UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

            www.uccneillsville.org

 

June 17, 2018                                                                        9:00 a.m.

The Fourth 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                                                                 Karen Mohr

            ÒPrelude & Fugue in BÓ                                 (J.S. Bach)                                        

RINGING OF THE BELL               

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS  

GATHERING  ÒSoften My HeartÓ

Soften my heart, Lord, Soften my heart

from all indifference set me apart,

To feel your compassion, to weep with your tears;

come soften my heart, O Lord, Soften my heart. (repeat)

          Words and Music. OneLicense.net A-723900

 PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:   Come, let your eyes be opened to new reality.

People:   Seeds that were scattered are now sprouting

                 and growing.

Leader:   Our world is changing; everything is new.  

People:   The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ  has created this new reality.

Leader:     Let us walk by faith rather than sight.

People:    Let us support one another as we walk with Jesus into a new reality.

*HYMN      ÒI Sing the Praise of Love UnboundedÓ        #54

  

We Confess Our Sin, Seeking GodÕs Forgiveness

PRAYER OF CONFESSION1 

Holy God, you call us to walk by faith rather than by sight.
Yet we long for plans with goals and schedules.
ItÕs hard to live by faith.
You call us to place our trust in you,
to live according to your direction.
Yet we want life to make sense from a human point of view. ItÕs hard to live by faith.
You call us to marvel at the power of your love.
Yet itÕs not easy to accept your promise that everything old has passed away. ItÕs hard to live by faith.
Forgive us, holy maker of reality.
Open our eyes to the new reality you created in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

SILENCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

WORDS OF ASSURANCE1

Fear not, for our Creator, the loving maker of all reality,
forgives us, and redeems us from the reality we have created. God sows the good news in tiny seeds, inviting us to tend the soil so that the reign of God sprouts and grows among us. In the name of Jesus, who is the Christ, we are forgiven and invited to again nurture seeds of love.

PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST 1

God calls us in surprising ways, inviting us into a new creation.
Share the good news with one another:  The peace of Christ is 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 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    ÒMADD Camp!Ó

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS                                  

      II Corinthians 5:6-17

Mark 4:26-29

 

SERMON      ÒA New RealityÓ              Pastor Jacoba Koppert

 

We Respond To GodÕs Faithfulness

*HYMN          ÒLet There Be LightÓ                           #255

 

LITANY FOR FATHERÕS DAY2

Thank you, God, for all those who have loved us dearly.
For all parental figures in our lives that showed us Your love, we give thanks.
Thank you, God, for those who have stepped into the role when others were absent.
For step-fathers and uncles, brothers and caregivers, teachers and coaches who made a difference in our lives, we give thanks.
Thank you, God, for our fathers and grandfathers.
For all those who have mirrored Your love in our lives, we give thanks.
We lift up to you, O God, those fathers who have gone on.
For those who are grieving, for those who feel an absence on this day, we pray.
We lift up to you, O God, all those who have had difficult relationships with their fathers
For those who were harmed by their fathers and others who should have loved them, we pray, we cry out, and we seek justice.

Loving God, you are the one Jesus called ÒAbba*, Father.Ó Abba God, you love us as your very own children. Remind us that through you we are family. You are our Mother and Father, and you love us in ways no earthly parent can. We give you thanks for all who have shown your love to us. Help us to reflect your image in the ways we love our children, and in how we love one another. Remind us that while our earthly families are not perfect, your love is.

All: Abba God, we pray in Your name. Amen.

         (*Abba means Daddy or DaDa)

PASTORAL PRAYER 

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.

                             

INVITATION TO OFFERING

THE OFFERTORY                                                Karen Mohr

      ÒAll Things Bright and BeautifulÓ         (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

 

*HYMN  ÒLove Divine, All LoveÕs ExcellingÓ                   #275                                         

*THE BENEDICTION

 

*CHORAL RESPONSE "Lead Us from Death to Life"   

Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,

from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from          hate to love, from war to peace; let peace fill our hearts,

      let peace fill our world, let peace fill our universe.     

 

*POSTLUDE                                                        Karen Mohr

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World to Serve

1Adapted by Rev. Jacoba Koppert from ministrymatters.com Worship Elements: June 17, 2018 written by Peter Bankson

2Adapted by Rev. Jacoba Koppert from materials on the website rev-o-lution.org; written by Rev. Mindi

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 – Today the radio broadcast portion of our worship service is given by Bob & Ruth Schmidt in memory of daughter, Tammy Backaus and in memory of parents, Walter & Lucille Schmidt.

 

 

Calendar

Monday, June 18– 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.

Wednesday, June 20 – (Office Closed)

Wednesday, June 20-Tuesday, June 26–

Pastor Jacoba vacation.

Thursday, June 21 – 10-11:30 a.m. Sun Catchers CafŽ.

Next Sunday, June 24 – Julie Garber leading worship.

 

Milk Drive Funds – Now thru June 30 – LetÕs fill the Òmilk jugÓ or even overflow it.  Goal: $450

150 Jugs @ $3.00 Each – Any amount of money will be accepted!! Envelopes in the pews for your donation.