WEST PARK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST An Open and Affirming Congregation. January 14, 2018 Silent Meditation 9:50 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m.

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1 PRELUDE WEST PARK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST An Open and Affirming Congregation January 14, 2018 Silent Meditation 9:50 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. * Please rise in body and spirit, as you are able Italicized bold words are quoted from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. WELCOME AND PASSING OF THE PEACE CALL TO WORSHIP: Our God has made us to be One Body with many members. United and uniting. This is our calling. Our God calls us to share our diverse gifts, activated by the one and same Spirit. United and uniting. This is our redemption. God longs for us to be united in love and to manifest the Spirit in our different ways. United and uniting. This is our worship. Let us gather in this hour to offer praise and worship to our Holy God, who challenges us and calls us to create the Beloved Community. *HYMN Go Tell It On the Mountain BLACK 154 INVOCATION (In Unison) O God, all people are your Beloved, across races, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations and all the ways we are distinctive from one another. We are all manifestations of your image. We are bound together in an inescapable network of mutuality and tied to a single garment of destiny. You call us into your unending work of justice, peace and love. Let us know your presence among us now. Under the shadow of your wings in this hour may we find rest and strength, renewal and hope. We ask this, inspired by the example of your disciple, Martin Luther King, Jr., and in Jesus name. Amen. 1

2 *GLORIA PATRI Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. ANTHEM Kum By Ya arr. John F. Wilson GOSPEL LESSON: Mark 1:4-11 Pew Bible Page 34, NT LECTOR: Here ends a reading from God s word. ALL: Thanks be to God, who is still speaking. THE INSTALLATION OF CHURCH OFFICERS, BOARD MEMBERS and DELEGATES Affirmation of ministry is the act whereby a local church of the United Church of Christ recognizes the diverse gifts of its members and celebrates the particular ministry of each person in the life of the church or in various settings in the life of the world. These are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. These persons have been called by God, in accordance with the faith and order of this church, to serve among us. They have accepted their call and are before us in witness to their willingness to serve. You who have been called by Christ and responded in faith: it is an honor to be entrusted with responsibility for particular service in the ministry of the church, whether gathered or scattered. Having prayerfully considered the duties and responsibilities of your ministry, are you prepared to serve with the help of God in Christ s name and for the glory of God? INDIVIDUALS: I am. Do you promise to exercise your ministry diligently and faithfully, showing forth the love of Christ? INDIVIDUALS: I do, relying on God s grace. Members of this household of faith, you have heard the promises of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have answered God s call to service. Let us affirm our intention to live in covenant with them. Will those who are able rise and witness to the commitment we now make? ALL: We gather in celebration of the joy that is ours to be partners with you in the service of Jesus Christ. We promise to love you, honor your ONEship, and assist you that together we may be a faithful church of Jesus Christ. 2

3 Let us pray. Eternal God, You have called these persons to serve You in this household of faith and in the world, which You have entrusted to our care and keeping. Send Your Holy Spirit on them that they may serve among us with honor and faithfulness. Help them to be diligent in their duties that Your church may prosper in the mission You place before it. May their example prove worthy for all of us to follow, as we are united in Christ s ministry, to the glory of Your name. ALL: Amen. In the name of Jesus Christ, and on behalf of the congregation of West Park United Church of Christ, I rejoice to announce you are recognized, affirmed and installed in your respective ministries and positions of Christ s church in this place. CHILDREN S MESSAGE THE LORD S PRAYER (unison) 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever. Amen. SERMON Why We Do What We Do: Part 2 *HYMN Lift Every Voice and Sing BLACK 593 OFFERING *DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, Ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison) O God, we commit to use all our gifts-wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, administration, hospitality, and finances-- in the service of acting as co-workers with you and each other for peace and justice to flow like a mighty stream. 3

4 LITANY FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE We remember the conviction of Martin Luther King Jr. that "freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." Therefore, let us pray for courage and determination by those who are oppressed. We remember Martin's warning that "a negative peace which is the absence of tension" is less than "a positive peace which is the presence of justice." Therefore, let us pray that those who work for peace on our world may cry out first for justice. We remember Martin's insight that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly." Therefore, let us pray that we may see nothing in isolation, but may know ourselves bound to one another and to all people under heaven. We remember Martin's lament that "the contemporary church is often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch-supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent and often vocal sanction of things as they are." Therefore, let us pray that neither this congregation nor any congregation of Christ's people may be silent in the face of wrong, but that we may be disturbers of the status quo when that is God's call to us. We remember Martin's hope that "dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities and in some not-too-distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood (Please Turn Page) 4

5 will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty." Therefore, in faith, let us commend ourselves and our work for justice to the goodness of almighty God. Litany by W. B. McClain and L. H. Stookey, U.S.A., 20th Cent. From The United Methodist Book of Worship JOYS AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION (Please rise in body and spirit, as you are able, and speak your name first into the microphone) PASTORAL PRAYER *HYMN I Am the Light of the World BLACK 584 *BENEDICTION PASTOR: Let us go forth to celebrate and strengthen our inescapable network of mutuality, and become the radiant hope needed in the world. As we go forth in this mutuality, may we experience our God rejoicing over us and with us. Let us go forth confident that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. Amen! POSTLUDE *** 5

6 MINISTERS OF GOD S LOVE...Every Member of WPUCC SENIOR PASTOR...Rev. Jason Thompson LICENSED MINISTER James R. Furry PASTORS EMERITI...Rev. Don Norenberg, Rev. Larry Craig DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION...Wendy LeForge DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY...Christopher Venesile, PhD CHURCH ADMINSTRATOR...Linda Ferro LECTOR...Deb Solyan COUNTERS...Pat & Mark Rust, Kathy Rennette WE WELCOME all who are here to worship with us today. We hope that you are blessed by this special worship and fellowship. Please sign the attendance pads and pass the pad to the side aisles, by the windows. PASTOR JASON S Office Hours are Monday and Wednesday, or by appointment. Pastor Jason can be reached at the church office (216) or WestParkUCCPastor@gmail.com. FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Attendance last Sunday was 70 adults, and 4 children/youth. Thank you for your offerings of Operating $1,912, OCWM $53, Pink - Camperships $35, Children's Offering $5, Initial Offering $83, Youth Group - Bake Sale $120, Bridge to the Future $167. GOD IS ON THE MOVE! Our Mitten line is up! The Youth are collecting socks, mittens scarves, and hats for the mitten line that will stay up outside through the winter. SIGN UP! The new sign up cards and sheets are up for 2018 in the Narthex! Sign up to sponsor altar flowers or to light the Steeple! Thank you! THE FLOWERS are given to the glory of God in celebration of the birthday of Julie Schleich on Monday, January 15th, by her parents, Edna and Dave Schleich, and her fiancé, Chris Wiesner. THE STEEPLE WILL SHINE THIS WEEK in hope for the Beloved Community that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King dreamed about. FOOTSTEPS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MISSION TRIP We are finalizing our plans for our summer mission trip to Alabama. We will depart from Cleveland on July 24 with a return on July 30. The cost of the trip will be approximately $1500 per person, depending on the number of people who wish to go. We need confirmation of intent to go on the trip on or before January 15, 2018, with an initial deposit of $250 on or before February 1, Please contact Pastor Jason with questions or to confirm your intent to be included in this learning opportunity. 6

7 WE PRAY FOR: Clara Strodtbeck, Pat Bunnell, Janet Gorman, Jean Clark, Wanda Paulin, Grace Green, Florence Boughner, Christina Craig, John Ittu, Carol Hunt, Midge Karnatz, Elaine Barry, Geri Frimel, Bob Owens, Shirley and Jay Gardella. Tim L., Dave P., Kim & Dennis, Lyda, Mike, Anna, Rachel, Luke, Debbie, Lisa, incarcerated and families, LaDonna, Mary, Richard, the Usher family, the Prince family, Pat N., Rick, Elizabeth, Sarah, Shawn Farrah, Phyllis S., Terry Boss, Diana & Tom, Lois, Ivonne, Eric, Rosie, Meli, Dawn, Leo, Molly, Craig, Lynn, Sheila, Nada, Joe, Kathy, Paul, Donna, Alan, Staci, Isabel, Liz, Rick, Cyndy, Tracey, Neil, Christina & Nathaniel, Dan & Marti, Linda, Emma, Lynn & Tom, C & B, Melissa, Nina & Lisa, Peggy, Katie. PINK ENVELOPE FOR JANUARY 2018 For our young people, church camp is often where they feel closest to God, surrounded by dedicated counselors and fast friends they see only once a year. It is in this sacred space, where God is present and faith is formed, which is why the Board of Stewardship & Finance is asking our congregation to support West Park UCC s youth campership program by giving generously to the January Pink Envelope offering. WOMEN S RETREAT! Saturday, March 3 rd at River s Edge (just up the road from the church) Registration forms will be on the Caring and Sharing table. See Ms. Wendy for more details LENTEN DEVOTIONAL This year, the theme is Peace; however you can submit an item relating to whatever the Spirit leads you to: love, hope, etc. You can write or create artwork for a coloring page, for example. Please send your submissions to Debbie Miller at ddmiller1430@gmail.com MITTEN LINE! We need Socks! As we head into another cold spell, keeping hands and feet warm and dry are a priority. The Mitten line is well used! Socks in packages, or sold in sets, as well as our need for mittens and gloves, hats and scarves, does not diminish, so next time you re out to the store, please consider picking up an extra package to bring to church. TODAY, all the L.I.G.H.T. Classes are meeting in the chapel to learn about Kristy, the child we are sponsoring, and her home in Haiti. 7

8 THIS WEEK AT WEST PARK SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 10:00 a.m. Worship and L.I.G.H.T., Installation of Council, Officers and Delegates MONDAY, 01/15: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Office Closed 7:00 p.m. Mood Disorder Support Group TUESDAY, 01/16: 2017 ANNUAL REPORTS DUE! 7:00 p.m. Stewardship & Finance 7:30 p.m. Recovery, International WEDNESDAY, 01/17: 6:00 p.m. Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Choir THURSDAY, 01/18: 6:00 p.m. Community Bible Study 6:15 p.m. Low Impact Exercise 10:00 p.m. AA Bartter Hall FRIDAY, 01/19: 7:00 p.m. Al- Anon SATURDAY, 01/20: 2:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl 10:15 p.m. Alpha-Omega AA Bartter Hall 12:00 a.m. Westside Midnight AA Bartter Hall NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 10:00 a.m. Worship and L.I.G.H.T 11:30 a.m. 3 rd Sunday Study West Park United Church of Christ 3909 Rocky River Dr Cleveland, Ohio WestParkUCCOffice@gmail.com 8