THE CHURCH OF THE RED ROCKS Rev. Dr. Cindy Parker, Pastor A Stephen Ministry Congregation An Open and Affirming Congregation ORDER OF WORSHIP Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Prelude "Sweet Hour of Prayer" arr. Gary Prim *Hymn #18 "Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer" Welcome and Announcements Pastor: No matter who you are or where you are on life s journey, People: You are welcome here! Call to Worship (responsively-based on Psalm 114 and Exodus 15) One: We worship God who caused the sea to look and flee. All: God is our strength; we will praise God! One: We worship God in whose presence the mountains and hills skipped. All: God is our strength; we will praise God! One: Tremble, O Earth, at the presence of the Almighty, the One who turns rock into pools of water and flint into springs. All: God is our strength; we will praise God! *Opening Prayer (interactive body prayer) We stretch out our hands, side to side, O God, connecting with our brothers and sisters in praise. We stretch out our hands above us, O God, hoping in praise to touch something beyond us. We stretch out our hands to the ground, O God, hoping in praise to approach the steady foundation of your love. Old Testament Story & Message for All God s Children "Road to Freedom" Exodus 14:19-31 (We believe it is a privilege to worship with our children and grandchildren! Children ages 5 and under are invited to join Shandra for special worship activities designed just for them. Activity packets are available for older children and those who wish to remain with their family.) Message Reverend Parker Choral Anthem "Footprints in the Sand" David Angerman
This Week September 17 September 24 Sunday September 17 Hand Bell Choir 9:30 am Worship Service 9:30 am Nursery Care and Sunday School 10:30 am Fellowship time Painted Cliffs Hall (PCH) Monday September 18 7:45 am Tai Chi & Prayer Classroom B 9:00 am Hand Bell Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary 12:30 pm Hand Bell Quartet Rehearsal Sanctuary Tuesday September 19 10:00 pm Family Support Group Classroom A 1:00 am Administration Commission Conference Room Wednesday September 20 10:00 am "Bad Girls of the Bible" PCH 1:00 pm Finance Commission Conference Room 1:30 pm Grief Support Classroom A Thursday September 21 1:00 pm Knitting Into the Mystery Classroom A 3:30 pm Choir Rehearsal Choir Room Friday September 22 7:45 am Tai Chi & Prayer Classroom B 10:00 am G and O Committee Conference Room 10:15 am The EDGE Classroom A Sunday September 24 9:30 am Worship Service 9:30 am Nursery Care and Sunday School 10:30 am Fellowship Time PCH 10:30 am New Members Class Conference Room Next week s scripture: After crossing the sea and escaping from the Egyptians, the Hebrews enter the Wilderness of Sin, known today as the Sinai Desert. Unfamiliar with the area, they struggled to find food and water, complaining often and loudly to God. However, the wilderness was also a place of experiencing God s abundance and a time of selfdiscovery. God was present with them in captivity, in freedom and in wilderness. When have you sensed God s presence in your own times of tension and wilderness struggles? Our focus story can be found in Exodus 16:2-15 and our message title is: On the other side.
The Stewardship Commission has borrowed the theme for this year's campaign from the UCC. "Journey to Generosity: The Way of Jesus." We are very grateful to all who have offered their homes for small group meetings which will take place during October and November. Meetings will last about 75 minutes and 10 to 12 people will attend. Hosts will be calling you soon to invite you. Please say "Yes!". Please prayerfully consider your willingness to participate in this most important part of our stewardship campaign. Website news: Check out your church website www.churchoftheredrocks for news and valuable information. Look at "What's New" at the top of the page, go to "Blogs" and find Pastor Cindy's weekly message as well as news items from the UCC and this congregation. Deadline for Canyon Echo articles is tomorrow, September 18. Interested in becoming a Stephen Minister? An information session is going to be held during the regular Stephen Ministers meeting on October 12 at 9:30 AM. Please join us! Faith in Action: The Witness for Justice Committee would like to know how we at The Church of the Red Rocks put our faith in action. On Sunday October 1, each of us will be given a survey of justice topics to discern which we are interested in and what we are currently doing. The results will be tabulated and shared with the congregation. This will enable us to know which actions to emphasize for this year. The EDGE meets at 10:15 AM each Friday in Classroom A. We are discussing of The Divine Dance by Fr. Richard Rohr. For more information please call Sergio or Lora Mazza at 313-410-6029. A New Member Gathering will be held on Sunday, September 24 after the worship service. Please meet at the Welcome Desk in the Narthex. A Memorial Service for Connie Coble will be held on Saturday September 30 at 11:00 AM.
New Testament Story Hymn #575 "The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant" Lector, Muriel Nunn Matthew 18:21-35 "O for a World" Prayer of Confession (responsively) One: When we participate in ways that hurt others even while we strive for freedom, restore us. One: When we ignore voices that don t agree with us even as we seek to hear calls for justice and hope, give us courage. One: When we quietly or not so quietly rejoice in violence or in the ruin of enemies or the hurt of the one who hurts, return us to mercy. One: When we cannot find within us the capacity to forgive others while we hope for forgiveness for ourselves, abide with us in our struggle. Time of Silent Confession Words of Assurance Offertory "The Garden of Prayer" Dan Edwards CRR Hand Bell Choir *Doxology & Prayer of Dedication Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Prayers of the People & The Lord s Prayer Special Music "Siyahamba" Robert Ward *Benediction *Choral Response "We are Marching in the Light of God" Hymn #526 Postlude "Recessional March" Jean Mouret *Please stand in body or in spirit. As you depart, please greet one another with the spirit of Christ's love. We also welcome you to join us in Painted Cliffs Hall for a time of food and fellowship following the service.
Large Print Bulletins and Head Sets (for amplified sound of our worship services) are available from any of our ushers. Participants Director of Music Dr. Ryan Holder Organist/Pianist Suzanne Moore Hand Bell Director Mary Rubel Office Administration Ginger Willetts and Cate Wyckoff Nursery Care Shandra Ryan Head Usher Susan Pilakowski Ushers Nancy True and Karen Stupak Greeters Tom & Winnie Wells P. A. Operator Dave Draves Coffee Hosts Stewardship Commission Van Driver Paul Sipos Tellers Claude Wigent Website and Social Media Cate Wyckoff Circle of Concern Church families pray for each other. Please pray for Jackie Hornberger, Lynne Kennedy, and Cheryl Jackson. Janet Greenlee is at home following surgery. Joyce Yost and Danitza Kalas are both recovering from knee replacement surgery. If you or someone you love is hospitalized or having surgery, please let Pastor Cindy or the office know. 928-282-7963 (pastorcindy@churchoftheredrocks.com) (receptionist@churchoftheredrocks.com) Worship Hours There will be ONE service next Sunday, September 27 at 9:30 AM. The decision has been made to go back to two Sunday worship services at 8:30 and 10:30 AM beginning on October 1. Gratitude Ignites Generosity One important thing God has shown me recently about truly abundant life in Jesus is. Knitting Into the Mystery will continue on Thursdays, at 1:00 PM in Classroom A. Knitters of all skill levels are welcome. Bad Girls of the Bible September 20th at 10:00 AM in Painted Cliffs Hall. We will continue by discussing the eighth chapter, Friends in Low Places (Jezebel).
Looking Ahead to October Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. The 2017 theme is "Protect the Sacred: In a Just World, Clean Water is Life." On October 1, we will gather this offering.as part of our celebration of World Communion Sunday. Please prayerfully consider how God asks you to help. The 10 th Blessing of the Animals - Sunday, October 1 at 2:00 PM. TEDx Beth Kingsley Hawkins "Monet et Moi" Thursday, October 5 at 5:00 PM Service of Recognition for Rev. Dr. George Ault as Pastor Emeritus will be during worship service on October 8 at 10:30 AM. Please join us after service for Second Sunday Lunch and to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Service of Installation to celebrate the Call of The Rev. Dr. William Lyons as the U.C.C Southwest Conference Minister Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. The United Church of Sun City 11250 N. 107th Ave, Sun City, AZ. Please consult the September Canyon Echo for more information. M@RRS Concert October 15, 2:00 PM. House of Stairs Jazz Ensemble featuring Holly Pyle. Book Club Next month's meeting is October 20 at 1:00 PM. October's book selection is Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue. All are welcome. Smile! The photographer will be taking portraits for our new photo directory October 25-30. Our directory won't be complete without you. So sign up soon! Visit the church website click on red banner "What's New" then click on blog. Scroll down to "Sign Up Here for Photos" then "Click Here". After you have selected your date and time you will be asked if you are a new or
returning user; click new user, make your own ID and password or sign up today during fellowship time.