Neillsville,
Wisconsin
Pastor Jacoba Koppert
Church 715-743-2147
Pastor's Office
715-743-2117
www.uccneillsville.org
___________________________________________________
February 26, 2017
10:00
a.m.
Transfiguration Sunday
invited to stand at those
places in the service indicated by an
asterisk*
We ask you to please turn off all telephones
and electronic devices.
PRELUDE Eileen Zank
RINGING OF THE BELL
WELCOME AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MUSICAL CALL TO AWARENESS AND PRAISE
Philippians 4:5-9
insert
*HYMN ÒFor the Beauty of EarthÓ #1
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving God, the simple
truth is none of us follow Jesus as closely and deeply as we are called to. We
so easily lose sight of the things that matter most. We get petty, small and
negative. We keep many aspects of our lives to ourselves instead of offering
all we are and all we have to you. We excuse and rationalize our selfishness,
our unhealthy patterns, our addictions, our grudges, and shadows. We waste
precious time and resources. We allow fear and insecurity to prevent us from
being as generous and compassionate and just as your extravagant Love calls us
to be. And we could go on God. Our capacity to miss the point and get
sidetracked, make poor choices, and create messes in this world is impressive.
And yet, you remind us again and again that you do not ask us or expect us to
be flawless. You just want us to be honest and real, and to keep growing as
Christians. Help us, teach us, and equip us to be your servant people in this
world. In ChristÕs name, we pray. Amen.
*SILENCE FOR PERSONAL
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
TIME
WITH THE CHILDREN (and the child in us)
A
TIME OF PRAYER
SILENCE
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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.
*HYMN ÒDream GodÕs DreamÓ insert
Music and lyrics by Bryan
Sirchio
INVITATION TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY
Eileen Zank
*THE DOXOLOGY
Praise
God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise
God, all creatures here below;
Praise
God for all that love has done;
Creator,
Christ and Spirit One. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
MESSAGE THROUGH SCRIPTURES,
SPOKEN REFLECTION AND MUSIC
ÒGod Will See Us ThroughÓ
In times of brokenness, in
every wilderness,
God has seen us through
Times when our strength was
gone, somehow we carried on
God has seen us through
Look behind and see
throughout history
God has never let us down
Lean ahead and trust God is
guiding us
God will see us through
this now
God will see me through
God will see you through
God will see us through
somehow
Step by step weÕll be given
all we need
God will see us through
this now
*CLOSING SONG ÒFully AliveÓ by Bryan Sirchio
I want to open my heart a little wider
Let the Spirit in a little deeper
Love with a Love thatÕs on fire
And be fully alive!
*THE BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE Eileen Zank
The Light of Christ Leads Us into the
World
We welcome the Reverend Bryan Sirchio to our
service of worship. Rev. Sirchio is a composer, singer, and worship leader. He
has recorded several CDs which are available for purchase today. He is also the
founder of Haiti Allies which supports education, meal programs and job
creation in Haiti. You are invited to support this ministry with your gifts.
Announcements
We welcome you to this service of
worship. We hope you will
experience the love of God and your neighbors. You are invited to join us in
the Fellowship Hall downstairs for coffee/refreshments and conversation.
Whoever you are and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.
Note: You will find the attendance folders in the pews on the center racks of every pew - please take time to fill out the attendance sheet including your full address and return them to the side aisles, ushers will collect them during the last hymn. Thank you.
Radio Broadcast Sponsors – Today the radio broadcast portion of our worship service is given by Jim Filitz in loving memory of his wife, Anne Filitz.
Calendar
Monday, February 27 - 9 a.m. Quilting Session; come and join us; 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Nar-anon.
Wednesday, March 1– 3:30 p.n. C.D.Õs & Confirmation;
7 a.m. Ash Wednesday Service/Communion/Ashes at
Calvary; 6 p.m. Soup Supper at Calvary
Friday,
March 3 – 9:40 p.m. Prayer Time; 10 a.m. Called to Care Session;
11;00 a.m. World Day of Prayer; Theme
ÒAm I Being Unfair to You?Ó Light lunch to follow the Service. All are INVITED!
Saturday, March 4 – 7 a.m. UCC MenÕs Club Breakfast; bring a friend and come and join us!
Next
Sunday, March 5 – 9 a.m. Sunday School; 9 a.m. Sr. Choir
practice; Pancake & Sausage
Breakfast following worship;
ÒSilent AuctionÓ ENDS today; 3 p.m. Communion served at the Neillsville Retirement Community; come and join us.
ÒHEARTS FOR THE HOMEÓ mission project for
February – envelopes in the pew racks for your donations to help/treat
our shut-in residents. Thank you for supporting this special mission.
LENTEN
FOLDERS on the table in the Narthex for those of you that wish to use them.
Lenten monies are collected for local mission.
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING envelopes
in the pew racks. This special offering helps support disaster, refugee and
development actions. Thank you for your support!
Annual
Pancake & Sausage
Breakfast
Sponsored by UCC MenÕs Club
Following Worship – Fellowship Hall
NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 5
Regular/Potato/Blueberry Pancakes
12 years-Adult $6.00
5-11 years $3.00
Under 5 FREE
After
experiencing a Christian "conversion of sorts" (I never quite know
how to refer to that experience!) when I was 17, I started writing songs that were
expressive of the insights and joy I was experiencing as a new follower of
Jesus, and this music ministry of mine has been unfolding one way or another
pretty much ever since. I write and share songs that somehow offer snapshots of
thoughts or feelings or experiences I've had as a person who is trying to take
the life and teachings of Christ to heart. I've also done my best to take some
of the biblical content that pastors and parents often want children and teens
to memorize and to write some fun (i.e. silly/crazy!) songs that make it easy
and fun to learn Bible stories and themes.
As far as credentials go, I am an ordained minister in the United Church of
Christ, and I served as pastor of two small UCC congregations in northern
Wisconsin for almost 4 years (1983-1987). I grew up primarily in Chatham, N.J.,
graduated high-school, and Duke University with a degree in Religion, and then
got my M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary in Jan., 1984. In 1993 my
family and I moved to Madison, WI, and I've been in Madison ever since.
I've traveled extensively since 1987 offering concerts, leading worship
services and retreats, and offering keynote addresses at various regional and
national conferences. I've also worked extensively with grass roots organizations
among the poorest of the poor in Haiti since 1991. I've written many songs that
have been born out of my experiences in Haiti, and you'll find them on quite a
few of my CDs. I am a founding member and leader of an organization called
Haiti Allies www.haitiallies.org. Haiti Allies supports education, meal programs, and
job creation in Haiti, and we also bring groups to Haiti twice a year.
As of May, 2016, I have released 14 CDs, 4 study guides, and 4 songbooks. In
2012 I published a book called, The 6 Marks of Progressive Christian Worship Music In
May of 2015 I co-authored (with Sherry Favre) and released a children's
book based on the story behind one of my most popular songs for kids called Wherever Love Is.
In December of 2015 I released my first piano instrumental album of Advent and
Christmas songs, and will release another instrumental album of arrangements of
familiar hymns sometime in 2016.
In 2015 I also started offering workshops on the Enneagram, an ancient Wisdom
Tool and personality typology that is a remarkable tool for self-awareness and
for spiritual and psychological growth.
I am often found at my wife's yoga studio in Fitchburg, WI (Perennial Yoga,
Wisdom, Community) practicing yoga and serving as a one man maintenance staff!
And beyond all my work related endeavors, I'm having a blast being a
father to my adult son and daughter and a grandpa to my 5 grandchildren!