UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

www.uccneillsville.org

September 16, 2018 10:00 a.m.

The Seventeenth 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 Deon Spangler

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

GATHERING MUSIC “Jesus, Name Above All Names” Sung by The Senior Choir Naida Hearn

PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION

CALL TO WORSHIP¹ Don Abel

Leader: We are called to follow Jesus.

People: But following Jesus isn’t easy.

Leader: No. It will demand our dedication and our energy.

People: It will change our whole lives.

Leader: Come, all of you. Come and learn of the Lord Jesus.

All: Lord, we come, seeking your wisdom and your guidance. AMEN.

*HYMN “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” #156

We Confess Our Sin and Seek God’s Forgiveness

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION²

Christ calls on us to “lose our life in order to save it”;

To “take up our cross and follow” in the ways of justice and peace. Like the disciples before us, we are often amazed and overwhelmed by this command. We close our ears to such challenge and our hearts to such risk.

*WE CONFESS OUR PERSONAL SIN SILENTLY

*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS²

God’s words and actions are never careless;

In sending Jesus Christ to the world, God offers a model and a companion, a source of ever-flowing love and acceptance and wisdom. In Christ we are forgiven all our failings and given strength to start again.

PASSING THE 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.

*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

CHILDREN’S TIME “School Blessings”

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM

Vera Catherine Knoll

daughter of Jonathan & Molly Knoll

CHOIR ANTHEM “Fairest Lord Jesus” Michael Cos The Senior Choir

SCRIPTURE READING Mark 8:27-38 Don Abel

SERMON “Who We Say Jesus, Is Matters”

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

We Respond to God’s Faithfulness

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 Deon Spangler

*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 "Before Your Cross, O Jesus "

Ferdinand Blanchard

1. Before your cross, O Jesus,
our lives are judged today;
The meaning of our eager strife
is tested by your way.
Across our restless living
the light streams from your cross,
And by its clear, revealing beams
we measure gain and loss.

2. The hopes that lead us onward,
the fears that hold us back,
our will to dare great things for God,
the courage that we lack.
The faith we keep in goodness,
Our love, as low or pure -
on all, the judgment of the cross
falls steady, clear, and sure.

3. Yet humbly, in our striving,
we rise, to face its test.
We crave the power to do your will
as once you did it best.
On us let now the healing
of your great Spirit fall,
and make us brave and full of joy
to answer to your call.

*THE BENEDICTION

*CHORAL RESPONSE “Make Me a Blessing” by Al Hailey

Make me a blessing, touch me today.

Lord, please use me, in your own way.

Washed of your spirit, humble and low,

into your service, Lord, let me go.

Lord, take these hands; Lord take these feet

into the paths you bid me go

Lord, make my life complete.

Short is our time, Lord, help us to know

where we may serve you, then bid us go.

Make me a blessing, touch me, I pray;

Lord, please guide me, oh, Father, today.

*POSTLUDE Deon Spangler

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World to Serve

¹Written by Nancy C. Townley on ministrymatters.com

²Written by the Rev. Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, Minister and Team Leader for the Center for Analytics, Research and Data, LCM. Copyright 2018, United Church of Christ, Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. 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 sponsored by Craig & Wendy Sigurdson in celebration of their 40^th Wedding Anniversary.

Calendar

Monday, September 16 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon; Newsletter Week; articles for newsletter due 9-18-18. Tuesday, September 18 – 12 Noon 2^nd Half Group meets; catered lunch $7.50 plus tip; (sign-up on bulletin board) Program will be presented by Deon Spangler with a slideshow of birds and wildlife of the lower Rio Grande Valley which will include many different species from what we have here; 5:30 p.m. Trustees; 6:30 p.m. Deacons/Deaconesses; 7:30 p.m. Church Council.

Wednesday, September 19 – 3:30 p.m. CD’s & Confirmation.

Thursday, September 20 – 10-11:30 a.m. Sun Catchers Café;

Deon Spangler presenting a program on birds and wildlife.

Next Sunday, September 23 – 10 a.m. Worship/Confirmation Covenant service.

Neighbors In Need Special Offering

“Love of Neighbor” is the theme for this year’s Neighbors in Need special offering. The NIN offering, which will be received on Sunday, October 7, supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Neighbors in Need helps make “A Just World for All Possible.” 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 “Helping Hearts and Hands.” Bob and Barb Petkovsek’s 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 Men’s Club would again provide the chicken. There will be 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 there…there will be no picnic. Look for the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.