THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

www.uccneillsville.org

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March 26, 2017 10:00 a.m.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

One Great Hour of Sharing

All who are comfortably able are 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.

We Gather to Worship God

PRELUDE Eileen Zank

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

GATHERING MUSIC Eileen Zank

*CALL TO WORSHIP¹

Leader: God gives us what we need!

All: God shows us how to live.

Leader: Praise God for being with us no matter what!

All: Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, soul and strength!

*HYMN “I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty” (insert)

We Confess Our Sins and Seek God’s Forgiveness

*CALL TO CONFESSION

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God, our shepherd, we have come to you to be comforted and reassured knowing that often we have wandered from your ways. We follow our own ideas; we live with secrets we know are wrong; and we blame others for our own failures. Forgive us and guide our paths for the sake of your good name. Help us dwell in your house forever more. Amen.

*SILENCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYERS

RESPONSE “Kyrie, Eleison” (‘Lord, Have Mercy’) (Sing twice)

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

When we walk through the darkest valleys, even when it is through our own sin that we find ourselves in the valley, God is with us granting us forgiveness, comfort and hope. Sinful as we can be God’s love still overflows.

Thanks be to God who restores our souls with forgiveness and love again leading us on the right paths.

*PASSING THE PEACE

What a gift of peace God offers inviting us to rest in grassy meadows and be led to the still waters.

His gift of peace brings us life.

To the best of our ability, let us invite others to the peace of blessed quietness. The peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

(All are invited to greet others with handshakes or hugs while saying to them "The peace of Christ be with you" and responding "and also with you.")

SONG OF FAITH "Ubi Caritas” (pg. 4 bulletin)

(Where charity and love are found, God is there.)

We Listen for the Word of God

CHILDREN’S TIME “Psalm 23 Arianna Rochester

Cheryl Steinbach

SPECIAL MUSIC “Psalm 23 – The Lord Is My Shepherd”

SCRIPTURE READING Psalm 23 KJV Cheryl Steinbach

Psalm 23 CEB Arianna Rochester

SERMON “I Lack Nothing” Pastor Jacoba Koppert

We Respond To God’s Faithfulness

*HYMN “My Shepherd Is The Living God” (insert)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE 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 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.

INVITATION TO OFFERING “One Great Hour of Sharing”

THE 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

O Lord, you who are our shepherd, we have no lack. You provide for our needs. Help us trust you so that without fear we can be generous, giving toward bringing your kin-dom into being on earth. We dedicate our gifts and our lives to the ministry that brings hope in our world. Amen.

*HYMN “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (insert)

*THE BENEDICTION

*RESPONSE “Let There Be Peace on Earth”

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God our Creator, children all are we.

Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:

To take each moment, and live each moment in peace eternally! Let there be peace on earth

and let it begin with me.

*POSTLUDE Eileen Zank

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World

Live in charity Ubi caritas (Sing twice in Latin)

Ubi Caritas & Kyrie Eleison

OneLicense.net A-723900

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.

Today: Our Confirmation student, Arianna Rochester along with her mentor, Cheryl Steinbach helped plan the service, including choosing Psalm 23, the music and writing the prayer of confession. Please let Arianna and Cheryl know you appreciate their worship leadership. Pastor Jacoba

Radio Broadcast Sponsors – Today the radio broadcast portion of our worship service is given by DeWayne Seelow in memory of Elenore & Kenneth Seelow and family.

Calendar

Monday, March 27 – 9 a.m. Quilters meeting; Newsletter week; 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-anon.

Wednesday, March 29 – 3:30 p.m. CD’s and Confirmation;

6 p.m. Soup Supper at Calvary; LENTEN Service at Calvary; “Bethany.”

Saturday, April 1 – 7 a.m. UCC Men’s Club Breakfast; bring a friend and join us.

Next Sunday, April 2 – 9 a.m. Sunday School (Kids singing today) 10 a.m. Worship/Communion; 11:15 a.m.-2 p.m. “Spaghetti Dinner Fund Raiser for Krue Czarnecki; 3 p.m. Communion served at Neillsville Retirement Community; come and join us.

Soup Supper – On the bulletin board you will find a sign-up sheet where you can help with our next soup supper by donating ingredients for our soup and other items needed for our supper along with HELP needed to serve/clean-up. Thank you.

LENTEN FOLDERS are on the table in the Narthex and in the pew racks for those of you that wish to use them. The Lenten monies are collected for local missions.

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING SPECIAL OFFERING TODAY – The One Great Hour of Sharing envelopes are the pew racks. This special UCC offering helps support disaster, refugee and development actions. Thank you for your support!

Coffee Hour Servers – We could use some volunteers! Can you help us out? Sign-up on the bulletin board.

Lilies for Easter – It’s time to order a lily(s) for Easter. We are taking orders now. The cost is the same as last year. $12.00. (Make your check out to Falls Florist) Order in memory or in honor of someone or for any other reason you may have. Deadline will be Sunday, April 9. Names will be printed in the Easter Sunday bulletin.

“SPAGHETTI DINNER”

FUND RAISER

Sunday, April 2

11:15 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Sponsored by United Church of Christ

Needed for Medical Expensed

For Krue Czarnecki

Son of Neil Czarnecki & Kellie Murphy

Menu:

Spaghetti (with or without meat sauce)

French Bread – Tossed Salad – Bars

Coffee/Milk/Water

$8.00 per person - $5.00 8 & under