FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 235 KENILWORTH AVE. ELMHURST, IL SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY 10:00 a.m. January 14, 2018 Partners in Christ s Service 1
Welcome to Our Guests! We are glad you came to worship with us. Please join us for coffee and conversation in the parlor following the service. At First Church, we welcome theological diversity. Please feel free to substitute the liturgical language of your choice as you worship. RINGING OF THE BELL Please silence your cell phones. Thank you. *********************** PRELUDE Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Dave Schacht, Moderator Please sign the Fellowship Pad and pass it in your pew. *HYMN OF PRAISE #21 Let the Whole Creation Cry *CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Our God has made us to be One Body with many members. All: United and uniting. This is our calling. Leader: God calls us to share our diverse gifts activated by the one and same Spirit. All: United and uniting. This is our redemption. Leader: God longs for us to be united in love and to manifest the Spirit in our different ways. All: United and uniting. This is our worship. *OPENING PRAYER (UNISON) God of all people, You call us into your unending work of justice, peace and love. Let us know your presence among us now. Let us delight in the glimpses of the mosaic of your beauty. In your unconditional love, let us find strength, renewal and hope. This we pray, inspired by the example of your disciple, Martin Luther King, Jr., and in the name of your son Jesus. Amen 2
*GLORIA PATRI #35 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, Amen. *PASSING THE PEACE CHILDREN S MESSAGE God Is Calling Each Of Us! Martha Mendoza SINGING THE CHILDREN OUT Go now in peace, go now in peace, may the love of God surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go MUSIC MINISTRY Fairest Lord Jesus arr. Craig Courtney Chancel Choir PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH Prayer Hymn #263 Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can hear the brush of angels wings, I can see glory on each face; Surely the presence of the Lord; is in this place. Silent Prayer Pastoral Prayer Our 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 our sins, as we forgive those who sin 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. 3
SCRIPTURE (On back page) *HYMN#16 SERMON Hot Chili Hospitality Reverend Michael Daly Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS Offertory Shall Not Want by Audrey Assad Meg McGarry *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. *Prayer of Dedication *SENDING OUT HYMN#668 For the Healing of the Nations (VS 1,2,4) *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE Down by the Riverside *Please stand if you are able ************************************ 4
TODAY S WORSHIP LEADERS Senior Minister: Minister of Christian Education: Minister of Music: Vocalist: Guitarist: Choral Music: Welcome and Announcements: Scripture Reader: Head Usher: Parlor Host: Nursery Teacher: PRAYER LIST Mike Daly Martha Mendoza Jim Molina Meg McGarry Dave Benziger Chancel Choir Dave Schacht Carina Kanzler Alan Sloma Margaret Chittaro Julia Stone Peggy Bates Lynn Johansen Mike Robicheau Matty Beuke Lu Krass Bert Robins Betty Bryan Amy Kritz Kim Rudakas Robert Cooper Amy Lynch Basia Rudy Steve Culliton Joan Lynch Charlotte Schenk Wayne Dreyer Michael Magana Allen Sloma Yvonne Dreyer Dorothy Moncrieff Karen Sloma Katherine Ehenberger Jorge Morales Mary Strock Earleen Graham Sung Lee Moy Charles Sullivan Bertha Hahn Lori Myers Emma Underwood John Hampton Tom Myers Grace Watry & family Clare and Jean Jacobi Dan Norton Jeanne Warp Please submit prayer requests to Mary Anne Bixler at maryanne.elmhurstucc@yahoo.com or via the cards in the foyer. ************************************ Dear visitors, if you would like more information about our church and our ministry please leave your contact information in the Friendship Pad found in the church pews or please contact staff members Rev. Mike Daly (mddaly@sbcglobal.net) or Martha Mendoza (marta.elmhurstucc@sbcglobal.net ). Dear Members, There are many discussions throughout the wider church regarding Sunday School. 5
No matter what the denomination, Sunday School for children is changing throughout our Country. Here at First Congregational UCC we have done a wonderful job of planting the seeds of our Christian beliefs to children through a traditional Sunday school model. What I mean by this is, age appropriate classroom learning for our children while our older youth and adults participate in worship. As the new calendar year kicks off our Board of Christian Education would like to continue to offer Sunday School for our children during worship. Since we all enjoy being a part of our worship service, it's hard to get members to volunteer to teach. I believe that if you, the members, consider teaching Sunday School as little as two or three times a school year, we can continue to strengthen the vital ministry of Sunday School. For your consideration, please find a Teacher Sign-Up sheet for the next few months on the hospitality table in the church foyer. You can also reach out directly to me via e-mail at marta.elmhurstucc@sbcglobal.net or by calling 630-832-2580. Please consider giving the gift of your time as a Sunday School Teacher and help build the faith, character, and values of our children. In Service to Christ, Martha Mendoza To Our Generous Donors and Eager Shoppers The Yard Sale is taking a break. There will be no yard sale this year. We do plan for it to return in 2019, so hang on to your treasures if you can. Also Save the Date---Saturday, May 5, 2018, evening---for the upcoming Puerto Rico Event. (More details to come). The Youth Fundraising Team Children & Youth Sunday School 6
Thank you for being a part of worship this morning. We are so excited that you chose to be with us. Our Youngest Among Us Room opens at 9:45 a.m. A care provider/teacher is present to watch and interact with your little ones from infancy to 2 nd grade. Parents are welcome to stay in this room and hear the service through the sound system or secure your little ones with the care provider and check on them at any time. This room is very accessible, down the main hallway from the sanctuary. Our 3 rd Grade to 8 th Grade classroom is also on this main level, across from the Youngest Among Us Room, down the hall from the sanctuary. Through activities, art, and games children learn from the sacred stories of the Bible. Our Confirmation Student s next gathering will be on Sunday, January 28. They will be meeting during Sunday School in Room #203 on the upper level. Youth Activities are ongoing. Please watch for upcoming activities and contact Martha Mendoza for more information and to get on the contact list at marta.elmhurstucc@sbcglobal.net or at 630-832-2580. ************************************ COMING UP AT FIRST CHURCH Annual Chili Cook-Off Immediately following This Morning s Worship 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 7
Immediately after Worship today we hope that you will come downstairs and enjoy a Chili Lunch and Vote for your favorites. All the proceeds made from this event will help our Church s Mission Work Trip delegation reach their Financial Goal for this Summer s Mission Work Trip to the U.S. Island of Puerto Rico. We look forward to your participation. Tracy D Alessandro and Margaret Chittaro ************************************ FIRST CHURCH SUPER BOWL SUNDAY PARTY FEB. 4th @ 4 p.m. First Church members are invited to the annual Super Bowl Sunday Party hosted at Mary Moy Gregg s House, 322 S. Kenmore Avenue in Elmhurst on February 4th at 4:00 p.m. If you would like to bring an appetizer, dessert, or beverage, it would be appreciated. Please R.S.V.P. by Friday, January 26th, call Mary at 630-279-2706. ************************************ Annual Meeting of the Congregation Sunday, February 25, 2018 In the Sanctuary Immediately Following our 10 a.m. Worship As a Congregational Church, we meet as a whole on an annual basis to tend to various business matters of the church. Highlights of this year s agenda will be released soon. Please plan on attending, as we need a quorum to conduct business. Thanks. Annual Reports Please have copies of your Annual Reports in the church office by Tuesday, Feb. 6th via email bixler.elmhurstucc@sbcglobal.net. Thank you! THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHURCH Sunday Communion Worship - Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. 8
Chili Cook-off Fellowship Hall -11:00 a.m. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday No activities scheduled Missions Blue Room - 7:00 p.m. Trustees Room across from Nursery -7:00 p.m. No activities scheduled Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. No Activities Scheduled No Activities Scheduled FIRST CHURCH STAFF Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Michael Daly mddaly@sbcglobal.net Minister of Christian Ed. Martha Mendoza marta.elmhurstucc@sbcglobal.net Minister of Music Jim Molina camayal1@aol.com Office Manager Margaret Bixler bixler.elmhurstucc@sbcglobal.net Administrative Assistant Mary Anne Bixler maryanne.elmhurstucc@yahoo.com Emeritus Minister: Building Caretaker: Rev. Dr. Ernest H. Huntzinger Jose Sanchez OUR CONTACT INFORMATION First Congregational Church of Elmhurst UCC 235 South Kenilworth, Elmhurst, Illinois 60126 Phone: 630-832-2580, Fax: 630-832-9142 E-Mail: elmhurstucc@sbcglobal.net Website: www.elmhurstucc.org Facebook: facebook.com/firstcongregationaluccofelmhurst Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday & Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 9
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Isaiah 58: 6-9a; Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice 11
and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness [ will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. Hebrews 13: 1-2 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 12