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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November 26, 2017                                                    10:00 a.m.

 

Reign of Christ Sunday

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

 

GATHERING MUSIC                                          Eileen Zank

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP1    (Psalm 100 adapted)

Leader:   Know that the Holy One is God.

People:  We are GodÕs people.

Leader:   Worship the Holy One with gladness;

People:  Come into GodÕs presence with singing.  

Leader:   Enter GodÕs gates with thanksgiving, and GodÕs courts with praise.

People:  Make a joyful noise!

Leader:   For God is good;

               GodÕs steadfast love endures forever and GodÕs faithfulness to all generations.

People:  Let us worship with thanks and joy! Let us praise God in song and word and prayer!

 

*HYMN                                                                               #196

               ÒYe Servants of God, Your Master ProclaimÓ   

 

We Confess Our Sin and Seek GodÕs Forgiveness1

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION1

      Loving God, too often, we overlook the needs of people around us while we proclaim our devotions to you.  We could do more to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, to welcome the stranger, and heal the sick. We fail to see how our prison system diminishes the humanity of all of us, how our medical system denies healing to the poor, how poverty leaves children without coats, how legal obstacles keep the strangers at a distance. Open our eyes to see your presence in every person, and to respond to their needs so that we may be rightly called by your name. Amen.

SILENCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYERS

ASSSURANCE OF PARDON1

      Though we wander, God searches us out. Speaking through Ezekiel, God said, ÒAs shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among the scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from their all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick gloom.Ó God reaches out to us, longing to bring us ever closer.

PASSING THE PEACE

Not only do we want and need peace for ourselves, the world also needs the peace of God.

We offer peace to one another, trusting that our peace will cause us to bring peace into the world.  

 The first step is to offer the peace Jesus offers to one another. The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

(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  ÒJoyful, Joyful, We Adore YouÓ

      God is giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,

      Wellspring of the joy of living,

ocean depth of happy rest!

Loving Spirit, Father, Mother,

all who love belong to you;

Teach us how to love each other,

by that love our joy renew.

 

We Listen for the Good News

CHILDRENÕS TIME 

 

SPECIAL MUSIC                                                 Eileen Zank

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24               

Matthew 25:31-46

 

Matthew 25:31-46

Narrator: 31 ÒNow when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left.34 ÒThen the king will say to those on his right,

King:  ÔCome, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. 35 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.Õ

 

Narrator: 37 ÒThen those who are righteous will reply to him,

Right Side: ÔLord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?Õ

Narrator: 40 ÒThen the king will reply to them,

King: ÔI assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.Õ

 Narrator:  41ÒThen he will say to those on his left, ÔGet away from me, you who will receive terrible things. Go into the unending fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 I was hungry and you didnÕt give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didnÕt give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you didnÕt welcome me. I was naked and you didnÕt give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didnÕt visit me.Õ

Narrator:44 ÒThen they will reply,

Left side: ÔLord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didnÕt do anything to help you?Õ

Narrator:  45Then he will answer,

King: ÔI assure you that when you havenÕt done it for one of the least of these, you havenÕt done it for me.Õ

Narrator: 46And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life.Ó

SERMON         ÒDo FaithÓ                    Pastor Jacoba Koppert

                                               

We Respond to the Good News

*HYMN        ÒThe Voice of God Is CallingÓ             #191

           

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD'S PRAYER

      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                               

THE OFFERTORY                                               

      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 DEDICATION1

God of abundance, we give these offerings of material goods as our commitment to give back to you and to care for your people. Let our giving remind us to see Jesus all around us. Use our offerings of money and of our lives for ministry to your purposes. Amen.

 

*HYMN     ÒAll Hail the Power of JesusÕ NameÓ     #310                                                                                                   

*THE BENEDICTION

 

*RESPONSE         ÒMake Me a BlessingÓ            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                                                        Eileen Zank

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World

1Written by Rev. Ruth Garwood for Worship Ways. Copyright 2017 Local Church Ministries, United Church of Christ; All publishing rights reserved.

 

 

TODAY – we will NEED extra hands to help in the hanging of the greens following worship service. If you could stay and help -we really could use the help. Packers do not play until 7:30 p.m. 

 

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 -

 

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 today by Dolores Johnson in memory of her sister, Dorothy Amport.

 

Calendar

Monday, November 20 -  Newsletter Week; please have your Newsletter articles in the office by Tuesday, November 28; 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.

Wednesday, November 29 – 3:30 CDÕs & Confirmation; (decorating tree) 6 p.m. Christmas Angel Project worknight.

Saturday, December 27 a.m. UCC MenÕs Club Breakfast;

9 a.m. Christmas Angel Project workday.

Next Sunday, December 3 – First Sunday of Advent; Communion (pews)

 

Poinsettias – If you would like to order a poinsettia to place in the sanctuary this Advent Season, now is the time to order.  The cost is $12 each.  If you write a check, please make it out to ÒFalls Florist.Ó Names will be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletin.  Order in Memory of someone, in Honor of someone or for any other reason you may have.  You may take your plant home following the Christmas Eve service. Deadline for ordering is December 10.