Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 18, 2024
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE Kirk Landman
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Jane Harstad
*CALL TO WORSHIP Evelyn Henrickson
One: In the beginning, when Godcreated the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light; and there was light. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And people, was it good?
Many: God saw that it was GOOD!
One: And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome sky and there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And people, was it good?
Many: God saw that IT was good!
One: And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together, he called Seas. And people, was it good?
Many: And God SAW that it was good!
One: Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding speed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. The Earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. So people? WAS it good?
Many: And! God saw that it WAS good.
One: And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
One: People! WAS IT GOOD!
Many: And God saw that IT WAS GOOD!
One: And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And it was evening and it was morning on the fifth day. And people, was IT good!
Many: And God saw that IT was good!
One: And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind; cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, the cattle of every kind and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind.
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping things that creeps upon the earth.”
One: So people? Was it very good?
Many: Yes! It was very good!
*OPENING HYMN. “Enter Rejoice and Come In” Blk 73 vs 1-3
*PASSING THE PEACE Evelyn
ONE: May the peace of Christ be with you.
MANY: And also with you.
ONE: Let us share a sign of peace with one another.
One: Please be seated
GOD SPEAKS TO US
The Reading from the Hebrew Bible: Job 38: 1- 11, 42:1-6 Evelyn
38 Then God answered Job out of the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up your loins like a man,
I will question you, and you shall declare to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?
8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb?—
9 when I made the clouds its garment,
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed bounds for it,
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stopped’?
42 Then Job answered God:
2 “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you declare to me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Reading from the Gospel: Mark 1: 9-15 Evelyn
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.
11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
12 And the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness. 13 Jesus was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
HYMN OF PREPARATION “Heaven and Earth, Sea and Air” Red 75
Sermon Judy Rose
“The Wilderness, The Power, The Glory”
PRAYER OF CONFESSION – BASIL OF CEASAREA
O God, grant us a deeper sense of fellowship with all living things,
our little brothers and sisters
to whom in common with us
you have given this earth as home.
We recall with regret that in the past
we have acted high-handedly
and cruelly in exercising our domain over them.
Thus, the voice of the earth
which should have risen to you in song
has turned into a groan of travail.
May we realize that all these creatures
also live for themselves and for you,
not for us alone.
They too love the goodness of life,
as we do, and serve you better
in their way than we do in ours.
Amen.
Musical Reflection Kirk Landman
WE RESPOND TO GOD
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS AND THE PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR Joy
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be Done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO GIVE, GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Jane
OFFERTORY MUSIC
*DOXOLOGY Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Praise God the Source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS & PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*CLOSING HYMN Praise The Source Who Sang Creation
CLOSING PRAYER (UNISON) Jane
In this fateful hour
I place all heaven with it power
And the sun with its brightness
And the snow with its whiteness
And the fire with all the strength it hath
And the lightning with its rapid wrath
And the winds with their swiftness along their path
And the sea with its deepness
And the rocks with their steepness
And the earth with its starkness
All these I place
By God’s almighty help and grace
Between myself and the powers of darkness!
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
POSTLUDE MUSIC Kirk Landman
We welcome all who are joining us for worship virtually, on YouTube, http://tiny.cc/firstcongo or Cable Channel #181 (each weekday). Our service is broadcast on KXRA 1490 AM at 11 am the second Sunday of the month.
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY August 18, 2024
Sunday Aug 18
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Voices of Inspiration discussion group
2:00 Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Andrew Fleming
Monday August 19
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity at Dunn Bros this week.
Tuesday August 20
11:30 Lunch bunch
5:45 Board of Administration
7:00 Council
Wednesday August 21
5:15 Choir rehearsal
Thursday August 22
9:00 Walking group@Big Ole
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Sunday August 25
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Voices of Inspiration discussion group
Pastor Jill’s Office Hours
Pastor Jill is available throughout the week for pastoral care, conversation, or coffee! She is typically in the office on Tuesday mornings—and other times as well. It is always best to schedule a time if you want to talk. She can be reached directly at jill@firstcongregationaluccalex.com or (319) 361-0737. Shetypically takes Fridays off.
Virtual Giving Options: Online and Text
Check out our updated website: firstcongregationaluccalex.com.
Click on the word “Give” at the top of the screen. You can also text (844)987-4483 to give to our general fund. Please contact the office if you need help setting up a giving account online using our provider, Churchtrac.
Voices of Inspiration Discussion Group
After church today, 11;30 am-12:30 pm. and every Sunday after for the foreseeable future. Many are feeling some distress about the upcoming election and the issues that face us as a nation. A small group from our congregation has decided to gather for VOICES OF INSPIRATION. This will offer an opportunity to hear voices from history as well as contemporary voices that offer guidance to light our way in these troubling times. After a short reading is shared, there will be 20 minutes of silence/meditation/contemplation, and then 20 minutes of discussion. ALL are invited–including members of the larger community. No advance preparation is necessary—and it’s possible to drop in anytime. We’ll start in the Cambridge Room and move to a bigger space, if necessary.
Choir Rehearsal
No Choir rehearsal this week.
Eagle Scout Court of Honor
Please join us in honoring Andrew for his Eagle Court of Honor ceremony on Sunday August 18 at 2pm. There will be a reception afterwards. All are welcome.
Mission Committee
The church mission committee is once again making extra produce available to members and friends. If you have extra produce from your garden, you may bring it in to the church on Sunday for others to enjoy. There will be a basket for donations. All the money collected will go towards covering food costs to provide lunch for 30 plus HFH volunteers on September 19th. Thank you to all.
Upcoming August Birthdays and Anniversaries
Kurt Norling 08/25
Misha Harstad 08/27
Steve Harstad 08/27
Pat Nelson 08/28
If the office has missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact us.
Outdoor Projects
If you have specific ideas or suggestions for outdoor landscaping of the south yard/West yard that is not part of the Eagle Scout project, please contact the office either via email or phone or in person with proposals that will be brought to the Board of Administration. If you have a budget or other similar items, please include that with your ideas.
UCAN Domestic Abuse Awareness Luncheon
Are you interested in attending the UCAN luncheon Oct 16 at Arrowwood? UCAN is an organization committed to reducing domestic violence in Douglas County. Please let Joy or Ann know you are interested so she can make our reservations. Tickets are $25 payable to UCAN in check or cash. Deadline is August 23.
September KXRA sponsor needed
We need a sponsor for September’s radio broadcast. You can sponsor it regularly from year to year or just this once. We have a couple of other months that do not have a regular sponsor too.
August Angel Care Team
Judy Kuhlmann and Mary Mische are serving as Angels this month. If you wish to volunteer as an Angel in future months, please contact the office. If you need to reach one of them, call the office.
We are an inclusive community that welcomes extravagantly, seeks God and follows Jesus into the world.
We are also a member of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ and honor the dignity of each person created in God’s image. All are welcome here.
