June 9, 2024 Third Sunday after Pentecost , KXRA Radio Sunday 10:00 AM
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
PRELUDE MUSIC Diane Alveshere
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER
*INTROIT MUSIC “Come, Let Us Gather” led by the choir
*CALL TO WORSHIP Micki Schneider
ONE We gather to offer praise to the God of Love.
MANY We come out of love for the One who loved us first.
ONE: We gather to breath in the Spirit of the living God.
MANY We come out of reverence for the God who first breathed life into each of us.
ONE: We gather on this new day to seek the ways of Christ.
MANY We come as God’s community of faith, each of us a new creation in Christ Jesus.
ONE: We have gathered.
MANY Let us worship God.
*OPENING HYMN “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” #228 Red
*CALL TO CONFESSION Micki
Friends, being people of faith many times means pondering a lot of questions. Some would tell us: “don’t question, just believe.” But this goes against how we were created, with our curiosity and free will. The questions and search are a gift, not a curse. Sadly, this free will might allow us to make some mistakes, cause some pain to others and ourselves. This is why we take time in the midst of praising God in worship to also confess things we may have done or may have left undone… things that have caused separation from others or even from our true selves.
Let us take a moment now for silent reflection and confession.
*SILENT PERSONAL CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Micki
WORDS OF ASSURANCE Micki
Fellow believers, know this to be true. Questions are good, yours… mine… all of them. God loves both the questions and the questioners.
Being people of faith, many times, means pondering a lot of uncertainty. God is a faithful listener – to our questions, to our confession, to our disbelief. And in the faithful listening God is loving on us and heaping grace upon grace on each and every one of us. Amen.
Let us respond to that love and grace by singing a glorious song of praise.
*GLORIA “I’m So Glad, Jesus Lifted Me” #474 Black
*PASSING THE PEACE Micki
HEBREW READING Genesis 3:8-14 Micki
Our first reading this morning comes from Genesis, chapter 3, verses 8-14.
8They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and the wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9But the Lord God called to the man, and said, ‘Where are you?’ 10The man said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ 11God said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ 12The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.’ 13Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent tricked me, and I ate.’
14The Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
CHORAL ANTHEM “Change My Heart, O God” Eddie Espinosa, composer
GOSPEL READING Matthew 16:13-20 Micki
Our Gospel reading this morning comes from Matthew, chapter 16, verses 13-20.
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ 14And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ 15He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ 16Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ 17And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ 20Then Jesus sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
May God add a blessing to the reading and the hearing of our holy scriptures. Amen.
SERMON “Faithful Questions” Rev. Marc Blakesley
REFLECTION HYMN “I Would Be True” #492 Black
SHARING OF JOYS & CONCERNS Pastor Jill
SILENT PRAYER
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
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.
OFFERING INVITATION / COLLECTING GIFTS Rev. Marc
OFFERTORY MUSIC
*DOXOLOGY “Give Thanks” #2036 UMC The Faith We Sing
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION Rev. Marc
*PARTING HYMN “God Be with You” #81 Black
*COMMISSIONING OF REV. BLAKESLEY Pastor Jill
*CHORAL BLESSING
*BENEDICTION Rev. Marc Blakesley
*POSTLUDE MUSIC Diane Alveshere
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Call to Worship and Prayer of Confession written by Marc W Blakesley, New Thing Ministry Consulting. Copyright © 2024, Used with Permission.
| 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 June 9, 2024
Sunday June 9 KXRA Radio Sunday
9:15 Choir
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday June 10
No Caffeinated Christianity at Dunn Bros this week.
Tuesday June 11
9:00 Pie making
12-4 Elder network
5-7 Hello Neighbor
Wednesday June 12
9:00 Senior Expo (until 12:30 pm)
TBA Connections
6:00 Spirit on screen
Thursday June 13
9:00 Walking group@Big Ole
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Sunday June 16
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Today is KXRA Radio Sunday
The second Sunday of every month KXRA broadcasts our service on 1490 AM at 11 am. Today’s service is sponsored by Evelyn and Stuart Henrickson in loving memory of their daughter Maria Johanneson.
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 your giving account online using our software provider, Churchtrac. You can also follow the QR code.
Bountiful Basket
We are collecting for Someplace Safe through May and June. A list is on the basket to find suggested items.
Strengthen the Church offering
Our denomination-wide mission for June is Strengthen the Church. We will be collecting each Sunday in June. See bulletin insert for the types of projects that Strenghten the Church funds.
Sound system project
As you may know our aging sound board has a channel that is no longer working. We hope to upgrade our entire sound system to improve sound quality in our sanctuary and online. The cost for the new equipment (sound board, new mics, etc) is $7000. If you would like to contribute, please indicate on the memo line that your gift is for the “sound system”.
Hello Neighbor
June 11 5-7 this is an annual event for people who work and study in Alexandria make connections within the community. Our congregation will have a table there to let folks know that they are welcome to worship and serve with us! The table will be staffed by Connections committee people but we would love it if you stop by to see us.
Spirit on Screen
We will be screening Wish I Was Here on June 12 at 6:00 pm. It is an hour and 45 minutes long. Popcorn and beverage provided. Bring a snack or light dinner if you wish. This film is about a man who is a struggling actor, father, husband and son who is struggling on finding his identity and place as his father is struggling with a terminal diagnosis. This film is rated R for swearing and brief nudity. It should give us a few different spins on what it means to be a father.
Choir Rehearsal
No choir rehearsal this week. Beginning in June the choir will be on their summer schedule and only sing on the second Sunday of the month. Rehearsals will skip the Wednesday immediately following the 2nd Sunday. All are welcome to join. If you cannot attend every rehearsal, you can still be part of the choir.
Walking Group
We will start meeting at Big Ole this Thursday at 9 am.
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.
Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries
Lori LeBrasseur 06/20
If the office has missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact us.
Country and Gospel Worship
June 30 is the fifth Sunday of the month and the Nobles will be featuring a Country and Gospel service. Invite your friends and family as we worship together and enjoy country and gospel music.
Community events
Senior Expo
Douglas County Senior Services, in partnership with local law enforcement and the senior community, invites people over 60 to our Senior Expo, June 12, 9-12:30 at St. Mary’s School, 420 Irving, Alexandria. Topics of the morning will focus on safety at home, risks of exploitation including financial fraud, as well as online risks with phones and computers. There will be a free lunch at noon. Pre-registration is requested. Call Bonnie at 320-762-3047 or email bonnieb@co.douglas.mn.us.
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration
June 16, 2024. This free event is to honor our Vietnam War veterans. The Vietnam Traveling Wall will be on display at the Alexandria Area High School. More information at 320-760-7150.
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.
