THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

www.uccneillsville.org

January 27, 2019 10:00 a.m.

Third Sunday after Epiphany

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 Vicente Cortez

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

We would like to welcome all of you who have gathered with us today for worship. We come from many places to this time and place. From our varied and hectic lives, we gather in this sacred space, as community to be challenged, to give thanks and to worship. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey you are welcome here.

GATHERING MUSIC “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.

PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: God created human beings as bodies with many parts,

People: With our mouths, we praise God, with our hands we serve with Jesus, we our ears we listen for the Word of God.

Leader: Each part of our bodies has its own value, yet only when all the parts come together are we who God created us to be.

People: So it is with the body of Christ, the church.

Leader: God has brought us together – each one of us with our unique gifts and needs to be the church.

People: When one of us suffers, we all know suffering; when one of us rejoices, we all celebrate together.

Leader: As the of body of Christ, the church of Jesus Christ, let us worship God, our Creator, serve with Christ and be guided by the Holy Spirit.

All: Through the gifts entrusted to us, we worship God as we proclaim, “Jesus is Lord.”

*HYMN “All Are Welcome” (Insert)

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Creator God, you made us all with different gifts, different voices, different abilities, weaving us together to be Your body. We confess, O God, that at times we have ignored voices and dismissed abilities. Forgive us when we unravel what you intended to work for the good. We confess at times our words and actions create pain or division; help us to make amends. Heal wounds that fester. Create in us a spirit of forgiveness and peace.

*SILENCE as we confess that which separates us.

*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

You are loved by God who created you to be the unique person you are. Gifted by God, we are essential to the Body of Christ. Though we have all strayed from God’s intentions for us and for the world, God’s love for us remains. We are forgiven. Let us work once again to become one in Christ. Let us seek God’s help so we might again love one another as Christ loves us.

*PASSING THE PEACE

Realizing the gifts we have received through the Spirit, we seek to work together to create a place where God’s love is evident. May God’s peace be among us. 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”

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 “Body Parts”

SCRIPTURE READING I Corinthians 12:12-31a

SERMON Pastor Jacoba Koppert

“Many Members, Yet One Church”

We Respond to the Good News

SONG “We Are Many Parts” (Insert)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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 Vicente Cortez

*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 “They’ll Know We Are Christians” (Insert)

Vs. 1, 2 & 3

*THE BENEDICTION

*RESPONSE “We Yearn, O Christ, For Wholeness”

We need your living presence, O Christ of Galilee,

A presence that revives us and sets our spirits free,

No longer are we fearful, your love pervades each place,

Empower us with courage to claim your healing grace.

*POSTLUDE Vicente Cortez

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World

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.

Annual Congregational Meeting

TODAY

Following Worship

Downstairs in Fellowship Hall

Luncheon will be served

We hope to see you at this important meeting of your church!

Radio Broadcast Sponsors – Today the radio broadcast portion of our service is given by the Miller children in loving memory of their parents, Clarence and Anita Miller.

Calendar

Monday, January 28 - 6:30-7:30 Nar-Anon.

Wednesday, January 30 – 2 p.m. Technology meeting;

3:30 p.m. CD’s & Confirmation.

Saturday, February 1 – 7 a.m. UCC Men’s Club Breakfast; come and join us – all are invited!

Next Sunday, February 3 – 9 a.m. Sunday School; 9 a.m. Senior Choir practice; 10 a.m. Worship; Communion (pews.)

3 p.m. Communion served at Neillsville Retirement Community; come and join us.

Soup’er Bowl Challenge

Take note of all the cans of soup on the table in the Narthex. The Soup’er Bowl challenge is on! We are hoping to hold the record of the most cans collected by the churches. Help out! bring your donation of soup to the church now. Deadline is Super Bowl Sunday, February 3.

Tuesday, February 19 - 12 Noon “Second Half Meeting”

Catered Lunch ($8.00 plus tip) Eileen Miller, Sr. Recreation Director from the Community Service of the Jackson prison

will present the program. Sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Narthex.

Bible Study I Thessalonians led by Pastor Jacoba

Dates: Friday, February 1,8, 15 & 22 - 10:00 a.m.