:00 am - Worship Service 9:00 am - Adult Forum 10:00 am - Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am - Worship Service 10:45 am - Sunday School 11:00 am - WEVR Broadcast 11:30 am - Advent Workshop

9 Please remember the following in your prayers this week: Those who are ill or recovering: - Audrey Johnson (mother of Linn Lawrence), Steve (brother in law of Carole Mottaz), Nancy (sister of Bobbie Kuhn), Peg Thompson, Barb (sister of Sue Simonet), Jared (relative of John and Joan Hyland), Jack Husak (father of Juli Okal), Pam Creydt (friend of Sue Grisar) Prayers for the ministry of our congregation: - For those seniors who will enjoy the amaryllis plants, that they may be visible signs of God s care - For those packing the shoebox gifts for the men at the Kinnic Alcohol and Drug Rehab home - For those getting ready for the children s Christmas program on Sunday, December 16 - For our bell choir gracing us with their music this day and for its director Jamie Mills - For those leading our 6-12 th graders on their trip to Feed My Starving Children on Wednesday, November 28, that they may be agents of God s compassion - For Lu Lueck who shared her faith story last week during the monthly Tell Me A Story moment in worship - For our church interns who worked at the Habitat House in Hammond last Saturday - For all those who will enjoy the new underwear at the Simpson Shelter through our Packer Viking drive which ends this Sunday! Prayers for our world: - For families traveling over the Thanksgiving break, that they may enjoy time together - For High School seniors working on college applications and letters of recommendation - For those helping those with dementia and memory problems that they may be graced with courage and patience - That we may put down our devises, screens and technology long enough to look at the many reasons we have to give thanks this year - For those looking for Jayme Closs, that she may be safely found - For people rebuilding lives and homes after fires in California - For a safe hunting season - For our political leaders that our nation might work justly and for the common good - For those working to care for our delicate creation and the daily decisions we make to help do this Prayers of thanksgiving: - For the Thanksgiving holiday that we may pay attention to our blessings and give God thanks - For firefighters, police officers, EMT workers, especially those heroic people in the wildfires in California - For our book group, men s group and cribbage groups that met last week - For all who work so hard to make our Giving Thanks meal a success, bless you! - For Bryson O Keefe, born to Melissa and Mike who will be baptized on Sunday, December 30 - For those who serve Coffee Fellowship each week (there are openings in December, hint, hint) Those grieving the loss of loved ones: - For the family of Chris, brother of Dawn Follstad, who died this week in Denmark - For the Huppert, Wilson and Hoffman families in mourning, that God may comfort them If you have people you wish to include on our prayer list, please see the pastor or use the blue prayer cards in the pews or on the back sign-up table.

10 Church Work! Our church interns were hard at work on Saturday at the Habitat for Humanity job site in Hammond. Way to go!

11 NOTES

12 NOVEMBER 25, 2018 (B) CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY SCRIPTURE LESSON: Philippians 1:3-11 I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. GOSPEL LESSON: John 18:33-37 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me? Pilate replied, I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here. Pilate asked him, So you are a king? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.