THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

     Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

             www.uccneillsville.org

 

December 3, 2017                                                 10:00 a.m.

First Sunday of Advent

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

Chorale Prelude on ÔWachet aug, ruft, uns die StimmeÕ (J.S Bach)          

 

RINGING OF THE BELL               

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

GATHERING MUSIC  ÒPrepare the WayÓ

                                   

 

Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-723900

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:   Come to be among us, Lord God of heaven and earth.

People:  Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Leader:   Let your hand be upon us, those you have made strong for yourself.

People:  Then, we will never turn back from you; give us life and we will call upon your name.   

Leader:   Restore us, O Lord God of heaven and earth; let your face shine, that we may be saved.  

 

*HYMN              ÒWhen the Lord ComesÓ                    (Insert)                                                              

We Confess Our Sin and Seek GodÕs Forgiveness1

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

      Holy One, we have turned away from you. We have sinned against you and one another. We want you to come and save us and yet we have not prepared for your coming. We do not call on your name; we fail to notice you among us; neither are we alert to your coming.  Wake us up. Increase our faith; increase our love; renew our hope. In the name of Jesus, we ask for your mercy. Amen.

SILENCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYERS

ASSSURANCE OF PARDON

      We are GodÕs people and God will not remember our sin forever. Through GodÕs love for the world, Christ comes to make all things right. Take heart; God forgives us. Repent and believe the good news, in Jesus Christ we are a new creation.

 

 

      PASSING THE PEACE

At peace with God, let us now offer the peace of Christ 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                   ÒGloria CanonÓ  (sing twice)

      Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo!

      Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia!

 

We Listen for the Good News

 

            LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE1   

Jill, Scott, Colton and Tyler Williams

(The Candle of Hope is lit.)

This is the first Sunday in Advent. Today, we light one blue candle. This is the candle of hope. Advent is a time of waiting and hoping. We wait for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus. We hope that everyone will come to know Jesus and his love.

When we look at the first candle, we remember GodÕs promise. God promised to send a Savior to the people. When we listen to our Bible reading, we hear what the prophet Isaiah wrote about God. God is the potter who molds us. We are GodÕs people. This gives us hope.

 

   CHILDRENÕS TIME     ÒThe PotterÓ         Isaiah 64:8

 

      PRAYER  

Dear God, thank you for your Son, Jesus. Thank you for the words from the Bible that remind us you give us hope. Help us to live each day, letting you form us in a way that shows the love of Jesus in our lives. Amen.

 

 

ADVENT MUSIC                             Sung by the Senior Choir

            ÒRise Up, Come On and Get ReadyÓ         (Pepper Choplin)                                      

      SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 64:1-9        Russell and Susie Karl, Mason Roenz

Mark 13:24-37

SERMON         ÒCome on DownÓ          Pastor Jacoba Koppert                                         

We Respond to the Good News

*HYMN           ÒHope of the WorldÓ                   vs. 1, 2 #229

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

 

INVITATION TO OFFERING                               

THE OFFERTORY

   ÒCome, Thou Long Expected JesusÓ with

            ÒHe Shall Feed His FlockÓ   (arr. By Anna Laura Page)

*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 Communion2

WE COME TO THE LORDÕS TABLE

Pastor:        We thank and praise You, O God

for You are not distant and uninvolved

in our lives and our world

But, You have come to us, humbly and gently,

challengingly and irresistibly.

People:      And whoever receives You, whoever believes in You becomes a child of God, born of the Spirit.

 

SILENT REFLECTION

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION

 Pastor:       So, we remember JesusÕ birth and life,

His suffering and victory.

On the night before His crucifixion,

Jesus shared His last meal with His friends;

He took the loaf of bread and blessed it,

then breaking it, He offered it to them saying:

People:      This is my body broken for you. Eat this in memory of me.

Pastor:        After the meal, He took the cup of wine and blessed it, then He offered it to them saying:

People:      This is my blood shed for you. Drink this in memory of me.

Pastor:        So, we eat and we drink and we remember.

People:      With hope and joy in the new life which comes in GodÕs kingdom. Amen.

 

THE CONSECRATION

Pastor:        God of Grace, Come to us again in this meal,

and as we share this bread and the fruit of the vine, may we share in the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing; Bless these elements that they might be a sign of your heavenly banquet at the close of the age.

May we offer ourselves to you again,

and may we become one with Christ

and with each other – a single, unified body.

All:            Amen.

 THE LORDÕS 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.

 THE BREAKING AND THE POURING

 COMMUNION IS RECEIVED

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.

 

 WE GIVE THANKS  

 Pastor:                        We thank You, Lord God,

 People:          For breaking into our world, our lives and                       our experience.

 Pastor:                        We thank You, O Christ,

 People:          For this meal of remembering, and the stories of love and grace that it tells.

 Pastor:                        We thank You, O Spirit,

 People:          For Your Presence and Your challenge

 for us to become agents of GodÕs compassion.

 Pastor:                        In JesusÕ Name. Amen

 

*HYMN           ÒHope of the WorldÓ                   vs. 3 & 4 #229                                                                                                     

*THE BENEDICTION

 

*RESPONSE ÒLift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty GatesÓ

      Redeemer, come, with us abide; Our Hearts to thee we open wide; Let us they inner presence feel, Thy grace         and love in us            reveal.

 

*POSTLUDE                                                        Karen Mohr

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World

1 Adapted from https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/2017-advent-home-worship  written by MaryJane Pierce Norton

3Written by John van de Laar  Û 2008 Sacredise .This liturgy may be copied for congregational use, but may not be used in any for-sale publication or for gain in any way without the written permission of the publisher

Advent Activities for Week 1

First Week of Advent – Hope

 

Monday, December 4:  Today read again Isaiah 64:8.  Memorize this verse.  How do you think this verse gives hope to people?

 

Tuesday, December 5:  Is there someone you know who needs to hear words of hope?  Make or select a card for that person and mail it today.

 

Wednesday, December 6:  Hope is something we need in our world.  Today, pray for the president and the members of congress.  Pray for their leadership for our country.

 

Thursday, December 7:  As we get ready to celebrate again the birth of Jesus, we sometimes get very busy.  Today, take a ten-minute break.  Sit quietly.  If it helps you to concentrate, look at your Advent wreath.  Pray, asking GodÕs help to bring quiet and calm to a busy world.

 

Friday, December 8:  Think about your family.  Some may live with you.  Others may be far away.  Who in your family needs GodÕs hope?  Pray for this family member.

 

Saturday, December 9:  There are people in our neighborhoods, in our church, and in our community who need to know of GodÕs hope.  Select someone to visit today.  Visit by phone or in person.  Go as a family or by yourself.  It doesnÕt necessarily have to be a visit to a home.  Maybe there is someone you always see at the library.  Stop by today and talk with that person.  Tell the person you visit one way he or she helps you feel hopeful.

 

.

 

 

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 anonymously by a faithful radio listener.

 

Today:  3:00 p.m. Communion will be served at the Neillsville Retirement Community;  come and join us if you wish.

 

Calendar

Monday, December 4 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.

Tuesday, December 5 - 6 p.m. Pastor/Parish meeting.

Wednesday, December 6 - 3:30 CDÕs & Confirmation; 6 p.m. Christmas Angel Project worknight; 7 p.m. Sr. Choir practice.

Saturday, December 9 - 9 a.m. Christmas Angel Project workday.

Next Sunday, December10 – Second Sunday of Advent; 10 a.m. Sunday School Christmas Program; JesusÕ Birthday Party downstairs in Fellowship Hall after service.

 

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 $13 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.