Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 14, 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
Choral Introit Come, Let Us gather
Come, let us gather now to sing praises and thanks to
God we bring. God’s love surpasses everything
CALL TO WORSHIP Betty Cichy-Anderson
One: Please rise in body and/or spirit and join me in for the Opening Hymn and remain standing through the Passing the Peace.
One: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth.
Many: Sing the glory of God’s name! Give to God glorious praise!
One: Say to God: “How awesome are your deeds!”
Many: Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
One: All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name.
Many: Come and see what God has done: God is awesome in deeds among mortals.
One: God turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot.
Many: There we rejoiced in God who rules in might forever,
One: Whose eyes keep watch on the nations—let the rebellious not exalt themselves.
Many: Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of God’s praise be heard, who has kept us among the living and has not let our foot slip.
*OPENING HYMN. Immortal, Invisible, Blk #1 vs 1-3
*OPENING PRAYER (unison) Betty
O Holy God, how lovely it is to be your guest: breezes full of scent; mountains reaching to the skies; waters like a boundless mirror, reflecting sun’s golden rays and the scudding clouds. All nature murmurs mysteriously; breathing depths of tenderness; birds and beasts bear the imprint of your love. Blessed are you, Mother Earth, in your overwhelming loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last forever. All creation sings to you: Alleluia!
—- Metropolitan Tryphon God’s Good Earth, p. 9
*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 Betty
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
GOD SPEAKS TO US
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
READING FROM THE PSALM Psalm 104 Betty
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 wrapped in light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
3 you set the beams of your chambers on the waters,
you make the clouds your chariot,
you ride on the wings of the wind,
4 you make the winds your messengers,
fire and flame your ministers.
5 You set the earth on its foundations,
so that it shall never be shaken.
6 You cover it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they flee;
at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.
8 They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys
to the place that you appointed for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills,
11 giving drink to every wild animal;
the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation;
they sing among the branches.
13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
14 You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to use,
to bring forth food from the earth,
15 and wine to gladden the human heart,
oil to make the face shine,
and bread to strengthen the human heart.
16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has its home in the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the rocks are a refuge for the coneys.
19 You have made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.
21 The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they withdraw
and lie down in their dens.
23 People go out to their work
and to their labor until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide,
creeping things innumerable are there,
living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships,
and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
27 These all look to you
to give them their food in due season;
28 when you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord!
READING FROM THE HEBREW BIBLE Genesis 1:9-22 Pastor Jill
9 And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so.
12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth,
18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
20 And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.”
21 So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
HYMN OF PREPARATION “Many and Great” Blk 3 vs 1-2
Sermon “Earthy Spirituality: A Beautiful World” Rev. Dr Jill Sanders
CHORAL ANTHEM “Let There Be Peace on Earth” Arr. Hayes, Miller & Jackson
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 “All Things Bright and Beautiful” Blk 31 vs 1-3
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 July 14, 2024
Sunday July 14 KXRA Radio Sunday
9:15 Choir
10:00 Worship in person and online, KXRA Sunday, choir
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
3:00 Ecumenical Pride worship service, Created for connection
Monday July 15
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity at Dunn Bros this week.
Tuesday July 16
11:30 Lunch Bunch @ Pioneer Grill
Wednesday July 17
No Choir rehearsal
Thursday July 18,
9:00 Walking group@Big Ole
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Saturday July 20
ND Youth group stopover
Sunday July 21
8:30 Youth group breakfast
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:00 Brief informational meeting for the Council
11:15 Memorials Committee
11:30 Inspiring voices discussion group
KXRA Radio sponsor
We broadcast our service on KXRA at 11:00 am the second Sunday of the month. This month is sponsored by Glenda Richardson in loving memory of Bill Richardson.
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.
Thank You!
Women’s Fellowship would like to thank all who volunteered, contributed this week to our Annual Salad Lunch.
Lunch bunch
The lunch bunch meets at 11:30 on Tuesday July 16 at Pioneer Grill at Grand Arbor. This is a social group and all are invited for lunch.
Choir Rehearsal
No choir rehearsal this week.
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.
Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries
Steve Mohabir 07/24
Wrolson/Beal anniversary 07/24/04
Kay Sukovich 07/26
If the office has missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact us.
Voices of Inspiration Discussion Group
STARTING NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 21, 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.
ND UCC Youth Breakfast
We are hosting a group of UCC Youth from the Northern Plains Conference (North Dakota) as they make their way home from a Regional Youth Event on Saturday, July 20.
The group will spend the night at our church, and we will provide breakfast for them at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, July 21. We are in need of 4 workers and we are asking for donations to purchase food items for this breakfast. Please give donations to Jane or bring to the office.
Church Council July 21 after the service
This month the council doesn’t need to meet for our regularly scheduled meeting. Sunday July 21 the council will meet briefly to receive a report on the piano.
Community Events
38th annual Shalom Western Barbecue
July 17 4:30-7 pm Tickets $15. Tickets on sale at Shalom’s office and through members. 681 Voyager Dr.
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.
