First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin. December 9, 2018

Transcription

1 First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin December 9, 2018

2 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN DECEMBER 9, :00 & 10:30 am Second SUNDAY IN ADVENT Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. ~Henri Nouwen 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 LIGHTING OF ADVENT WREATH L: We gather with hope around the Advent wreath with hearts waiting for the Christ child. Today we light the second candle, the Candle of Peace. May it be for us a reminder that Christ gives the peace which passes all understanding. Let the hope in our hearts pave the way for peace. P: In the gospel of John, let us remember these words of Christ: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid. All: As we light the Candle of Peace, may the candle be lit in our hearts, that we might give the peace of Christ to one another.

3 He Came Down CALL TO WORSHIP L: A voice crying in the wilderness, P: A word needing to be heard; L: Prepare the way. P: Get ready all hearts, L: Create a quiet place. P: Listen. Listen deep. L: A voice shouting in the desert: P: Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, L: Make ready the world. P: To receive the Good News that L: Christ is coming. P: Rejoice! All: Come let us worship the God who leads us into life!

4 *HYMN Prepare the Royal Highway (verse 1 choir; verses 2, 3, 4 all)

5 *PRAYER OF CONFESSION Loving Savior, we sense the coming of your birth. We feel the creeping hustle and bustle that pushes you to the side. We feel the burden of lists and obligations that drain our joy and dull our spirit. So we join with prophet Isaiah and pray, Tear the heavens open and come down. Come and make your presence known and felt. Come and guide us through this wondrous and hectic season. Come and open our hearts to the unexpected moments of joy. Come and light your candles of peace in our troubled world. Come and fill us with your patient love. Holy Child, loving Savior, come. Amen. *ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS L: Beloved, God does not remain angry beyond measure, P: Rather God is quick to forgive. L: God sent his only Son not to condemn, P: But to save us, and offer us abundant life here and now. L: In Jesus Christ you are forgiven. P: In Christ you are forgiven. Amen 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

6 SPECIAL MUSIC We Wait Chancel Choir TIME WITH CHILDREN (10:30 am) Rev. Chris Myers 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.) Jesus loves me! This I know, as he loved so long ago, Taking children on his knee, saying, Let them come to me. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me! Still today, walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give light and love to all who live. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS L: Friends in Christ, we are all received into the church through the sacrament of baptism. These friends have found nurture and support in the midst of this family of Christ. Through prayer and study they have been led by the Holy Spirit to affirm their baptism and to claim in our presence their covenantal relationship with Christ and the members of the church. They are here for service to Jesus Christ, using the gifts which the Holy Spirit bestows. L: Friends, do you desire to affirm your baptism into the faith and family of Jesus Christ? Candidates: I do. L: Do you profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Candidates: I do. L: Do you promise, by the grace of God, to be Christ s disciple, to follow in the way of our Savior, to show love and justice, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ as best you are able? Candidates: I promise, with the help of God.

7 L: Do you promise, according to the grace given to you, to grow in the Christian faith and to be a faithful member of the church of Jesus Christ, celebrating Christ s presence and furthering Christ s mission to all the world? Candidates: I promise, with the help of God. L: By your baptism you were made one with us in the body of Christ, the church. Today we rejoice in your pilgrimage of faith which has brought you to this time and place. We give thanks for every community of faith that has been your spiritual home, and we celebrate your presence in this household of faith. Do you promise to participate in the life and mission of the family of God s people, sharing regularly in the worship of God and enlisting in the work of this local church as it serves this community and the world? Candidates: I promise, with the help of God. Moderator: Let us, the members of First Congregational United Church of Christ, express our welcome and affirm our mutual ministry in Christ. All: We welcome you with joy in the common life of this church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we continue to grow together in God s knowledge and love, that we may be witnesses of our risen Savior. Moderator: In the name of Jesus Christ, and on behalf of First Congregational United Church of Christ, we extend to you the hand of Christian love, welcoming you into the company of this local church. SCRIPTURE LESSON Philippians 1:3-11

8 PSALM 85 (Cantor will introduce; congregation, please join in when directed) L: LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. P: You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin. L: You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. P: Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us. L: Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you? P: Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. L: Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for God will speak peace to the people, to the faithful, to those who turn to God in their hearts. P: Surely salvation is at hand for those who trust God, that glory may dwell in our land. L: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. P: Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. L: The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. P: Righteousness will go before God, and will make a path for God s way. R GOSPEL LESSON Luke 3:1-6 SERMON Rev. Chris Myers

9 *HYMN People, Look East

10 *STATEMENT OF FAITH for Advent L: In quietness and darkness, in peace and confusion, Jesus Christ wants to make his home and meet his friends. His is the light of life: P: He is the hope for the world. L: In him there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant; P: All are one in Jesus Christ. L: He is the light of life: P: He is the hope of the world. L: In him there is neither black nor white, neither north nor south; P: All are one in Jesus Christ. L: He is the light of life: P: He is the hope of the world. L: In him there is neither male nor female, neither master nor servant; P: All are one in Jesus Christ. L: He is the light of life: P: He is the hope of the world. L: He is the light of life: P: He is the hope of the world. 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. MISSION MOMENT Christmas Fund Dave Ostendorf OFFERTORY

11 We Give Thee But Thine Own *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Holy and Loving God, for the extravagant gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, we thank you. For the faithfulness of a young mother who embraced an unexpected plan for her life, we praise you. For the loyalty of an earthly father whose love was tested, we exalt you. For the surprising grace notes in our lives that sound as angelic as a heavenly choir, we magnify you. For the guiding light that appears as miraculously as a star to shepherds, we worship you. Come to us with hope, love, peace and light that we may kneel before you with gifts of adoration and faith. Amen. *HYMN Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates #117 *COMMISSIONING Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts and minds, soul and strength this week. 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

12 Assisting in today s worship service are: Liturgist: 9:00 am Jan Hansen 10:30 am Jill Paulson Coffee Fellowship: Barb and Larry Peterson, Diane and Randy Welsh Ushers: 9:00 am Peter Rayne, Suzanne Hagen, Bernice Larson 10:30 am Dan Herum, Kathy and Beth Rausch Welcomers: Ron and Carlene Krueger, Rebecca Ferguson Nursery: Sheila Peterson Organist: Terry Mithun Trustee: Allen Barnes Counters: Allen Barnes, Midge Kees 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 Altar table flowers are given by Mark and Bernice Larson in memory of Norry Larson. Feed My Starving Children

13 Sun., Dec 9 Mon., Dec 10 Tues., Dec 11 Wed., Dec 12 First Congregational UCC, 110 N. Third Street, River Falls, WI Tel: office@firstchurchrf.org Fax: :00 am - Choir Practice 9:00 am - Worship Service 9:00 am - Adult Forum 10:00 am - Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am - Worship Service New Members Received 10:45 am - Sunday School 11:00 am - WEVR Broadcast 11:30 am - Youth Cookie Bake 7:00 pm - Cribbage 8:00 am - Men s Group 9:00 am - Yoga 9:00 am-3:00 pm - Among Friends 1:00-2:30 pm - Bible Study 3:45-5:00 pm - Wednesday School 5:15-6:15 pm - Family Meal 5:45-6:30 pm - Jubilee Ringers 6:30-7:00 pm - Advent Evening Prayer (Confirmation Part One) 7:00-7:30 pm - Pre-Confirmation (6 th Grade) 7:00-7:30 pm - Confirmation Year 2 (8 th Grade) 7:00-8:00 pm - Chancel Choir 9:00 am - Yoga Thurs., Dec 13 Sat., Dec 15 10:00 am-12:00 pm - Advent Musical Rehearsal Sun., Dec 16 8:00 am - Choir Practice 9:00 am - Worship Service 9:00 am - Adult Forum 10:00 am - Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am - Worship Service Advent Musical 11:00 am - WEVR Broadcast Advent Workshop

14 Please remember the following in your prayers this week: Those who are ill or recovering: - 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), Bobbie Kuhn, Jan Place, Zeke Wells, Terry Mahoney, Barb de Souza, Marty (nephew of Barb Wall), Sylvia Nelson (mother of Scott Nelson) Prayers for the ministry of our congregation: - For our 6-12 th graders who are baking cookies for the residents of the Kinnic Rehab Center today - 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 Chancel Choir gracing us with their music this day that they may lead us in joy! Prayers for our world: - That we may remember the three loves of our Christian faith love of God, love of neighbor and love of self - For those for whom the Advent and Christmas season is painful, that God may walk with them - For vulnerable people, migrants, refugees and those seeking safer living for their families - That we might find concrete ways to lessen our impact on the earth - For college students gearing up for final exams - For people making end of year decisions on healthcare coverage and finances - 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 - For those looking for Jayme Closs, that she may be safely found - For people rebuilding lives and homes after fires in California - 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 Dave Reilly and Kate Jennings who led our Advent Evening Prayer service last Wednesday - For Stacy and her crew who served a delicious Christmas Luncheon this past Tuesday - For Judy Grimm and Diane Crist who decorated our church building for Advent and Christmas - For the CE Committee who hosted the annual Advent Workshop last week - For Linn Lawrence s family who again donated our Christmas Trees (from LoriLynn Farms in Ettrick, WI) - For those who work each day to protect us including police officers and those in the military - 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 January, hint, hint) Those grieving the loss of loved ones: - For the Bush family and our nation as we mourn the death of President George H.W. Bush - For the family of Chris, brother of Dawn Follstad, who died recently in Denmark - For Everett, brother of Martha Olson, who died recently in Kansas - 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.

15 NEW MEMBERS Clyde and Carol Hudson Clyde and Carol Hudson and their two children, Jessica and Nicholas, moved to River Falls in 2003 from Omaha, Nebraska where they were active members of St. Luke Methodist Church. Clyde is a former professional pilot and retired financial services advisor, a member of River Falls American Legion and a community volunteer. Carol is a retired school counselor and works part-time at the River Falls High School library as a para-professional. You can often find Clyde with his fly rod enjoying trout fishing on the Kinnickinnic River. Carol can often be seen tending her flower gardens in the spring and summer. Both enjoy traveling and have just returned from a lovely trip to Austria and Belgium. Their son Nick and his wife Nichole are both active members of the Navy and are stationed in Hawaii. Their daughter, Jessica, lives nearby in the twin cities. Jan Place Jan moved back to River Falls in 2008 from Amery after brain surgery. She has 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. She came to join First Congregational because she was volunteering for Among Friends which led her to meet others in the congregation. She thought everyone was very welcoming and she wanted to become a part of our church family. Marshall Skule Marshal spent his career in Property Management and Facilities Management for over 40 years. Now retired, he spends his time woodworking and building things. He has been married for over 42 years. Marshall and Gina enjoy traveling, golfing and spoiling their granddaughter.

16 DECEMBER 9, 2018 (B) SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT 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: Luke 3:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.