Fifth Sunday of Lent. Sunday Morning Worship March 13 th, :30 am UNITED IN GOD S LOVE 150 TH YEAR

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1 Fifth Sunday of Lent Sunday Morning Worship March 13 th, :30 am UNITED IN GOD S LOVE 150 TH YEAR

2 No matter who you are or where you are on life s journey You are welcome here! A SPECIAL WARM WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS! Thank you for joining us today! We hope that you feel the warmth of God s spirit here as we worship together! Please complete the form (in the pew) to let us know a little more about you and place it in the offering plate. As our guests this day it is the only offering we ask. If you should have a prayer concern or would like to meet with the Pastor please indicate this next to your name. Thank you! Following worship please join us in Fellowship Hall for an informal Continental Breakfast. Please note our worship services are online and televised, your participation in the service may be visible during these live ministries. If you should not wish your child to be on screen, please refrain from sending them forward during the children s time or have them sit directly in front of the pews in the front. Children are welcome in worship; however, should your child grow restless feel free to sit with them in the Parlor at the rear of the Sanctuary. Nursery/childcare is available for children up to age 2 and is located on Level 2 just beyond the Chapel. Children are invited to attend Sunday School following the Children s Message. Classes are offered for all ages. Large print bulletins and hearing devices are available. Please ask an usher. An elevator is at your disposal for all levels; our west entrance has a ramp. Our Church Website is Follow us on: Web Does the world we are living in come close to the world Christians pray for? All we know in the life of prayer is asking, seeking, knocking and waiting, trust somethings faithing, sometimes growing angry. -Fred Craddock When the consequences of belief are worldly goods, such as health, fixing on these turns religion into a service station for self gratification and churches into health clubs. This is the opposite of faith s role, which is to decenter the ego, not pander to its desires. Huston Smith Count on God to come down on the side of justice. Count on God to hear the ones who have no power, no voice. Count on God to hear those who have nowhere else to turn. Count on God not always to grant your requests, but to hear, with loving, parental patience, the persistent prayers of your heart. -John Buchanan 2 God is still speaking..

3 PRELUDE Jim Molina ANNOUNCEMENTS *SHARING THE PEACE *OPENING SONG Holy, Holy, Holy -Featherstone arr. Billingsly *CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive) Pastor Scott God, we are so caught up in our day to day worries and routines that we sometimes do not see the pain of others. All are not equal, even in the land of the free. For those who seek justice and are not heard, for those who are silenced by pressure and the might of those more powerful than they May your churches be more than symbols that they might hear, see, and respond to our neighbors in desperate need of help. For the abused and neglected, for those who have no support systems, for the war torn and tramautized whose worlds are so different from our own Do not let us be complacent Lord. Do not let us sit idly by as blood is shed and lives are rent asunder. Call us again. Remind us again the path of discipleship. Amen. CHILDREN S SONG Jesus Loves Me (1st Verse) CHILDREN S MESSAGE Pastor Scott The Lord s Prayer (read in unison) 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen. CHILDREN S SONG Jesus Loves Me (2nd verse) Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give, Light and love to all who live. SCRIPTURE READING Luke 18:1-8 -Laura Lockett 3

4 MINISTRY OF MUSIC His Eye is On The Sparrow -Gabriel Kelley Calpin REFLECTION MESSAGE Be Relentless Pastor Scott PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Silent Prayer Prayer OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS Pastor Scott Pastor Scott Sharing Our Gifts with the Offertory Special Offertory Music Overcomer -Mandissa Guided Path *Presentation of the Gifts with Praise (sung in unison) To God, all glorious heavenly light, To Christ revealed in earthly night, To God the Spirit now we raise, Our joyful song of thankful praise. *Prayer of Dedication * CLOSING SONG Everlasting God -Brewster *BENEDICTION Ancient Words - Michael W. Smith One of our worship traditions to show our solidarity and love in community is to join hands and sing. If you are visiting with us, we invite you to join us in song and in spirit POSTLUDE Glorious -Munizzi Guided Path OUR TIME OF WORSHIP TOGETHER HAS ENDED. NOW MAY OUR CHRISTIAN SERVICE BEGIN! 4

5 GUIDED PATH BAND Vocals: Meg McGarry, Kelley Calpin, Anthony Berg, Nicholas Drahos Guitar: Dave Benziger Bass: Connor Roe, Drums: Justin Kono Piano: Jim Molina PRAYER CONCERNS AND COMMUNITY JOYS Rick and Genevieve Franz, Karen Costanzi, Marita Moniger, Jan Osborn and her family health concerns, Janelle Robinson, Heather Bilcer recovery from surgery, Havel family at the death of Phil Havel, victims of the Syrian War, our nation and its leaders Today s Sunday School: Today our 1st & 2nd graders will be in room 203 and our 3rd 5th graders will be in the Chapel. 3 yrs. K will be in room 205 an our 6th graders will be in room 504. GREETERS: Ann Mullen, Judy Murrison USHERS: Gail Jaroski, Dave Swartz, Nancy Hessler, Jan Hessler HEAD USHER: Dirk Gutzke COUNTERS: Andrienne Colvert, Cliff Mazzone (Lead Counter) Larry Bryant This week s continental breakfast will be served by Christian Mission. This week s altar flowers are in memory of Pat Rensch from the Hallett & Rensch family. This Week s Announcements Lenten Faith Journey: Ever been too intimidated to go to a Bible Study? Our Lenten Faith Journey discussion will be a guided reflection about the shaping and changes that our faith walk has gone through, while encouraging us with new Lenten practices. Classes will be on Thursdays from noon to 1:00 pm in the church parlor now through Maundy Thursday, March 24 th. ALL are welcome. Please bring a Bible, some paper and a pen or pencil to the class. Caring For Creation Congregation Resolutions by congregation members: Vote for candidates that recognize and support efforts to resolve climate change by The Toleikis s No more bottled water by many Limiting the use of styrofoam by Tom W. (PADS) Manna: Manna cards are a great way to provide income to our church at no cost to you. You can purchase many cards same day at the Manna table during coffee hour. We have cards for Groceries, gas stations, pharmacies and several restaurants. You can also order ahead and we will have cards for you on Sunday. Go to: 5

6 for the complete list of vendors. If you want to order, please Laurie Olsen and Steve Johnson by Wednesday evening to get your cards on Sunday morning. New Prison Ministry: The church is beginning a new prison ministry with the Illinois Youth Center - Warrenville, a facility that houses female juvenile inmates. If you would like to learn more about this new ministry but could not attend the meeting, please contact Amy Curran at amyccurran@gmail.com or Mark your calendar! Plan ahead! Our next Blood Drive is being held on Tuesday, April 19-3:OO-7:OO p.m. Each donation helps three people. Blood can be donated every eight weeks. Donations made at a storefront clinic do NOT count for our church Blood Drives. The blood banks are low and need your help. If you have questions or would like to make an appointment for a specific time, please call Marilyn Jelinek, (63O) Walk-ins are welcome. You can make a difference! BEEN VISITING OR ATTENDING FOR A TIME? We are excited about this faith community, and we hope you are too. If First Congregational UCC is feeling more an more like a spiritual home for you we d like you to consider our new membership exploration classes. Our next classes are Sunday, April 3 rd right after worship in the Parlor meet at the visitors table in the back and join us for an overview of how this church s facility is utilized for mission and ministry to over forty five different groups and activities each and every week. Thursday, April 7 th New Members class 7pm in the Parlor with Pastor Scott. Come and hear an overview about the United Church of Christ, who we are as a church and how we are both similar and different from other churches. Have questions? This is a chance to ask everything and anything under the sun. Our next New Member Sunday will be after Easter on the 10 th of April. If you have been visiting and would like to get on our weekly list and receive our church newsletter, please give your contact information at the visitor center. Women's Fellowship - Ladies of the Morning and Evening and anyone else who wants to join us at the church for Stitch and Chat in the Parlor: This is a very casual gathering. Friday, March 18, from about 9:30-11:30 am. You don't need to bring anything but consider bringing food and a change of clothes as weather permitting some of us may go outside afterwards to help clean up the church grounds. Trudy Bertram will be the lead on this. If you have any questions contact Peggy Gutzke 630/ peggy.gutzke@gmail.com. Workshop: On Sunday, March 20th the Caring for Creation team will lead a workshop on making homemade laundry detergent and other natural cleaners. Each person in attendance will take home a bottle of homemade detergent and a recipe for making their own. We will meet at a table in Fellowship Hall at 11:00 am. As a fundraiser for our committee, we would suggest a $10 donation for the detergent and the workshop. Making the detergent is quick and easy. We should only take thirty minutes of your time. Please Robin Oberle at robinoberle@hotmail.com if you have questions. Caring for Creation Team: We want your old seed packets. In preparation for spring, we will be collecting old and new seed packets (vegetable and flowers). If you have seed packets you've been storing in a cool, dry place (like your garage, basement or refrigerator), they will still germinate. Seed packets will be donated to community 6

7 gardens in Chicago and the western suburbs. A receptacle will be placed by the west entrance. Mark your calendar: and come join us in the parlor for a cozy knitting or crocheting gathering! On the third Sunday of the coming months, ie: March 20, April 17 and May 15 anyone interested in joining this new craft group is welcome. We will meet from 11:00 am-12:00 pm so bring your beverage and your craft and join us. Any questions, contact Jenni Hallman at jjh93@comcast.net or Simple Supper: Congregational Care invites everyone to our traditional baked potato supper at 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 24. Baked potatoes with all your favorite toppings, salad and dessert will be served. Please consider boycotting Wendy's: The Coalition of Immokolee Workers (CIW), the farmworker rights organization supported by our church for many years, has announced a national boycott of the fast-food chain Wendy's. Announced at a huge rally of supporters on March 3rd in New York City, the boycott, only the second in the history of the CIW, has been necessitated by Wendy s steadfast ten-year refusal to join the CIW's Fair Food Program (FFP). The FFP is a groundbreaking social responsibility program that has won recognition from the White House to the United Nations for its unique success in addressing decades-old farm labor abuses. All of Wendy s major competitors in the fast-food industry McDonald s, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell and Chipotle and even Whole Foods and Walmart, have already joined the Fair Food Program! Please consider joining us in boycotting Wendy's. For more information, visit or contact Dave Humphreys at or dhump@interaccess.com. Easter Morning Brunch: Join us for our Easter Morning Brunch, March 27th at 8:00-8:45 am and 10:00-10:45 am. Please bring a breakfast item to share to Fellowship Hall. Fresh Fruit and Beverages will be provided. (CE and CYA Ministries are serving, preparing breakfast) A freewill offering will be taken for the mission trips to Appalachian Service Project and the South Africa Mission. Trips taken by our Youth and Young Adult Groups. 7

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11 Coming Up This Week SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016 Day Light Savings 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Worship Service-Sanctuary 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM Alleluia Ringers Rehearsal-Music Room 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Caring For Creation Team Meeting-Library 11:00 AM Guatemala Coffee Presentation-Fellowship Hall 11:00 AM Marriage Enrichment Workshop- Parlor 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Junior Choir Rehearsal - Music Room 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Teen Choir (grades 7-12)-Sanctuary 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Cub Scout Troop 181-Blue and Gold Dinner MONDAY, MARCH 14, :30 PM - 7:30 PM Martial Arts Chapel 6:00 PM PADS 6:30 PM 150th Anniversary Committee Meeting-Parlor TUESDAY, MARCH 15, :00 PM - 6:00 PM Chapel Reserved 4:30 PM Administrative Deadline for Pilgrim 6:30 PM CE Meeting-504 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM ESL Conversation Group-Library 7:00 PM Finance & Budget-Rm 503 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM Guided Path Rehearsal-Sanctuary 8:00 PM TOPS-Library WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, :00 AM - 11:00 AM Bible Study (at members' homes) 11:00 AM Church Staff Meeting-Parlor 12:00 PM Administrative Deadline for Bulletin 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Chapel Reserved 6:30 PM Confirmation Classes 602 (8th) 504 (7th) 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Alanon meeting-coffee House 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Choir Voice Ensemble-Music room/sanctuary THURSDAY, MARCH 17, :00 AM - 10:00 AM FCLC Jumpbunch Chapel 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lenten Faith Journey-Parlor 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Chapel Reserved 7:00 PM Scouts-Fellowship Hall 7:15 PM - 9:15 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal-Choir Room FRIDAY, MARCH 18, :30 PM - 7:30 PM Martial Arts Chapel 8:15 PM Two Way Street Concert-Coffee House SATURDAY, MARCH 19, :30 AM - 3:00 PM Gloria Dei-Counsel Retreat-Parlor 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Chapel Reserved 10:00 AM Easter Egg Hunt-West Ide Park 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sing Around-Coffee House 11

12 OUR CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Scott Oberle, Senior Pastor... Cathy Sanders, Minister of Pastoral Care and Visitation... Jim Molina, Minister of Music and Media... Rev. Jan Remer-Osborn Licensed Minister... Maria Carini, Assistant to the Minister of Music... Dena Provenzano, Interim Director of Youth Ministries.. Jan Barker, Director of Children s Ministries... jbarker@uccdg.org Leslie McFarland, Administrative Secretary... lmcfarland@uccdg.org Cliff Mazzone, Bookkeeper... bookkeeper@uccdg.org Carl Lorek, Custodian/Maintenance Supervisor... Carll@uccdg.org Kim Choate, Director, First Congregational Learning Center... kchoate@uccdg.org Radika Jungwirth, Admin. Asst, First Cong. Learning Center... radikaj@uccdg.org Dave Humphreys, Two Way Street Coffee House... dave@twowaystreet.org Bill Hammack, A-V Specialist... bill@symbolix.com Len Potter, Broadcasting Ministries... lenp@potterpro.com The Rev. Dr. Robert D. Schieler, Pastor Emeritus Each and every member of our church has a ministry! Church staff available Monday Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Fridays by appointment. Office Phone: Office FCUCC@UCCDG.org In pastoral emergencies, Pastor Scott can be reached at *Visit our weekly Sunday Service on channel 6 each Sunday at 11:30am. An Open and Affirming Congregation First Congregational United Church of Christ 1047 Curtiss Street, Downers Grove, IL Church Website Donate here Broadcast Ministry First Congregational Learning Center FCLC Website: Facebook: 12