WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
*invites all to rise as you are able, in body or spirit
Prelude Music Brad Lambrecht
Welcome & Announcements Pastor Marc
Remembering Our Baptism
*Call to Worship Bonnie Bina
ONE: Why have you come out of your homes and left your daily tasks to be here this morning?
ALL: We gather to offer God our praise.
ONE: What do you hope to find here in this space?
ALL: We gather to find community with God’s people.
ONE: What can be done to sustain your faith and comfort your longings in this time?
ALL: We gather to hear a fresh Word proclaimed.
ONE: There is so much healing for both our souls and the world when we gather. We come to know the God who is always with us, from the cradle to the cross and beyond.
ALL: We gather in the name of the God of the cross and the resurrection life, made known by Jesus.
*Opening Hymn Lift High the Cross Black #198
(verse 1-2 & 4-5)
*Invocation Pastor Marc
*Call to Confession
*Prayer of Confession (unison) Bonnie
O Guiding God, you say, “Here I am” and yet we often ignore you.
Forgive us, we pray.
O Liberating Lord, you keep taking away the heavy yoke from our spirits and yet we keep putting it back on.
Forgive us, we pray.
O water of Life, you lead us to springs of water and we do not drink; you offer us watered gardens and yet we wander off to parched places.
Forgive us, we pray.
Open us up to you, O holy and healing One, to your leading and to your grace. Amen.
*Words of Assurance
*Act of Praise Glory, Glory Hallelujah Black #2 (verse 1-3)
*Passing of the Peace
GOD SPEAKS TO US
Moment with the Younger Church Pastor Marc
Prophetic Reading Isaiah 58:9-12 Bonnie
Meditation Hymn Precious Lord, Take My Hand Black #472
Gospel Reading Mark 8:31-37 Bonnie
Message Why the Cross? Rev. Marc Blakesley
WE RESPOND TO GOD
Response Hymn Beneath the Cross of Jesus Black #190
Litany for Fatherhood
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
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 Music Chanson Triste Gabriel Maland, cello (Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky, composer)
Offering Response TUNE: Lasst Uns Enfreuen
To God, we lift our voice in praise;
For these, our gifts, and all our days.
Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!
Thanks for your goodness all around!
Great blessings everywhere abound!
Praise Creator and the Savior! Praise the Spirit,
Holy Spirit! Al-le-lu-ia!
*Dedication Prayer Pastor Marc
WE TAKE GOD’S WITNESS OUT
*Parting Hymn Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing Black #77
*Benediction Pastor Marc
*Postlude Music Brad Lambrecht
Call to Worship and Prayer of Confession written by Marc W Blakesley. Copyright © 2023, 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 June 21 2026
Sunday June 21, Fathers’ Day
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday June 22
10:00 No “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros
4-8 Voice lessons
Tuesday June 23
12-4 Elder Network
2:30 Voice lessons
Wednesday June 24
4-6 Labyrinth
4:45 Choir
Thursday June 25
4-7 Arts Space
4:30 Holy Happy Hr
Saturday June 27
9:30 Sabbath Saturday, St John’s Bible Trip
Next Sunday June 28,
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
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.
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!”
Newsletter Deadline for July/August Visitor—June 22
Please send your newsletter articles to the office by the end of the day.
St. John’s Bible trip
Be sure to sign up for the St. John’s Bible trip by June 24. This trip is free of charge and can be enjoyed by all. We will attend mass and have a meal at the refectory before going to the presentation on the St. John’s Bible.
Angel Care Team June
LuWanna Hintermeister will be the June Angel visitor. If you know of someone who needs a visit, please contact the office.
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.
Strengthen the Church Offering
The Strengthen the Church Offering furthers the work of our conferences and the national UCC as we work together to strengthen and renew existing congregations, fund leadership development, and provide exciting new programs for youth and young adults. The offering is divided with 50% staying regionally within your conference and 50% supporting the National Ministries. We begin officially collecting for this conference wide offering June 1.
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
Erin Weatherwax 06/30
Zavadil anniversary 07/02
If we have missed your birthday or other important date, please let us know.
Wedding Anniversary
Carol and Gary Zavadil have been married 60 years on July 2.
Upcoming Events or Community Events
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.
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.
WOW Wednesdays and Sabbath Saturdays
During Pastor Jill’s renewal leave, we have planned activities for the congregation that will encourage them to reflect, be creative and build our faith. Once a month we will have an activity on Wednesday and a Saturday. Sign ups for all Wow Wednesdays and Sabbath Saturdays are at the back of the sanctuary.
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. Sign ups at the back of the sanctuary soon.
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
The evening will include an ice cream social, entertainment, and live and silent auctions, with proceeds benefiting Andrea’s medical expenses. 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
We are an inclusive community that welcomes extravagantly, seeks God and follows Jesus into the world
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.
