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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October 1, 2017 10:00 a.m.

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

World Communion Sunday

Neighbors in Need Offering

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 “Prelude & Fugue” (J.S. Bach) Karen Mohr

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

MISSION MOMENT “Neighbors in Need” Joy Abel

*GATHEING MUSIC “De colores” (Sing of Colors) Mexican Folk Song Sung by the Senior Choir

Pastor James Mohr solo in Spanish

Sing of colors, sing of colors that over the hills in profusion are springing; Sing of colors of the birds that fly outside my window their canticles singing; Sing of colors, in the rainbow’s bright colors God’s promise of hope we recall; Sing of colors that make up the earth and give thanks to the God who created us all. Sing of colors that make up the earth and give thanks to the God who created us all.

Sing rejoicing! Every creature that breathes raise a song to the God of creation. Sing, rejoicing! Sing to God who so earnestly cares, who has offered salvation. Sing the good news! Sing the love of the Savior reflecting the colors of all. Many colors that shine from God’s face, many colors that tell us God’s love to recall. Many colors that shine from God’s face, many colors that tell us God’s love to recall.

*CALL TO WORSHIP Barb Shoemaker

Leader: The Spirit descends like a dove, bringing peace to unite the world in a just and caring community.

People: The Spirit comes like a breath, bringing life to renew the people of God.

Leader: The Spirit spreads like fire, bringing energy for witnessing to the love of God.

People: Spirit of the living God, come to us and transform our lives by your power.

*HYMN “Spirit of the Living God” (sing twice) #155

We Confess our Sin and Seek God’s Forgiveness

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION¹

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.

SILENCE FOR PERSONAL CONFESSION

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

PASSING THE PEACE

May Christ dwell in our hearts through faith.

May we be rooted and grounded in love.

Let us make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

May God’s peace be made known in us.

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 PRAISE “They’ll Know We Are Christians

by Our Love”

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,

And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son,

And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one:

And they’ll know we are Christians

by our love, by our love,

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We Listen for the Good News

CHILDREN’S TIME “Children of the World”

HYMN “In Christ There is No East or West” (pg. 6 bulletin)

SCRIPTURE READING Barb Shoemaker

Ephesians 3:14- 4:3

SERMON “God’s Spirit Invites Us to Unity”

We Respond to the Good News

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

INVITATION TO OFFERING

THE OFFERTORY Karen Mohr

“If With All Your Hearts” (Mendelssohn)

*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. Am

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

INVITATION SUNG “Come Find Forgiveness and Love”

Sung by the Senior Choir (Besig/Price)

INVITATION SPOKEN

GREAT THANKSGIVING²

May God be with you

And also with you!

Lift your hearts

We lift them up to God!

Let us give thanks to God most high

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Pastor continues the prayer

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

CONSECRATION OF THE ELEMENTS

BREAKING AND POURING

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.

SHARING OF THE ELEMENTS

The United Church of Christ practices open communion. People of all ages who confess Jesus Christ as Savior are welcome. Today we will receive the elements remaining in our pews. The Deacons/nesses will serve bread; Pastor Jacoba will serve the gluten-free wafers in the pews to those who request it. Light colored glasses contain juice and dark glasses contain wine. Please hold the elements until all have received them and we will commune together as one body.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Gracious God, we thank you for this meal and for all the ways you nourish us. Grow in us that we may nourish others. Sustain us as we press toward the goal of your call in Christ Jesus. Amen.

HYMN “A Song of Peace” #682

*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 Karen Mohr

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World

²Communion Prayer written by the Rev. Ruth Garwood, of Cleveland. OH. Copywrite 2017 Local Church Ministries, United Church of Christ. All publishing rights reserved.

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 our ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC. 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 anonymously by a faithful radio listener.

Calendar

Monday, October 1- 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.

Tuesday, October 2 – 6.m. Pastor/Parish meeting.

Wednesday, October 3 – 3:30 p.m. CD’s & Confirmation;

7 p.m. Sr. Choir practice.

Saturday, October 7 – 7 a.m. UCC Men’s Club Breakfast; 11 a.m. Iris Gerger Memorial Service.

Next Sunday, October 8 – 3 p.m. Communion served at Neillsville Retirement Community.

Looking Ahead at the Calendar

Tuesday, October 17 – 12 Noon 2^nd Half Group meeting; catered M&M lunch $7.50 plus tax payable at the meeting; Ryan Neville, CEO of Neillsville Memorial Hospital will be the guest speaker. Sign-up on the bulletin board.

2018 Radio Sponsors are NEEDED. Check with Audrey.

Coffee Hosts Needed – sign-up on the bulletin board