Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, July 21, 2024
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE Kirk Landman
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr Jill Sanders
REMEMBRANCE OF BAPTISM
CALL TO WORSHIP Lee Becker
One: Beloved God, known to your creation by a thousand different names, we thank you for giving us power through your Spirit to reveal your life to the world:
Many: Strengthen, bless, and guide all that we do.
One: We thank you for your creation, and pray for the earth that you have given us to cherish and protect:
Many: Nourish us in your love for all that you have made.
One: Every part of this earth is sacred; every shining pine needle, every sandy shore.
Many: Every mist in the dark woods; every clearing and every humming insect is holy.
One: The rocky crest, the juices of the meadow, the beasts and all the people,
Many: All belong to the same family.
One: Teach your children that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of earth.
Many: The earth’s murmur is the voice of our father’s father.
One: We are part of the earth, and the earth is part of us.
Many: The rivers are our brothers; they quench our thirst.
One: The perfumed flowers are our sisters.
Many: The air is precious for we all share the same breath.
One: The wind that gave our grandparents’ breath also received their last sigh. Give our children the spirit of life.
Many: This we know, the earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth.
One: This we know, all things are connected, like the blood that unites one family,
Many: All things are connected.
One: Our God is the same God whose compassion is equal for all.
Many: For we did not weave the web of life; we are merely strands of it.
One: Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
Many: Let us give thanks for the web of life in the circle that connects us.
Thanks be to God, the God of all, the God known by a thousand names.
–attributed to Chief Seattle
*OPENING HYMN. “I Sing The Mighty Power of God” Blk 12, vs 1-3
*OPENING PRAYER (unison) Lee
O God, in love you created us and in your grace you sustain us. We thank you for all in creation that provides for our needs, for all that is pleasing to our senses, for all that is part of the web of life on planet Earth. Help us to use wisely the resources of this earth: to be willing to share and cooperate with others, to pursue peace in all of our relationships, to cherish all that your hands have made. Help us to live responsibly so that the earth may not only endure, but flourish to the glory of your name. Amen
–written by Simon Taylor and published in Touch the Earth Gently
*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 Lee
GOD SPEAKS TO US
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
Readings from the Hebrew Scriptures Isaiah 56:1-2 (the Message) Lee
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 fortunate 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!
READING FROM THE HEBREW BIBLE Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15, 18-24
Pastor Jill
26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
27 So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.”
19 So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner.
21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called Woman,
for out of Man this one was taken.”
24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
HYMN OF PREPARATION “Touch the Earth Lightly” Blk 569 vs 1,3,4
Sermon “Dominion Does not Equal Domination” Rev. Dr Jill Sanders
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Kirk Landman
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 “Creative God You Spread the Earth with Light”( tune Kingsfold, Blk 51)
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
POSTLUDE MUSIC Kirk Landman
| The Hymn “Creative God, You Spread the Earth with Life” is used and reprinted with Permission under OneLicense A-715438. |
| The Call to Worship is attributed to Chief Seattle and the Opening Prayer is written by Simon Taylor and published in Touch the Earth Gently |
| 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 21, 2024
Sunday July 21
8:30 Youth group breakfast
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:15 Memorials Committee
11:30 Inspiring voices discussion group
Monday July 22
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity at Dunn Bros this week.
Tuesday July 23
12-4 Elder Network
Wednesday July 24
5:15 Choir rehearsal
Thursday July 25,
No Walking group@Big Ole
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Sunday July 28
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Inspiring voices discussion group
Welcome Our Guests
We are pleased to be the host last night and this morning to the Northern Plains Youth who are returning from the Regional Youth Event in Indiana. We wish them a safe journey home.
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.
The Good Samaritan Fund
We have given a lot of gas cards, grocery cards and a few one- or two-night stays in hotels since we collected for the Good Samaritan fund last. The ability to provide these gifts to people in need is an important part of our extravagant welcome mission. We are currently in need of donations to this fund.
Voices of Inspiration Discussion Group
STARTING Today, 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.
Office coverage for Joy’s vacation
Joy will be out of the office until July 31. Normal office hours will resume then. DiAnne Loch will be covering for the office the week of July 21 and her hours will be Tuesday and Thursday 10-2, Wednesday 11-2. Tuesday July 30 the office will be closed. Normal office hours will resume on July 31.
Choir Rehearsal
Choir will meet at 5:15 p Wed July 24.
Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries
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.
Pies and Lefse for sale
Women’s Fellowship has pies and lefse for sale. You can purchase them today or when the office is open.
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.
