Neillsville,
Wisconsin
Pastor Jacoba Koppert
Church 715-743-2147
Pastor's Office
715-743-2117
www.uccneillsville.org
___________________________________________________
April 2, 2017
10:00 a.m.
Fifth Sunday of Lent
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
CALL TO WORSHIP
We worship in the name of God, our
Creator who calls us to life; in the name of Jesus, who raised from the dead
brings life to all, in the name of the Holy Spirit our Advocate who guides us
through life. Amen.
LITANY FOR LENT1
In the buds on the trees eager to burst;
in the flowers poking their heads out of the dirt;
in the children chalking spring on the sidewalks:
we see how you love us, God of steadfast love.
In the tears of a worried father over his son's illness;
in the weariness of a mother facing a long shift at work;
in the woman who anoints her grandbaby with talcum powder:
we see how you love us, our Resurrection and our Life.
In the touch of a wife on her husband's papery skin;
in the birds which rush into the sky before spiraling down;
in the words we are given to offer to the empty-hearted:
we see how you love us, Breath of our souls.
Silence is kept
Creator of life:
bring us light, we pray.
Mourner of the dead:
take away our grief, we pray.
Refresher of dry lives:
bind us to God forever, we pray, as we say together,
PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
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 ÒDown at the CrossÓ #255
We Confess Our Sins and Seek GodÕs
Forgiveness
*CALL TO RECONCILIATION1
*UNISON PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS2
We are set free by your saving grace,
Generous God, yet must confess we are still bound by our fears. We fear for our
childrenÕs future and so fill up their days; fear fills us as we wonder how we
will meet the needs of our family; we are filled with fear for our world and so
isolate ourselves; we fear the possibility of illness and the reality of death
and dying. We cling to our fears for they are familiar and make such good companions.
Yet, there in every corner of our lives, in every shadow we fear, into the cold embrace of death itself, you come, Steadfast Love. You break the bounds of sin and terror, giving us new strength and hope for our journey and calling us to new life through the love and sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
*SILENCE FOR PERSONAL CONFESSION
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON1
You can put your hope in God, dear friends, for God offers us that love which never fails, that life which never ends,
We wait for God, and God does not fail us. GodÕs hope, GodÕs love and
GodÕs grace are forever. Thanks be to God. Amen.
*PASSING THE PEACE
Friends, let go of fear and know GodÕs peace. The peace of Christ who takes away the power of sin and death 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 "Amazing GraceÓ vs. 1 & 2 #107
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see.
ÔTwas
grace that taught my heart to fear,
And
grace my fears relieved;
How
precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
We Listen for the Word of God
CHILDRENÕS TIME ÒJesus WeptÓ
SUNDAY SCHOOL
CHILDREN SING
ÒWherever
Love IsÓ Bryan
Sirchio
SCRIPTURE READING John 11:1-45
SERMON Pastor Jacoba Koppert
We Respond To GodÕs Faithfulness
INVITATION TO OFFERING
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
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
INVITATION
The United Church of Christ
practices open communion. People
of all ages who confess Jesus Christ as Savior are welcome today. We will come forward to receive the elements
by Intinction.
GREAT PRAYER OF
THANKSGIVING1
May the God of tears be with you.
And also with you.
Offer your hearts to the One who calls us out of death into life.
Unbound, we bring our hearts to our God of new mornings.
People of God, sing songs to the One in whom we hope.
We rejoice in God, who dwells in our souls.
(Pastor
continues prayer)
SANCTUS1
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of our
shadowed valleys.
All creation hopes in you and waits.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who calls us to new
life,
Hosanna in the highest! (Pastor continues prayer)
MYSTERY OF OUR FAITH1
Christ died, taking away the sins of the world;
Christ was raised, taking away the power of death;
Christ will return, taking us by the hand to lead us home.
CONSECRATION OF THE ELEMENTS1
BREAKING AND POURING
SHARING THE ELEMENTS
We invite you to come forward using the center aisle to
receive the bread and the cup. You may choose to take the bread and dip in one
of the chalices and then eat it; or you may take the bread, eat it and then
take and drink from one of the small cups. The small cups contain wine (dark
color) grape juice (light color.) The silver chalices contain wine; the ceramic
chalices, grape juice. Youth will receive your empty cups at side aisles as you
return to your pews. Anyone who would like to receive the elements in the pew
is asked to raise their hands as the servers come nearby.
*PRAYER OF
THANKSGIVING
We thank you, Loving
God, for the gift of your Son, our Savior and for this meal where we have known
his love for all people. Give us courage to risk it all to love you, obey your
commandment to love all you created and to follow in the ways of Jesus Christ.
It is in His name we pray.
*PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
And it is in His name, O God, we seek healing for the sick,
comfort for all who grieve, hope for all who despair, and peace for our world.
Hear our prayers (Silence for personal
prayers)
Send us, O God in
faith, faith that you do the unexpected, faith that you enable us to do amazing
things, faith that the love of Jesus goes with us and into all the world. Amen.
*HYMN ÒIn
the Cross of Christ I GloryÓ #251
*THE
BENEDICTION
*RESPONSE ÒLet There Be Peace on
EarthÓ
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
1Posted by Thom M Shuman © 2017 http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/2017/03/liturgy-wcommunion-for-april-2-2017.html
2Adapted by Pastor Jacoba from
the liturgy by Thom M Shuman as noted in footnote #1
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 a Spaghetti Dinner Fund Raiser for Krue Czarnecki. 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: 11:15 a.m.-2 p.m. Spaghetti Dinner Fund Raiser;
3 p.m. Communion served at Neillsville Retirement Community; come and join us.
Radio Broadcast Sponsors – Today the radio broadcast portion of our worship service is given anonymously by a faithful listener.
Calendar
Monday, April 3 – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-anon.
Tuesday, April 4 – 6 p.m. Pastor/Parish committee meeting.
Wednesday, April 5 – 3:30 p.m. CDÕs and Confirmation;
6 p.m. Soup Supper at UCC; LENTEN
Service at UCC; ÒJerusalem.Ó
Next Sunday, April 9 ÒPalm Sunday – 9 a.m. Sunday School;
9 a.m. Sr. Choir practice; 10 a.m. Worship/Palms; Reception of New Members.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Soup Supper – On the bulletin board you will find a sign-up sheet where you can help with our soup supper on Wednesday April 5 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.
Coffee Hour Servers – We could use some volunteers! Can you help us out? Sign-up on the bulletin board.
Lilies for Easter – ItÕs 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 Next Sunday, April 9. Names will be printed in the Easter Sunday bulletin.
TODAY
ÒSPAGHETTI DINNERÓ
FUND RAISER
Sunday, April 2
11:15 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sponsored by
United Church of Christ
Needed for
Medical Expenses
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