Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 30, am Grace Hall, North Campus

Transcription

1 1 TwentySixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 30, am Grace Hall, North Campus

2 Welcome to First Community Church We are a Christian church, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ denominations. We welcome people of all Christian traditions as well as people of other faiths and people of little or no faith, and those who are searching. Christian worship has been offered by First Community Church for over 109 years. By worshipping with us today, you become a part of that living tradition. Our regular worshippers and church members, supported by members of the staff and a large number of volunteers, make up our church community. We are committed to diversity, equal opportunities and personal and spiritual development of all who work and worship here, because, as our church's belief statement says, "we strive to follow the path of Jesus Christ while recognizing other pathways to the divine." Thank you for being with us for worship today. If you desire a pastoral call, please indicate this on the welcome pad. If you are in need of prayer, please fill out a prayer card located in the welcome pad booklet and place it in the offering plate. Our prayers go with you as you return to your home. (The paper we use for the order of service is recycled. You are welcome to take it away with you, but, if you would like us to recycle it, please place it in one of the bins at an exit, as we are also committed to our environment, God s Creation.) The Service of the Word Twentyfifth Sunday in Ordinary Time "I believed that there was a God because I was told it by my grandmother and later by other adults. But when I found that I knew not only that there was God, but that I was a child of God, when I understood that, when I comprehended that, more than that, when I internalized that, ingested that, I became courageous." Maya Angelou ( ) As the children of God, we think of God as a perfect, almighty, loving, caring and forgiving persona. We pray to God to bless us and our food, and to fix our troubles. Will we ever become the grownups of God? Vinko Vrbanić (b 1951) THE CALL TO CONTEMPLATION (For the time during the organ prelude, we invite you to be in prayer. As you leave the service of worship, join in rejoicing with your neighbor.) 2

3 THE ORGAN PRELUDE Two Miniatures for Organ Herbert Howells ( ) THE CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 121) Leader: I lift up my eyes to the hillsfrom where will my help come? People: My help comes from God, who made heaven and earth. Leader: Let us worship God! THE OPENING HYMN OF PRAISE (All rise in body or spirit.) For the Beauty of the Earth Dix For the beauty of the earth, for the splendor of the skies, For the love which from our birth, over and around us lies, God of all, to You we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night, Hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light, God of all to You we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild, God of all, to You we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. For the good that love inspires, for a world where none exclude. For a faith that never tires, and for every heart renewed, God of all, to You we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. THE PRAYER Leader: Come, O Creator, O Immensity of love, O Eternity of mercy. People: Come, and be with us and in us and beside us and over us. Leader: Be as hands upon us, and fashion us for shining. People: Be as warmth within us, and fire us for caring. Leader: Be as strength beside us, and shape our lives for healing. People: Abide in our prayers, the spoken and the unspoken; and make Your Word come true in our flesh; Leader: Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, All: Amen. 3

4 THE PSALM RESPONSE Bless God, O My Soul (1) (The congregation may be seated.) Tune: Spring Woods THE WELCOME THE ANTHEM Give Us Hope Jim Papoulis (Following the anthem, the children and youth in K8 will be invited to leave for their Sunday school classes to continue their worship and study.) THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD'S PRAYER 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass 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. THE OFFERTORY The Offertory Sentence The Receiving of the People's Gifts The Piano Voluntary Allemande (from French Suite No. 4 in E flat, BWV 815) Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) The Presentation of Gifts and the Prayer of Dedication Leader: As the gifts are presented, would all rise in body or spirit? All: All good gifts around us come from You, O God. Leader: You have given us life, and new life in Christ. All: As you have given us gifts, so we offer our gifts that we lived. Amen. 4

5 The Hymn Lasst uns erfreuen Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise God, our strength, whose power uplifts! Praise creation, God s creation! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! (All are invited to remain standing for the Gospel reading and hymn.) THE GOSPEL READING (4) Luke 18:1517 NRSV 15 People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. 16 But Jesus called for them and said, Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. Leader: The Word of truth. People: Thanks be to God! THE GOSPEL HYMN Jesus Loves Me Jesus Loves Me Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so, Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. (The people may be seated.) THE SERMON HOW SHALL WE LIVE? CHOOSING LOVE OVER POWER Part 4: Like a Child 5

6 THE HYMN Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing THE BENEDICTION Sicilian Mariners 1 Lord, dis miss 2 We give thanks us and with Your bless ad o ra ing; tion THE ORGAN POSTLUDE Trumpet March Jeremiah Clarke ( ) fill for our hearts Your Gos with pel's joy joy and ful peace; sound; Let us May the each fruits Your of love Your pos sess ing, sal va tion tri umph in in our hearts re and deem lives ing a grace: bound: Oh, ev re er fresh us, faith ful, oh, ev re er fresh us, faith ful trav to eling the thru truth this may wil we der be ness. found. ~ The End of Worship, the Beginning of Service ~ PARTICIPANTS Preacher: The Reverend Dr. R. Glen Miles Senior Minister All rise in body or spirit Liturgist: The Reverend Mr. David S. Hett Minister of Religious Life and Learning Ushers: Group B 6

7 MINISTRY OF MUSIC Sally R. Beske, Associate Organist/Director of Youth Choirs THE JUNIOR AND CHORISTER CHOIRS WITH MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH VOCAL ENSEMBLE (1) Bless God, O My Soul. Words paraphrased from Psalm 103 by Russell Sonafrank II and Stephen Morris. Music by Stephen Morris. Copyright 1987 by Hope Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense. Net # A Welcome visitors! Stop by our Welcome Center for information on programs and activities and pick up a copy of our newspaper. Interested in church membership? Text JOINFCC to or contact Kristy Glaser at (614) ext. 161 or kglaser@fcchurch.com New baby in your family? Please let us know so that we can share our blessings with the gift of a handmade comfort blankie created by Barb Davis & Sally Wandel. Contact Paula Russell, Director of Congregational Care, at prussell@fcchurch.com or call (614) ext 228. Our next Baptism Sunday will be November 11. For more information go to FCchurch.com/baptisms. To schedule a baptism, contact Paula Russell at (614) ext. 228 or prussell@fcchurch.com Watch the 10 am South Campus service live on Facebook & FCchurch.tv Watch First Edition on WWHOTV, The CW, Sunday mornings at 8:30 am. If you need to step out during worship restless child, coughing spell, etc. the service can be heard in Unity Lounge. Activity Bags for children are available outside the Sanctuary and Grace Hall. Please place the bags in the return bin when finished. Large print bulletins and hearing assistance devices are available; ask an usher. 7

8 North Campus 9 am Worship: Grace Hall Infants & Toddlers: Room 215 Preschool: Room 218 Grades K3: Begin in worship, then excused to the Rose Wing Grades 45: Begin in worship, then excused to the Education Wing 11 am Worship: Grace Hall Infants & Toddlers: Room 215 Preschool: Room 218 Grades K3: Begin in worship, then excused to the Rose Wing Grades 48: Begin in worship, then excused to the Education Wing 5:30 pm Worship: Grace Hall TODAY AT FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH South Campus 8:30 am Adult Education: Wicker Room Care of the Ageless Soul: The Work of Thomas Moore 10 am Worship: Sanctuary Communion served. Infants & Toddlers: Room 221 Preschool: Room 222 K5th grades: Begin in worship, then excused to Lincoln Road Chapel. Middle School: Begin in worship, then excused to Lincoln Road Chapel. Grades 612 are invited to Crossroads tonight, 7 8:30 pm, North Campus. Our Pastoral Care staff is available if you desire a visit or call during an illness, hospitalization or time of need. Please send notifications of weddings, births, hospitalizations or deaths to prussell@fcchurch.com or call (614) ext 228 Parish Register As of 9/26/18 Recently Hospitalized Pat Donovan Bev Houseman Deaths Milan Richard "Dick" Kubick 9/18/18 Father of Laura (Bill) Helland Grandfather of Sarah and Ben Helland Martha Denig 9/21/18 Mother of Debby Waddell Tanny Gustafson 9/21/18 Upcoming Memorial Service Martha Denig (9/21/18) Monday, October 1, pm/Burkhart Chapel/Rev. Jim Long Reception following in Brownlee Hall Visit FCchurch.com/parishregister to view listings of upcoming Memorial Services. FCchurch.com info@fcchurch.com Affiliated with the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)