UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

www.uccneillsville.org

August 5, 2018 9:00 a.m.

The Eleventh 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 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

“Glory, Glory, Hallelujah”

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION

“What A Friend We Have in Jesus” vs. 1

(NCH 506) Volume 4 28 #13

What a friend we have in Jesus

all our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit

O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Let the faithful bless the LORD.

People: We give thanks to you, O LORD.

Leader: The LORD is faithful in all God’s words and gracious in all God’s deeds.

People: The LORD gives us the bread of life.

Leader: The LORD is near to all who call on God, to all who call on the God of truth. Let us worship God.

*HYMN “From All that Dwell Below Skies” #1 (NCH 27) Volume 1 Disc 2 #10

We Confess Our Sin Seeking God’s Forgiveness

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Generous God, how you bless us. When we take inventory of what we have, there is often an abundance. Help us to trust that you will indeed provide enough to feed our deepest hungers. Forgive us when we close our eyes to the needs of others. Help us to believe in the power of Jesus to transform us and the world. Amen.

*SILENTLY WE CONFESS OUR PERSONAL SINS

*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Jesus feeds all who are hungry. As he feeds us, he forgives us and offers a life that will lead to wholeness and peace. Trust that there will be enough: enough forgiveness; enough love; enough new life for each of us.

PASSING THE PEACE

As God’s holy and beloved ones, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. May peace of Christ control your heart. Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him. May 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.")

*HYMN OF PRAISE “Rejoice, You Pure in Heart” NCH #55 Volume 1 Disc 4 #1

Praise God who rules all worlds, the risen Christ adore,

Praise God the Spirit, Holy Fire, one God forever more!

Rejoice, (Rejoice) Rejoice, (Rejoice) Rejoice,

give thanks and sing.

We Listen for the Good News

CHILDREN’S TIME “A Generous Boy” (If Children present)

SCRIPTURE READINGS John 6:1-21

SERMON Pastor Jacoba Koppert

“Recognizing a Miracle”

We Respond To God’s Faithfulness

PASTORAL PRAYER

INVITATION TO OFFERING

THE OFFERTORY

*THE DOXOLOGY #7 NCH only one verse of hymn_

Volume 1 Disc 1 #7

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 Communion

THE INVITATION

HYMN “Let Us Break Bread Together” # 210

Volume 3 Disc 19 #2

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

May the God who feeds us be with you.

May God be with you as well.

Let us open our hearts to the One who fills us with grace.

We lift them to our God who touches us with hope.

Let us join our voices in praising our God.

Taught by the Word, we listen for the Spirit.

Gathering up the fragments of chaos, You, our Creator took them and, giving thanks, shaped them into creation’s wonders. You even crafted us in your image of love and hope so that we might live in joy with you, but we withdrew into the embrace of death, preferring to sail sin’s tossing seas.

Giving them your words of faith, you sent prophets to call us back, but we kept on ignoring you.

So, you chose to send your grace to us, becoming one of us so we might learn what it means to be loved and love one another.

With those who have been fed by your grace, and those who hunger for hope, we sing our praises to you:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God who knows our hearts.

The faithful join all creation in glorifying you.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who feeds the hungry.

Hosanna in the highest!

You could have chosen to remain distant from us, but instead you crossed to the other side of your holiness,

to become one of us in Jesus.

In him, you became weak,

so that we might be pulled up from where we have fallen;

in him, you became a laughing stock,

so that our tears could be wiped away by your grace and hope;

in him, you took on death, breaking its power once and for all, and denying sin’s claim on us, as you raised him from the grave.

As we remember his compassion for the most vulnerable,

as we prepare to receive the gifts of life and grace,

we sing of that faith which is beyond comprehension:

Jesus set across the rough seas of fear and death;

Jesus was raised in resurrection love;

Jesus will return to gather us in hope.

As your people gather at this Table, where the Holy Meal awaits, pour out your Spirit on the gifts of the bread,

the cup, and your children.

As we eat of the bread which is as broken as your heart,

may its love and hope be strength for those broken by life, peace for those torn by conflicts, wonder for those dulled by disappointment.

And may grace filling this cup be offered in love to those who have no friends, to those who long for justice, to all who listen for words of affirmation.

And when you have accomplished more than we could ever dare imagine, gather up all of us from every time and place, so that together we may forever praise you,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

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.

Communion Music #338,

HYMN “Be Not Dismayed” Insert

(NCH 460) Volume 4 disk 26 #3

THE BENEDICTION

*CHORAL RESPONSE "Lead Us from Death to Life"

Volume 4  disc 32 #17 Play the refrain to sing and then.. let the rest of it be the postlude

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

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World to Serve

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 sponsored by Doris Bakker in memory of her parents.

Calendar

Monday, July 30 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.

Tuesday, July 31 -7 p.m. Christian Ed Board meeting.

Next Sunday, August 5 – 9 a.m. Summer Worship; Communion (pews) 3 p.m. Communion served at Neills. Retire. Community.

Sunday, August 12 – 9 a.m. Fair Sunday (Worship in the WCCN tent); Shuttle service (bus) from the church to the fairground and back to the church (8:45 a.m.) will be available; Donations of Bars needed for fellowship time; (Sign-Up on the bulletin board) Thanks!