Sixth Sunday after Pentecost* July 20, 2025
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD
PRELUDE MUSIC Brad Lambrecht
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Pastor Jill
*CALL TO WORSHIP (inspired by Psalm 100) Marcie Watson
One: Please rise in body or spirit and remain standing through the passing of the peace
One: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth.
Many: We will worship God with gladness;
One: Come into God’s presence with singing.
Many: We sing, for God made us, and we are God’s people.
One: Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and praise.
Many: We give thanks to God, for God is good.
One: Know that God remains steadfast for all generations.
Many: We rejoice, for God’s steadfast love endures forever.
*HYMN OF Praise Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life Blk 543 vs 1, 2,4 & 6
*UNISON PRAYER Marcie
Let us join in the unison prayer…
From the haste and pressure of the world we come into your gentle silence. From the loneliness of our separate cars and houses we come into your presence. From the noise and shouting of the world we come to listen to your voice. Speak to us, God. Beloved, let us sense your presence with us, and change our hearts. Amen.
*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 Marcie
GOD SPEAKS TO US
READING FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES Isaiah 56:1-7 (the Message) Marcie
MESSAGES OF HOPE Salvation Is Just Around the Corner
1–3 56 God’s Message:
“Guard my common good:
Do what’s right and do it in the right way,
For salvation is just around the corner,
my setting-things-right is about to go into action.
How blessed are you who enter into these things,
you men and women who embrace them,
Who keep Sabbath and don’t defile it,
who watch your step and don’t do anything evil!
Make sure no outsider who now follows God
ever has occasion to say, ‘God put me in second-class.
I don’t really belong.’
And make sure no physically mutilated person
is ever made to think, ‘I’m damaged goods.
I don’t really belong.’ ”
4–5 For God says:
“To the mutilated who keep my Sabbaths
and choose what delights me
and keep a firm grip on my covenant,
I’ll provide them an honored place
in my family and within my city,
even more honored than that of sons and daughters.
I’ll confer permanent honors on them
that will never be revoked.
6–8 “And as for the outsiders who now follow me,
working for me, loving my name,
and wanting to be my servants—
All who keep Sabbath and don’t defile it,
holding fast to my covenant—
I’ll bring them to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
They’ll be welcome to worship the same as the ‘insiders,’
to bring burnt offerings and sacrifices to my altar.
Oh yes, my house of worship
will be known as a house of prayer for all people.”
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
GOSPEL READING Luke 24:28-35 Pastor Jill
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight.
32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”
35 Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
HYMN OF PREPARATION “Not With Naked Eye” Blk 406 vs 1-5
MESSAGE “Living the Way of Love: Worship” Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Brad Lambrecht
WE RESPOND TO GOD
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR (a version from New Zealand)
O most Compassionate Life-giver,
may we honor and praise you;
May we work with you to establish your new order
of justice peace and love; Give us what we need for growth,
And help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgiveness.
Strengthen us in the time of testing, that we may resist all evil,
For all tenderness, strength and love are yours, now and forever.
Amen.
INVITATION TO GIVE & OFFERING OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY MUSIC Brad Lambrecht
*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 Hymn I Want Jesus to Go With Me Blk 490 vs 1-3
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
POSTLUDE MUSIC Brad Lambrecht
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY JULY 20, 2025
Today, Sunday July 20
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday July 21
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity
2-7pm Voice lessons
Tuesday July 22
12 4 Elder network
Wednesday July 23
5:15 Choir rehearsal
Thursday July 24
Joy working remotely, no office hours
No Walking group
5:30-8 Rock n Walk n Taco night
Next Sunday July 27
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
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.
Joy’s Office Hours changes this week
Joy will be in the office on Monday from 10-11:30, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10-2 pm (her regular schedule)
Women’s Fellowship Thank you
Thank you to all who volunteered, baked, donated their time and treasures to make our Summer Salad Luncheon, Bake Sale and La Boutique successful. We also appreciate those who came to eat and buy too.
Frozen Pies Available
There are a few pies still available. $15 a pie.
Newsletter Deadline
The deadline for articles in the Church Visitor newsletter is July 21. Please get your articles to Joy by the end of the day on Monday. If possible, please send her an electronic version via email, office@firstcongregationaluccalex.com She can accommodate non-electronic articles as well. Anybody in our church family can submit an article to be published in The Church Visitor.
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.
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.
ROCKING WALKING TACO NIGHT
Volunteers needed to plan and serve on July 24, 5:30-8 pm.
Sign-up sheets for various tasks for before and day of the event are the table in the back of the sanctuary. Please contact the office for more information.
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.
BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Steve Mohabir 07/24
Wrolson/Beal anniversary 07/24/04
Kay Sukovich 07/26
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 JULY VOLUNTEERS
LuWanna Hintermeister (320) 808-9791 is the Angel for July. If you would like a visit or know someone who needs a visit, please contact her.
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.
