Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 18, 2016
First Congregational Church United Church of Christ Wilmette, Illinois Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost Rally Day Celebration of Pastor Stephanie VanSlyke s 2o th Anniversary at FCCW Sunday, September 18, 2016 WELCOME 10:00 A.M. Mrs. Kathleen Ieuter PRELUDE Pastorale arr. Wood CALL TO WORSHIP One: God of the past, who fathered and mothered us, All: We are here to thank you. One: God of the future, always ahead of us, All: We are here to trust you. One: God of the present, here in the midst of us, All: We are here to praise you. One: God of life beyond us and within us, All: We rejoice in your love. Ms. Hogue INTROIT I Was Glad Lovelace +HYMN O God Beyond All Praising Page 4 PRAYER OF INVOCATION Dr. Okrzynski God of our lives, you are always calling us to follow you into the future, inviting us to new ventures, new challenges, new ways to care, new ways to touch the hearts of all. When we are fearful of the unknown, give us courage. When we worry that we are not up to the task, remind us that you would not call us if you did not believe in us. When we get tired or disappointed, remind us that you can bring change out of the most difficult situations. Guide us today, tomorrow, and into a future full of your holy presence. Amen. From the Iona Community, Scotland; Prayer Used by the FCCW Board of Trustees since January 2004 1
CALL TO PRAISE Leader: O Lord, open thou our lips. People: And our mouths shall show forth thy praise. Leader: Praise be to God! People: God s name be praised! Dr. Okrzynski +GLORIA Glory to the Creator and to the Christ and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. ANTHEM I Will Sing Praise Martin Lyrics: Page 5 GREETINGS PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Eternal God, In the reading of the scripture, may your word be heard; In the meditations of our hearts, may your word be known; In the faithfulness of our lives, may your word be shown. Amen. Mrs. Dilnaz Waraich Ms. Hogue SCRIPTURE READINGS Rabbi Gordon, Ms. Hogue, & Dr. Okrzynski Genesis 18:1-15 Sarah Laughs at God s Promises OT p. 17 Psalm 113 with Sung Response NCH p. 698 Matthew 7:7-8, 12 Jesus Calls Us to Seek and to Serve NT p. 8 You are invited to read along in the Pew Bible. GOSPEL RESPONSE Celtic Alleluia Page 6 SERMON The Voice of Sarah Rabbi Gordon HYMN Great Is Your Faithfulness NCH 423 2
PRAYERS OF CELEBRATION AND INTERCESSION Call to Prayer Leader: God be with you. People: And with your spirit Ms. Hogue The Lord s Prayer (debts/debtors) 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. Amen. Prayer Response Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil Page 6 OFFERING OUR TITHES, GIFTS, AND SELVES Dr. Okrzynski Offertory Adagio Albinoni/arr. Wolff +The Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Christ all creatures here below, Praise God above ye heavenly host, Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Old Hundredth GREETINGS WORDS OF THANKSGIVING Rev. Wayne MacPherson Dr. VanSlyke +HYMN Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Page 7 +BENEDICTION May God bless you and keep you; May God s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; May God look upon you with kindness and bring you peace; This day and forevermore, Amen. ---Numbers 6:24-26 Dr. VanSlyke (English); Rabbi Gordon (Hebrew) POSTLUDE God of Grace arr. Manz + indicates those who are able may stand. NCH indicates The New Century Hymnal. OT indicates Old Testament. NT indicates New Testament. 3
Printed under OneLicense.net License #A-708459 4
Lyrics to the Anthem I Will Sing Praise by Joseph Martin I will sing praise to the Lord, my God, Lift up my voice in the sanctuary. I will sing praise to the Lord, my God; I will sing Alleluia, and praise God s holy name. Sing the glory of God s name; I will praise God s name forever, Oh, the name above all names. I will sing praise to him, give all my life to him; Oh, the glory of God s name, I will sing praise to the glory of God s name! Sing Alleluia, all heavens rejoice! Sing Alleluia, lift high your voice. Sing Alleluia and make a joyful noise, joyful noise. 5
Printed under LicenSing License #607161 Printed under OneLicense.net License #A-708459 6
7
Sunday, September 18, 2016 Welcome to the First Congregational Church of Wilmette! We are part of the United Church of Christ, www.ucc.org, and we come with our faith and our doubts to worship, learn, and serve together. If you would like to learn more about the church, please check out the visitor information card in your pew, and provide us with your name, address, and/or email so that we can be in contact with you. There is a gender-neutral, accessible restroom and a baby changing station near the Sanctuary. Please ask an usher for directions. This morning s worship participants include Rabbi Samuel N. Gordon, Congregation Sukkat Shalom, Wilmette; Ms. Diane Hogue, Spiritual Director in Residence at FCCW and Affiliate Faculty Member, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary; Mrs. Kathleen Ieuter, Moderator of the Congregation, FCCW; Rev. Wayne MacPherson, Chicago Metropolitan Association of the United Church of Christ; and Mrs. Dilnaz Waraich, Interfaith and Outreach Chairperson, Muslim Community Center of Morton Grove. Worship Leadership: Preacher: Rabbi Samuel N. Gordon Presiders: Dr. Jason Okrzynski & Ms. Diane Hogue Musician: Mr. Kurt Mockenhaupt Sunday Servers Sunday, September 18 Sunday, September 25 Ushers Maggie & Gary Benz (HUs); Tom Fredricksen, Melissa Riemer Robin & Peter Baugher (HUs); Cathy Skala, Mike Hoover Greeter(s) Gretchen Alexander Carol & Jim O Donnell Coffee Hour Servers Mary Smoley; Suzanne & Keith Ross Kathleen & Charlie Ieuter; Pam & Paul Loach Counter Gary Benz George Rafeedie Communion Table Gretchen Alexander Christine Ieuter 8
Weekly Calendar Sunday, September 18 Rally Day & Stephanie s 20 th Celebration Worship 9:15 a.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 9:45-11:20 a.m. Nursery Care (Nursery) 9:45-11:15 a.m. Godly Play I Class (Good Shepherd Room) 9:45-11:15 a.m. Godly Play II Class (Creation Room) 9:45 a.m. Kairos Class (Upper Room) 10:00 a.m. Worship Service (Sanctuary) 11:15 a.m. Coffee Hour (Pilgrim Hall) 11:30 a.m. Luncheon (Dining Room & Fellowship Hall) Monday, September 19 7:00 p.m. Men s Group (Hackney s on Lake, Glenview) Tuesday, September 20 7:15 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting (Church Office) Wednesday, September 21 4:45 p.m. Kids Club (Creation Room) 6:00 p.m. Confirmation (Upper Room) 6:45 p.m. Dinner for All Youth (Dining Room) 7:15 p.m. Senior High Youth (Upper Room) 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Music Room) Thursday, September 22 10:00 a.m. Pastors Bible Study (Pilgrim Hall) 3:00 p.m. Book Discussion Group (Pilgrim Hall) 7:30 p.m. Handbell Choir Rehearsal (Music Room) Sunday, September 25 9:00 a.m. Up & Adam Discussion (Library) 9:15 a.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 9:45-11:20 a.m. Nursery Care (Nursery) 9:45-11:15 a.m. Godly Play I Class (Good Shepherd Room) 9:45-11:15 a.m. Godly Play II Class (Creation Room) 9:45 a.m. Kairos Class (Upper Room) 10:00 a.m. Worship Service (Sanctuary) 11:15 a.m. Coffee Hour (Pilgrim Hall) 9
Children s Spiritual Formation Sunday, September 18: 9:45-11:20 a.m. Nursery Care for Infants and Toddlers-age 2 (Nursery) 9:45-11:15 a.m. Godly Play I Class, ages 2 ½ -Pre-K (Good Shepherd Room) 9:45-11:15 a.m. Godly Play II Class, K-3 rd grade (Creation Room) 9:45-11:15 a.m. Kairos Class, 4 th -6 th grade (Upper Room) The Godly Play II (K-3 rd grade class) will come to the Sanctuary with their teacher to participate in Holy Communion on Communion Sundays. The class always begins in the Creation Room each Sunday morning. Kairos Class, 4 th -6 th Grade students participate in this faith exploration class programmed for their specific developmental and faith formation needs. This class follows the Godly Play format but uses content designed to engage, challenge, and nurture 4 th -6 th graders maturing needs, interests, and questions. The class will meet every Sunday and alternate between the class room and the real life lab of congregational worship. On select Sundays of the month, the Kairos class will attend some or all of worship with their teachers, including on Holy Communion Sundays. The class always begins in the Upper Room each Sunday morning. Kids Club for K - 6 th Graders, Wednesday Afternoons (September 21) 4:45 p.m. Kids Club (Creation Room) Led by Jason Okrzynski and Nina Isaacs Kids Club is a simple program; it is all about being together and having fun. Wednesday afternoons, from 4:45-5:45 p.m., elementary age students are invited and encouraged to come to FCCW to engage God and each other through singing, games, crafts, and snacks. Fun will be had. *There is no Kids Club on Intergenerational Nights! 10
Youth Spiritual Formation Young people in 7 th -12 th grade attend worship and participate in worship as ushers, greeters, and readers on a regular basis. On Wednesday nights, our Confirmation program for 7 th -8 th graders and our Senior High program for 9 th -12 th graders foster fun, friendship, spirituality, and opportunities for service. Youth participate in service projects, outings, and retreats in addition to Wednesday programs. Wednesday, September 21: 6:00 p.m. Confirmation, 7 th -8 th grade (Upper Room) 6:45 p.m. Dinner for All Youth, 7 th -12 th grade (Dining Room) 7:15 p.m. Senior High Youth Group, 9 th -12 th grade (Upper Room) The next Wednesday dinner will be provided by: September 21 FCCW Confirmation Class At FCCW, students in seventh and eighth grade are invited to participate in our Confirmation Class. This two year long curriculum covers Bible, Church History, History and Practice of the United Church of Christ, and spiritual disciplines. It culminates with the eighth graders publicly affirming the baptismal vows taken for them by their parents in the Rite of Confirmation. Confirmation Class is led by Pastor Jason Okrzynski. Senior High Youth Group: Wednesdays, 7:15-8:00 p.m. Students in ninth through twelfth grade join together each Wednesday night for Senior High Youth Group led by Pastor Jason Okrzynski. *There is no Confirmation Class or Youth Group on Intergenerational Nights. 11
Meet Andrew Miller This year, Andrew Miller will join our Church School staff. He will be teaching the Godly Play II class for children in kindergarten through second grade. Andrew would like to share the following about himself, I went through Sunday School and was confirmed at FCCW. I am a 7-time veteran of the Mission Trip. I graduated from New Trier High School and Amherst College, and am currently living with my parents in Wilmette, wondering what to do next. Please join us in welcoming Andrew! Adult Spiritual Formation Mary Supper, Second Tuesday of the Month, 6:30 p.m. We learn of the sisters, Martha and Mary of Bethany (the namesake of our group), in Luke 10:38-42 and in John 11-12. Both gospels tell stories of Mary and Martha hosting Jesus in their home for a meal and conversation. At FCCW s Mary Supper, women of the church gather for a light meal and spiritual conversation led by Pastor Stephanie VanSlyke. Held in member s homes, all women are welcome and encouraged to come as often as they can. First-timers and friends always welcome! Dates for 2016-2017: October 11, November 14, December 13, January 10, February 13, March 14, April 11, & May 9 The Men s Group, Mondays, Once a Month, 7:00 p.m. The Men s group is led by Rev. Dr. David Hogue, and meets select Mondays at Hackney s Restaurant, 1514 E. Lake Avenue in Glenview, for dinner and conversation. The first meeting will be on September 19. Dates for 2016-2017: September 19, October 17, November 14, January 16, February 20, March 20, April 17, & May 15 12
Pastors Bible Study Join Pastors Stephanie VanSlyke and Jason Okrzynski for a weekly reflection upon the scripture readings for the week. Come for prayer, reflection, and conversation. We meet every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in Pilgrim Hall; coffee is provided. Up And Adam! Conversations about Current Events and the Gospel Sunday, 9:00 a.m. in the Library September 25, October 16, November 13, & December 11 Each week, our former FCCW youth pastor, Adam Ericksen, writes about the intersection of the Gospel and current events for the Raven Foundation and Patheos websites. His articles are also regularly featured on Sojourners.net. In this monthly discussion forum, we will gather to read and discuss one of Adam s articles from the previous week. In this election season, there will be much to talk about! Suzanne Ross will convene and make the coffee. See you there! Music Programs Children s Choir The FCCW Children s Choir will return to our Children s ministry programming for the 2016-2017 school year. The Choir is open to K-6 th graders and is directed by Maren Okrzynski. Rehearsals will take place simultaneous with Church School, from 10:45-11:15 a.m. They will sing in worship on October 23, December 11, February 19, April 9, and May 14. General Announcements Connection for the Homeless Fundraiser On Tuesday, September 27, Connections for the Homeless is hosting a fundraiser at the Woman's Club of Evanston. For more information and to buy tickets, check out the newsletter announcement. If you have questions or are interested in attending, contact Margie Boyd. 13
Items for San Lucas UCC We are collecting items for San Lucas UCC. A full list of needed items can be found in the literature rack in Pilgrim Hall or in the weekly newsletter. Please bring the items to the church, and put them in the boxes in Pilgrim Hall. We will collect these items until the end of September. Mystery Member Let s get to know each other better! Each month, we will highlight a member of FCCW. Your job is to read the description and guess who this person is. At the end of the month, the identity of the Mystery Member will be revealed! You can read about September s Mystery Member in Pilgrim Hall or the weekly newsletter. Book Discussion Group On Thursday, September 22, at 3 p.m., FCCW s book group will meet in Pilgrim Hall. We will be discussing The Buddha in the Attic and When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka. This is an informal group, and all are welcome! No RSVP is needed. If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Kelleher at jen.kelleher2@gmail.com or 847-864-0763. Wilmette Food Pantry For August, the Food Pantry is requesting these items: 1.) Canned Vegetables (Any Size) 2.) Canned Tuna or Salmon (Any Size) Throughout the month, you may place your donations in the shopping cart under the stairwell in the Wilmette Avenue atrium entrance, across from the nursery and church office. Please feel free to contact Peg Kocian at 847-528-0632 for questions and/or concerns, or if you need assistance with your donations. 14
Mission Statement The First Congregational Church of Wilmette Welcomes everyone to Christ s table, Nurtures people s minds & souls on their spiritual journeys, Learns across faiths & generations, Serves God s vision of peace & well-being for all creation, Practices compassion & service as a way of life. Adopted: January 26, 2014 Our Church Staff Stephanie VanSlyke, M.Div., Ph.D., Senior Pastor svanslyke@fccw.org Jason Okrzynski, M.Div., Ph.D., Director of Christian Education for Children, Youth, & Families jokrzynski@fccw.org David Hogue, M.Div., Ph.D., Men s Ministry Facilitator dahogue@gmail.com Kurt Mockenhaupt, B.M., Director of Music kmockenhaupt@fccw.org Daniel Smith, M.T.S., M.A., Church Administrator dsmith@fccw.org Louis Rice and Fred Henry, Custodians Office Hours: Monday Friday / 9:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Phone: (847) 251-6660 Fax: (847) 251-6130 Website: www.fccw.org E-mail: 1stchurch@fccw.org 15