UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

www.uccneillsville.org

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May 6, 2018 10:00 a.m.

THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION

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 and Celebrate the Resurrection

PRELUDE “Procession (Albert Zabel) Karen Mohr

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

GATHERING MUSIC “Soften My Heart Lord”

PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION

*CALL TO WORSHIP Jenny Romens-Erickson

Leader: Jesus loves me this I know!

People: Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.

Leader: “Remain in my love,” Jesus tells us.

People: Jesus commands us, “Love one another just as I have loved you.”

Leader: What a friend we have in Jesus.

People: We didn’t choose him, but he chose us!

Leader: Jesus loves us, this we know!

*HYMN “I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty”

vs 1, 2 & 3 (insert)

*LITANY OF CONFESSION Jenny Romens Erickson

Jesus our friend and Savior, taught us what it means to be loved and how to love one another.

Yet, too often we do not return his love, instead moving away from him and his ways.

Jesus our friend and Savior, shows us how to live so that his joy will be in us and our joy will be complete.

Yet, too often we do not keep his commandments.

Jesus our friend and Savior, invites us to continue to do what he taught us and make a difference in the world.

Yet too often, we fail to do that which shares the love of God in the world.

Forgive us, gracious God; help us to glorify you in our words and actions.

*SILENCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Jesus chose us. He calls us his friends. He laid down his life that we might have life. Believe the good news, our friend forgives us, inviting us to change our hearts and lives in such a way that we will glorify our Father.

*PASSING THE PEACE¹

Meet the friends of Jesus! Turn and greet your brothers and sisters with the peace, love, and joy of Jesus the Christ.

(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.")

*OUR RESPONSE OF JOY ”Hallelujah"

Halle, halle, hallelujah, Halle, halle, hallelujah.

Halle, halle, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

We Listen for News of the Resurrection

CHILDREN’S TIME “Confirmation”

THE CHOIR SINGS “Footprints In the Sand” (D. Angerman)

SCRIPTURE READING John 15:9-17 Jenny Romens Erickson

MEDITATION “Friends Together” Pastor Jacoba Koppert

We Respond To God’s Faithfulness

THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION (insert)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

INVITATION TO OFFERING

THE OFFERTORY Karen Mohr

“For the Beauty of the Earth” (Gordon Young)

*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

Invitation

When his followers needed to hear it, Jesus told them they were his friends and to love each other too. Come, friends, this is his table and he invites us to eat with him, that we might become one with him and one another.

Communion Prayer

Pastor: God be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to God.

Leader: Let us give thanks for the love of God.

People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Holy God, our loving creator, close to us as breathing, and as distant as the farthest star, we thank you for your constant love for all you have made. You inspire us with the love of Jesus for all, a love made known in his life, death and resurrection. Through him you called the church into being for its mission in the world. Gifted by the presence of your Holy Spirit, we offer ourselves to you as we unite our voices with the entire family of your faithful 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.

Words of Institution

Merciful God, as sisters and brothers in faith, we remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion, and on the eve of his death, Jesus took the bread and after giving thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way Jesus took the cup after supper, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” We remember Christ’s promise not to drink of the fruit of the vine again until the heavenly banquet at the close of history, and we boldly say what we believe:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

The Consecration

Come, Holy Spirit come. Bless this bread and bless this fruit of the vine and all of us that we might become the body of Christ, the church, your servant people who remain faithful in love and hope working for peace with justice in all the world.

The Prayer of Our Savior

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.

Breaking and Pouring

Through the broken bread we participate in the body of Christ.

Through the cup of blessing we participate in the new life Christ gives.

Call to Supper

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Come for all things are ready.

The Confirmands Are Served by the Pastor

Sharing the Elements

We invite you to come forward to receive the bread and the cup. Come forward, using the center aisle. You may choose to take the bread and dip it in one of the chalices and then eat it; or you may take the bread, eat it and then take and drink from one of the small cups (Gluten free wafers in the covered container) The small cups contain wine (dark color) grape juice (light color). The silver chalices contain wine; the ceramic chalices, grape juice. Youth will receive your empty cups at side aisles as you return to your pews. Anyone who would like to receive the elements in the pew is asked to raise their hands as the servers come nearby

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Remain with us, O God. Make this feast the nourishment we need to grow in faith all our days. Increase our love for you and one another and send us into the world in courage and peace, led by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*HYMN “Let Us Tongues and Talents Employ” (insert) NCH346

*THE BENEDICTION

*CHORAL RESPONSE

"Sing, Praise to God Our Highest Good" (verse 4)

May my heart bear the deep impression of love that Jesus

Shares with me, My life become a pure expression

of all that Christian love can be; Each word, each act,

a bright reflection of joy in Love’s own resurrection.

*POSTLUDE

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World in Easter Joy ¹Reprinted from Ministry Matters Worship Elements: May 6, 2018 by Rebecca Gaudin

²Freely Adapted by Rev. Jacoba Koppert from Worship Ways “Growing in God: Holy Communion for the Fifth Sunday of Easter” by Rev. Elsa Cook and from Book of Worship ©1986 adapted with permission of the United Church of Christ. 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 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 – Today the radio broadcast portion of our worship service is given anonymously by a faithful radio listener.

TODAY – Reception for Confirmands downstairs following worship; meet and greet our Confirmands.

Calendar

Monday, May 7 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-anon.

Tuesday, May 8 – 10 a.m. Ministerial Alliance at Hillside.

Wednesday, May 9 – 3 p.m. Audio Visual Committee meeting;

6:15 p.m. Mission/Outreach meeting

Thursday, May 10 – 1:30 p.m. Circle of Friends meeting.

Pastor Jacoba on vacation from 10-14.)

Next Sunday, May 13 – “Mother’s Day” – Last day of Sunday School until fall; Pastor Jim Mohr leading worship.

Tuesday, May 15 – 5:30 p.m. Trustees; 6:30 p.m. D&D;

7:30 p.m. Church Council.

Sunday, May 20 Pentecost/Baccalaureate Sunday (Wear Red)

(Looking for the names of UCC High School, College, Tech Graduates.)