SALEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1500 North Main Higginsville, Missouri web page: salemucchigginsville.org We are a gathering church sent out by God to bring the good news of God s grace, justice, peace, and love to the world
February 25, 2018 SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT 10:30 a.m. THE GATHERING MUSIC BEFORE WORSHIP * PROCESSIONAL HYMN Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven No. 3 WELCOME: No matter who you are or where you are in your life s journey, you are welcome here. A warm welcome to all as we gather for worship, Christian education and fellowship. Please greet one another with the Lord s peace. NEWS OF THE CONGREGATION ADDRESSING OURSELVES TO GOD RINGING OF THE BELL Piano Prelude "Amazing Grace" arr. Wolaver * CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Once again, in this season of Lent our gracious and merciful God summons us. People: We respond to God s steadfast love, calling us into solemn assembly. Leader: Let all the people gather for self-examination; let all bow in awe before the One Who Creates. People: We approach God in reverence and wonder, rejoicing in the invitation to holy places. Leader: Walk humbly before God in secret disciplines, in prayer and fasting and giving. People: We seek the One who grants us life, who upholds us with a willing spirit. 1
* INVOCATION (Unison) Most Holy God, we await the touch of your Spirit with eagerness. We ask that you enter the lives of each one of us today, refreshing and renewing and healing us with the power of your love, so that we may live with purpose, enthusiasm, and courage after the example of Jesus our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen. *GLORIA PATRI No. 623 HEARING AND RESPONDING TO THE WORD HANDBELL CHOIR "Fairest Lord Jesus" arr. Berry/ Valey MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES June HYMN He Leadeth Me No. 461 (Please write your joys and concerns on the card and hand it to the usher during the hymn) JOYS AND CONCERNS Preparation for prayer PASTORAL PRAYER, THE LORD S PRAYER ( debts and debtors words in hymn No. 426) MORNING OFFERING Offertory "Give Thanks" arr. Tornquist *Doxology No. 625 *Dedication Prayer *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle s Creed (Printed inside back cover of Hymnal) CHANCEL CHOIR "Great Jehovah" Choplin PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE READING Psalm 22: 23-31 (O.T. p. 474) SERMON The Ends of the Earth Shall Remember Tommy 2
THE SENDING *HYMN O Zion, Haste No. 298 *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE "Leaning On the Everlasting Arms" arr. Smith The Worship Service is over and our Service begins. *Indicates please stand if you are able to do so **************************************** Leading Worship Today: Rev. Dr. Tommy L. Faris Pastor Crystal Faris Liturgist June Howell Christian Education Coordinator Jamie Smith Substitute Organist/Music Director Kaylee Harden Acolyte GREETING YOU TODAY ARE: North Door: Keill, Keri, and Lane Borchers South Door: Evelyn Sander IN OUR PRAYERS: Barbara Bottemuller, is recovering at Meyer Care Center with a broken wrist from a fall. David Thaller, was hospitalized at Western Missouri Medical Center, he is now recovering at home. Walter Homfeld, brother of Ryland Homfeld and Mary Dickmeier, is recovering at St. Mary s Manor, Blue Springs, Missouri. Warner Schelp, is recovering at Meyer Care Center. Mary Kirchhoff, is recovering at Meyer Care Center. Wilma Dieckhoff, is currently residing at Meyer Care Center. Myrna Fette, is residing at New Haven Living Center, Odessa. SEMINARY SUNDAY: In the UCC calendar, today is the day we celebrate Seminary Sunday. We support the Chicago, United, and Eden (CUE) Seminaries of the United Church of Christ with the offering collected at each Wednesday evening Lenten service. Please keep these seminaries and our seminarians in your prayers as well. 3
ANNOUNCEMENTS: CHILDREN S SUNDAY: We are planning another Children s Sunday for March 18th during the 10:30am service. We asked the kids what kind of service they wanted to have. The answer was very funny. They want to have a Pajama Service. So March 18th is a come as you are service. You can wear pajamas, or casual clothes, or work clothes. Whatever you feel like doing! The kids will absolutely love to see you all in pajamas or whatever you choose to wear! LENTEN DEVOTIONALS: Are available in the back of the Sanctuary and outside the church office. 2018 ENVELOPES are available outside the church office. LENTEN SERVICES: Salem will hold Wednesday evening Lenten Services at 6:30 p.m., through March 21, in the Sanctuary. MARK YOUR CALENDARS: for our YUMMY annual Pie and Cake Auction to be held Sunday, March 11th! The auction will begin at 12:30 p.m. after a luncheon of sandwiches, etc. provided by the Youth on Mission. COMMUNITY NEWS: WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: Church Women of Higginsville and Corder presents World Day of Prayer. The program will be presented by Marcia Ritter Being Grateful for Family History. This event will be held Friday, March 2, 1:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, fellowship time will follow the meeting. JKV AND MEYER CARE CENTER BIBLE STUDY: John Knox Village and Meyer Care Center have a weekly Bible Study that is led, on a rotational schedule, by the Ministerial Fellowship. Terry Cook (Methodist) will be leading during the month of February, Liz Lindsey (Presbyterian) during the month of March, Dale Felder (Ministerial Fellowship Chairperson) during the month of April. The Bible Study is held every Wednesday, 10:15-10:45 a.m. in the Gathering Room. 4
2018 CHURCH CAMP: Camp MoVal s 2018 Brochures/ registration forms are available outside the church office. Early Bird registration date is April 1, 2018. 2018 MMS-UCC WOMEN S RETREAT: Registration Form/Brochures for this retreat are available outside the church office. Registration must be mailed by Friday, March 31, 2018. UP COMING DATES: February 28 Lenten Service March 4 Third Sunday in Lent March 7 Lenten Service March 11 Fourth Sunday in Lent One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Dedicated YOM Light Lunch and Pie & Cake Auction March 14 Lenten Service March 18 Fifth Sunday in Lent Children s Sunday (10:30 a.m. Service) CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! If your child is most comfortable with you in worship, they are welcome. If you prefer, the nursery room is open and available for parents who would like to take their child there and stay with them. TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE: Transportation is available to any worship service. Please call the church office (584-3603) to make arrangements. OFFICE HOURS: Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. to Noon & 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. CHURCH INFORMATION Tommy s email: tlfaris@ctcis.net Tommy s cell phone: 816-352-2052 Church Telephone: 660-584-3603, Fax: 660-584-5666 Church Email: salemucc@ctcis.net Church Website: salemucchigginsville.org 5
THIS WEEK S EVENTS AT SALEM February 25, thru March 4, 2018 Sunday - Monday - Tuesday - 8:30 a.m. Early Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:45 a.m. Confirmation 11:45 a.m. 150 th Anniversary Committee Meeting 9:00 a.m. Committee on Ministry 4:00 p.m. Brownie Troop 3152 Food Pantry 7:00 p.m. Cub Scout Leader Meeting Wednesday 10:30 a.m. Lafayette Area Pastors Meeting 4:30 p.m. Arrow of Light 5:00 p.m. Bear Den 6:30 p.m. Lenten Service 7:00 p.m. Al-Anon Meeting 7:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal Thursday - Friday - W.I.C. All Day 9:30 a.m. Lafayette Area Women s Fellowship Board Meeting 7:00 p.m. Women s A. A. Meeting 7:00 p.m. Cub Scout Leader Meeting No Activities Scheduled Saturday - 9:30 a.m. A. A. Sunday - 8:30 a.m. Early Worship/Baptisms 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:45 a.m. Confirmation 6
UCC MISSION MOMENT Have you ever had a difficult choice to make? Perhaps you have been offered a job but it meant moving, or you met the love of your life at the Philadelphia airport only they were heading for Baltimore on Delta and you were boarding Southwest going to Phoenix. Have you ever experienced one of those moments when you know that whatever choice you make it will change your life? For followers of Jesus this should probably be what every minute of our lives feels like. He s that guy who tells us he s going to be killed and we should follow him. He s that guy who says give up everything, sell your smart phone and follow me. He s that guy who has a claim on our moral universe in a way that no one else has. He s Jesus the Christ and this is the liturgical season of follow him. It is Lent, after all. At General Synod in Baltimore last summer, Reverend Traci Blackmon, Executive Minister of Justice & Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ, told the delegates a great true story. It s a story particularly perfect for preachers and perfect for that moment and perfect for Lent, and she told it to call us all to faithful and compelling witness. It s the story of an invitation made to a crowd long ago by a gentleman standing high on a wire stretched over the Niagara Falls. The tightrope walker s name was Charles Blondin. On June 30, 1859, he amazed a huge crowd by walking across 1,100 feet on a wire over Niagara Falls. He walked back and forth several times, upping the ante with each crossing. He did it blindfolded, on stilts, carrying somebody and stupefied the crowd by sitting down on the wire and cooking an omelet. While crossing with a wheelbarrow he stopped and asked the crowd if they believed he could push a person in the wheelbarrow across the wire. The crowd screamed, Yes!. Then he asked for a volunteer to climb in the wheelbarrow. No one volunteered. That s it, isn t it? That s the crux of Lent, of our faith, of all that s possible for our churches, for our discipleship, for our denomination. Reverend Blackmon asked us to climb in the wheelbarrow and announce to the world our faith that God is present even today. Is there a wheelbarrow in your faith story right now? In the Gospels, Jesus never ceases to amaze the crowds with his feats, and not everyone climbed in the wheelbarrow with him, either. What is calling you, right now, or your congregation? Are we ready to leave our comfortable spot looking up, and climb into the wheelbarrow? Can we trust that much?