Neillsville,
Wisconsin
Pastor Jacoba Koppert
Church 715-743-2147
Pastor's Office
715-743-2117
www.uccneillsville.org
___________________________________________________
September 17, 2017 10:00
a.m.
Fifteenth 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 Eileen Zank
RINGING OF THE BELL
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
GATHERING MUSIC Senior Choir
ÒSurely the PresenceÓ
*CALL TO WORSHIP1 Based
on Psalm 105:1-13
Bless God, dear friends, with all our strength, bless GodÕs Holy name. Bless God, dear friends, and never forget GodÕs gifts-
Bless God, dear friends, with all our strength, bless GodÕs Holy
name. Bless God, dear friends, and
never forget GodÕs gifts-
God works righteousness; does justice for all who are oppressed. God offers unending mercy and steadfast love.
Bless God, dear friends, with all our strength, bless GodÕs Holy
name. Bless God, dear friends, and
never forget GodÕs gifts-
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is GodÕs love toward those who are faithful. Aa a parent has compassion for children, so our God has compassion for us.
Bless
God, dear friends, with all our strength, bless GodÕs Holy name. Bless God, dear friends, and never forget GodÕs gifts-
*HYMN ÒO My Soul, Bless Your CreatorÓ (Insert)
*OPENING PRAYER1
Compassionate God, draw near to us.
Surround us with confidence in your good news:
that you love us as parents love their children;
that your mercy is boundless and generous,
that you beckon us always and will wait forever
as we find our way back to you.
Open our hearts to receive your compassion;
and then show us how to forgive,
so that we may be signs of resurrection
hope in our troubled world.
In JesusÕ name. Amen.
*SONG
OF PRAISE
"Gloria PatriÓ
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.
We
Listen for the Good News
CHILDRENÕS TIME Blessing of School Children and Staff
CHOIR MUSIC ÒFairest
Lord JesusÓ
SCRIPTURE READING Romans 14:1-12
One: Welcome those who differ,
But not for the purpose of quarreling over
opinions.
Left side:
Some believe in eating anything,
Right side: while others eat only vegetables.
Left side: Those who eat must not despise those
who
abstain,
Right side: and those who abstain must not pass
All:
for God has welcomed all.
Left side: Some judge one day to be better than another;
judgement on those who eat;
Right side: while others judge all days to be alike.
All:
Let all be fully convinced in their own
minds.
Left side: Those who eat, eat in honor of Christ.
Right side:
while those who abstain, abstain in honor of Christ:
All: And
give thanks to God.
Left side: We
do not live to ourselves,
Right side: and we do not die to ourselves.
Left side If we live, we live to Christ,
and
if we die, we die to Christ:
All: So
then, whether we live or whether we die,
we
belong to Christ.
One: For
to this end Christ died and lived again,
to be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Left side: Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister?
Right side: Why
do you despise your brother or sister?
All: For
we all stand before the judgment seat of God.
One: It
is written, ÒAs I live, says the Holy One, every knee shall bow to me, and
every tongue shall give praise to God.Ó
All: So
then, each of us will be accountable to God.
GOSPEL READING Matthew 18:21-35
SERMON ÒExtending
GodÕs GraceÓ
Pastor Rev. Jacoba Koppert
We Respond to the
Good News
INVITATION TO
CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
PASSING THE PEACE
Having received GodÕs forgiveness and grace, we are invited to offer that same forgiveness and grace to one another.
That is not always easy. May God help us
forgive as we have been forgiven.
God stands ready to help us bring peace into the world. May God lead us to offer our peace in this sanctuary and then in the world.
(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.
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 Eileen Zank
*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
*HYMN Help Us, Accept Each OtherÓ
1.
Help us accept each other
as Christ accepted us;
teach
us as sister, brother,
each person to embrace.
Be
present, God, among us,
and bring us to believe
we
are our-selves accepted
and meant to love and live.
2. Teach us, O God, your lessons,
as in our daily life
we
struggle to be human
and search for hope and faith.
Teach
us to care for people,
for all, not just for some,
to
love them as we find them,
or as they may become.
3. Let your acceptance change us,
so that we may be moved
in
living situations
to do the truth in love;
To
practice your acceptance,
until we know by heart
the table of
forgiveness
and laughterÕs
healing art.
4. God, for todayÕs encounters
with all who are in need,
who hunger for
acceptance,
for righteousness and bread,
Bring us new eyes for
seeing,
new hands for holding on;
renew us with your
Spirit;
God! Free us, make us one!
Words Copyright © 1975 by Hope Publishing Co. All
rights reserved. Used by
permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net A723900.
*THE BENEDICTION
*RESPONSE ÒLet There Be Peace on
EarthÓ
Let there be
peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Let there be
peace on earth, the peace that was meant
to be. With God
our Creator, children all are we.
Let us walk with
each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin
with me; let this be the moment now.
With
every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment,
and live each moment in peace eternally!
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin
with me.
*POSTLUDE
The Light of Christ Leads Us into the
World
1Service Prayers for the 15th Sunday after
Pentecost are written by the Rev. Susan A. Blain. Copyright 2017 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation
Ministry Team, United Church of Christ.
Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in
services of worship or church education.
All publishing rights reserved.
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 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.
Radio Broadcast Sponsors – The radio broadcast portion of todayÕs service is given by Delores Johnson in loving memory of her sister, Erma.
Today: 7:30 p.m. ÒWeird BookÓ Study.
Calendar
Monday, September 18- 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.
Tuesday, September 19 – 5:30 p.m. Trustees meeting;
6:30 p.m. Deacons/Deaconesses; 7:30 p.m. Church Council.
Wednesday,
September 20 – 3:30 p.m. CDÕs and Confirmation; 7 p.m. Sr. Choir
practice.
Thursday, September 21– 10:30-11:30 a.m. Memory CafŽ.
Saturday, September 23 – 2:00 p.m. Mitchell Erickson and Cassie Suda Wedding.
Next Sunday, September 24 – Confirmation (Signing of Confirmation Covenant and giving out Bibles)
Needed: Radio sponsors for 2018 – check with Audrey
Looking for coffee hosts – check out the bulletin board for a date you can volunteer for. Thank you!
Words reprinted from
ÒTHE PRESBYTERIAN HYMNALÓ Copyright © 1990. Reprinted under OneLicense.net
A-723900