First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin May 6, 2018

Transcription

1 First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin May 6, 2018

2 MAY 6, 2018 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN 9:00 & 10:30 am Sixth SUNDAY OF EASTER Keep feeling the need for being first. But I want you to be the first in love. I want you to be the first in moral excellence. I want you to be first in generosity. ~The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. 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 GATHERING SONG Bind Us Together Worship Ensemble PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS SILENCE AND RINGING OF THE BELL CALL TO WORSHIP L: For just this hour P: Follow me. L: Listen to my word P: Follow me. L: Think about your life as Christ s disciple P: Follow me. L: Pray P: Follow me. L: Sing P: Follow me. L: Love P: Follow me. All: Come, let us follow in the steps of Jesus who leads us into life!

3 *HYMN I m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

4 *PRAYER OF CONFESSION L: I lift my eyes unto the hills from where does my help come? P: Forgive me, O God, when I believe my only help is in my own strength. L: My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. P: Forgive me, O God, when I believe that my only hope is in the quickness of my own mind. L: The Lord watches over you. The Lord is at your right hand. P: Forgive me, O God, when I believe that my future is in my hands alone. L: The Lord will keep you from all harm; God will watch over your life. P: Forgive me when I believe that I can live without your grace. All: The Lord will watch over my coming and going both now and forevermore. Amen. *ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS L: Hear these words: P: God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and swift to bless. L: Believe these words: P: In Christ we are forgiven and set free for new life here and now. L: Live these words: P: Let us leave our burdens behind and embrace God s abundant life today. 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. Grace is flooding: grace is flooding, grace is flooding from the fountain of life. Grace is flooding: grace is flooding, grace is flooding from the fountain of life. TIME WITH CHILDREN (10:30 am) Rev. Chris Myers

5 SONG OF BLESSING (10:30 am) (Children preschool through grade 6 may go to Sunday School. Grades 7 & 8 please remain in worship. Worship bags and children s bulletins are available in the back.) Jesus loves me! This I know, as he loved so long ago, Taking children on his knee, saying, Let them come to me. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me! Still today, walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give light and love to all who live. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. SCRIPTURE LESSON Acts 10:44-48 PSALM 98 (Cantor will introduce; congregation, please join in when directed) L: O sing to the LORD a new song, for God has done marvelous things. God s right hand and holy arm have won! P: The LORD has made established victory and has revealed vindication in the sight of the nations. L: The Lord has remembered us with steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. P: All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. L: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. P: Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. L: With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD. P: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. L: Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the LORD, for God is coming to judge the earth. P: God will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. R

6 GOSPEL LESSON John 15:9-17 SERMON *HYMN We Are Called Rev. Chris Myers

7 THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION (10:30 am) (Please see insert) *STATEMENT OF FAITH (World Council of Churches) I believe in the living God, the Maker of all humankind who creates and sustains the universe in power and in love. I believe in Jesus Christ, God incarnate on earth, who showed us by his words and work, suffering with others, conquest of death, what human life ought to be and what God is like. I believe that the Spirit of God is present with us now and always, and can be experienced in prayer, in forgiveness, in the Word, the Sacraments, the community of the Church and all that we do. 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. OFFERTORY In All Our Living Worship Ensemble With Our Voices We ll Tell

8 *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Gracious God, in response to your great love for us, we gratefully offer the fruits of our labor and our lives in these gifts. Bless and multiply them, we pray, that the transformative power of your love will be a reality in our neighborhood and community. Amen. THE COMMUNION All Christians, regardless of denomination, tradition or age are welcome at the table of our Lord. When invited, please come forward down the center aisle. Receive a piece of bread (both wheat and gluten-free breads are available) and a cup from the tray (white is grape juice and red is wine). Children choosing not to commune are welcome to come forward and receive a blessing. Return to your seat using the outside aisle. If you are unable to come forward, communion will be brought to you. The Invitation to the Supper L: This is the table, not of the church, but of our Lord. It is to be made ready for those who love him and who want to love him more. So come, you who have much faith, and you who have little. Come, you who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time. Come, you who have tried to follow and you who have failed. Come not because it is I who invites you, come for it is God s desire that we should meet him here. The Great Thanksgiving L: The Lord be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. P: We lift them up to the Lord. L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. P: It is right to give our thanks and praise. L: We offer you praise,... The Words of Institution L: We rejoice in this holy meal as we proclaim the mystery of faith: All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Prayer of Consecration

9 Distribution of the Elements Hymns to be sung during the distribution of the elements: Let Us Be Bread (Worship ensemble sings verses; congregation join on refrain)

10 Taste and See Prayer of Thanksgiving All: 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 Lord. Amen.

11 *HYMN Shall We Gather at the River

12 *COMMISSIONING Using your gift, skills and joy, go to the body of the 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 Assisting in today s worship service are: Liturgist: 9:00 am Steve Koecher 10:30 am Confirmands Coffee Fellowship: Deacons Ushers: 9:00 am Peter Rayne, Gloria Garner, Bill and Martha Olson, Bernice Larson 10:30 am Dan Herum, Kathy and Beth Rausch, Cori Fosmo, Matthew Myers Welcomers: Steve and Lara Koecher Nursery: Sheila Peterson Organist: Marsha Pearson Rover: Duane Church Trustee: Bob Ferguson Counters: Midge Kees, Jean Smith 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

13 Sun., May 6 Mon., May 7 Tues., May 8 Wed., May 9 Thurs., May 10 Sun., May 13 First Congregational UCC, 110 N. Third Street, River Falls, WI Tel: office@firstchurchrf.org Fax: Confirmation 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 10:45 am - Sunday School 11:00 am - WEVR Broadcast 5:15 pm - Among Friends Meeting 9:00 am - Yoga 9:00 am-3:00 pm - Among Friends 1:00-2:30 pm - Bible Study 7:00 pm - Cribbage 6:00 pm - Jubilee Ringers 6:00 pm - Spirit & Health Meeting 6:30 pm - Church Intern Fair 7:00 pm - Chancel Choir 9:00 pm - Worship Service on Channel 16 9:00 am - Yoga 12:00 pm - Worship Service on Channel 16 - Newsletter Deadline 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 - Relay for Life Plant Sale

14 Please remember the following in your prayers this week: Those who are ill or recovering: - Audrey Johnson (mother of Linn Lawrence), Avis Thompson (Alice Hanson s sister), Janine Schulze (Dale Olson s sister), Steve (brother in law of Carole Mottaz), Rae and Mike Farley, Carolyn (mother of Paula Tiede), Nancy (sister of Bobbie Kuhn), Brad (son-in-law of Midge and Glenn Kees), John Hyland, Alice Hanson, Maija (granddaughter of Barbara Stephens) Prayers for the ministry of our congregation: - For our 12 3 rd Year Confirmands who are being welcomed into the faith of Jesus this Sunday: Ethan Cernohous, Nyssa George, Dennis Grisar, Zac Johnson, Zach Martin, Maddie Morrow, Meridith Okal, Sophia Okal, Kim Swanson, Erin Syverson, Maria Tiede, Olivia Vanasse - For those who enjoyed the last Music at First Church concert last Sunday - For the Worship Ensemble leading us in joyful song this Sunday - For Suzanne Hagen and Jean Smith who just finished their last Lay Academy weekend (a 2 year lay program) - For those who attended the Welcoming Dinner for our new members held this past Monday - For those joining our Church Intern program at the Draft this Wednesday that they may grow in faith, love and service Prayers for our world: - For the hope and the possibility of peace in the Koreas - For those who are stressed out and overwhelmed that they may grow into the peace of Christ - For those who are victims of random violence - For our political leaders that our nation might work justly and for the common good - For those working to care for our delicate creation Prayers of thanksgiving: - For confirmation parents who have been so supportive of the program - For the Trustees who cleaned up our church grounds at the annual Spring Clean Up last Tuesday - For those who are pregnant that God may watch over them and keep them healthy - For Vivian, newest granddaughter of Kathy Wochomurka - The gift of baptism whereby we welcome people into the faith and family of Jesus Christ, especially for Trudy Papp received into the church through baptism last week - For our incredible Wednesday School Volunteers, especially Mary Church and Jen Syverson - For Juli Okal, Lori Swanson, Jen Syverson and Pastor Chris who chaperoned the Boston Trip - For Rhett Theisen who receive his first communion on May 6 - For Mike Gardner, Roger Kampstra, Pastor Chris and Brad Williams who are leading up the men s group Those grieving the loss of loved ones: - For the family of the Rev. Ed Stigen who died this week, and the people of Tomah UCC for whom he was the pastor - For the family of Lou Ann Tadych, mother of Dean Grisar, who died this past week - For the family of Ethel Johnson, mother of Dennis Johnson, who died recently - For those who are in mourning including the Lawrence, Casey, Herum and Lentz families 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.

15 NOTES

16 MAY 6, 2018 (B) SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER SCRIPTURE LESSON: Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days. GOSPEL LESSON: John15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one s life for one s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. Thanks to all who supported and prayed for our 3 rd year confirmands on their Big Trip to Boston.