St. Paul s United Church of Christ

Transcription

1 St. Paul s United Church of Christ A welcoming Christ-centered community...

2 Sixth Sunday after Epiphany February 17 th, :30 am Worship We re Glad You re Here! Welcome: No matter where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here! More than words, this statement is a reflection of the truth that we are all here because of God s love, grace, and mercy. This is a community held together by the honesty of our shared brokenness and the healing we receive through Christ. Get Connected: Use the Connection Card, signup online for the weekly E-news or monthly Newsletter, like us on Facebook, give us a call, or send an . It is our joy to journey with you! Restrooms: These are located on the basement level of the church. Either go through the double doors in the front of the sanctuary and turn right to go downstairs, or use the stairwell in the back of the sanctuary and then walk through the fellowship hall. Children: Children of all ages are always welcome within the worship service. Children s activity bags, for use during worship, can be found in the red bins by both entrances to the sanctuary. On the 2 nd, 3 rd, &4 th Sunday s of the month, Christian Education classes are available during worship for nursery to 9 th grade kids. Every Sunday, nursery care is available for children up to 5 years old. The nursery is located beyond the doors in the front of the sanctuary. Cell Phones: Remember to silence them (and watch chimes) as we enter into worship Hearing amplification devices: These personal devices are available for your use. Directly connected into our sound system, they make it possible to hear those leading worship without amplifying background noises. Please see our sound person for assistance. Your presence is a blessing: Let us know how we might better journey with you. Today s Scripture Readings Jeremiah 17: Peter 2: Luke 6:17-26 Minister All Members Pastor Rev. Joseph Motz Worship Steward Tim McGee Organist Grace Griffith Worship Leaders Acolyte Olivia Motz Ushers Wanda Druzba & Carole Audette Nursery Jamie McGee & TBD Counters Wanda Druzba & Lenette Wells 300 West First Street, Birdsboro PA office@stpaulsbirdsboro.org + Pastor s pastormotz@stpaulsbirdsboro.org

3 Order of Worship Welcome & Announcements Prelude (Prayer: Make holy this time and this space Lord God. Not only for me, but for every person who has gathered to be of your body, to share in your worship, to receive of your love. Make holy this time and this space, so that we each may be found in you, and in that, be redeemed to life.) (Please rise in body or in spirit) Call to Worship Leader: Blessed are those who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked. People: Blessed are those whose delight is in the way of the Lord. Leader: The Lord watches over the way of the righteous. People: God s favor is upon those who meditate upon his law. Leader: They are like a tree planted by streams of water. People: Even in the time of drought they come to bear fruit in their season. Leader: Let our hearts be set upon the Lord our God that we too may celebrate in God s blessing and rejoice in his way. People: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever more. Amen. Hymn: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (Back of Bulletin) Call to Confession (Please be seated) Corporate Confession Leader: You say, Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God All: Yet we fear poverty more than we fear death. As such, we abandon your kingdom time and time again chasing after the power of this world, even as we declare only you have the power to save.

4 Leader: You say, Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. All: If only we would hunger for you as readily as we hunger each day for food. Then our lives would be filled with bread that does not perish, and drink that does not leave us thirsty. Yet too often we settle merely for the food of this earth that continually leaves us hungering and thirsting again. Leader: You say, Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. All: In a culture wary of the abyss of grief, sorrow, and pain, far too often we keep ourselves from the healing power of mourning, even though Jesus wept in grief. In this we numb ourselves not only to the sorrow we feel, but to the joy we long for. Leader: You say, Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. All: In truth, we pray that the cost of discipleship be borne by others as we hide away our faith, withhold our gifts, and in so many other ways bury the treasure of the Gospel planted in our life through the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Leader: Have mercy upon us Lord God. Silent Confession (A time of personal prayer for God s healing and redeeming peace.) (The response is sung at least two times thru Join in singing as you are moved.) Songs and Prayers from Taizé #47, All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A

5 Assurance of Grace Leader: Jesus bore our sins in his body on a tree, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed. For we were like sheep going astray, but now, in the truth of our confession, we have returned to the Shepherd of our souls, who redeems us into the way of Jesus Christ our Lord. People: Amen! Thanks be to God! Passing of the Peace Leader: The peace of Christ be with you. People: And also with you. (After sharing Christ s Peace with others, please be seated.) (During the following hymn, children nursery/pre-k to 9 th grade are dismissed to participate in age specific Christian Education classes for the rest of worship. Parents/guardians of first time students are invited to follow children to their classroom in order to complete registration information before returning to worship. Following worship please pick-up children, 3 rd grade and younger.) Hymn: Lord, Be Glorified In my life, Lord, Be glorified, be glorified. In my life, Lord, Be glorified today. In my song, Lord, Be glorified, be glorified. In my song, Lord, Be glorified today. In Your church, Lord, Be glorified, be glorified. In Your church, Lord, Be glorified today. This piece appears at number 538 in the Worship His Majesty Hymnal, of which there are sufficient quantities Old Testament Lesson: Jeremiah 17:5-10 (p. #1201) Our strength and hope is in God alone. All else will fail and fall away. Epistle Lesson: 1 Peter 2:13-25 (p. #1888) Even in the face of opposition and oppression we are not to give up on the good works of God. It is our adherence to the lived truth of the Gospel that we come to shine light within this world, for friend and enemy alike. Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! Gospel Lesson: Luke 6:17-26 (p. #1600) Blessedness is a life lived in and through the Lord our God.

6 Sermon What is the Blessedness of God? (Please rise in body or in spirit) All: Statement of Faith Apostle s Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. Hymn: Jesus Calls Us O er the Tumult #400 (Please be seated) Mission Moment Hopewell Love Russ McClellan, Executive Director Receiving of Tithes and Offerings (We give as an act of worship, tangibly offering ourselves to God s service.) Offertory (All who are able please stand for the hymn of praise)

7 Prayers of the People (Believing in God s truth, we open ourselves as God s servants through prayer.) All: 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, for ever. Amen. Commissioning Benediction Sending Hymn: Teach Me, O Lord, Your Holy Way (Back of Bulletin) Postlude (As the acolyte carries the Light of Christ out into the world, so too are we to carry Christ s light from this sanctuary into the world, our communities, and our homes. May the presence of the Spirit go with you until we gather again in the shared joy of God s worship.) Announcements Welcome to Russ McClellan We rejoice to celebrate in the long lasting partnership we have shared with Hopewell Love and the dedicated service of its Executive Director, Russ McClellan. From his earliest days of leadership, Russ has shown the heart and faithfulness of one who daily walks with the Lord our God through his service to this wider community.

8 February Special Offering: Hopewell Love Serving an average of 155 families through its food pantry, 145 individuals through the Community Table, 45 people through the Clothing Closet and responding to an available of 42 assistance calls per month, Hopewell Love is providing for those in need within our community. Built upon the love of Christ and the generosity of God s people, this month we invite you to support this impactful ministry. Agape Meal We are happy to announce that on March 3 rd we will have an Agape Meal following worship for all who have gathered in worship. Please consider inviting someone to come and join us for worship and a meal as we work to make better connections with each other and those in our community. We would like to continue to have Agape meals once a month, if possible. Please prayerfully consider sponsoring one of these meals in order that this endeavor will be an enjoyable event for all. I feel it would be ideal to have a committee for the Agape Meal of 12 people. Each month three of those volunteers will be in charge of the meal. This would mean each volunteer would only be needed three times a year. As always any and all help is appreciated. There will be a sign-up sheet will be on the side bulletin board. Many hands make light work, FUN! Please contact Eloise Stevens Sharing a God s Help and Hope Applications to receive assistance through Mission Trip Birdsboro are now available! Hard copies of the application are available on the entrance bulletin boards and digital copies are available on our church website under the What We Do tab. Help us spread the word to neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family. Our passion is to serve! St. Paul s is Sponsoring the Community Dinner on February 26 and your help is needed - St. Paul's UCC Birdsboro will sponsor the Community Dinner at Birdsboro Fire Co. on 2/26/19 at 6:00 pm. We are looking for volunteers to make up two teams. We are asking for any Helping Hands who can prepare the meal during the day in our church kitchen. We are also looking for a second team of individuals to come around 4:00pm or so to transport the meal to the fire hall, set it up and serve, as well as tear down and clean up. Please contact Eloise Stevens ASAP if you can help with any part. Many hands make light work FUN! Thank You. Mission Birdsboro 5K Race Mark your calendars now for the April 27 th - 5K and 1 mile fun run/walk hosted by St. Paul s to benefit the work of Mission Trip Birdsboro and the ministry of St. Paul s. The 1 mile fun run begins at 8:30am and the 5k starts at 9am, with the course running through the heart of Birdsboro. Registration information is available at stpaulsbirdsboro.org/mission5k.html. Summer Camp Registrations Now Opening If you would like to make a life-changing impact upon your child s life, invite them to sign up for a Christian Summer Camp experience while early bird registration discounts are in full swing. We believe so much in this ministry that the church provides scholarships up to half tuition for attendees. Plus, camp doesn t need to just be about kids. With family camp options there is space for parents, grandparents, and extended family. Check out great camps like Bear Creek Camp and the Hartman Center today!

9 Hymn: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit Copyright 1994, Hope Publishing Co.. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A

10 Sending Hymn: Teach Me, O Lord, Your Holy Way

11 The Life and Ministry of St. Paul s UCC Sunday, February 17 Hearts Ablaze Worship CE Building Lg. Meeting Room 9:00am 1:00pm Worship Church Sanctuary 9:30am 10:45am Youth CE Church CE Wing during worship New Millennium CE Building Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm 8:00pm Monday, February 18 // President s Day All About Families CE Building Lower Level 8:00am 8:00pm Boy Scout Committee Meeting CE Building Primary Room 6:00pm 7:00pm Threefold Blessing Church Sanctuary 6:30pm 8:30pm Boy Scouts CE Building Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm 8:30pm Tuesday, February 19 Hearts Ablaze Prayer Meeting CE Building Lg. Meeting Room 6:30am 7:30am All About Families CE Building Lower Level 8:00am 8:00pm Office Open CE Building Office 8:30am 12:30pm Pastor s Open Office Boone Area Library 3:00pm 5:00pm Wednesday, February 20 All About Families CE Building Lower Level 8:00am 8:00pm Office Open CE Building Office 8:30am 12:30pm Disciple Bible Study CE Building - Primary Room 9:00am 11:00am Consistory CE Building Primary Room 6:30pm 8:30pm Hearts Ablaze Youth CE Building Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm 8:00pm Thursday, February 21 All About Families CE Building Lower Level 8:00am 8:00pm Office Open CE Building Office 8:30am 12:30pm 6:30 CE Building Lg. Meeting Room 6:30pm 7:30pm Friday, February 22 All About Families CE Building Lower Level 8:00am 8:00pm Beginner s Meeting CE Building Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm 8:00pm Sunday, February 24 Hearts Ablaze Worship CE Building Lg. Meeting Room 9:00am 1:00pm Worship Church Sanctuary 9:30am 10:45am Youth CE Church CE Wing during worship Confirmation Class CE Building Primary Room 2:00pm 4:00pm New Millennium CE Building Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm 8:00pm

12 Flower Dedication To the Glory of God in honor of Dee Christman s birthday and in memory of Jackson Dean Wallace by Jeanie & Dane Dierwechter. Healing Margie Amodei Carol Creami Kitty Kready Tom Comfort in Time of Loss The Family of Rev. Dr. James D. Miller The Family of Carol Matz The Family of Mary Templin The Family of James Kredy Ministry Support Prayer List Long Term Care Support Neil Miller Ralph Oister Phil McGraft David Motz Pam Spinale Phil McGrath Bruce Dragan Paul Miller Lisa Sniscak Levi Burgess Michael Murray David Miller Fred Miller John Miller Mabel Stubbs Joys & Celebrations As Well As Prayer List Guidelines: To add someone to the Prayer List, please complete the Connection Card that is in your bulletin. Due to privacy concerns, it is necessary to receive an individual s consent before their name can be placed on the prayer list. If you are unable to get their consent, but would like the Pastor to be aware, you are invited to share the name privately.