THE 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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January 12, 2020                                                             10:00 a.m.

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

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 MUSIC                                             

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in pray

                                                                                            

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                   

Leader:    We gather to give glory to God.    

People:   We sing our praises to Jesus, GodÕs beloved with whom God is well pleased.

Leader:     In Jesus God shows us how to be faithful.    

All:          We want to follow his light.   

 

*HYMN  ÒThere Is a Name I Love to Hear; O How I Love JesusÓ

                                                                                            (Insert)

*GATHERING PRAYER

God of love, we praise you for coming to us in Jesus Christ. As your servant, he brings justice and peace to all. His life brought happiness to you; we want you to be happy with us as well. Give us courage to follow in his ways in a world that seeks happiness without claiming you as Lord of their lives. We want to glorify you, our Creator, Redeemer and our Guide. Amen.

 

*PASSING THE PEACE

GodÕs peace is given to those who practice their faith.

We rejoice in GodÕs peace, realizing at the same time we must work for peace and justice with and for all.

Let us be at peace with God and one another as we honor God with our love for all God created.

 (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 the Word of God

CHILDRENÕS TIME            ÒJesus Is BaptizedÓ               

 

SPECIAL MUSIC                                                   Vicente Cortez                                     

 SCRIPTURE READINGS         

      Isaiah 42:1-9

      Matthew 3:13-17                                         

 

MEDITATION                                       Pastor Jacoba Kopper                   

                     ÒThe Beloved RevealedÓ     

We Respond To GodÕs Faithfulness

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS – REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISMAL VOWS1

 

THANKSGIVING AND BLESSING OVER THE WATER

Pastor:          Christ be with you.

People         And also with you.

Pastor:          Let us pray.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight. In the time of Noah, you washed the earth with the waters of the flood, and your ark of salvation bore a new beginning. In the time of Moses, your people Israel passed through the Red Sea Waters from slavery to freedom and crossed the flowing Jordan to enter the Promised Land. In the fullness of time, you sent Jesus who was nurtured in the water of MaryÕs womb. At the river, your Child was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit.

All:              By the baptism of JesusÕ death and resurrection you set us free from the power of sin and death and raise us up to live in you.

Women:        Bless the tranquil and turbulent waters of our lives.

Men:             Bless the hopeful and engaging waters of our lives.

All:              Bless the transforming waters of our lives.

Pastor:          Let us pray.

All:              Pour out your Holy Spirit, the power of your living Word, on these waters and on us gathered here, that we who have been immersed in the waters of Baptism may remember our new life in Christ and commit ourselves once again to the promises we have made in the Sacrament of Baptism. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

PROFESSION OF FAITH – NEW MEMBERS AND CONGREGATION

Pastor:          I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and unite with the church in all times and places in confessing our faith in the triune God.

                     Do you wish to reaffirm your baptism wherein you announced you wanted to be a follower of Jesus Christ?

All:              I do.

Pastor:          Do you renounce the powers of evil and desire the freedom of new life in Christ?

All:              I do.

Pastor:          Do you profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?

All:              I do.

Pastor:          Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to grow in the Christian faith and to be a faithful member of the church of Jesus Christ, celebrating ChristÕs presence and furthering ChristÕs mission in all the world?

All:              I promise, with the help of God.

Pastor:          Do you believe in God?

All:              I believe in God.

Pastor:          Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

All:              I believe in Jesus Christ.

Pastor:          Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

All:              I believe in the Holy Spirit.

REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM

Receive the water of Baptism as it is sprinkled on you.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

We thank you God, for the gifts of Spirit and water, for forgiveness of sin and newness of life.  Thank you for naming and claiming us as you proclaim we are your beloved children.  Help us so to live that you are pleased with us. In ChristÕs name we pray. Amen.

 

 

 

INVITATION TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

SENTENCES 

ADDRESS

QUESTIONS ABOUT PARTICIPATION

Pastor:             Do you promise to participate in the life and mission of this family of GodÕs people, sharing regularly in the worship of God and enlisting in the work of this local church as it serves this community and the world?

Candidates:   I promise, with the help of God.

WELCOME AND RECEPTION

Pastor:             Let us, the members of the United Church of Christ Neillsville, express our welcome and affirm our mutual ministry in Christ.

*People:         We welcome you with joy in the common life of this church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow together in GodÕs knowledge and love and be witnesses of our risen Savior.

 

Pastor and Moderator of United Church of Christ, Neillsville, Jenny Romens Erickson

In the name of Jesus Christ, and on behalf of the United Church of Christ Neillsville, we extend to you the hand of Christian love, welcoming you into the company of this local church.

PRAYER     

 

BENEDICTION

Pastor:             Go in peace of Christ.

People:           Thanks be to God. 

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

 

 

THE LORDS 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

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    ÒTeach Me, O Lord, Thy Holy WayÓ                     #194                          

 

*THE BENEDICTION

 

* RESPONSE   ÓLet There Be Peace On EarthÓ 

                                         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                                                           Vicente Cortez

The Light of Christ Leads Us into the World

 

1Reprinted with adaptation from Book of Worship, United Church of Christ Copyright 1986 Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.  And from the 27th General Synod of the United Church

Announcements

 

You are invited to join us in the Fellowship Hall downstairs for coffee/refreshments and conversation. Be sure to go down and meet and greet our new members JoAnn Wren and June Thompson.  Refreshments furnished by JoAnn.

 

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 Rick Buchsteiner in memory of Maxine Schmidt.

 

Calendar

Monday, January 13 – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar Anon.

Tuesday, January 14 – 10 a.m. Ministerial Alliance meeting at UCC.

Wednesday, January 15– 3:30 p.m. Confirmation.

Thursday, January 16 – 10-11:30 a.m. Sun Catchers CafŽ.

 

Volunteers NEEDED  to help remove everything from the Sanctuary in preparation of the laying of the new carpet.

 

 

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CONGREGATIONAL

ANNUAL MEETING

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26

Following worship downstairs in Fellowship Hall.  Refreshments will be served by Deacons/Deaconesses. 

Hope to see there.

 

ÒSoupÕer Bowl ChallengeÓ

The ÒSoupÕer Bowl Challenge is on!  Can we do it again?  We collected 526 cans of soup last year!  Calvary collected 391.  Bring those cans of soup in now! We will collect through Sunday, February 3 ÒSuper Bowl Sunday.Ó  The soup is divided up between the food pantries and aging office.