God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love. -St. Augustine, early church father ( )

Transcription

1 Highwater Congregational United Church of Christ 1213 Dutch Lane Rd, Newark, Ohio March 15, 2015 God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love. -St. Augustine, early church father ( ) Rev. Scott Schieber, Pastor Zach Cornelius, Youth Ministry Coordinator Mark McKimmins, Moderator Debbie Smetts, Office Administrator / Newsletter Editor Congregation, Ministers All

2 March 15, :30a.m. & 10:30a.m. Service * = stand if you are able = 10:30 a.m. service only = 8:30 a.m. service only Proclamation of Praise Prelude /Acolytes / Ringing of Church Bell / Welcome / Announcements * Hymn of Praise Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah # 51 Call to Worship: Leader: For God so loved the world; The sparrows, the mountain lions, the fish and the people. People: For God so loved the world;i n success and failure, in sickness and health, in mediocrity and extraordinary. Leader: For God so loved the world; People: Enough to become one of us, Leader: enough to suffer along with us, People: enough to offer new life for us. Leader: For God so loved the world; People: We offer our love in response. Let us worship God! Prayer of Invocation Children s Message / Children Dismissed for Sunday School Old Testament Text Numbers 21:4-9 (NIV) They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food! 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us. So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Leader: This is the Word of the Lord! People: Thanks be to God! * 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. Candle of Dedication / Pastoral Prayer / Lord s Prayer (using debts )

3 Sharing of our Tithes and Offerings / Offertory * 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. Amen * Offertory Prayer God of grace, we tend to give gifts cautiously, to give gifts of minimal value, to give gifts from what remains after lavishing gifts on ourselves. You gave your only Son, so that in believing, we would have eternal life. Our gifts today seem so small, but you can multiply them, and with them, you can change the world. In Christ, we pray. Amen. * Hymn of Preparation O God, Our Help in Ages Past # 52 New Testament Text John 3:1-21 (NRSV) Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God. 3 Jesus answered him, Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. 4 Nicodemus said to him, How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother s womb and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, You must be born from above. 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus said to him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered him, Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God. Sermon So Loved Pastor Scott Schieber * Closing Hymn All the Way May Savior Leads Me # 460 * Benediction / Response - Let There be Peace on Earth Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow. To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally, let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Postlude

4 If you have children -Newborn pre-school (pre-school means that your child will not start kindergarten in the next school year) you may choose to put your child in our nursery during the worship service. To get to our nursery, exit the sanctuary, proceed straight through the narthex, pass the bathrooms, and turn right down the long corridor. The nursery is the 3 rd door on the right. In the nursery, your child will be cared for by a volunteer from the church. If you child is old enough, there are Biblical activities that will be shared. -Pre-k 2nd Grade (pre-k means that your child will start kindergarten in the upcoming school year) your child is invited to Sunday School in with our BUGs (Born Under God s Sun), which meets in the basement. To get to the basement, exit the sanctuary, go down the steps, and turn left and find the doorway which leads to the steps leading into the basement. The BUGS receive a Biblical lesson, usually the same scriptures we discover in our worship service, do some activities around the scripture lesson, and receive a snack. Sunday School ends shortly after our worship service ends. -3rd Grade 6 th Grade your child is invited to Sunday School with our TIGERs (Trusting In God for Every Reason), which meets in the youth room. To get to the youth room, exit the sanctuary, proceed straight through the narthex, and find the second door on the left. The TIGERs receive a Biblical lesson, usually the same scriptures we discover in our worship service, do some activities around the scripture lesson, and receive a snack. Sunday School ends shortly after our worship service ends. In the Nursery This Month 3/01 Becky Wright, 3/08 Amber Walker 3/15 Jim & Terri Andrews, 3/22 Open, 3/29 Open Please sign up to help. (Nursery staff please plan to be available at 10:15a for those who might arrive early and remain until 10:45a.m. for those that may be running late. Two people are better than one, so grab a friend if you need help. Thank you.) The nursery will be staffed with a volunteer for Pre-K and under children. Teaching the BUGS in March 3/1 Janine & Ashley Shipley, 3/8 Elli and Bekah Kalas 3/15 Kathy Preston & Lisa McKimmins, 3/22 Jennifer & Mike Piper, 3/29 Elli & Bekah Kalas Teaching the TIGERs in March 3/1 Molly Keller & Karen Holt, 3/8 Debbie Smetts & Peggy Green 3/15 Allyson & Brad Patton 3/22 Youth Sunday, 3/29 Beth Schieber & Becky Campbell Bible Lessons: 3/1 Abraham s and Sarah s Visitors - Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7, 3/8 The Ten Comandments - Exodus 20:1-17 3/15 The Light of the World - John 3:14-21, 3/22 Serve and Follow - John 12: /29 Holy Week - Mark 11:1-11, 14:1-15:47 Middle School Meets Upstairs with Mr. Zach on 3/8 & 3/15 February Youth Activities - 3/1 MS Activity 6-7:30p 3/29 TIGERs Activity Night 6-7:30p If you are visiting Welcome! We pray that you ll find our worship service meaningful and uplifting, and our congregation welcoming and friendly. We know that coming to a new church can be a little uncomfortable. If we can assist you in any way, please let us know! During the worship service, please be sure to provide contact information on our pew pads so Pastor Scott can reach out and thank you for attending. Thank You for Serving... Greeters and Ushers for March Greeting us with the love of Christ this month are Chris, Tracy, Tralie and Owen Storts. (Please note: If able, Greeters take up offering weekly, and help with communion on 1 st Sunday. Thank you.) March 15th- Candle Lighting Dedicated to: The memory of Ralph Wright Lay Readers for Today- 8:30a Larry Wright 10:30a Cindy Campbell (Please note: If able, Lay Readers take up offering weekly, and help with communion if signed up for 1 st Sunday. Thank you) Organist: 8:30a.m Janine Shipley 10:30a Cathy Bero Acolytes: Emma & Hayden Piper Are you going in the right direction?

5 Announcements and Information Monday Noon Bible Study - Making Sense of the Bible by Adam Hamilton. March 16th. We will discuss Chapter Scripture study, Acts Blanket Health/Permission Forms - Parents please take from the church binder and fill out accordingly. If your child has friends that attend church, activity night and other events please take one for their parents to fill out as well. Thank you, deb Wednesday Lenten Studies - March 4th-April 1st, 6:30p in the Narthex or Legg Center; depending on how cold it is (See insert for weekly topics). Women s Ensemble - Practices are at 7:30p following Lent Study on Wednesdays through Lent. Kids Choir - Practices are at 9:30a Sundays through March 22nd. Adult Chimes - Yes, Cathy Bero is excited to lead us in ringing the chimes on Palm Sunday. If interested please join us on the Legg Center Stage Sundays March 8th - 29th at 9:30a to practice. Farmers Dinner - Sunday, March 22nd. Please join us following the 10:30a service as we celebrate Spring. Don t forget to wear you best farmer attire. One Great Hour of Sharing - UCC s Disaster Ministry is an answer to the question, Where is God in all this? God is with us and among us, facing storms and repairing the aftermath. Please make a contribution so we can continue our legacy of being there when we are needed the most. Please see insert for details. Easter Brunch - Please sign up for Easter Brunch needs. Our Easter Brunch is Sunday, April 5th this year. Council Meeting - Thursday, March 19th at 7:00p. Highwater Congregational United Church of Christ Prayer List Prayer Concerns within our Family of Faith: Betty Nash Gayle Gibson Sue & Paul Harris Bob Tucker Jim Farmer Bruce Claggett Carolyn Claggett Amy Kerr Dave Nash Goldie Campbell JoAnn Gault Betty Bruce Janet Goodman Jack Green Prayers for Our UCC Congregations and Ministries: Prayers for Our Greater Church Family: (This list to start over every month) First Congregation, Marietta John Stout Miriam Thayer Sharon Mummey Mark Frick Carl Richards Marsha King Evajean Greenlun Richard Preston Stewart Krulikoski & Family Mike Aldridge Larry Humphrey Theresa Gonda John Gonda Sandy Liggett Don Walker Ashley Pace Hugh Dick Richard Rowe Ron Lopeman Wayne Edwards Clayton Barna Melissa Green Wilbur Buxton Gene Drury Richard Harmon Family of Fred Schilling Family of Barb Grandstaff Mary Schmidt Becky & Chad Taylor Continued prayers for all the troops that protect and serve this country and prayers of comfort for their families as they wait for their safe return. In memoriam for the Family of:

6 8a-12p Church Office Open Noon Bible Study in Library This Week at Highwater, March 16th - March 22nd Monday 16 Tuesday 17 Wednesday 18 Thursday 19 Friday 20 Saturday 21 Sunday 22 8a-12p Church Office Open 6:30p Lent Study Happy Birthday Jack Green Pastor Scott (H) (C) a-12p Church Office Open 7p Council Meeting Farmer s Sunday - March 22nd..Fuel up your tractors and get the chores done on this first week of spring. Plan to join us for food and fellowship as we recognize those who tend to God s creatures and harvest the crop..wear your best farmer attire to worship and join us after the 10:30a service for good food and fellowship. Happy Anniversary John & Elaine Tulloss 8:30a & 10:30a Worship Service 10:30a Sunday School Youth Sunday Scripture for Sunday March 22nd Jeremiah 29:10-14 John 12: :30a Farmers Dinner Happy Birthday Avery Ellis