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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September 10, 2017                                                   10:00 a.m.

 

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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       ÒPreludeÓ       (Wm Harris)           Karen Mohr                         

                                                                           

RINGING OF THE BELL               

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

GATHERING MUSIC                                          Senior Choir                                     

                      ÒAmenÓ                                       (Jester Hairston) 

                            

*CALL TO WORSHIP   (Leader: Light – People: Bold)

   Beautiful are the works of God!

      Beautiful also are the skins of GodÕs people!

            Beautiful is the mind of God!

            Beautiful also are the hopes of GodÕs people!

            Beautiful is the heart of God!

            Beautiful also are the souls of GodÕs people!

            God made the heavens and the earth!

            To God be the glory for the things God has done.

 

*HYMN                ÒAll Are WelcomeÓ           (insert vs. 1 & 2)

 

We Confess Our Sin and Seek GodÕs Forgiveness

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP  (All)
Almighty God, too often we forget your promise.  We live in ways that bring glory only to ourselves.  We bask in the false assumption that we are in control of our lives.  Sometimes we want to tamper with the lives of those around us for our own ends.  Help us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to serve you more faithfully each day.  Amen.

 

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

 

PASSING THE PEACE

      As we feed the hungry and give hope to the hopeless, we will know peace.

      We are willing to show compassion to all in need.

            May the peace of Christ be among us.

      May we offer humbly that peace to all who hunger for love and justice in the world.

      (All are invited to greet others with handshakes or hugs while saying to them ÒThe peace of Christ be with youÓ and responding, Òand also with you.Ó)

 

*SONG OF PRAISE       ÓHallelujah"   (sing twice)

      Halle, halle, hallelujah, Halle, halle, hallelujah.

      Halle, halle, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

 

We Listen for the Good News

CHILDRENÕS TIME

 

CHOIR MUSIC            ÒBlessingÓ                 (Natalie Sleeth)

 

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON         Exodus 12:1-4

 

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON        Matthew 18:15-20

 

SERMON                                                     Pastor James Mohr

                      ÒRemember, Restore, RenewÓ

 

*RESPONSE TO THE WORD        

      United Church Statement of Faith            (front of hymnal)    

                  

We Respond to the Good News

*HYMN           ÒAll Are WelcomeÓ            (insert vs. 3 ,4, & 5)                  

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

           

INVITATION TO OFFERING                               

THE OFFERTORY                                               Karen Mohr

      ÒA Swedish MelodyÓ                            (Earl Roland Larson)

*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        (Pastor)

      Beloved in Christ, the Gospel tells us that on the first day         of the week Jesus Christ was raised from death, appeared to            Mary Magdalene, on that same day sat at the table with two           disciples, and was made known to them in the breaking of        the bread.

ALL (sung)

   This is the joyful feast

   Of the people of God.

   Men and women,

   Youth and children,

   Come from the east and the west,

   From the north and the south,

   And gather about ChristÕs table.

 

PASTOR

   This table is for all Christians who wish to know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of GodÕs people.

 

COMMUNION PRAYER

   Pastor:  God be with you.

   People:  And also with you.

   Pastor:   Lift up your hearts.

   People:  We lift them to God.

   Pastor:   Let us give thanks to God Most High.

   People:  It is right to give God thanks and praise.

 

PASTOR

            Holy God, we praise and bless you for creation and the gift of life and for your abiding love which brings us close to you, the source of all blessing. We thank you for revealing your will for us in the giving of the law and in the preaching of the prophets. 

            We thank you especially that in the fullness of time you send Jesus, born of Mary, to live in our midst, to share in our suffering, and to accept the pain of death at the hands of those whom Jesus loved.

            We rejoice that in a perfect victory over the grave you raised Christ with power to become sovereign in your ream.

            We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to gather your church by which your work may be done in the world and through which we share the gift of eternal life.  With the faithful in every place and time, we praise with joy your holy name:

ALL (sung)

   Holy, holy holy,

   God of love and majesty,

   The whole universe speaks of your glory,

   O God most high.

   Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God!

   Hosanna in the highest!

 

PASTOR

   We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion,

Jesus took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave

it to the disciples, saying: ÒThis is my body which is broken for

you.  Do this in remembrance of me.Ó

   In the same way Jesus took the cup after supper, saying:

ÒThis cup is the new covenant in my blood.  Do this as often as

you drink it, in remembrance of me.Ó

   Consecrate, therefore by your Holy Spirit, these gifts of bread

and wine, and bless us that as we receive them at this table, we

may offer you our faith and praise, we may be united with

Christ and with one another, and we may continue faithful in

all things.

ALL

   In the strength Christ give us,

   we offer ourselves to you, eternal God,

   and give thanks that you have

   called us to serve you.  Amen.

BREAKING BREAD AND POURING WINE

 

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 kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

SHARING THE ELEMENTS

  We invite you to come forward to receive the bread and the cup. Come forward, using the center aisle. You may choose to take the bread and dip it in one of the chalices and then eat it; or you may take (gluten free wafers in the covered container) 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 THENAKSGIVING

     Almighty God, we give thanks for the gift of our SaviorÕs presence in the simplicity and splendor of this holy meal.  Unite us with all who are fed by ChristÕs body and blood that we may faithfully proclaim the good news of your love and that your universal church may be a rainbow of hope in an uncertain world; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.  Amen.

 

*HYMN      ÒRenew Your ChurchÓ                               (insert)                              

*THE BENEDICTION

 

*RESPONSE  "Lead Us from Death to Life"   

Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,

from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from          hate to love, from war to peace; let peace fill our hearts,

      let peace fill our world, let peace fill our universe.     

 

*POSTLUDE                                                          Karen Mohr

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World

 

We thank Pastor Jim for leading us in service today.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  The radio broadcast portion of our worship service today is given by Glenna Rhoades Marg in honor of the Rhoades/Marg families.

 

Calendar

Monday, September 11- 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.

Wednesday, September 13 – 3:30 p.m. CDÕs and Confirmation; 7 p.m. Sr. Choir practice; Note:  Senior Choir  will practice every Wednesday – 7:00-8:00 p.m. and on Sundays when we sing  - 9:30 a.m.)

Thursday, September 14 – 1:30 p.m. Circle of Friends meeting.

Next Sunday, September 17 – 9:00 a.m. Sunday School BEGINS! (Blessing of the Back Packs – Bring your back pack.) 9 a.m. Mission meeting.

 

Needed:  Radio sponsors for 2018 – check with Audrey

 

Looking for coffee hosts – check out the bulletin board for a date you can volunteer for.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Words Copyright ©1985 Judson Press.  Reprinted under

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