Seventh Sunday of Easter* June 1, 2025
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD
PRELUDE Worship band
Chain Breaker, Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
Praise Opens Prisons
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Pastor Jill
*GATHERING SONG Chain Breaker
on screen & music handout
*UNISON PRAYER
Risen Christ,
you are no longer limited to one time or place.
You are in every time and place.
You are here. You are in us.
We are in you.
We open our hearts to your loving presence. Amen.
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
GOD SPEAKS TO US IN WORD AND SACRAMENT
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH
SCRIPTURE READING Acts 16:16-34 Pastor Jill
SONG OF PREPARATION “Jesus” performed by Jackson Buckingham from Wild Gem Theatre Co.’s production
SERMON “The Liberating Power of the Gospel” Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.
We thank you, God, for in the beginning
you spoke your Word and all Creation came into being,
all things, all living beings, one in your Word.
You have claimed all your children in love
and made us siblings;
you saved us all together on one ark;
you set us all free, judging all powers of oppression;
we have all passed through the same Red Sea.
You make a home for us, a promised land,
a fertile planet for all living beings.
In the Spirit of Christ you gather us as one people, one Body;
we are part of one another, and made whole in one another.
And so with all your children we gather at this table.
With all Creation and the whole company of heaven
we sing your praise with one voice.
Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
who embodied your love for us:
in his teaching and healing he made whole
bodies that were sick, families that were broken,
communities that were divided.
He gathered all around one table—
the powerful and the outcast, the esteemed and the condemned,
and fed us from one loaf.
Jesus invited us to share in the baptism of his death and resurrection.
Crucified and risen, he ascended from one time and place
into all times and places.
He gave us all his Spirit, making us one body in him,
promising that we would be in him, and he in us,
so that we would be one in you.
Whenever we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood and made one in his Spirit.
Christ is no longer in the body of a Galilean peasant
but, through his Spirit, in his community.
Receiving the Body of Christ, we become again the Body of Christ,
one with Christ, one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world.
Through your son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy church,
all glory and honor is yours,
eternal and loving God.
Amen.
THE BLESSING AND THE COVENANT
GIVING THE BREAD
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone), on screen & in music handout
GIVING THE CUP
As the cup is passed, please join in singing Praise Opens Prisons, on screen and in music handout
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (Unison)
Loving God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
WE RESPOND TO GOD
PRAYER SONG Sanctuary (on screen and in music handout)
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS
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
*DOXOLOGY Holy Spirit, (on screen & in music handout)
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*CLOSING Song Chain Breaker (on screen and in handout)
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
SENDING SONG Chain Breaker (on screen and in handout)
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY June 1, 2025
Sunday June 1 Communion
10:00 Worship in person and online, First Sunday Music
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Imagine Together
Monday June 2
10-11: “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros
2:-7 Voice lessons
Wednesday June 4
5:15 Choir Practice
Thursday June 5
9:00 Walking group@Big Ole
12 Women’s Fellowship, 11:00 am Women’s Fellowship Bd
4:30 Holy Happy Hr
6-9 Godspell rehearsal
Sunday June 8 KXRA Radio
9:15 Choir
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Communion Sunday
We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion this morning. All are welcome at the table. If you are gluten free, we have gluten-free crackers available upon request. Please notify an usher or the pastor if you would prefer them.
Special Music and Godspell
WELCOME to the members of the pit and crew of the Wild Gem Theatre Company! They will share a selection from their upcoming production Godspell. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us! Contact Joy in the office if you are interested in being part of a group going to see the performance on June 22.
June 20-21 and 26-28, 2025 at 7:00pm
June 22 and 29, 2025 at 2:00pm
Discovery Middle School Auditorium
Alexandria, Minnesota
Tickets available at wildgemtheatre.com
Imagine Together
Our Imagine Together process continues this morning with a conversation following coffee. Please plan to participate!
Next Sunday
WEAR RED, ORANGE, OR YELLOW next Sunday as we celebrate Pentecost– God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to the church!
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.
Choir Rehearsal
The choir will meet on June 4 at 5:15.
Women’s Fellowship
The Women’s Fellowship meeting will be held on Thursday, June 5 at noon in the Plymouth Room. A box lunch will be provided. The Board will meet at 11:00 in the Cambridge Room. Betty Anderson will lead a devotion. Barb Brown will lead a remembrance for Anne Riggs and the Flute Choir will play.
We will also finalize plans for the Salad Luncheon. We hope to see many of our members and friends at the meeting.
Angel Care Team volunteers needed.
We are trying to re-imagine how the Angel Care team will evolve to meet the needs of the congregation and our volunteer capacity. If you are available to be a phone buddy or are able to make visits in person this would be much appreciated. We currently have volunteers for in person visits for 4 months. Let the office know if you are available to volunteer.
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.
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.
Strengthen the Church offering
We will be collecting for this national UCC special offering the month of June. See the bulletin insert for specific projects that Strengthen The Church funds.
Bountiful Basket
Please help us pack up the Bountiful Basket after church today for Someplace Safe. We will be putting the basket away until after the salad luncheon
Birthday and Anniversary celebrations
If we have missed your birthday or other important date, please let us know.
Community Events
Alzheimer’s Association 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.
St Mary’s Salad Luncheon
Thurs June 5, 11-1 pm. St Mary’s Great Hall. $10.
Enjoy great salads and cake with friends, old and new. For group reservations call or text: 702-524-8073
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.
