Neillsville,
Wisconsin
Pastor Jacoba Koppert
Church 715-743-2147
Pastor's Office
715-743-2117
www.uccneillsville.org
___________________________________________________
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 2 – 7 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.