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 22, 2017 10:00 a.m.

Twentieth 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 Karen Mohr

“Shall We Gather with Prelude in C Major” Anna Laura Page

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

GATHERING MUSIC

“This Is the Day that Our God Has Made’

This is the day, this is the day that our God has made, that our God has made;

we will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it.

This is the day that our God has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it;

This is the day, this is the day that our God has made.

*CALL TO WORSHIP¹Bonnie Weyer

Leader: Commitment Sunday!

People: Oh God, help us make commitments through which we love you and our neighbors.

Leader: So many things going on. So many ways to use your time, talent, money and other resources.

People Football and volleyball games finishing up; basketball practices starting; falling leaves mean rides out to see the colors and raking the yard.

Leader: So many things going on. So many ways to use your time, talent, money and other resources.

People Many beautiful days for walking; Halloween with its costumes and candy; and yes, putting up the outdoor lights while the weather is good.

Leader: So many things going on. So many ways to use your time, talent, money and other resources.

People: Oh God, when faced with so many choices, help us recognize the commitments that express love for you and love for our neighbors.

*HYMN “Come, All Christians, Be Committed” #507

*GATHERIG PRAYER¹ Sue Voigt and Joy Abel

O God, we are so aware of the many things you

do for us.

You created the world; help us today to recognize how we can better love you by loving neighbors and your world.

As we worship, increase our knowledge of you, help us recognize the abundance of gifts you give to the world and us, and encourage us to let go of the fear of scarcity so we might be generous with all you have entrusted to us.

You give us this congregation and our church leaders; you give us friends and folks who support us on our faith journey. You give us a beautiful property to use and share with our community. Thank you for these blessings.

We celebrate our church and the gifts we each bring to our congregation; help us to be generous with all you have entrusted to us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

*PASSING THE PEACE Bonnie & Sue

God has blessed us with each other. Let us express our appreciation to one another. Let us bless each other through offering the peace of Christ to one another.

Thank you, friends for who you are. The peace of Christ be with you.

Thank you friends for who you are. May the peace of Christ be 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..”

*OUR RESPONSE OF JOY ”Hallelujah"

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

Halle, halle, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

We Listen for the Good News

CHILDREN’S TIME Joy Abel

SPECIAL MUSIC Karen Mohr

SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 22:34-46 Sue Voigt

STEWARDSHIP TESTIMONY Wendy Sigurdson

We Respond to the Good News

*HYMN “Take My Life” (pg. 6 Bulletin)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Pastor Jacoba Koppert

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.

INVITATION TO OFFERING OUR GIFTS

AND COMMITMENTS FOR 2018

THE OFFERTORY Karen Mohr

“Devotion (John Ness Beck)

*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

*LITANY OF DEDICATION Joy Abel

One: We return to God portions of what God has given us. We offer our faith promises committing to the best of our ability to use our time, the fruits of our labor, and our treasure to support the mission of our church so that God’s children everywhere might know God’s love and our care.

Many: May our giving bring joy to God and give hope to a broken world.

One: May the gifts we offer and the promises we make be evidence of our faith that God’s rule is at hand, both now and in the future.

Pastor: God calls us to participate in the construction of a new reality. We now dedicate these our offerings and our faith promises toward the enrichment of our life as a covenant community – a community created by God who has brought us together to be UCC, Neillsville. May God bless our gifts and our promises, multiplying them so that God’s work is done in the world.

Many: We dedicate our gifts and faith promises toward the ministry God has given us now and in the future.

ALL: Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

*HYMN “God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending” (Insert)

*THE BENEDICTION

*RESPONSE “Make Me a Blessing” by Al Haley

Make me a blessing, touch me today.

Lord, please use me, in your own way.

Washed of your spirit, humble and low,

into your service, Lord, let me go.

Lord, take these hands: Lord, take these feet

into the paths you bid me go;

Lord make my life complete.

Short is our time, Lord, help us to know,

where we may serve you, then bid us go.

Make me a blessing, touch me, I pray;

Lord, please guide me, oh, Father, today.

*POSTLUDE Karen Mohr

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World

¹Pastor Jacoba freely adapted materials from UCC Stewardship Theme Materials “Journey to Generosity” 2017 written by Ronald J. Allen

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 “soup luncheon” served by the Stewardship Committee. This will be followed by a Congregational Quarterly meeting. 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.

Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-723900

Announcements

Today: Following Worship - 3^rd Quarterly Congregational meeting following Soup Luncheon downstairs in Fellowship Hall.

Radio Broadcast Sponsors – The radio broadcast portion of today’s service is given today by Phil and Donita Follen for the church family.

Calendar

Monday, October 22- Newsletter Week – please have your news articles in the office by Tuesday, October 23;

6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.

Tuesday, October 24 - 9 a.m. Nominating Committee meeting.

Wednesday, October 25 – 3:30 p.m. CD’s & Confirmation;

7 p.m. Sr. Choir practice.

Next Sunday, October 29 – Reformation Sunday – Pastor Jacoba and Pastor Jim will lead our worship service; 500^th Reformation Anniversary.

2018 Radio Sponsors are NEEDED. Check with Audrey.

Looking for Coffee Hosts – sign-up on the bulletin board

53rd HOLIDAY FAIR

Saturday, November 11

9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. (New Hours)

“Egg Bake” Brunch

Crafts, Outdoor Decorations, Quilts

“New to You” Treasures, Greeting Cards

Bake Shop/Goodies

Jams/Jellies

“Hope to See You All There”

New to You Treasures

Note: Deadline for gently used items for our shop is October 29. Thank you all for your donations. I need help with cleaning/sorting/pricing and setting up. Contact me at

715-743-6138. Wendy

Campital Campaign Fund Raiser – It’s time to raise our $5000 for 2017! Chicken Pot Pies will again be offered to help raise monies for this campaign. This year vegetable/meat pies and just meat pies will be offered. The cost of a pie is $15.00 for the 9 inch Pie and $10.00 for the 7 inch pie. Orders will begin Sunday, November 5 and run to the 12^th. Pick-up will be Sunday, November 19. Watch for sign-up’s on bulletin board. (Money donations will be accepted) If you write a check – designate on the memo line “Campital Campaign.” Thank you. (Volunteers are needed November 13-19.)

Community Thanksgiving Dinner – Check out the bulletin board….there are lots of ways you can help out. There are lists of items needed as well as HELP. This is a well attended and needed event that takes place every year in Neillsville. Can you help out?