Twelth Sunday after Pentecost, August 11, 2024
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE Diane Alveshere
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr Jill Sanders
REMEMBRANCE OF BAPTISM
Introit Come, Let Us Gather
Come, let us gather now to sing praises and thanks to
God Our King. God’s love surpasses everything
CALL TO WORSHIP Jane Harstad
One: In the name of the Creator, the fountain of life, the name of Christ, the pulse of life, and the name of the Spirit, the breath of life. Amen.
Many: Holy! Holy! Holy! Earth is filled with God’s presence.
One: Christ, we come into your presence today to worship in this sanctuary called Earth,
Many: A planet filled with your presence, quivering in the forests, vibrating in the land, pulsating in the wilderness, shimmering in the rivers.
One: God, reveal yourself to us in this place and show us your face in all creation.
Many: Earth is filled with God’s presence.
*OPENING HYMN. “All Creatures of our God Most High” vs 1, 4, 7
tune (Blk 17, on screen and in bulletin)
*OPENING PRAYER (unison) Jane
God, our Creator, we celebrate your vibrant presence among us and our kin in creation, especially in the soil, the fields and the land. Help us to empathize with your creatures who are suffering. Lift our spirits to rejoice with the land, the flowers of the field and all the creatures of the countryside. In the name of Christ, who reconciles and renews all things in creation. Amen.
*GLORIA Sing! #12
We bring the sacrifice of praise
Into the house of the Lord. (repeat)
And we offer up to you, the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And we offer up to you, the sacrifices of praise.
*PASSING THE PEACE Jane
GOD SPEAKS TO US
The Reading from the Hebrew Bible: Genesis 12:1-9 Jane
12 Now God said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram went, as GOD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan,
6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then GOD appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to GOD, who had appeared to him.
8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to God and invoked the name of God. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb.
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
Reading from the Gospel: John 1:1-5, 9-14 (The Message) Pastor Jill
1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5 Everything was created through the Word;
nothing—not one thing!—
came into being without the Word.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn’t put it out.
9-13 The Life-Light was the real thing:
Every person entering Life
the Word brings into Light.
The Word was in the world,
the world was there through the Word,
and yet the world didn’t even notice.
The Word came to God’s own people,
but they didn’t want the Word.
But whoever did want the Word,
who believed the Word’s claim
and trusted the Word’s integrity,
The Word made to be their true selves,
their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten,
not blood-begotten,
not flesh-begotten,
not sex-begotten.
14 The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish
HYMN OF PREPARATION “Thank You, God” Blk 559 vs 1,4 & 5
Sermon Rev. Dr Jill Sanders
“Re-Place-Ment: Rediscovering Love for the Land”
Choir Anthem “Sing Out Your Song, Christians of the World” Price & Besig
WE RESPOND TO GOD
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.
INVITATION TO GIVE, GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS:
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 This Is My Song Blk 591 vs 1-2
*CHORAL BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
to shine upon you and be gracious,
and be gracious unto you. x2
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
POSTLUDE MUSIC Diane Alveshere
| 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 11, 2024
Sunday Aug 11, KXRA Radio Sunday
9:15 Choir rehearsal
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 KXRA Radio broadcast
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Inspiring voices discussion group
Monday August 12
No Caffeinated Christianity at Dunn Bros this week.
Tuesday August 13
12-4 Elder Network
Wednesday August 14
10:00 Connections meeting
6:00 Spirit on Screen
Thursday August 15
9:00 Walking group@Big Ole
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Sunday August 18
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 KXRA Radio broadcast
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Inspiring voices discussion group
2:00 Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Andrew Fleming
KXRA Radio Sunday
We broadcast our service on KXRA at 11:00 am the second Sunday of the month. This month is sponsored by Joy Wrolson in loving memory of Kara Dillingham and Joy’s Grandparents. If you wish to sponsor a month, we have an opening for September’s broadcast.
Pastor Jill will be on vacation this coming week.
In the event of an emergency, please contact Rev Marc Blakesley 612-325-1467 or the church office.
Caffeinated Christianity will NOT meet tomorrow. See you next week! All are invited!
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.
Spirit on Screen
August 14 6:00 pm The Apartment. Join us for this oldie as we follow Jack Lemmon as Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he’s left with a major problem to solve. Bring a light dinner, we will serve popcorn and beverage. Join us for discussion afterward on a film that is frequently cited as changing the genre of romantic comedies.
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
Margaret Kalina 08/18
Kahnke/Tukua anniversary 08/18/1994
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.
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.
