UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

www.uccneillsville.org

September 2, 2018 9:00 a.m.

The Fifteenth 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

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION

“What A Friend We Have in Jesus”

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 ¹

Leader: To abide in you; to find strength in you;

to worship you in these moments,

People: we gather, O God.

Leader: To challenge the evil around us; to bring healing to the hurt; to offer hope to the vulnerable,

People: we follow, Jesus our Brother.

Leader: To learn how to live; to put away our old gods;

to stick with God in every moment,

People: we listen, Holy Spirit.

*HYMN “God of Our Father’s Whose Almighty Hand” #254

We Confess Our Sin and Seek God’s Forgiveness

*CALL TO CONFESSION¹

Let us bring our lives to the One who offers us mercy,

as we pray together.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Faithful God, often we put on comfortable clothes – well-worn clothes. Some of us put on the slacks of fear and worry; some of us put on the shirts of prejudice and hatred; some of us put on shoes of anger and belts which hold onto the past. Encourage us to try on the new clothes which you have set before us: love, compassion and peace. Grant us the forgiveness Jesus wears daily on our behalf.

*WE CONFESS OUR PERSONAL SIN SILENTLY

*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS¹

As God listens to our voices and hearts,

our brokenness is gathered up and we are made whole,

as mercy and hope fill our lives.

We are forgiven.  We are transformed into new people.  We are clothed with grace and peace,

so we may go and serve as God’s people.  

Thanks be to God!  Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE (Based Ephesians 4:2-4))

With all humility and gentleness, with patience and bearing with one another in love, let us make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 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”

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 “Prayers Before and After School”

(If Children present)

SPECIAL MUSIC Jenna and Reese Ziegler

SCRIPTURE READING Ephesians 6:10-20

SERMON “Resisting Evil” Pastor Jacoba Koppert

We Respond to God’s Faithfulness

*HYMN “Forward Through the Ages ” (Insert)

PASTORAL PRAYER

INVITATION TO OFFERING

THE OFFERTORY

*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 Communion¹

INVITATION

COMMUNION PRAYER

Pastor: God be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them to God.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to God Most High.

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

The Pastor Continues with the prayer…

…With the faithful in every place and time, we praise with joy your holy name, saying,

All: Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty,

The whole universe speaks of your glory,

O God Most High.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

THE CONSECRATION

OUR RESPONSE

All: In the strength Christ gives us, we offer ourselves to you, eternal God, and give thanks that you have called us to serve you. Amen.

THE BREAKING AND THE POURING

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.

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 (gluten free wafers in the covered container) the bread, eat it and then take and drink from one of the small cups. 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

All: We thank you, God for inviting us to this table where we have known the presence of Christ and have received all Christ’s gifts. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and let us show forth your praise in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

HYMN “Lead On Eternal Sovereign ” (Insert)

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

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World to Serve ¹Written by Thom Shuman on lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com

²The Communion Liturgy is reprinted from Book of Worship ã1986 by permission of the United Church of Christ, Local Church Ministries

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.

Today – 3 p.m. Communion will be served at Neillsville Retirement Community; come and join us.

Calendar

Monday, September 2 – Labor Day (Office Closed)

Wednesday, September 5 – 6 p.m. Bazaar Workshop.

Saturday, September 8 – 7 a.m. UCC Men’s Club Breakfast.

Sunday, September 9 – 10 A.M. WORSHIP TIME- NOTE THE CHANGE!

Looking Ahead at the Calendar

Wednesday, September 12 – 3:30 p.m. CD’s & Confirmation “Pool Party at Moseid’s.

Sunday, September 16 – 9 a.m. Sunday School BEGINS!

Tuesday, September 18 12 noon 2^nd Half Group meeting; catered lunch $7.50 plus tip; Program; Deon Spangler “Birds & More”; Sign-up on Bulletin Board; 5:30 p.m. Trustees; 6:30 p.m. Deacons/Deaconesses; 7:30 p.m. Church Council