Ninth Sunday after Pentecost* August 10, 2025
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD
PRELUDE Diane Alveshere
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Pastor Jill
INTROIT Where Can We Find Peace? Albrecht and Althouse
*CALL TO WORSHIP Betty Cichy-Anderson
One: Please rise in body or spirit and remain standing through the passing of the peace
One: God said, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
All: But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord.”
One: Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
All: And I will give you rest.”
One: We come in the name of the Spirit, resting from our labors,
All: Let us worship God this day!
~ posted on the Presbytery of the Cascades. http://www.facebook.com/cascadespresbytery
*HYMN OF PRAISE “Come Thou Fount,” Blk 459 vs. 1-3
*UNISON PRAYER Betty
O God of all goodness,
you welcome us, forgive us and heal us.
You seek us out from places where we have hidden from you.
You crown us with steadfast love and mercy.
Reveal yourself to us in this moment.
Let us know your presence so that we may bless you:
Bless you, O God!
Bless your holy name! Amen.
~ written by The Rev. Catherine Rolling, and posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-c/p/pentecost-ordinary-time-11.html
ACT OF PRAISE (Black #55. Verse 5)
Praise God who rules all worlds, the risen Christ adore,
Praise God the Spirit, Holy Fire, one God forevermore!
Rejoice, Rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing.
*PASSING OF THE PEACE Betty
GOD SPEAKS TO US
The Anthem, Peace Like A River, Kum Ba Yah, arr Jean Anne Shafferman
READING FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES Exodus 20:8-11 Betty
8 “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work.
10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.
11 For in six days God made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore God blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
READINGs FROM THE Gospel Matthew 11:28-30 Pastor Jill
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Hymn OF PREPARATION Softly and Tenderly, Blk. #449, Vs. 1,2,4
MESSAGE “The Way of Love: Rest” Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Diane Alveshere
WE RESPOND TO GOD
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS, Congregational Prayer
PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us,
And Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
INVITATION TO GIVE & OFFERING OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY MUSIC Diane Alveshere
*DOXOLOGY tune: Old Hundredth
O Spirit, midwife of the Church,
To dry old bones you give new birth,
And blaze a trail where there was none:
Your work will never be undone.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION Pastor Jill
*CLOSING SONG O come to me you weary, Blk. # 484, Vs. 1-4
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
*RESPONSE TO THE BLESSING An Irish Blessing, Douglas Nolan
Postlude Diane Alveshere
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY August 10, 2025
Today, August 10 KXRA Radio Sunday
9:15 Choir rehearsal
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday Aug 11
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity
2-7pm Voice lessons
Tuesday Aug 12
12-4 Elder network
1:00 Special Meeting of the MN Conference/New Conference Minister (hybrid event)
Wednesday Aug 13
10:30 Connections
6:00 Spirit on Screen
Thursday Aug 14
9:00 Walking Group @ Big Ole
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Next Sunday Aug 17
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Today is KXRA Radio Sunday
Today’s radio broadcast is sponsored by Joy Wrolson in memory of Kara Dillingham, her niece and Joy’s grandparents Lawny and Florence Wrolson and Lannie and Evelyn Isackson. The second Sunday of every month our radio broadcast is sponsored by a member of the congregation. Available months include: November, January & June (2026).
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.
Introducing the new Settled Conference Minister.
With great pleasure, the Minnesota Conference UCC Search Committee is recommending Rev. Dr. Tanya Sadagopan as our settled Conference Minister.
The Search Committee made its recommendation to the Board of Directors and will bring this nomination to a special meeting of the Conference on Tuesday, August 12. This hybrid event (onsite and online) will be held at Robbinsdale Parkway United Church of Christ beginning with a light lunch at noon followed by worship and business meeting at 1:00 pm.
Spirit on Screen
This month’s film is a prison biopic Sing Sing. The film follows a group of inmates in a theatre program as they rehearse and put on a play that they devise. It is rated R for language and some scenes are rough. It also has plenty to say about justice, redemption, rehabilitation, and forgiveness. We will provide a beverage and popcorn. Bring a snack or light meal if you wish. Wednesday at 6 pm.
Women’s Fellowship Board
The Board will meet on August 18 at 1 pm in the Cambridge Room
Frozen Pies Available
There are a few pies still available. $15 a pie.
Bountiful Basket—Stuff the Bus
We are having a short Bountiful Basket for United Way from July 20- august 10. We are getting school supplies for United Way’s Stuff the Bus project. Items needed include: backpacks, markers (8 count), notebooks, pocket folders, pencil pouches, glue sticks, erasers, pencil sharpeners, dry erase markers, and 3 ring binders. Other supplies needed too. We will be packing up the Bountiful Basket after church today.
WORSHIP SERVICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We need readers, ushers, greeters, tech staff and coffee fellowship servers through the end of the year. Sign up is at the back of the sanctuary.
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.
UCC Disaster Ministries
Over the past week or so, there has been a series of severe weather events across the United States. This includes the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal in central North Carolina, and flash flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
The Disaster Ministry Team at the National Ministry of the United Church of Christ has been in contact with the Conference Disaster Response Coordinators and the Conference Ministers for the impacted conferences to monitor the situation and determine how best to support communities as we learn more about the devastation from these storms.
We continue to hold all of those affected by the storms, and their loved ones in our prayers.
To support the relief and long-term recovery of those affected by these severe storms, and other communities that have experienced similar events across the US, click here, and select “Severe Storms” as the designation.
BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Nancy Hansen 08/17
Kahnke/Tukua anniversary 08/18/1994
Margaret Kalina 08/18
If we have missed your birthday or other important date, please let us know.
FAVORITE HYMNS NEEDED
Those who select hymns for our traditional services would like to hear suggestions favorite hymns. The list will then be used when possible as they choose hymns for us to sing that might fit into the theme for a Sunday. Please fill out the forms in your bulletin or email your choices to the church.
ANGEL CARE TEAM August VOLUNTEERS
August volunteers are Judy Kuhlmann (320)763-6033 and Mary Mische (320) 491-0341. If you would like a visit or know someone who needs a visit, please contact one of them.
Per Capita Dues
We have started to collect the per capita dues that we pay to the Minnesota Conference to help fund the conference’s mission and ministry. We do this every year as a member of the conference. You will receive a letter in the mail or at church.
ALZHEIMER & DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Join us at the Public Works Dept. meeting room (526 Willow Dr) on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 3-4:30. Please contact the facilitator Stephanie Aasness at 320-766-1856, to learn more.
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.
