UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

www.uccneillsville.org

October 7, 2018 10:00 a.m.

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

World Communion Sunday

Neighbors in Need

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

“Kum Ba Yah” (John A. Behnke)

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

STEWARDSHIP MOMEMT Marge Goetsch

GATHERING MUSIC Senior Choir

“I Come With Joy” (Brian Wren)

PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION

CALL TO WORSHIP¹

Leader: We were created in relationship and for relationship.

People: We are created for community!

Leader: God knew it was not right for us to be alone.

People: We are created for community!

Leader: Through Jesus Christ, God entered into human relationship with us.

People: We are created for community!

Leader: We rejoice in our unity with all humanity.

People: We are created for community!

*HYMN “Come My People” (Insert)

We Confess Our Sin and Receive God’s Forgiveness

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, you have commanded us to love one another. Yet we have broken the relationships you created for us. Help us claim our guilt. Forgive us and remind us again that you bless all your children. No one is denied your embrace, your love, your forgiveness. All are welcomed by you. Through your love for us, help us to grow in love for one another.

*PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

God so loved the world that God came into the world in Jesus Christ, not to condemn the world but to save it. Loved and forgiven by God, in relationship with God and Jesus Christ, we have eternal life – God’s love for us never ends. May our hearts and lives be transformed as we trust this good news.

PASSING THE PEACE

Jesus loves us this we know. And they will know we are Jesus’ followers by our love. Let us seek God’s peace with all and for all. 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.

*SONG OF PRAISE “They’ll Know We Are Christians

by Our Love”

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,

And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son,

And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one:

And they’ll know we are Christians

by our love, by our love,

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We Listen for the Good News

CHILDREN’S TIME “Communion with the World”

SCRIPTURE READINGS Mark 10:1-16

SERMON “Both And” Pastor Jacoba Koppert

We Respond to God’s Faithfulness

THE CHOIR SINGS “One Bread, One Body” (John Foley)

PASTORAL PRAYER

INVITATION TO OFFERING “Neighbors in Need”

THE OFFERTORY Karen Mohr

“Someone’s Praying, Lord” (Behnke)

*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 Holy Communion

THE INVITATION²

Beloved in Christ, the Gospel tells us that on the first day of the week Jesus Christ was raised from death, appeared to Mary Magdalene, on that same day sat at table with two of the disciples, and was made known in the breaking of the bread.

(sung) This is the joyful feast of the people of God.

Men and women, youth and children,

come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and gather about Christ’s table.

This table is for all Christians who wish to know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of God’s people.

THE COMMUNION PRAYER²

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.

Pastor continues prayer

THE SACTUS²

Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty,

the whole universe speaks of your glory,

O God Most High

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God!

Hosanna in the highest!

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION

THE CONSECRATION

Pastor: Come, Holy Spirit, bless this bread that the earth has given and human hands have made.

All: May it be for all the Bread of Life!

Pastor: Bless also this cup, fruit of the vine and work of human hands.

All: May it be for all the Cup of Peace!

Pastor: Bless us too, that by our eating and drinking we may have love for each other and be servants of Christ’s peace, until the New Day comes and every creature finds an honored place at the Banquet of Life!

All: We pray in the name of the Risen One, who

is with us now, and to the end of the age!

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.

BREAKING AND THE POURING

SHARING IN THE MEAL

The United Church of Christ practices open communion. People of all ages who confess Jesus Christ as Savior are welcome. Today we will receive the elements remaining in our pews. The Deacons/nesses will serve bread; Pastor Jacoba will serve the gluten-free wafers in the pews to those who request it. Light colored glasses contain juice and dark glasses contain wine. Please hold the elements until all have received them and we will commune together as one body.

GIVING THANKS³
Thank you, God, for life in the Spirit of Jesus: for gladness in this bread and cup, for love that cannot die, for peace the world cannot give, for joy in the company of friends, for the glory of creation, and for the mission of justice you have made our own. Give us the gifts of this holy communion: oneness of heart, love for neighbors, forgiveness of enemies, the will to serve you every day, and life that never ends. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

HYMN “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” (Insert)

THE BENEDICTION

CHORAL RESPONSE ”Let There Be Peace”

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

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World to Serve

¹Liturgy for World Communion Sunday, written by the Rev. Dr. Laurel Koepf Taylor, Assistant Professor at Eden Theological Seminary, Saint Louis, Missouri.

Wooden Chalices are from Israel and Nicaragua.

Cloths on Communion tables are from Mexico, Kenya and Egypt.

Pastor Jacoba’s stole is one she made copying a pattern of a stole made by Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem.

The bread is from Egypt, Kenya and Russia

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 Jim and Jim John Filitz in loving memory of wife/mother Anne Filitz and in memory of Jim and Anne’s Wedding Anniversary.

Today: 3 p.m. Communion served at Neillsville Retirement Community; You are invited to join us.

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 TODAY Sunday, October 7, supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States and the Council of American Indian Ministries (which receives 1/3 of the offering.) 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.

Calendar

Monday, October 8 – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.

Tuesday, October 9 – 10 a.m. Ministerial Alliance meeting at Living Hope; 7:30 p.m. Pastor/Parish meeting.

Wednesday, October 10 – 3:30 p.m. CD’s & Confirmation;

6 p.m. Bazaar Workshop.

Thursday, October 11 – 1:30 p.m. Circle of Friends meeting.

Next Sunday, October 14 – 6 p.m. Adult Bible (sign-up on Bulletin Board)

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 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 there…there will be no picnic. Look for the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board

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.)

VIDEO PROJECT UPDATE -

The video project group met with Audio-Architects and revised our video projection project into two phases. Phase one being the screen and projector and phase two the camera. It was determined that the project has been ongoing too long and to proceed with what we can do with the funding that has already been raised. That amount now stands at $29,000. The Trustees and the Council have been informed of this decision to proceed with phase one as soon as viable and concur with the decision. The funding for phase two, the video camera, will continue with the hope of being able to add it to the system in the future.

It has been 25 years since we installed the wireless microphones. Currently the pastor’s and the hand-held microphones are on their last legs and are currently being held together with black electric tape. In addition, the current frequencies that these microphones use will be eliminated by the FCC in 2020 and then used by T-mobile. In an effort to reduce the cost of replacing these in the future, it is being suggested that they be replaced and upgraded at the same time as phase one of the video project. The cost of replacing these with 3 new units is $4500. It is hoped that this amount can be donated by a church organization.

It is hope that both of these projects phase one and microphone upgrade, can be done yet this year. -Audio Visual Committee