Seventh Sunday after Pentecost* July 27, 2025
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD
PRELUDE MUSIC Diane Alveshere
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Pastor Jill
*CALL TO WORSHIP Lee Becker
One: Please rise in body or spirit and remain standing through the passing of the peace
One: Loving God, you create us in your image and claim us as your children.
All: We give you our lives in thanksgiving and praise!
One: You give us gifts, each different, and bless us with your grace.
All: We give you our lives in thanksgiving and praise!
One: Fill us with your Spirit, that we may serve you with love and joy.
All: We give you our lives in thanksgiving and praise! Alleluia!
*HYMN OF Praise Let all creation bless the Lord, W & R 25 Vs. 1-3
On screen and in bulletin
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Lee
One: In the lives of neighbors who suffer brokenness and pain:
All: We confess you are still speaking!
One: In the struggle of the poor whose rights are not honored:
All: We confess you are still speaking!
One: In a world crying out for wisdom, love and mercy:
All: We confess you are still speaking!
One: In a world calling for the blessing of truth:
All: We confess you are still speaking! Bless us to hear!
One: Let us confess together:
All: We confess that in our lives we often hide behind our work and play, schools and jobs, fun and fashion. We let ourselves get so busy that we forget the cause of the poor and the suffering. We confess we allow the powers of this world to seduce us into selfishness and silence our witness. Teach us to champion the cause for justice for all, strengthen us to love our neighbor and speak truth no matter the penalty. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE Lee
One: The Word of God assures us that we are able to love through the Spirit of Christ.
All: Let us go from this place with authority, knowing that God’s Word gives us strength to love our neighbors near and far and power to speak up for those who are broken. Thanks to the Word of God!
~ from Empowered to Love and Speak Truth, written by LT Leticia Rouser, a chaplain in the United States Navy.
*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 Lee
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
MINISTRY IN MUSIC Shannon Berns
READING FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES Genesis 32:22-30 Lee
Jacob Wrestles at Peniel
22 The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.
24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to Jacob, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
28 Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.”
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
GOSPEL READING Matthew 25:31-40 Pastor Jill
The Judgment of the Nations
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,
35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing?
39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’
HYMN OF PREPARATION God, speak to me, that I may speak,
Blk 531 Vs. 1-4
MESSAGE “Living the Way of Love: Bless” Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Diane Alveshere
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 Diane Alveshere
*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 The Summons, W& R 350 Vs. 1,2,4
On screen and in bulletin
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
POSTLUDE MUSIC Diane Alveshere
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY JULY 27, 2025
THE WEEKLY CALENDAR
Today, Sunday July 27
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday July 28
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity
2-7pm Voice lessons
Wednesday July 30
6:15 First Sunday Band Practice
Thursday July 31
9:00 Walking Group @ Big Ole
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Next Sunday Aug 3
10:00 Worship in person and online, Communion, First Sunday Music
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Imagine Together
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.
Imagine Together
Our Imagine Together process continues next Sunday with a conversation following coffee. Please plan to participate!
Frozen Pies Available
There are a few pies still available. $15 a pie.
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.
UCC Disaster Ministries
Over the past week or so, there has been a series of severe weather events across the United States. This includes the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal in central North Carolina, and flash flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
The Disaster Ministry Team at the National Ministry of the United Church of Christ has been in contact with the Conference Disaster Response Coordinators and the Conference Ministers for the impacted conferences to monitor the situation and determine how best to support communities as we learn more about the devastation from these storms.
We continue to hold all of those affected by the storms, and their loved ones in our prayers.
To support the relief and long-term recovery of those affected by these severe storms, and other communities that have experienced similar events across the US, click here, and select “Severe Storms” as the designation.
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
Sue Pommerenke 08/05
Jonathan Carlson, Jr 08/08
Micki Schneider 08/08
Bina Anniversary 08/08/1980
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. August volunteers are Judy Kuhlmann (320)763-6033 and Mary Mische (320) 491-0341.
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.
