THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

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