UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

            www.uccneillsville.org

 

September 30, 2018                                                  10:00 a.m.

 

The Nineteenth 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

          ÒJesus, Thou Joy of Loving HeartsÓ with

                ÒIf with All Your HeartsÓ  (arr. Anna Laura Page)

 

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS  

 

MISSION MOMENT: ÒNeighbors in NeedÓ            Sue Voigt

 

GATHERING                                                        Senior Choir

ÒI Will Call Upon the LordÓ               (Michael OÕShields)                      

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:     Bless oh God, the gifts that we bring this day.

All:           That they may be a sign of our commitment to your Kingdom.

Leader:      Multiply the work by our time, treasure, and talents.

All:           That your presence and compassion may be known throughout all the earth.

*HYMN              ÒAll Are WelcomeÓ                            (Insert)

 

*GATHERING PRAYER

     Amazing God, we see signs of your work in our world;

     the beauty of creation and the love of your people

     expressing care for one another.  In Jesus Christ you

     showed us how to be compassionate and welcoming of

                 all people.  Help us to live our faith in action.  Show

                  us who needs your care.  Lead us in their direction.  At the same time, O God, when we are in need cause others to support us.  As we support one another, let it be in your name.  Remind us to make known that our faith in you causes us to touch the lives of others.

      

*PASSING THE PEACE         

     Let us welcome one another.  Let us share ChristÕs love for each other.  Let us offer ChristÕs peace to each other.  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.

*THE GLORIA PATRI 

     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                                           Sue Vornholt    

                  ÒThe Oak Inside the AcornÓ

 

ANTHEM                                                                Senior Choir

       ÒYou Are Welcome HereÓ                               (Marty Parks)

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS     Isaiah 61:1-7              Sue Voigt

                                                  Matthew 5:1-12   Sue Vornholt

 

SERMON                                                        Sue Vornholt

          ÒBeing Salt and LightÓ            

                                                               

                      We Respond to GodÕs Faithfulness

*HYMN     ÒBring Forth the KingdomÓ                      (Insert)

 

     PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 

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

     God continues to lift up the lowly and to topple the powerful from their thrones.  God judges us, not by worldly standards of greatness but according to the genuineness of our compassion and the extent of our faithfulness.  Our offerings are one measure of our priorities.

THE OFFERTORY                                          Karen Mohr

      ÒJesus said that we should be ÔJust Like SaltÕ and if our                                                                          world forgets God, guess whoÕs fault!Ó (Ron Klusmeier)

*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

      God of power and might, we give you thanks for the             light of the world, Jesus Christ. Receive the gifts we      offer in union with Christ, that we may be ministers of             his new covenant through the life-giving Spirit. Amen.

 

 

 

HYMN     ÒThis Little Light of MineÓ                            (Insert)         

                                              

THE BENEDICTION

 

CHORAL RESPONSE         ÓLet There Be PeaceÓ

By Sy Miller and Jill Jackson

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.

Reprinted under OneLiense.net A-723900

.    

 *POSTLUDE                                                     Karen Mohr

         

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World to Serve

 

We want to thank Sue Vornholt for leading us in worship today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 was sponsored by the late Ruby Ambelang in memory of her husband, Harry and brothers, Don and Hap.

 

Calendar

Monday, October 1 – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon

Wednesday, October 3 – 3:30 p.m. CDÕs & Confirmation; 6 p.m. Bazaar Workshop.

Saturday, October 6 – 7 p.m.  UCC MenÕs Club Breakfast.

Next Sunday, October 7 – 9 am Choir practice; 9 a.m. Sunday School; 10 a.m. Worship; (World Communion Sunday) (Neighbors in NeedÓ Offering) 3 p.m. Communion served at Neillsville Community.

 

(Pastor Jacoba will be out of the office October 1-5)

 

BIBLE STUDY

SIGN-UP

ÒThe Repudiation of the Doctrine of DiscoveryÓ

A Biblical Reflection

Beginning Sunday, October 16 – November 18

6:00 p.m.  - 6-week Study

Led by Pastor Jacoba

Neighbors in Need Special Offering

ÒLove of NeighborÓ is the theme for this yearÕs Neighbors in Need special offering.  The NIN offering, which will be received next Sunday, October 7, supports the UCCÕs ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States.    Neighbors in Need helps make ÒA Just World for All Possible.Ó  For this to occur, it needs your support.  Please give generously!  Look for the special offering envelopes in the pew racks.

 

Helping Hearts and Hands

The Mission and Outreach committee has decided to have a new fund raiser!  It is called ÒHelping Hearts and Hands.Ó  Bob and Barb PetkovsekÕs daughter, Brenda and her husband, Aaron are missionaries with Cru, formerly Campus Crusade for Christ.  They with their children have been involved for 15 years.  The committee has decided to partner with them for one year.  We need $100 a month to do so. We are asking people to purchase a hand for $50. You can go together with another person if you so choose. We will put your hand on a heart shape located in the church somewhere.  You can purchase these hands by filling out the envelope found in the pew racks.  Our committee thanks you for your help!  (Make checks out to United Church of Christ – Memo Line: Helping Hearts & Hands.)

 

Annual Potluck Church Picnic???

A tentative date (Sunday, October 21) has been put on our calendar for our Annual Church Potluck Picnic. (No Packer Game that Sunday) The UCC MenÕs Club would again provide the chicken. There is a sign-up to find out if you will be attending.  We need to know how much chicken to make. If the interest is not thereÉthere will be no picnic. Look for the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.