6th Sunday after Pentecost, Communion & 1st Sunday Music, July 5, 2026
*Invites all to rise as you are able, in body or spirit
Honey in the Rock | My Jesus | King of My Heart
GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor Marc
REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Please rise in body or spirit as you are able.
ONE: As God has called us together, we come knowing the grace offered us through Jesus.
ALL: We are here for good.
ONE: We seek to know God more fully as a community of faith, bearing witness to the possibility of wholeness for the world.
ALL: We are here for good.
ONE: God is good all the time.
ALL: All the time, God is good.
*OPENING Song My Beloved in music handout
*A CONTEMPORARY READING from The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
*WORDS OF GRACE
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
SONG He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Marc
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 3:1-6
“Now the serpent was craftier than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. The serpent said to the Eve, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2Eve said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’” 4But the serpent said to Eve, “You will not die, 5for God knows that when you eat of that tree your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6So when she saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to Adam, who was with her, and Adam also ate.
Matthew 5:43-48
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of the Almighty in heaven, for God makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your siblings, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your Creator in heaven is perfect.
PREPARATION MUSIC For Good Praise Band
MESSAGE “Heart of the Matter” Rev. Marc Blakesley
REFLECTION SONG Goodness of God
GREAT THANKSGIVING
ONE: Blessed are you, God of all creation, Spirit who moves around and within and through us. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
ALL: Blessed be God forever!
ONE: Blessed are you, God of all creation, Spirit who moves around and within and through us. Through your goodness we have this cup to offer, full of crushed fruit of the vine – a collective work of your creation and of human hands. This cup will become our spiritual drink.
ALL: Blessed be God forever!
ONE: Lift up your hearts.
ALL: We lift them up to our God.
ONE: Let us give God thanks and praise!
ALL: Holy, Holy, Holy are you, O God!
Heaven and earth are fully of your glory, and we offer you our praise at this feast.
Come, O Spirit of our holy God, come with your goodness and light as we dine with you and one another. Amen.
WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE
INVITATION AND SERVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
COMMUNION SONGS King in My Heart, Honey in the Rock
THANKSGIVING PRAYER (unison)
We thank you, O God, for calling us to this table.
You call us to dine at your table and work for justice with peace in the world.
Your presence at this feast and your presence while we journey, empower us always in ways of radical loving.
For what you give us, we offer our heartfelt thanks and grateful praise.
We ask all this in your most holy name. Amen.
PRAYER SONG Down to the River to Pray
PRAYERS OF THE GATHERED
THE PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
Our God in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY For Good Praise Band
*OFFERING RESPONSE Holy Spirit
*DEDICATION PRAYER Pastor Marc
*PARTING Song My Jesus
*SENDING FORTH Pastor Marc
*POSTLUDE MUSIC My Jesus Praise Band
Call to Worship and Thanksgiving Prayer written by Marc Blakesley. Copyright © 2026, New Thing Ministry Consulting. Used with permission.
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 July 5, 2026
THE WEEKLY CALENDAR
Sunday July 5 Communion
8:30 Band Rehearsal
10:00 Worship in person and online, communion, 1st Sunday Music
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday July 6
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros
4-8 Voice lessons
Tuesday July 7
2:30 Voice lessons
Wednesday July 8
4-6 Labyrinth
4:45 Choir
Thursday July 9
4-7 Arts Space
4:30 Holy Happy Hr
Saturday July 11
10-4 Pride in the Park
Next Sunday July 12 KXRA,
9:15 Choir rehearsal
10:00 Worship in person and online, communion,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
3:00 Pride Worship service
Communion Sunday
Today is Communion Sunday. The Communion Table is God’s Table and all are welcome at this table, no matter who you are. We have gluten-free crackers available for those in need and unfermented grape juice is served in the cups.
Sabbatical Pastor Contact Information
Rev. Marc Blakesley is called to serve this church ½ time.
Email: marc@firstcongregationaluccalex.com
Cell Phone: 612-325-1467 (voice/text)
Follow Pastor Jill’s Sabbatical
Pastor Jill is on her renewal leave until August 2nd. If you would like to follow along with her journey, you can go read her journal at https://substack.com/@alongjillsjourney. If you “subscribe” (do not pay as it’s free), you will be notified when posts are made.
Come walk our Labyrinth: A path for Contemplative Prayer
The labyrinth is open on Wednesdays from 4-6. Anyone at church or the greater community is warmly invited to participate. The labyrinth is a path of prayer, a walking meditation, a crucible of change, a watering hole for the spirit, and a mirror of the soul. May it serve as one of these, and more, for you.
Choir rehearsal
The Choir has begun its summer schedule. The choir rehearses on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays in June and July at 4:45 pm. They also rehearse the Sundays they sing at 9:15 am. The choir sings in worship on the 2nd Sunday of the month through June-August.
Arts Space
This summer, artist Jax Rose will be holding an arts space for teens on Thursday nights 4-7 in our Fellowship Hall. These classes are free to any student who attends, and every student receives one on one instruction. Students are highly encouraged to bring their sketchbook or any projects they might be working on. Classes start June 11th and go to September 3rd. Hope to see you there!”
Angel Care Team July
Volunteers needed for July. Let us know if you are able to visit.
Worship Volunteers Needed
We have sign ups at the back of the sanctuary for volunteers interested in ushering, greeting and providing coffee fellowship. You are free to sign up for as many as you wish at a time. If you are interested in tech, let someone at the tech desk know and we can train you on the job.
Venezuelan Earthquakes
In response to the two devastating earthquakes near Caracas, the United Church of Christ is launching an urgent appeal to support both immediate life-saving aid and long-term recovery. Working through our trusted partners on the ground like Global Ministries and ACT Alliance, we are delivering emergency relief to displaced families, distributing food and water, and offering pastoral care to those facing profound loss and trauma.
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.
BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Joe Capistrant 07/15
Carolyn Chlian 07/15
Joan Carlson 07/16
Renee Norling 07/16
Leslie Woolery 07/17
Chlian anniversary 07/17/71
Hochsprung anniversary 07/18/70
If we have missed your birthday or other important date, please let us know.
Upcoming Events or Community Events
FREC Meet and Greet
Join others at FREC’s first meet and greet Tuesday July 7, 6:30 pm at ATCC, Conference Rm 203. You are invited to participate in a racial equity coalition. Be a voice for sustainable change and join the effort to build a more inclusive community.
WOW Wednesdays and Sabbath Saturdays
Sign ups for the remaining Wow Wednesday and Sabbath Saturday are at the back of the sanctuary. Please note that the Chair Yoga July 15 program is before the meal. Program begins at 5:15 in the sanctuary and dinner is at 6:15. Eat lightly if you need to eat earlier because many of the poses will be less comfortable on a full stomach.
Evening Prayer Services
All are welcome to join the First Lutheran Care for Creation Team for a time of music, scripture, and prayer. The purpose is to pray for the world, for peace, for all leaders, for creation, and for God’s presence in our lives. This prayer service is the 3rd Sunday of every month at 5:00 pm.
Pride Volunteers needed
We need volunteers to help welcome people to Pride at our booth. We are looking for people who will give Mom or Dad Hugs or otherwise provide extravagant welcome. The event is July 11. We will need volunteers for 2 hour shifts between 10-4 and help set up and pack up our booth.
Women’s Fellowship Salad Luncheon
We will have our annual salad luncheon and bake sale on July 16. We will need volunteers and salads and baked goods. We need bake sale items and
All Church Retreat
We will have an All Church Retreat on August 1 at Luther Crest. We will be celebrating Pastor Jill’s return from her sabbatical and sharing our stories of Congregational Renewal. The psalmist Richard Bruxvoort Colligan will facilitate the retreat.
Andrea Olson Benefit
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
First Lutheran Church 1655 18th Ave E, Alexandria, MN 56308
Whether you are able to contribute financially, attend the event, share the fundraiser, or simply keep Andrea in your thoughts, your support is deeply appreciated. Thank you for helping us surround Andrea with care, encouragement, and hope. Her gofund me can be found here: https://gofund.me/b2ce0f33b
This congregation is 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.
