Pastor Jacoba Koppert
Church 715-743-2147
Pastor's Office
715-743-2117
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
ÒSweet Hour of Prayer with NocturneÓ (Mendelssohn)
(arr. Anna Laura Page)
RINGING OF THE BELL
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
GATHERING MUSIC ÒThey That Wait Upon the LordÓ
PRAYING TOGETHER
PRAYER RESPONSE ÒThey That
Wait Upon LordÓ
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; GodÕs 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 ÒPraise to the Lord, the AlmightyÓ #25
Confessing
Our Sin, Receiving GodÕs 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 GodÕs people; we are Jesus followers.
In GodÕs presence at this moment we are
also surrounded by our people in this very room, our friends, our brothers and
sisters in Christ.
LetÕs help each other wait upon the Lord. LetÕs 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 ÒThe peace of Christ be with youÓ and
responding, Òand also with you.Ó)
*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.
Listening Together for the Word of God
THE CHILDRENÕS TIME ÒPower AidÓ
CHOIR
ANTHEM ÒOn EaglesÕ WingsÓ (Michael Joncas) (arr. By Edwin Earle
Ferguson)
SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 40:21-31
SERMON ÒWaitingÓ Pastor
Jacoba Koppert
Enacting Our Faith
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
INVITATION
TO OFFERING
THE OFFERTORY Karen Mohr
ÒI Waited Patiently for the LordÓ (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 GodÕs mercy.
Pastor: Jesus said: ÒI 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:
ÒTake, eat. This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of
me.Ó
Pastor: In the same way, and by the same authority, Jesus offered the cup in thanksgiving and said,
People:
ÒTake, 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.Ó
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 ChristÕs 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 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.
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
ÒFor
the Bread, Which Thou Hast BrokenÓ
#214
*THE
BENEDICTION
*RESPONSE "They That Wait Upon the LordÓ
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 lifeÕs 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 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. CDÕs & Confirmation.
Thursday, February 8 – 1:30 p.m. Circle of Friends meeting.
The ÒCHALLENGEÓ was on! And, as you can see we collected many cans of soup. We donÕt 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
ÒBeneath the
Cross of JesusÓ
February 14 -
7:00 p.m.
UCC
Pastor Chad
Anderson – Ash Wednesday Message
ÒJohn, The
Beloved DiscipleÓ
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: ÒHealth and Wellness.Ó Sign-up on the bulletin board. All are
INVITED.
ÒHearts for the HomeÓ
During the month of February our church
takes part in the ÒHearts for the HomeÓ 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, ÒHearts for the Home.Ó If you write
a check, make it out to United Church of Christ and in the memo line indicate ÒHearts for the Home.Ó Thanks for your continued support with
our local missions.