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Dear Church Family and Friends:

Have you ever experienced something you once considered unimaginable?  Time after time, when tragedy strikes, people say: “I didn’t think it could happen here.”

Tomorrow, in worship, we continue our “Unraveled” series with a message entitled “When the Unimaginable Happens…”. We will follow Thomas’ journey as he is plunged into grief following the death of Jesus—and see what it takes for him to heal and awaken to new purpose.

Join us to sing praises to God, share peace with each other, and pray for our world.  We hope to see you!

REGARDING MASKS:  Masks remain optional, however, given the rise in cases of the delta variant of COVID-19, we strongly encourage wearing them—-especially if you are vulnerable due to being over 65, having a pre-existing condition, or are unvaccinated.  Also, please keep in mind that vaccines are not as effective for those who are immune-compromised and some are not eligible or able to be vaccinated (including those under 18).

Peace:
Pastor Jill

· Prelude
· Greeting, Welcome & Announcements
· Pouring of the Baptismal Water

• Call to Worship
• Opening Hymn
  Prayer of Confession
  Words of Assurance/* Gloria (new)
• Passing of the Peace
  Scripture Reading: John 20:19-29
  Moment with the Younger Church
  Hymn of Preparation
  Message: “When the Unimaginable Has Happened”
  Musical Interlude
  Sharing Celebrations & Concerns/Silent Prayer/Pastoral Prayer
  Prayer of our Savior (new)
  Invitation to Give/* Doxology (new)/Prayer of Dedication
• Closing Hymn
• Blessing & Sending Forth

Monday, July 26
4:00-5:00 pm Confirmation class
Tuesday, July 27
Newsletters emailed
12:00-4:00 pm Elder Network uses building
6:30 pm Prayer Connection on Zoom
Wednesday, July 28
Newsletters go out in regular mail
9:00 am Make pies for Bazaar
Thursday, July 29
9:00 am Walk outside – start @ Big Ole (note earlier time)
7:00 pm Courthouse lawn concert (sit on our SW lawn!)
Next Sunday, August 1/KXRA Sunday
10:00 am Worship

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Welcome to all who are joining us for worship, whether in-person or virtually on YouTube. Wearing masks is now optional. However, we encourage you to be aware of those around you who might not have been vaccinated. For example, if children are present, be aware that they are vulnerable to COVID-19 because they cannot be vaccinated. Coffee fellowship, provided by Barb Brown, will be served in the Plymouth Room on the main floor following the service. We have missed everyone and want you back!!!

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Offering plates will not be passed during our service but, instead, are at the back of the sanctuary for those who would like to give. Please place your gift in one of the plates before the service begins and an usher will bring them forward during the service.

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Pastor Jill invites everyone to join her on Tuesday evenings
at 6:30 pm for “Prayer Connection” on Zoom. As a participant, please refer to the general Zoom connection information printed in these Announcements. Prayer Connection is a drop-in sort of session and no attendance is taken, so join us whenever you wish. We are reminded
by these gatherings how much we need each other and each other’s prayers!

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Our Church’s general ZOOM connection information:
1) TO JOIN VIA YOUR CONNECTED DEVICE:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/9990015170 Meeting ID: 999 001 5170

2) To dial in by phone:
+1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 999 001 5170

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Outdoor Walking at Big Ole Park: Joy, Chair of the Board of Spiritual Life, continues to invite folks to join her for walking outdoors on Thursday mornings at 9:00 am. (Note: new time). Friends welcome. There is plenty of parking there. Come join us!!!

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Coffee Fellowship after Worship: At the back of the sanctuary is a sign-up sheet for providing beverages and treats for fellowship time in the Plymouth Room immediately following our worship services. Thanks to
Barb Brown for serving this Sunday!

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Also at the back of the sanctuary today you will find sign- up sheets for Lefse making, and Sunday Readers and Ushers for the upcoming months! Please see where you can help. Your participation is so much appreciated!!!

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Birthdays coming up!
August 5: Sue Pommerenke
August 8: Jonathan Carlson, Jr.

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Church office hours: We are generally in the building on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 am and about 3:00 pm (oftentimes later). Please ring the bell at the west door if you find the door locked during those regular hours, or call if you have a need to see us another time to make sure we can be around.

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“Welcome Back!” Excitement is growing for our “Welcome Back” variation of the summer bazaar. In response to the many questions being heard, our response is, “YES, THERE WILL BE LEFSE AND HOMEMADE PIES!” The pies will be available fresh and frozen as before. Most of these items will be made in our certified kitchen area. If you have a gourmet or specialty baked item to share, we certainly welcome those items as well. Our buyers will clearly be made aware that they are home-made. We know that our Ladies truly make the best gourmet breads and desserts in town!

There will not be a large gift shop this year, but if you have gift items that you wish to share, an area will be set up for them. Those not sold will be added to the prizes available for our annual Habitat Bridge benefit and the Spaghetti Dinner this fall.

The best advertising we can do is done by you! Please take a poster from the back of the Church and make sure it is mounted at your beauty shop, your secured living facility and share at any meetings you attend. At a recent meeting held by WF at City Park, Barb Brown asked us what the one thing we missed the most with the Church being closed was, and the reply was “working together!”
This is our chance! –Kathryn LeBrasseur, Publicity

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We have online giving available on the Church website: www.firstcongregationaluccalex.com. Click on the “give”
button to give directly. Or you can text the word “Give”
to 1-(844) 913-1752. We have several folks who have been
taking advantage of this means to support the Church
they love. Thank you for your generous and ongoing support!

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Updated phone books are at the back of the sanctuary. They’re YELLOW this year.

Greeting, Welcome & Announcements

Remembering our Baptism

• Responsive Call to Worship
• Opening Hymn
• First Reading:     Joshua 4:1-7
• Silent Reflection
• Unison Prayer of Confession/
               Words of Assurance/* Gloria (new version)
• Sharing Christ’s Peace
• Gospel Reading:     Mark 5:21-43
• * Preparation Hymn 
• Message:    “Touching the Unraveling”                                       
• Meditation Music
• Prayers of the People
• Prayer of our Savior (new—see screen)
• Presentation of Offerings/
       * Doxology (new)/Prayer of Dedication
• * Closing Hymn
• * Benediction & Blessing

Tuesday, June 29
     July Newsletter goes out in email
     6:30 pm  Prayer Connection on Zoom    
Wednesday, June 30
     July Newsletters are mailed
Thursday, July 1 
   9:00 am  Walk outside – start @ Big Ole (note earlier time)
Saturday, July  3
  11:30-3:00  Dona Wagner Open House (see note)
Next Sunday, July 4/Radio  Sunday
 10:00 am  Worship in-person @ Church & 
                                   coffee time if volunteers are available
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Welcome to all who are joining us for worship, whether in-person or virtually on YouTube.  To keep everyone—and especially those most vulnerable—as safe as possible, we have some safety measures in place for in-person worship:  We ask that everyone entering the building please sign-in at the east door for contact-tracing purposes; please wear your mask; and the pews will be marked for social distancing.   

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Offering plates will not be passed during our service but, instead, are at the back of the sanctuary for those who would like to give.  Please place your gift in one of the plates before the service begins.  An usher will present the plates later during the service.                        

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Thank you to Rev. Marc Blakesley for leading our worship service this morning while Pastor Jill is out of town until Tuesday, June 29.  Rev. Marc is on-call for pastoral emergencies during this time and he may be reached at 612-325-1467.

_____________________________

Pastor Jill invites everyone to join her on Tuesday evenings 
at 6:30 pm for “Prayer Connection” on Zoom.  As a participant, please refer to the general Zoom connection information printed in these Announcements.  Prayer Connection is a drop-in sort of session and no attendance is taken, so join us whenever you wish.   We are reminded by these gatherings how much we need each other and each other’s prayers!  
__________________________
Our Church’s general ZOOM connection information:  
1)  TO JOIN VIA YOUR CONNECTED DEVICE:    
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/9990015170  Meeting ID: 999 001 5170      

2)  To dial in by phone:
 +1 312 626 6799    Meeting ID: 999 001 5170               
____________________________
Outdoor Walking at Big Ole Park:  Joy, Chair of the Board of Spiritual Life, continues to invite folks to join her for walking outdoors on Thursday mornings at 9:00 am.  (Note:  new time).  Friends welcome.  There is plenty of parking there.  Come join us!!!
__________________________
Starting next Sunday, July 4, we will plan to serve Coffee Fellowship immediately following our worship service.  We need a few volunteers for the month of July.  If you would be available to provide treats and prepare the beverages for fellowship at about 11:00 on the Sundays in July, please sign up on the sheet at the back of the sanctuary.  Thank you!
___________________________

We have online giving available on the Church website:      www.firstcongregationaluccalex.com.  Click on the “give” 
button to give directly.  Or you can text the word “Give” 
to 1-(844) 913-1752.  We have several folks who have been taking advantage of this means to support the Church they love.   Thank you for your generous and ongoing support! 
____________________________
Birthdays coming up!   
     July 7:  Mamie Clark & Jay Diebold 

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Church office hours:  We are generally in the building on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 am and about 3:00 pm(oftentimes later).  Please ring the bell at the west door if you find the door locked during those regular hours, or call if you have a need to see us to make sure we’re around.  
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Celebrating Dona:  Join us for an open house to celebrate the life of Dona Wagner.   Bring your stories and your memories to share.  Snacks and drinks provided.  Casual dress.  We hope to see you there.   Saturday, July 3, 11:30- 3:00 pm, at 4175 County Road 11 NW, Alexandria, MN, 56308.  (Please park along County Road 11.  As you may already be aware, getting in and out of the driveway 
can be challenging!)
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·         Prelude

·         Greeting, Welcome & Announcements

·         Pouring of the Baptismal Water

• * Responsive Call to Worship
• * Opening Hymn
• Unison Prayer of Confession/
       Words of Assurance/* Gloria (new—see screen)
• First Reading:     2 Samuel 21:1-14
• Moment with the Younger Church
• Second Reading:     Matthew 5:1-14
• * Hymn of Preparation
• Sermon:    “Public Grief that Inspires Action”                                       
• Musical Interlude
• Sharing Celebrations and Concerns/Prayers
• Litany for Fathers (video)
• Lord’s Prayer (new—see screen)
• Presentation of Tithes & Offerings/
       * Doxology (new)/Prayer of Dedication
• * Closing Hymn
• * Blessing & Sending Forth