First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin October 29, 2017

Transcription

1 First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin October 29,

2 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN October 29, :00 & 10:30 am RefoRmation Sunday Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost Quotes by reformer Martin Luther on the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation: I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer. I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God s hands, that I still possess. Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your god. The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me. 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: Every good and perfect gift comes to us from God. P: Thanks be to God for the beauty and diversity of creation. L: Thanks be to God for our ancestors of faith. P: Thanks be to God for loving families and encouraging friends. L: Thanks be to God for meaningful work. P: Thanks be to God for the variety of talents within the body of Christ. L: Thanks be to God for freedom of conscience, speech and worship. P: Thanks be to God for calling us to covenant relationship. All: With thankful hearts let us worship and praise the Lord our God!

3 *HYMN A Mighty Fortress is Our God

4 *PRAYER OF CONFESSION L: Faithful God, you have been with your people through so much. P: And still we complain. L: You have filled us with good things. P: Yet too often we act as if you haven t given us enough. L: We have so much in our lives. P: And still we want more. L: Quiet our questioning hearts and clamoring voices. P: Enable us to trust in you to quench our thirst. Amen. *ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS L: O God, you are the Rock, in which there is great refuge. P: You are the Rock, from which forgiveness flows. L: O Lord, you are our Rock, the cornerstone of our faith and foundation of our hope. P: Praise be to you O God, who leads us from the dead ends of the past to the wide open pathways of tomorrow. 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 Love is Flowing Love is flowing: love is flowing, love is flowing from the fountain of life; Love is flowing: love is flowing, love is flowing from the fountain of life. Peace is pouring: peace is pouring, peace is pouring from the fountain of life. Peace is pouring: peace is pouring, peace is pouring from the fountain of life. SPECIAL MUSIC Jubilee Ringers TIME WITH CHILDREN (10:30 am) Rev. Chris Myers

5 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.) He s got the whole world in his hands, He s got the whole wide world in his hands, He s got the whole world in his hands, He s got the whole world in his hands. SCRIPTURE LESSON Jeremiah 31:31-34 PSALM 46 (Cantor will introduce; congregation, please join in when directed) R O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, Our shelter for the stormy blast, and our eternal home. L: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. P: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. L: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. P: God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. L: The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. P: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. L: Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. P: He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. L: Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth. P: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. R SCRIPTURE LESSONS Galatians 3:27-28 Matthew 2:13-15 Matthew 25:31-41 SERMON Rev. Chris Myers

6 *HYMN The Church s One Foundation

7 *STATEMENT OF FAITH African Creed We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. God created the human person for happiness in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the earth. We have known this High God in the darkness, and now we know God in the light. God promised in the Scriptures he would save the world and all the nations and tribes. We believe that God kept all promises by sending Jesus Christ, a person in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left his home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and humankind, showing that the meaning of religion is love. Jesus was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He lay buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, he rose from the grave. We believe that all our sins are forgiven by God. We accept the gift of baptism and in the community of faith we live in ways of love and share the bread of life. We announce the good news to all people so long as God gives us breath. We believe that the Spirit is in the world and that God cares for us in life and in death. We believe that God gives new life to that which is dead. 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. OFFERTORY (As we offer our gifts today, ask yourself the question: Who are the people God has placed in my life for whom I am most thankful? )

8 We Give Thee but Thine Own *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Lord, we give thanks for your many gifts to us. Help us to see your liberating hand in all our blessings. Teach us your generosity, that we may share the freedom we know in you with others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. *HYMN Now Thank We All Our God #419 *COMMISSIONING Freedom is coming, in fact, it is already here. Leave this place of worship renewed and empowered to live God s abundant life here and now. 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

9 Assisting in today s worship service are: Ministers: The Whole Church Liturgist: 9:00 am Jean Smith 10:30 am Alan Tuchtenhagen Coffee Fellowship: The Beatty Family Ushers: 9:00 am Gloria Gardner, Bill and Martha Olson 10:30 am Dan Herum, Kathy and Beth Rausch Welcomers: Diane Crist, Jean Smith, Kathy Wochomurka Nursery: Sheila Peterson Organist: Terry Mithun Rover: Carol Merriman Trustee: Mike Stifter Counters: Marie Roe, Wendy Hill Among Friends Coordinator: Norma Revels Music Coordinator: Marsha Pearson Choir Director: Scott Perau Bell Choir Director: Ross Fugl 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 Middle Schoolers at Last Week s Corn Maze Event

10 Sun., Oct 29 Mon., Oct 30 Tues., Oct 31 Wed., Nov 1 Thurs., Nov 2 Sat., Nov 4 Sun., Nov 5 First Congregational UCC, 110 N. Third Street, River Falls, WI Tel: office@firstchurchrf.org Fax: Reformation Sunday 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 10:30 am - Sunday School 11:00 am - WEVR Broadcast 7:00 pm - Journeying Together 9:00 am - Yoga 9:00 am-3:00 pm - Among Friends 1:00-2:30 pm - Bible Study 3:45-5:15 pm - Wednesday School 5:15 pm - Family Meal 6:00 pm - Jubilee Ringers 6:30 pm - Confirmation Year 1 (7 th Grade) 7:00 pm - Chancel Choir 7:30 pm - Confirmation Year 3 (9 th Grade) 9:00 pm - Worship Service on Channel 16 9:00 am - Yoga 6:30 pm - Strategic Planning Meeting 9:00 am - Church Fall Clean Up - All Worship Sunday 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 10:30 am - Sunday School 11:00 am - WEVR Broadcast Have you signed up for the all church Giving Thanks Meal on Sunday, November 12, following the 10:30 worship service?

11 Please remember the following in your prayers this week: Those who are ill or recovering: - Marlee (relative of Diane Welsh), Wayne Petersen, Audrey Johnson (mother of Linn Lawrence), Avis Thompson (Alice Hanson s sister), Dale Purdy (husband of Evelyn), Janine Schulze (Dale Olson s sister), Steve (brother in law of Carole Mottaz), Howard (uncle of Barry Butenhoff), Henry Gomez, June (friend of Carol Merriman), Marlene Wells, Rae and Mike Farley, Donna Ray (Norma Revel s mother), Scott (son of Del Hirstein), Linda (friend of Angie Burke), Diane Welsh, Davey Keatley Prayers for the ministry of our congregation: - For the gift of Reformation Sunday which reminds us of the need to be Reformed and Always Reforming - For our musicians helping us celebrate the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation today - For those organizing the Bucket Brigade to help those cleaning up after hurricanes and storms - For those organizing the all church Thanksgiving Meal on Sunday, November 12 - For the Personnel Committee doing their annual reviews of our church staff - For our Wednesday School kids, helpers, snack providers and drivers Prayers for our world: - For those who live with anxiety, that they may find a way forward - For Mara Shepherd who will be running the New York Marathon on November 5 - For those affected by wildfires in California and the West - For cleaning up and rebuilding after Irma, Harvey, Jose and Maria - For peace on the Korean peninsula - For middle school students and their parents - For those struggling with politics - That we all might be better stewards of God s creation Prayers of thanksgiving: - For those leading the Thanksgiving Meal - For our veterans as we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11 - The first now? - For the Journeying Together small groups and a time to come together as the body of Christ - For the Wednesday Night Family Meal program and those who make it possible. Sign up! - For our choir, choir director and church musicians - For our weekly videographers Jeff Hoffman and Mike Stifter - For those who are providing coffee fellowship this week (could you provide this in the future?) Those grieving the loss of loved ones: - For the saints of our church as we celebrate All Saints Sunday next Sunday: Marilyn Goodrich, Mary Olson, Jack Sumner, Robert Miller, Lois Smith, Cynthia McLagan, John Hanson - For the family of John Hanson, especially his wife Alice - For those who are grieving that God may comfort and strengthen 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.

12 OCTOBER 29, 2017 (A) TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SCRIPTURE LESSON: Jeremiah 31:31-34 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, Know the LORD, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Galatians 3:27-28 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Matthew 2:13-15 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, Out of Egypt I have called my son. Matthew 25:31-41 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the king will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Then he will say to those at his left hand, You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;