Sixth Sunday of Easter * May 25, 2025
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD
PRELUDE Diane Alveshere
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Pastor Jill
INTROIT Alleluia! Christ is Risen P Liebergen
*CALL TO WORSHIP Marcie Watson
One: Come to this place of prayer; God is calling us.
Come, all who are burdened; there is healing here.
All: We have come to hear God speak.
We have brought with us all that weighs us down.
One: Let our voices of praise greet the One who calls us.
All: Our hearts respond with hope for a new day.
Our voices join in thankful prayers and praise.
One: God reigns among us and fills the world with light.
We are invited to make our home with the Living God.
All: May God’s ways be known within and among us.
May God guide all nations in the ways of peace.
*HYMN of PRAISE O Jesus Christ, May grateful hymns Blk# 212 Vs 1-3
*UNISON PRAYER Marcie
God of love and peace, whose healing word is offered to every person and nation, we long to hear, see, and feel your presence with us. Send your Holy Spirit to overpower our excuses, lend new perspective to our troubled thoughts, and equip us to walk into the future with courage. Reign among us that we may proclaim good news to all who need to hear it. Amen.
*GLORIA Blk 236
Halle halle hallelujah
Halle halle hallelujah
Halle halle hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah x 2
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
GOD SPEAKS TO US
CHOIR ANTHEM This is the Day the Risen Lord Made, Stanford/Ehret
A READING FROM ACTS Acts 16:9-15 Marcie
9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
11 We therefore set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis,
12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days.
13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.
14 A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.
15 When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH
A READING FROM THE GOSPEL John 5:1-9 Pastor Jill
5 After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes.
3 In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people. 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time,Jesus said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The ill man answered Jesus, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps down ahead of me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a Sabbath.
Hymn OF PREPARATION Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, Blk #498, Vs 1-4
SERMON “From Stuck to Standing“ Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Diane Alveshere
WE RESPOND TO GOD
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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 Blk #565, verse 3
Treasure, too, you have entrusted, gain through powers your grace conferred;
Ours to use for home and kindred and to spread the Gospel word.
Open wide our hands in sharing as we heed Christ’s ageless call.
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming, honoring you by loving all.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*CLOSING Hymn Lead us from death to life, Blk #581 refrain, vs 1-3, refrain
Sing refrain, then vs 1-3, and then refrain again. Skip refrain after vs 1&2.
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
BENEDICTION Sevenfold Amen, Stainer
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY May 25, 2025
Sunday May 25
9:15 Choir
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday May 26 Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day
Tuesday May 27
12-4 Elder Network
Wednesday May 28
5:15 Choir Practice
6-9 Godspell rehearsal
Thursday May 29
9:00 Walking group@church
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
6-9 Wild Gem Theatre Godspell rehearsal
Friday May 30
6-9 Godspell rehearsal
Sunday June 1 Communion
10:00 Worship in person and online, 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.
Choir Rehearsal
The choir will meet on May 28 at 5:15.
Imagine Together
Join us, during Coffee Fellowship Sunday June 1, as we imagine together what our future looks like and what it will take to bring it into the world.
Angel Care Team for May
Niki Froemming and Cathy Johnson are the angels for this month. Contact the office 320-763-3341 if you need assistance.
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.
Bountiful Basket
Bountiful Basket is collecting for Someplace Safe in the months of April and May.
Birthday and Anniversary celebrations
Maryjane Westra 06/06
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
Godspell
Wild Gem Theatre Co. is thrilled to bring GODSPELL to the Alexandria lakes area! A smash pop-rock musical from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), Godspell follows a small group of people helping Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a variety of games, storytelling techniques, and a hefty dose of comic timing. Led by the international hit “Day by Day,” Godspell features a parade of beloved songs, including “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord,” “Learn Your Lessons Well,” “All for the Best,” “All Good Gifts,” and more. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’s messages of kindness, tolerance, and love come to life in this musical that continues to touch hearts and minds.
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
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.
