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 25, 2019                                                            9:00 a.m.

The Eleventh 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                                                           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 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  ÒWhat a Friend We Have in JesusÓ

What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

          Words and Music. OneLicense.net A-723900

 

PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION                                        

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                  

Leader:    We gather in faith to worship God our Creator, to support each other as we follow Jesus and to be led by the Holy Spirit.

People:    We wait for the LORD in whom we have our hope.

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

People:    I have trusted the Lord since childhood. I have depended on God from birth.

Leader:     DonÕt be far from us, O God! O God, our God, hurry to help us!

People:    The LORD is our hope and trust.

Leader:     Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

 

*HYMN    ÒO Worship the King, All Glorious AboveÓ   #17          

We Confess Our Sin and Seek GodÕs Forgiveness

*CALL TO CONFESSION

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION1

            Dear God, we have known you since the time

            you led our ancestors from bondage to freedom.

            We have found no fault in your promise. 

            Yet we wander from the path that you have set and

            put our faith in other ÒgodsÓ

            which lead us away from justice, compassion and hospitality. 

            We forsake your blessing.

 

            Forgive our faithlessness and our arrogance.

Restore us to right relationship with you and all those in our midst.

                       

*SILENCE AS WE CONFESS OUR PERSONAL SINS

*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

 

 

*PASSING THE PEACE

May mutual love be among us. Do not neglect to show hospitality to one another, nor to strangers, for by welcoming one another some have entertained angels without knowing it. Let us share GodÕs love and peace with one another.

We welcome one another; may the peace of Christ be evident 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              "Gloria PatriÓ

      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 Words that Encourage and Challenge Us

As Jesus Followers

SPECIAL MUSIC                                              Vicente Cortez

 

CHILDRENÕS TIME    ÒLeaningÓ

 

SCRIPTURE READING     Psalm 71

Pastor:  In you, O Lord, I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

All:       In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me.

Pastor:   Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress,

to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

All:       Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.

Pastor:   For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust,

O Lord, from my youth.

All:       Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my motherÕs womb. My praise is continually of you.

Pastor:  I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.

All:       My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long.

75+:       Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent. For my enemies speak concerning me, and those who watch for my life consult together. They say, ÒPursue and seize that person whom God has forsaken, for there is no one to deliver.Ó O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed; let those who seek to hurt me be covered with scorn and disgrace.

All:     But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all day long, though their number is past my knowledge.

50-74:  O God, from my youth you have taught me,

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come. Your power and your righteousness, O God, reach the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?

1-49:   You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my honor, and comfort me once again. I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

 

 

All:     My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have rescued.

All day long my tongue will talk of your righteous help, for those who tried to do me harm have been put to shame, and disgraced.

 

SERMON                                          Pastor Jacoba Koppert

ÒFaith Matters: From Birth to Old AgeÓ

     

We Respond in Faith

to GodÕs Love for the World

*HYMNAL             ÒHow Firm a FoundationÓ                #266                                                   

           

*CONFESSING OUR FAITH  ÒUCC Statement of FaithÓ

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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                                           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              ÒWhat a FellowshipÓ                         #290

                                   

*THE BENEDICTION

 

 

*CHORAL RESPONSE   ÒMake Me a BlessingÓ    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                                                      Vicente Cortez   

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World

to Enact the Love of Jesus

1Service Prayers for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, was written by the Rev. Christopher Ney,  Copyright 2019 Justice Local Church Ministries,  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

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

 

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 anonymously by a faithful radio listener.

 

Calendar

Monday, August 26- Nar-Anon.

Wednesday, August 28 – 5 p.m. Stewardship Committee.

Next Sunday, September 1 – 9 a.m. Worship;

Communion/Altar; 3 p.m. Communion served at Neillsville Retirement Community.

Wednesday, September 4 – 3:30 p.m. Confirmation

 

Looking Ahead at the Calendar

Monday, September 2 – Labor Day (Office Closed)

Saturday, September 7 – 7 a.m. UCC MenÕs Club Breakfast.

Sunday, September 8 – TIME CHANGE 10 a.m. Worship;

ÒBack Pack Sunday.Ó

September 11-21 – Pastor Jacoba – Going to Greece!

Sunday, September 15 – Sunday School BEGINS!

 

Pie/Baked Goods Auction

Sunday, October 6 -following worship  - downstairs in Fellowship Hall; Looking for our good cooks to donate to this fundraiser; Sign-up on the bulletin board. Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions, contact Emile Miller or Carla Marty.