*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
Reader: Please make certain that candles are lit at the beginning of the service and put out at the end of the service.
Trinity Sunday, Fifth Sunday Music May 31, 2026
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE Praise Band
Glory Bound | Peace Like a River | I Saw the Light
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor Marc
REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Please Stand in Body or Spirit and remain standing until the passing of the Peace
ONE: Whispering God, you have led us to the water’s edge this morning for worship.
ALL: O God, surprise us.
ONE: God of our worship and our witness, we have come to praise you and to be renewed for the ministry to which we are called.
ALL: O God, surprise us.
ONE: God of today and far beyond our knowing, remind us that we are yours in the waters of baptism. Fill us with wonder.
ALL: O God, surprise us.
ONE: O God, we are ready to be surprised by your mystery and grace.
ALL: O God, surprise us, as we gather to worship you.
*OPENING SONG My Beloved on screen
*WELCOMING PRAYER (unison)
Please join me the welcoming prayer
O God of Welcome, Gentle Savior, Empowering Spirit,
come to us now, accept our invitation to dwell.
You have created us with various senses.
Open our eyes to your work in the world.
Open our ears to your words of grace.
Come, Spirit of the Living God,
clasp hands with us, whirl with us,
blending our faith with your grace.
Praying in the name of Jesus, our Christ, we ask this of you.
Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
GOD SPEAKS TO US
I’ve Got Peace Like A River on screen & handout
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Marc
I’ve Got Peace Like A River on screen & handout
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Ephesians 4:1-5
4 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace:
4 there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Acts 8:26-39
26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.)
27 So Philip got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship
8 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.”
30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.
32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”,
38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing.
SONG OF PREPARATION Shall We Gather at the River Blk 597
MESSAGE “Why The Water?” Rev. Marc Blakesley
WE RESPOND TO GOD
Response Song Take Me to the Water Blk #322
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYER SONG “Down to the River to Pray” screen & handout
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE 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 Glory Bound, on screen & Handout
*OFFERING SONG Holy Spirit chorus and interlude
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION Pastor Marc
*PARTING SONG I Saw the Light
*BENEDICTION Pastor Marc
*SENDING SONG I Saw The Light The Praise Band
Call to Worship and Opening Prayer 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 May 31 2026
Sunday May 31, Fifth Sunday Music
8:30 Band rehearsal
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:00 Memorial Committee meeting
Monday June 1
10-11 “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros
4-8 Voice lessons
6:30 Confirmation (here)
Tuesday June 2
2:30 Voice lessons
Wednesday June 3
4-6 Labyrinth
4:45 Choir rehearsal
Thursday June 4
9:00 Walking group@Big Ole
12:00 Women’s Fellowship, 11 am Board Meeting
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Next Sunday June 7, Communion, 1st Sunday Music
8:30 Band rehearsal
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.
Choir rehearsal
The choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 4:45 pm. They also rehearse the Sundays they sing at 9:15 am. The choir sings in worship on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month through May.
Women’s Fellowship
We meet at noon on June 4. A lunch will be provided to celebrate the coming of summer. We will honor members of our group who have passed away this year, Daisy Stahlberg and Bea Morrison. Planning for our annual Salad Luncheon and Bake Sale (July 16) will also be on the agenda.
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.
Bountiful Basket
The Bountiful Basket is designated for Someplace Safe—suggested items are on the basket. We will collect for Someplace through May. Today is the last Sunday to collect for the Bountiful Basket and Someplace Safe. Someplace Safe will come to pick up items from the basket this week.
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
Rose Anniversary 06/08
If we have missed your birthday or other important date, please let us know.
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. Our next WoW Wednesday is June 17 beginning at 5:15 with a meal. At 6:00 p.m. Jennifer Weber will guide participants through a session of somatic meditation, a calming mindfulness technique focused on the body. This practice emphasizes awareness of physical sensations to support emotional health, healing, and overall well-being. Everyone can do it in their chair. No experience needed. Sign ups for all Wow Wednesdays and Sabbath Saturdays are at the back of the sanctuary. You can also call the office to sign up.
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.
