Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 25, 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
REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM Pastor Jill
*CALL TO WORSHIP Marcie Watson
One: The land holds us.
Many: Sky breathes in us.
One: Trees stand around us like ancestors.
Many: Birds sing to us like friends.
One: Rivers flow with tears of joy.
Many: Living beings feed us and walk with us.
One: In the end the earth receives us.
Many: All Creation is God’s love poured out;
we receive it with joy, care for it with gratitude,
and in unity with all Creation we worship God. Alleluia!
*OPENING HYMN. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” W & R 72 vs 1-3
OPENING PRAYER Marcie
God, you spun the stars out of the Word, you molded planets with your hands, you brought forth green living things with your breath and birthed every creature with love. The winds praise you, the mountains stand in awe, and the birds sing hymns of gratitude. We share the thanks of the waving grasses, the joy of the leaping dolphins, and the reverence of the seas. We belong to your Creation; may we honor your work, live peaceably with all living things, and work for the healing of the wounds of the earth. 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 Marcie
ONE: May the peace of Christ be with you.
MANY: And also with you.
ONE: Let us share a sign of peace with one another.
One: Please be seated
MINISTRY IN MUSIC On Eagles’ Wings, Joncas Binas
GOD SPEAKS TO US
The Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 84:1-4 Marcie
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise. Selah
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
Reading from the Gospel: Luke 12:13-34 Jill
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?”
15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly.
17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
22 He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?
26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying.
30 For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
HYMN OF PREPARATION For the Beauty of the Meadows WR 28 vs 1-3
Sermon Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
“Pay Attention to the Birds”
Music for Reflection Diane Alveshere
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 Let All Creation Bless the Lord WR 25 vs 1-3
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
POSTLUDE MUSIC Diane Alveshere
| We welcome all who are joining us for worship virtually, on YouTube, https://tinyurl.com/firstcongalex 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 25, 2024
Sunday August 25
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Voices of Inspiration discussion group
Monday August 26
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity at Dunn Bros this week.
10-2 Connections committee at ATCC welcome event
Tuesday August 27
12-4 Elder Network Respite Care
Wednesday August 28
6:15 First Sunday music rehearsal
Thursday August 29
9:00 Walking group@Big Ole
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Sunday September 1, First Sunday and Communion
10:00 Worship in person and online, Communion
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Voices of Inspiration discussion group
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 August 28. there will be a First Sunday rehearsal at 6:15 pm.
Harvest Table
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 Birthdays and Anniversaries
Ann Branch 09/01
Clark Anniversary 9/01/1990
Anne Riggs 09/06
Joan Holverson 09/07
Marcie Watson 09/07
Norma Woodward 09/07
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.
UCAN Domestic Abuse Awareness Luncheon
Are you interested in attending the UCAN luncheon Oct 16 at Arrowwood? UCAN is an organization committed to reducing domestic violence in Douglas County. We have reserved two tables at this event and space is available. Please let Joy or Ann know you are interested so she can make our reservations. Tickets are $25 payable to UCAN in check or cash.
September KXRA sponsor needed
We need a sponsor for September’s radio broadcast. You can sponsor it regularly from year to year or just this once. We have a couple of other months that do not have a regular sponsor too.
August Angel Care Team
Judy Kuhlmann and Mary Mische are serving as Angels this month. If you wish to volunteer as an Angel in future months, please contact the office. If you need to reach one of them, call the office.
Pies and Lefse available
Women’s Fellowship has a few pies and some lefse available for purchase. The pies are $15 a piece. Contact the office or pick up on Sunday.
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
