UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Pastor Jacoba Koppert

Church 715-743-2147

Pastor's Office 715-743-2117

            www.uccneillsville.org

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August 4, 2019, 2019                                                               9:00 a.m.

The Eighth 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

 

 

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 a community to be challenged, to give thanks and to worship. No matter who you are or where you are on lifeÕs journey you are welcome here.

         

GATHERING  ÒSoften My HeartÓ

Soften my heart, Lord, Soften my heart

from all indifference set me apart,

To feel your compassion, to weep with your tears;

come soften my heart, O Lord, Soften my heart. (repeat)

          Words and Music. OneLicense.net A-723900

 

PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION                                        

                      

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                  

Leader:     There are a variety of roads that have brought us to this place in our lives.

People:    No matter who you are or where you are on lifeÕs journey, all are welcome here.

Leader:     May our paths lead us to God whose ways are faithful and loving.

People:    GodÕs ways cause us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our being, with all our strength and with all our mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Leader:     Let us sit at the feet of Jesus and listen for the words God speaks to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

*HYMN     ÒPraise My Soul, the King of HeavenÓ                                                                #23

 

We Confess Our Sin and Seek GodÕs Forgiveness

*CALL TO CONFESSION

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God, when we neglect to welcome you into our lives,

Have mercy on us.

God, when we are self-focused and forget to pray for others,

Have mercy on us.

God, when we fail to live lives which are pleasing to you,

Have mercy on us.

God, when we do not rely on the faith which is ours through your grace,

Have mercy on us.

God, as people on the road, no matter where we are on lifeÕs journey,

Strengthen our faith in you, increase our love for our neighbor and ourselves, that we may love and serve as Jesus showed us. Amen.

 

*SILENCE AS WE CONFESS OUR PERSONAL SINS

*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

 

*PASSING THE PEACE

When we gather for worship, we turn to God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind and we practice loving our neighbor as ourselves.   

We want to lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to God, as we bear fruit in every good work and as we grow in the knowledge of God.

Leading this kind of life, leads to the peace of  Christ. May we uncover this peace in our lives. The peace of Christ be 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 ÒTheyÕll Know We Are ChristiansÓ

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 theyÕll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, 

Yes, theyÕll know we are Christians by our love.

     

We Listen for Words that Encourage and Challenge Us

As Jesus Followers

 

CHILDRENÕS TIME    ÒGod Makes Us StrongÓ

 

SONG  ÒSeekers of Your HeartÓ Refrain, vs. 1 Refrain              Insert    #222 Renew

 

SCRIPTURE READING     Colossians 1:9-14 (NRSV)
9For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of GodÕs will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully

12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

SERMON    "God Crosses the Dividing LineÓ      Pastor Jacoba Koppert

       

We Respond

 in Faith to GodÕs Love for the World

    

*CONFESSING OUR FAITH  ÒUCC Statement of FaithÓ  

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,

 God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:

 

You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image,

and set before each one the ways of life and death.

 

You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.

You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,

to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world

 and resist the powers of evil,

to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

 

You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.

Amen.

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

 

INVITATION TO OFFERING

THE OFFERTORY            Karen Mohr

*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 Communion1

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Jesus said: I am the bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger;

You who believe in me shall never thirst.

In company with all who hunger for spiritual food, we come to this table to know the risen Christ in the sharing of this life-giving bread.

 

COMMUNION PRAYER

God be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to God.

Let us give thanks to God Most High.

Pastor continues prayer

THE SANCTUS

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!

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

        Merciful God, as sisters and brothers in faith, we recall anew these words and acts of Jesus Christ. Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ÒTake, eat: This is my body.Ó This is my body.Ó  Jesus took the cup, and after giving thanks, gave it to the disciples and said: ÔDrink of it all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.Ó We remember ChristÕs promise not to drink of the  fruit of the vine again until the heavenly banquet at the end of the age.

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

CONSECRATION

Come, Holy Spirit, come. Bless this bread, and bless this fruit of the vine. Bless all of us in our eating and drinking at this table that our eyes may be opened and we may recognize the risen Christ in our midst, in each other, and in all for whom Christ died.

Amen.

BREAKING AND POURING  (Title only for screen – time to watch the breaking and pouring not the words.)

Through the broken bread we participate in the body of Christ.

Through the cup of blessing we participate in the new life Christ gives.

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  (Paragraph For Audrey)

 

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Let us pray.

Gracious and loving God, we give you thanks for this holy meal where we have known the risen Christ. You have made us one in the body of Christ and nourished us at your table with holy food and drink. Now send us forth to be your people in the world. Grant us strength to persevere in resisting evil and to proclaim in all we say and do your Good News in Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.

 

*HYMN          ÒGo My Children, with My BlessingÓ           NCH 82 vs. 1 and 2                                        

*THE BENEDICTION

*CHORAL RESPONSE 

*POSTLUDE                                                                                      Karen Mohr             

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the Word

to Enact the Love of Jesus

 

 

 

Announcements

 

Today:  Following our worship servicey you are invited to join us in the Fellowship Hall downstairs for coffee/refreshments and conversation.

 

Today:  10:15 a.m. Christian Ed Board meeting;

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

 

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 given by Neil and Corinne  Armitage in loving  memory of those we have lost in the Armitage family.

 

Calendar

Monday, August 5 –  6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.

Wednesday, August 7 – 5:30-7:30 p.m. Stewardship Committee – Bootcamp Webinar

Thursday, August 8 – 12 noon Annual Circle of Friends  Potluck Picnic here at the church; all are INVITED!

Next Sunday, August 11 ÒWorship at the FairÓ

9:00 a.m. in the WCCN tent – UCC & Calvary worship service with Pastor Jacoba and Pastor Chad preaching. Fellowship Coffee time following the service.  (If you need a ride contact the church office)  Free entry to the Fairgrounds before 9 a.m.

Needed :  Cookies/Bars for the Fair Worship Service on Sunday, August 11. Bring to the WCCN tent cut and ready to serve – Hope to see you there!

 

Coming in August!  GATHERING/SUPPER at Pastor JacoabÕs Home in the back yard (weather permitting) Sunday, August 18 – 5:00 p.m.  (Sign-Up on the bulletin board) (Sloppy Joes/Drinks will be provided) Bring a dish to pass if you wish.