WORSHIP AT NINE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST WELCOME TO FIRST CHURCH PRELUDE. Tom Stewart

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1 WORSHIP AT NINE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST May 25, 2014 The Sixth Sunday of Easter WELCOME TO FIRST CHURCH If you are visiting today and looking for a church home, welcome! For over 161 years our Covenant has been: We covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ and one another, and bind ourselves in the presence of God to live together in all God s ways as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture. The church acknowledges that all members have the right of individual interpretation of the principles of the Christian faith and respects them in their honest convictions. In accordance with the teaching of our Lord, the church recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. PRELUDE Tom Stewart CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen! People: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! * Then all stand. L: God holds our souls in life P: and will not allow our feet to slip. L: For you, O God, have proved us; P: you have tried us just as silver is tried. L: You brought us into the snare P: and laid heavy burdens upon our backs. L: I called out to God with my mouth, P: and high praise was on my tongue. L: But in truth God has heard me P: and has attended to the voice of my prayer. L: Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, P: nor withheld steadfast love from me. Psalm 66: 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18 The Rev. Dan Clark * OPENING HYMN 289 Come forth, O love divine Down Ampney 1

2 * INVOCATION Rick Henderson L: God be with you. P: And also with you. L: Let us pray. P: O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. * PASSING OF THE PEACE Rev. Clark L: The peace of the Lord be always with you. P: And also with you. GATHERING MUSIC WELCOME AND PARISH NEWS Rev. Clark THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Acts 17:22-31 Mr. Henderson L: The Word of God for the people of God. P: Thanks be to God. THE EPISTLE 1 Peter 3:13-22 Mr. Henderson L: The Word of God for the people of God. P: Thanks be to God. THE GOSPEL John 14:15-21 Rev. Clark L: The Word of God for the people of God. P: Thanks be to God. SERMON God is Still Breathing Rev. Clark A time of reflection follows. 2

3 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE L: Let us pray. Rev. Clark PRAYER RESPONSE Hear our prayer, O God George Whelpton (Sung once before the Prayers of the People and once again at the conclusion of the prayers.) THE LORD S PRAYER (debts and debtors) PRAYER RESPONSE OFFERTORY INVITATION Tom Brownfield Cash and designated checks go to United Church Homes Traumatic Brain Injury. Morning Star Housing in Moline IL, operated by United Church Homes, provides apartments and services for persons age 18 years or older who have sustained a brain injury, stroke or neurological disorder. Veterans of the Middle East Wars who have suffered this type of injury are among the residents. OFFERTORY HYMN 473 Blessed Assurance Assurance COMMUNION Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to him and never be hungry. Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in him and you will not thirst. Rev. Clark * PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Rev. Clark We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. 3

4 * CLOSING HYMN Jesus Christ is risen today (verse 1) Easter Hymn Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Mortal tongues and angels say: Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, glad heavens, and earth reply: Alleluia! * COMMISSION AND BENEDICTION Rev. Clark POSTLUDE All music in the bulletin is reprinted under OneLicense.net #A All rights reserved. Bulletins are printed on recycled paper with a minimum 50% post-consumer content. QUARTERLY STATEMENTS Please be sure to check your church mailbox for the first quarter quarterly statement. 4

5 FIRST CHURCH LEADERSHIP Senior Minister Designated Associate Minister Minister of Music Director of Christian Education Commissioned Minister for Social Justice Commissioned Minister for Spiritual Formation and Direction Nursery Staff Organist/Choirmaster Emeritus Timothy C. Ahrens, M. Div. Daniel J. Clark, M.A. Kevin Jones, M.M. Mark S. Williams, M. Ed. Tom Brownfield Jacquelyn Dean Rosemary Pawandiwa-Priore, Evin Wimberly, Sara Kapp, Simone Ellerson G. Dene Barnard DIACONATE ` Senior Deacon Christine Farquhar Deacons Kathryn Bamberger, G. Dene Barnard, Craig Clay, Sue Cook, Jacquelyn Dean, Anne Hudson, Tom Kiesel, Paul Leidheiser, Mary Lightbody John Matchett, Jonathan Miller, Matt Myers, Sue Salak, Lynn Wallich CHURCH STAFF Business Manager Program Manager Building Manager Office Manager Custodians Wedding Coordinators Sharon Leidheiser Martha Worth Thomas R. Luff Jaclyn Hamilton William Lee, Mark Freeman Janet Axt, Fran Panek, Lisa Fravel-Dean, Tori Stucke 5

6 FIRST CHURCH JOYS AND CONCERNS Keep these members and friends in your prayers during the week. Members: The family of Wanda Ray who died May 21; Janet Newcity upon the death of her mother; Samantha Myers; Martha Huey; Ray Pendell; Ann McIsaac; Val Stichter; Wib Smith; Gleva Stephens; Amos White; Jane Weddle; and also families and friends who continue to mourn the loss of loved ones. Friends & Family: Amy Longar; Bill Knapp; Brian Cornell; Jon Shecket; Denny Griffith; Paul Bradley; Richard Davis; Floyd Starr; Kufel family; Alex Palmer s best friend Daniel; Ellen Lebson, friend of Duan Cannon; Joe Bellissimo and Kevin Jones upon the death of Joe's grandfather; Christopher Smith, nephew of Sue Salak; Roger Coffman, friend of John Matchett; and all those suffering from the effects of mental illness. Throughout the world: Lift up all people in Uganda and LGBT across the world who are and facing heightened persecution. For Syria, Ukraine, South Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan. For the exploited and underrepresented. For the missing schoolgirls of Nigeria (#bringbackourgirls), and for the miners and rescue workers of Istanbul and their families. Global Ministers: Loren McGrail, Israel and Palestine We hold your family & friends in our prayers. Please be in touch as their health strengthens or conditions change. Your prayers will remain in the Parish News for three consecutive Sundays unless we are asked to remove or keep them. May Birthdays 25: Brian Cave; 26: Bill Heer; Luke Ahrens; 27: Charles Roach; Sandy Bennett; 28: Bill Johannes; Rachel Lithgo; 29: Arlene Reynolds; Nancy Williams; 30: Mike Petras; Peter Worley; 31: Lou Flocken; Ann Hunt; Judith Purdy. May Anniversaries 27: Phil & Candy Schneider 28: Bill and Lola Edwards 6

7 CALLING ALL GRADUATES! If you or a family member is graduating from high school or college this year, send us some information including name, school the person is graduating from, degree and possible future plans. We will be recognizing our graduates on Sunday, June 1. Send the information to jhamilton@first-church.org by Tuesday, May 27 at Noon. You also may include a photo (electronic image only). Come celebrate the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, June 8. Wear red to worship. If you are fluent in a language other than English and would like to participate in the reading of Acts in many tongues, please contact Tim Ahrens tahrens@first-church.org or Marty Worth mworth@first-church.org by June 1. 7

8 Called together by God, the Creator and Sustainer of life, to worship, pray and serve; Led by Jesus Christ, our Teacher and Savior, to learn the faith and welcome all God s children; Empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness to God s love and justice between ourselves, and throughout the world. Our Open and Affirming Statement We the members of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Columbus, Ohio, believe the following represents our commitment and desire to reach out and welcome all those in need of and searching for God s love: We believe that we are all created in God s image, female and male, and we are called to love our neighbors as Jesus loves us. We believe we are many members, but one body in Christ, and called to unite all people in God s love. We welcome and affirm all people. We invite those who are seeking God s presence in their lives to join us on our common journey. Our faith community seeks to unite persons of all ages, races, nationalities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, mental and physical abilities, socioeconomic levels and political and theological backgrounds. Together in our diversity, and being empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit, we will do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8) (adopted September 8, 2002 by the congregation) First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ 444 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio phone: fax: church.org 8