First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin. February 24, 2019

Transcription

1 First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin February 24, 2019

2 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN February 24, :00 am & 10:30 AM Seventh Sunday after Epiphany God works through people by stirring their hearts and souls. Sometimes people never even know how they are helping others. ~Colby Buzzell 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 L: As Jesus called disciples so long ago - Peter... Andrew... Mary... James... Martha... Mary Magdalene... John..., P: Let us listen for our own names, written on God's heart and called in the voice of the Spirit. L: They were fishermen, tax collectors, brothers and sisters. God transformed them into the beloved community. P: We are students and teachers, managers and office workers, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and God will transform us as well. L: In worship today, may God transform us into a beloved community. All: May our prayer and praise give glory to God! Come let us the God who leads us into life! *HYMN A Mighty Fortress is Our God #439

3 *PRAYER OF CONFESSION Gracious God, you created us in your own image, set us in your garden filled with living creatures and instructed us to nurture and keep it. In the cool of the evening you came looking for us, but we hid ourselves from you. Throughout history, you have continued to come to us, and we have continued to turn ourselves from you. Help us to stop hiding from you. Let us stand before you now, acknowledging our temptations, seeking your sustaining presence and accepting your grace found in Jesus Christ. Amen. *ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS L: God's love dries our tears. P: God forgiveness raises us up. L: And God's peace settles our weary souls. P: May God s forgiving love free us from our sins so that we may stand in joy before our Maker. 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 Promise Jubilee Ringers 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 the little children, all the children of the world, Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. SCRIPTURE LESSON Genesis 50:15-20

4 PSALM 37:1-11, (Cantor will introduce; congregation, please join in when directed) R L: Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. P: Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. L: Take delight in the LORD, and God will give you the desires of your heart. P: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in God, and God will act. L: God will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. P: Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. L: Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret it leads only to evil. P: For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. L: Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there. P: But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

5 L: The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; God is a refuge in the time of trouble. P: The LORD helps them and rescues them; rescuing them from the wicked, and saving them, because they take refuge in God. R GOSPEL LESSON Luke 6:27-38 SERMON Rev. Chris Myers *HYMN I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry #351 *STATEMENT OF FAITH South Africa We believe in one God who created all the world, who will unite all things in Christ and who wants all people to live together in one family. We believe in God the Son who became human: died and rose in triumph to reconcile all the world to God, to break down every separating barrier of race, culture or class and to unite all people into one body. We believe in God the Spirit, the pledge of God s coming reign who gives the Church power to proclaim the good news to all the world, to love and serve all people, to strive for justice and peace: to warn that God judges both the individual and the nations; and to summon all the world to accept God s reign, here and now. 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 Generous God, we offer our gifts and our lives; may the spirit in which they are given allow them to free rather than bind, to heal rather than wound, and to serve the reign of the Lord of Life. Amen. *HYMN Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing #77 *COMMISSIONING Gifted by God, sent with the power of the Holy Spirit, go to be the body of Christ for 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 Scott Sippel Coffee Fellowship: The Elsesser Family Ushers: 9:00 am Martha Olson, Traci Hagberg, Bernice Larson 10:30 am Kathy and Beth Rausch, Suzanne Hagen Welcomers: Ron and Carlene Krueger Nursery: Sheila Peterson Organist: Terry Mithun Trustee: Allen Barnes Counters: Allen Barnes, Roz Ostendorf Among Friends Coordinator: Norma Revels Music Coordinator: Marsha Pearson Choir Director: Scott Perau Bell Choir Director: Jamie Mills Church Moderator: Brad Williams 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 Jim and Bobbie Kuhn in celebration of their 50 th wedding anniversary. Our Pre-Confirmands (6 th graders) made Valentines to be deliver to our shut-ins.

8 First Congregational UCC, 110 N. Third Street, River Falls, WI Tel: Fax: Sun., Feb 24 8:00 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 2:00 pm - Terry Mahoney Visitation 3:00 pm - Terry Mahoney Funeral Tues., Feb 26 9:00 am - Yoga 9:00-3:00 pm - Among Friends 1:00-2:30 pm - Bible Study 3:00 pm - Book Group Meeting 6:30 pm - Learning Community Gathering Wed., Feb 27 3:45-5:00 pm - Wednesday School 5:15-6:15 pm - Family Meal 6:00 pm - Jubilee Ringers 6:30 pm - Pre-Confirmation (6 th Grade) 6:30 pm - Confirmation Year 2 (8 th Grade) 7:00 pm - Chancel Choir Thurs., Feb 28 9:00 am - Yoga 6:30 pm - Hope for Creation Meeting Fri., March 1 8:30 am-2:30 pm - Westside Kindness Retreat in the Fellowship Hall Sat., March 2 9:00 am-12:00 pm - Church Clean Up - Inside Sun., March 3 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 Who keeps praying for snow? Stop please!

9 Please remember the following in your prayers this week: Those who are ill or recovering: - Nancy (sister of Bobbie Kuhn), Jack Husak (father of Juli Okal), Pam Creydt (friend of Sue Grisar), Avis Thompson (sister of Alice Hanson), Carol Merriman, Karen (mother of Jamie Mills), Emma (daughter of Geoff and Tammy, friend of Paul Shepherd), Sara (friend of Cheryl Zakrzewski), Dave Mountain, Donna (sister of Marc Otto), John and Joan (parents of Jolene Sullivan) Prayers for the ministry of our congregation: - For our Bell group leading us in worship today, that they may bring joy to our souls - For the Trustees getting ready for their indoor spring cleaning on Saturday, March 2, join them! - For those serving the meal after Terry Mahoney s Memorial Service today you are angels - For our deacons gearing up for Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week and Easter - For our Care Team who visits our shut-ins in their homes and brings God s love a little closer - For the Care for Creation Team who gather to help us better care for our creation - For those headed to Back Bay Mission at the end of March, that they may be agents of God s restoration - For the next Learning Community this Tuesday, that we may better understand our Muslim brothers and sisters Prayers for our world: - For those who have aching backs from all the snow shoveling - For commuters tired of weather plagued commutes, that their time may be used wisely (prayer!) - For those who move into care facilities, that God may grace them with patience and courage - For people trying to compassionately care for those with dementia, that they be given strength - For young people anxious about so many things, that they may live in the peace of Christ - For those struggling with addictions, that they may be freed - For parents struggling to find childcare on snow days Prayers of thanksgiving: - For Wade Ryan Peck who arrived at 7:39 am on Feb 20 th, weighing in at 9.1 oz; 21.5 tall, son of Megan and Lucas Peck and grandson of Bernice and Mark Larson - For snow castles, snow forts and the joy of sledding - For Neal and Caren Prochnow for assisting in the Wellhaven monthly gathering for our seniors - For the healing of Avis, sister of Alice Hansen - For Bobbie and Jim Kuhn as they celebrated their 50 th wedding anniversary with an open house here at church, that they may be blessed with many more years of marriage - For Justin Wilson, Firefighter of the Year for the RF Fire Department, and for all of our volunteer firefighters, that God may watch over them - For snow plow drivers, including our own Dan Herum and Scott Sippel, for keeping us safe - For Tim Bylander, our church snow blowing, heating and now plumbing hero! - For our custodian Dave Mountain who is back at work and Deb Hoffman and Sally Jilek who filled in for him - For those preparing for the Holy Land pilgrimage, that it may lead them deeper in their faith journey - For our church musical leaders, Scott, Jamie, Marsha and Terry you are a blessing! - For all those who give of their time, energy and passion to work in church ministries Those grieving the loss of loved ones: - For the Mahoney family as they mourn the death of Terry who died recently and whose Memorial Service is here today at 3:00 pm with visitation at 2:00 pm and a lunch to follow - For the family of Marguerite Hoffman Barker who recently, that her family may mourn with gratitude, faith and hope - For the Stoppelmoor, Davis and Stokke 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 IT TAKES A VILLAGE CONCERT A big thanks to our chancel choir and choir director Scott Perau for their participation in the 16 th annual It Takes A Village Choir Concert. Working with other churches in River Falls, over $500,000 has been raised for Haiti for building homes, school, paying teacher salaries, providing clothes, books and school equipment. This year s offering goes to help build and maintain an orphanage. Special thanks to our choir members who spent most of Sunday in church singing their faith!

11 NOTES

12 FEBRUARY 24, 2019 (B) SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY SCRIPTURE LESSON: Genesis 50:15-20 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph s brothers said, What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him? So they approached Joseph, saying, Your father gave this instruction before he died, Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you. Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father. Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, We are here as your slaves. But Joseph said to them, Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 6:27-38 But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.