May 14, 2023 6th Sunday of Easter, Communion Sunday
“The Great Multitude”
*please stand in body and/or spirit
PRELUDE: Greg Kapphahn, Accompanist
WELCOME PastorJill
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pastor Jill
POURING THE BAPTISMAL WATER: Pastor Jill
*CHORAL INTROIT Surely the Presence of the Lord by Wolfe
*CALL TO WORSHIP: David Fleming, reader
One: Beloved, we are called to love one another, because love is from God.
Many: God’s love is poured in us from our birth.
One: We are called to extend the love of God to all people.
Many: God’s loved is taught to us through the witness of God’s faithful people.
One: We are called to proclaim God’s love in all that we say and do.
Many: In all creation, in all our relationships, may God’s love be made known. AMEN.
*OPENING HYMN “God reigns o’er all the Earth” Blk #21 vs 1, 2, &4
*OPENING PRAYER (Unison) David
Loving God, we thank You for the widely different types of people, and expressions of faith, which constitute the membership of your Church in this century. We give thanks for those who appear born to express faith through rigid creeds and behavior. We give thanks for others who seem destined to follow Christ among innumerable questions and doubts. We give thanks for members whose faith appears to be a profound, childlike simplicity, unhurried and unworried. We give thanks for those who seem unable to find one satisfying word with which to describe You, yet whose faith is constantly renewed by a wordless awe in the presence of Unnameable Love. Lover of diversity, God of all souls, continue to give us the grace to treasure each other with all our differences and idiosyncrasies and to use these differences as we minister to the diversity of people who share this twenty first century with us. To your praise and glory. Amen!
— adapted from a prayer written by Bruce Prewer
*GLORIA Black 236
*PASSING OF THE PEACE: (responsive) David
READING FROM THE GOSPEL John 10:22-30 David
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH
READING FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION Revelation 7:9-17
HYMN FOR PREPARATION “God, Bless Our Homes” Blk 429, vs 1, 2 & 4
SERMON: “The Great Multitude” Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSICAL REFLECTION Greg Kapphahn
CHOIR ANTHEM We Remember Thee by Jay Althouse
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION (on screen)
BLESSING OF ELEMENTS
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (on screen)
PRAYER LITANY FOR MOTHERS’ DAY
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
INVITATION TO GIVE, GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Pastor Jill
*DOXOLOGY Lasst uns Erfreuen
*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS & PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*CLOSING HYMN: Jesus Shall Reign Blk 300 vs 1, 3 &5
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
*CHORAL BENEDICTION Blessing by Katie Moran Bart
*POSTLUDE: Greg Kapphahn
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY, May 14, 2023
The weekly Calendar
Sunday May 14 Communion Sunday Mothers’ Day
9:00 Choir rehearsal
10:00 Worship in person & online
11:30 Chasing Francis Book group
Monday May 15
10 “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros.
Tuesday, May 16
11:30 Lunch Bunch @ Grand Arbor
6:00 Prayer Connection
Wednesday May 17
4:30 Choir rehearsal
Thursday May 18
9:00 Walk @ Church
9:30 Morning Circle
4:30 Holy Happy Hr @ Pike & Pint
Sunday May 21 Sunday
9:00 Choir Rehearsal
10:00 Worship in-person & online
11:00 Annual Programmatic Meeting
11:00 FROG power
11:30 Chasing Francis
Today is Communion Sunday
All are welcome at God’s table. We celebrate open communion (everyone invited), and it is served in the pews. Please partake of the bread when you are ready, symbolizing your personal communion with God. Then, please hold the cup containing juice that we may partake together, symbolizing our unity in Christ. Children are also welcome to participate at the discretion of their parents.
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.
Office Hours/Coverage needed
Joy will be out of the office May 23-28. Are you available to volunteer to keep the office open? Duties would include answering the phone, potentially editing (announcements or changes) and printing the bulletin. Filling usher and other positions as needed. Please email or contact the office if you are able to take a day or two.
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 your giving account online using our new software provider, Churchtrac.
Bountiful Basket
We will be collecting for Someplace Safe in May. Please check the list on the basket for needed items.
Chasing Francis Book group
This book upends the way many of us were taught about what it means to be a follower of Christ. For six weeks, beginning April 16, let’s read and consider our own crazy, circuitous journeys to God. I’d like to meet following worship and coffee time, from 11:30 to 12:15.
Cookies/Baked Goods Wanted
Do you have extra cookies or baked goods? Love to bake but don’t want a lot of extras at home. We would love to have a supply of frozen cookies to serve on Sundays. This would relieve the burden on those who choose to serve on Sunday. Please put them in the freezer in the Plymouth Room.
Help out with Worship
There are sign ups at the back of the church for June and July. If you are able to greet, usher, or read, help serve coffee or clean up after Fellowship, please sign up there.
Angel Express and Angel Care Team
The Angels for the month May are Cathy Johnson (320) 763-3947 and Carolyn Chlian (218) 943-5630. Volunteers are needed to cover additional months. Please contact the church office or Daisy 763-9461.
Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries
Mary Mische 05/25
If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, let usknow. Also we have discovered as we have transferred over to Churchtrac that we don’t have birthdays and special dates for a lot of us. Feel free to call the church to help us keep this up to date.
Lunch Bunch
Meets Tuesday 11:30 at the Grand Arbor Pioneer Grill. Join us for lunch and lots of visiting. All are welcome.
Prayer Connection
Prayer connection meets via Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/9990015170 Meeting ID: 999 001 5170
2) To dial in by phone:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 999 001 5170
Morning Circle
Morning Circle meets Thursday at 9:30 at church. Please join us for a devotional, coffee and a shared treat. We are currently using NOOMA videos to start conversations about our faith.
Annual Programmatic Meeting
The Annual Programmatic meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 21. Please plan to stay a little longer after worship that morning! One of the main features of the Programmatic Meeting is to elect a slate of Committee and Board members and Chairs. We also will have a resolution to pass on our Open and Affirming status and statement. Look for Programmatic Booklets on May 14. If you want or need a programmatic booklet sent to via mail or email let the office know.
FROG Power
Join us after the Programmatic Meeting for our Fully Relying On God monthly meeting.
Pancake Breakfast
We need volunteers to help on Memorial Day particularly pancake flippers.
Do you have any Graduates (high school, college, tech, etc.) in your immediate family this spring? We will be celebrating their achievements in worship on Sunday, June 4th, with a reception following. Please call the Church office with names and a brief description of their accomplishments to be shared that Sunday Photos are welcome, too, and can be emailed to office@firstcongregationaluccalex.com Thank you!
Meals available
Our church has received a donation of frozen meals to distribute to people in need of a nutrition supplement. If the economy and times have made you a person a supplement would benefit or are aware of a person in need please contact Pastor Jill. All information will remain confidential.
Annual Meeting of MN Conference United Church of Christ
Do you want to be a delegate for the June 9 or 10 meeting at St Benedict’s? We need one additional delegate and/or a youth delegate. Contact the office or Jill as soon as possible.
Community Events
Safe Families for Children
Equipping to Serve: Incorporating Mental Health into Volunteer Experiences May 9 and their Spring Social and fundraiser May 19 for more information go to www.safefamiliesmn.org
Region 4 South Mental Health Consortium
Tuesday May 23, 2023 Dinner at 5 pm, Program at 6 pm. Broadway Ball Room. Speaker: Kevin Hines presents Be Here Tomorrow. He survived his suicide attempt of jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2000. Region 4 is sponsoring this event as part of May, mental health awareness month.
Remembrance Picnic
June 13 5:30 pm, City Park Pavilion, hosted by Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory. Food and Beverages provided. RSVP by June 8 to 320-219-6278 or broadway@andersonfuneral.net This special event is for anyone who has experienced a death of a loved one. A casual time of food and fellowship to help all of us remember those who are no longer with us.