THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

www.uccneillsville.org

Fifth Sunday After Epiphany

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.

Gathering Together to Worship God

PRELUDE Karen Mohr

“Sweet Hour of Prayer with Nocturne” (Mendelssohn)

(arr. Anna Laura Page)

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

GATHERING MUSIC “They That Wait Upon the Lord”

PRAYING TOGETHER

PRAYER RESPONSE “They That Wait Upon Lord”

They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Help us Lord, help us Lord on our way.

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Have you not known? Have you not heard?

People: The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

Leader: Our God does not faint or grow weary; God’s understandings are unsearchable.

People: Our God gives power to the tired and revives the exhausted.

Leader: Come, let us wait upon the Lord and renew our strength.

*HYMN “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” #25

Confessing Our Sin, Receiving God’s Forgiveness

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

We know all things are in your hand, that you are so willing to bear us up, yet so easily we forget. Too quickly when decisions must be made, when challenges confront us, when anxiety has its way with us, we forget to wait upon you. We forget to lift our hearts in prayer to you. We forget, whatever happens, you are ready to renew our strength. O Lord, help us to walk with you and to walk in the ways of Jesus.

*PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*PASSING THE PEACE

We are God’s people; we are Jesus followers.

In God’s presence at this moment we are also surrounded by our people in this very room, our friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let’s help each other wait upon the Lord. Let’s encourage each other with the peace of Christ.

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 “The peace of Christ be with you” and responding, “and also with you.”)

*SONG OF PRAISE "Gloria Patri”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son

and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

Listening Together for the Word of God

THE CHILDREN’S TIME “Power Aid”

CHOIR ANTHEM “On Eagles’ Wings” (Michael Joncas) (arr. By Edwin Earle Ferguson)

SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 40:21-31

SERMON “Waiting” Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Enacting Our Faith

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

INVITATION TO OFFERING

THE OFFERTORY Karen Mohr

“I Waited Patiently for the Lord” (Van Denman Thompson)

*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.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion¹

Pastor: Beloved in Christ, this is the joyful feast of the people of God, With the entire company of saints in heaven and earth, we worship and glorify, God Most Holy.

People: Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty, the whole universe speaks of your glory, O God Most High. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of our God! Hosanna in the highest!

Pastor: This is the welcome table of God where all who seek to be at peace with their neighbor and all who seek the mercy of God in Christ are embraced. Come, for we are invited in to this holy mystery. Come.

People: We are ready to receive, to be at peace with one another and to receive God’s mercy.

Pastor: Jesus said: “I am the bread of life. All who come to me shall not hunger, and all who believe in me shall never be thirsty.

People: We are hungry and thirsty. O Lamb of God, we come!

Pastor: We praise you O God for the gift of life given in creation and through Jesus Christ our Lord. We thank you for his faithfulness and that through his life, death and resurrection we are restored to relationship with you. We rejoice in your love which frees us from our sin calling us to reconciliation with you and all people everywhere.

People: We praise and thank you, nurturing God, that in Jesus you bring joy and hope to loving hearts, and offer health and power to human relationships.

Pastor: We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion, Jesus took his authority as the Christ and offered the bread in thanksgiving and said . . .

People: “Take, eat. This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Pastor: In the same way, and by the same authority, Jesus offered the cup in thanksgiving and said,

People: “Take, drink. This is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.”

Pastor: Come, Holy Spirit. Come. Bless these gifts of bread and cup and bless us as we receive them. Open our eyes to the mystery of Christ’s presence in these ordinary things in these our ordinary lives. Through the broken bread . . .

People: We participate in the Body of Christ.

Pastor: Through the cup of blessing . . .

People: We participate in the new life Christ gives.

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.

Pastor: These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready!

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. commune together as one body.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Gracious and loving God, you have made us one in the body of Christ, and nourished us at your table with holy food and drink. Thank you for feeding our hunger and relieving our thirst. Now send us into the world to do the work you have given us to do: to find the lost and lonely, to heal broken souls, to free prisoners, and make the powerful care. Grant us strength to persevere in resisting evil, and to proclaim in all we say and do your good news in Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.

*HYMN “For the Bread, Which Thou Hast Broken” #214

*THE BENEDICTION

*RESPONSE "They That Wait Upon the Lord”

They that wait up upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Help us Lord, help us Lord on our way.

*POSTLUDE Karen Mohr

Led by the Light of Christ We Depart to Serve

¹Adapted from UCC.org; Worshiping into God's Future; A Responsive Communion LIturgy

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 where ever 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 today’s worship service is given by Dan Patey in loving memory of Elvira Patey.

Today: Congregational Annual Meeting following worship downstairs in Fellowship Hall; get yourself some refreshments served by the Deacons/Deaconesses and attend this important meeting of your church.

3:00 p.m. Communion served at Neillsville Retirement Community; you are invited to join us.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Calendar

Monday, February 5 – 6:30-7:30 Nar-Anon;

Wednesday, February 7 – 3:30 p.m. CD’s & Confirmation.

Thursday, February 8 – 1:30 p.m. Circle of Friends meeting.

Souper Bowl Challenge –

The “CHALLENGE” was on! And, as you can see we collected many cans of soup. We don’t know who won in this challenge yet, but we do want to THANK YOU for your generous donations. Our food pantries will be getting a nice supply of soup and we have all of you to thank for that.

Ash Wednesday Service

“Beneath the Cross of Jesus”

February 14 - 7:00 p.m.

UCC

Pastor Chad Anderson – Ash Wednesday Message

“John, The Beloved Disciple”

Communion

6:00 p.m. Soup Supper served

2017 Contribution Statements are in the church officer. Please pick them up. There are still some 2018 Contribution envelopes that need to be picked up.

Needed Donations for Bars/Milk for our Soup Suppers.

There are sign-up sheets on the bulletin board. Thanks for helping out.

Second Half Group Meeting – Tuesday, February 20 –

12 Noon – M&M catered lunch - $7.50 plus tip; Program presented by Kathy Levac: “Health and Wellness.” Sign-up on the bulletin board. All are INVITED.

“Hearts for the Home”

During the month of February our church takes part in the “Hearts for the Home” mission project. The monies raised with this project go to helping our residents at Neillsville Care & Rehabilitation, Neillsville Retirement Community and Rivers Edge Assisted Living. The financial support will help those without resources, to participate in activities, receive haircuts, perms, etc. Look for the little envelopes in the pew racks that will be labeled, “Hearts for the Home.” If you write a check, make it out to United Church of Christ and in the memo line indicate “Hearts for the Home.” Thanks for your continued support with our local missions.