25th Sunday after Pentecost November 15, 2026
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE Brad Lambrecht
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor Jill
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
*CALL TO WORSHIP Lee Becker
Leader: Loving God, you create us in your image and claim us as your children.
All: We give you our lives in thanksgiving and praise!
Leader: You give us gifts, each different, and bless us with your grace.
All: We give you our lives in thanksgiving and praise!
Leader: Fill us with your Spirit, that we may serve you with love and joy.
All: We give you our lives in thanksgiving and praise!
*HYMN OF PRAISE Praise with Joy the World’s Creator BLK #273
*UNISON PRAYER Lee
God of love, you love this world, and you choose to accomplish that love through us. You have given us gifts with which to bless this world, to heal the hurting, to feed, the needy to encourage the downtrodden. Stir up those gifts in us, and give us love and courage to share them, by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit and the presence of your loving Jesus. Amen.
*ASCRIPTION OF PRAISE BLK 55, vs 5
PASSING OF THE PEACE Lee
GOD SPEAKS TO US
SINGING TODAY’S Psalm Psalm 90 Lee
Open our Hearts to Wisdom (tune: Beech Spring)
Open now our hearts to wisdom, keep us numbering our days.
Generations long behind us, honored You, their dwelling place.
As a blink, our life’s duration, just a dream of yesterday.
Dust to dust our lovely lifespans, age to age your perfect grace.
We are children of our planet, we will all be quickly gone.
Though we thrive with breath and heartbeat, we can never know how long.
Open now our hearts to wisdom, keep us numbering our days
Gladly mindful of eternity, let us live a holy pace.
You have been our sanctuary, faithful God from age to age.
Open now our hearts to wisdom, keep us numbering our days.
You, a haven for our forebears, with the promise of your grace
Of our lives, God, make a legacy, for our children’s children’s faith.
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
READING FROM THE GOSPEL Matthew 25:14-30
“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them;
15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. At once
16 the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents.
18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’
26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.
29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
HYMN OF PREPARATION Take My Gifts BLK #562,
Sung to ‘Holy Manna’
SERMON “The Danger of a Scarcity Mindset” Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Brad Lambrecht
WE RESPOND TO GOD
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS, PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & 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 GIVE
OFFERTORY
*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY Worship & Rejoice 688
We give Thee but Thine own
Whatever the gift may be
All that we have is Thine alone
A trust O God from Thee
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN Called as Partners in Christ’s Service BLK 495
*BLESSING & SENDING FORTH
POSTLUDE Brad Lambrecht
| Used and reprinted with permission under One License A-715438. All rights reserved. |
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 November 15, 2026
Sunday, Nov 15,
10:00 Worship in person and online,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday Nov 16
10:00 “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Grand Arbor Bistro
7 pm Villard @ UCC
Tuesday Nov 17
11:30 Lunch bunch5:00 Board of Adminstration
6 pm Church Council
Wednesday Nov 18
4-6 pm Labyrinth
4:45 Choir rehearsal
5:30 Youth/parent small group
6:00 Book of the Bible Reading Discussion Group
Thursday Nov 19
9:00 Walking group @ Church
10:00 Morning Circle
4-7 Arts Space
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Next Sunday, Nov 22
9:15 Choir
10:00 Worship in person and online.
11:00 Hanging of the Greens,
12:00 Hailey John Birthday Party
5:30 Thanksgiving ecumenical Fellowship,
6 pm Thanksgiving ecumenical Service
Thank you
Thanks to all who made the Spaghetti Supper and Bake Sale a great success! Special thanks to Ann Branch, Connie Burns, and Jane Harstad for coordinating our efforts!
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.
Dartball team
The Dartball team has a home game at 7 pm Monday against Villard. If you are interested in joining the team, please come.
Lunch Bunch
Join us for Lunch at Grand Arbor’s Pioneer Grill at 11:30 Nov 17. All are welcome.
Tuesday is Meeting Day
The Board of Administration and the Church council meet on Tuesday. If you have an agenda item, please contact Pastor Jill, Clayton Mielke or Bruce Bina.
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 and at 9:15 on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. All are welcome.
Calvary Partnership
We will host the parents of Calvary’s Kid and Student Programming. 5:30 Wednesdays. If you have a child between newborn to 5th grade, you can meet with other parents while your child is attending a Wednesday evening program at Calvary.
Book of the Bible Reading Group
We will meet at the Village Cooperative (515 Jefferson St) Community room on the 2nd floor to discuss the Gospel of John. 6 pm Wednesday Nov 12.
Morning Circle
Nov. 19 at 10:00 am in the Cambridge Room. Note: new timeWe have coffee, a treat, a devotional video, and a brief business meeting. All are welcome.
Arts Space
This fall, artist Jax Rose will resume the 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. Hope to see you there!” This activity is sponsored by a Lake Region Arts Council grant.
Hanging of the Greens
Next Sunday, following worship, we will decorate our sanctuary and other shared spaces for the Advent and Christmas seasons. Please plan to stay and join the fun! Many hands make light work!!
Hailey John Birthday Party
After we finish hanging the greens and decorating the church join us in celebration of Hailey’s 13th birthday. Her Mom and Dad will be serving a lunch of tater tot hotdish, all are welcome. No gifts please.
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service
Everyone is invited to a beautiful evening of ecumenical worship led by St. Mary’s Catholic, Shalom Lutheran, First Lutheran, First Congregational, Emmanuel Episcopal, and United Methodist. Worship in person or watch live on United Methodist’s YouTube channel. Hot Apple Cider and Cookies! Fellowship begins at 5:30 pm with the service to follow at 6pm.
Angel Care volunteers needed
There are openings in our Angel Care visitation teams. This is an important and rewarding part of our church’s mission. If you and or a partner are available to volunteer, there is a sign up at the back of the sanctuary
Advent Devotionals available
If you are interested in an Advent Devotional, there are some available at the back of the sanctuary. If you need a large print one, ask for one in the office.
Thrivent Community Action Grant
Are you a Thrivent member? Have you used your Thrivent Action Grant this year? If you are a member of Thrivent consider using your allotted grant money for the Spaghetti dinner or Christmas dinner. See Joy in the office for possible grant ideas for all three coming events.
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.
Harvest Table
If you have extra produce from your garden, please consider sharing your bounty. If you have need of veggies, herbs, flowers or other produce, consider making a free will donation to be used by the Missions committee as they determine needs. We will continue until we do not have donations.
Bountiful Basket
For the month of November please bring in toys and other Christmas gifts for the Small Mall. If you are interested in volunteering for the Small Mall, please see the poster near the basket for day of and other volunteer opportunities. For gift ideas see lists on the basket.
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
Hailey John 11/25
Tara LeBrasseur Pham 11/25
David Fleming 11/27
Merlin Moser 11/28
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 @ 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.
THANKSGIVING DINNER– With the help of various faith communities in Alexandria, St. Mary’s is again hosting a free Thanksgiving Dinner on November 26, from 11:30 a.m. -1:00 pm in the St. Mary’s school gym. For the homebound, we offer free meal delivery (1-2 meals per household). Please call Julie Kirscht 320-766-1321 by November 19 to order delivered meals.
If you wish to volunteer please contact Grace at 618-292-0506 or gracehlambert@yahoo.com. St. Mary’s is also taking donations of
pumpkin or fruit pies (no cream or custard pies), please bring them to St. Mary’s school kitchen on Wednesday, November 25, noon-5:00 pm or Thanksgiving Day before 10 a.m.
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.
