Sunday, Oct 1, 2023 World communion Sunday 18th Sunday after Pentecost
PRELUDE: Margaret Kalina, worship accompanist
WELCOME Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pastor Jill
POURING THE BAPTISMAL WATER: Pastor Jill
Choral Introit
*CALL TO WORSHIP: Marcie Watson, reader
Please stand in body or spirit and remain standing in body or spirit until the passing of the peace.
One: If then there is any encouragement in Christ,
Many: Any consolation from love,
One: Any sharing in the Spirit,
Many: Any compassion and sympathy,
One: Make our joy complete:
Many: Be of the same mind,
One: Having the same love,
Many: Being in full accord and of one mind.
One: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
Many: In humility regard others as better than yourselves.
One: Let each of us look not to our own good,
Many: But take notice of what is good for others, too.
One: Let the same mind be in us that is in Christ Jesus.
Many: For it is God who is at work in us. Thanks be to God!
*HYMN OF PRAISE: Enter Rejoice and Come In Blk #73 v 1-4
*Opening Prayer Marcie
Though you are God, with all the influence and status that the name implies, you refused to pull rank, and parade your power among us. Instead, you chose to step down into our experience, living among us, as one of us, with all the struggle and suffering that goes with being human. More than that, you adopted the role of slave, washing feet, serving people of no reputation or social standing, and giving of yourself completely. As incredible as it sounds, you are the God who serves, and we can respond in no other way than to give ourselves to you in praise. Amen.
~ written by John van de Laar, and posted on the Sacredise.com website.
*GLORIA TFWS 2023
O Lord, our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth;
O Lord, our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
O God, we praise your name.
O God, we magnify your name:
Prince of Peace, mighty God,
O Lord God Almighty.
*PASSING OF THE PEACE: (responsive) Marcie
One: May the Peace of Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Let us share signs of Christ’s peace with one and another!
Please be seated.
READING FROM THE EPISTLE: Philippians 2:1-13
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH
Choir Anthem
Reading from the Gospel Matthew 21: 1-13 Pastor Jill
HYMN FOR PREPARATION “As We Gather” Blk 332
SERMON “Making Room” Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSICAL REFLECTION Margaret Kalina
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS, PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR (ecumenical version)
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.
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
Friends, we come to this Table today, from a world marked by division, by brokenness, by borders and barriers, and conflict and difference. We come from diverse backgrounds and lives, bringing our own struggles, and our own hunger. We come feeling lonely or misunderstood, worn down by a world that so often tells us a story of separation, of hopeless disagreement. But this Table does not belong to this world. This Table belongs to God, to Christ, and it tells us a different story. The story of one who came in love, not for some of us, but for all of us. At this Table, we are one, bound together in the love of the One who bids us come. Who promises that brokenness and division will not have the final word, that there is space for all our different lives and stories and our particular hunger at this Holy feast. When we come to this Table, we are joined not just with each other, but with everyone who gathers at Table now and forever, and together we proclaim that the love that binds us is stronger than anything that might separate us. So let us come and feast on the promise of God.
© 2019 Illustrated Ministry, LLC. All Rights Reserved. illustratedministry.com
Prayer of Consecration for World Communion Sunday
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break together, and the cup we share together, may retell our common stories together and reshape our common bonds together, and remember our common grace together, in the communion of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ, the one in whose life and death you have torn down our divisions. And so may we be one with all who share this feast, on this day, of all days, with all your children at every corner of your table. May we share this abundant cup with all those who thirst for your justice. May we share this abundant bread with all those who hunger for your righteousness, May we be united with every corner of your story, united in hope, united in vision, united in purpose, united in ministry in every place. As this bread is Christ’s body for us, send us from this table to be the body of Christ in all the world. Send us with a spirit of courage, a spirit of power and love, that we may be witnesses in all creation to the unending story of your word breathing life into the dust. Keep us faithful, and fruitful, and hopeful, and peaceful, until we come at last to the one table of your Kingdom, to feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm, with you and with your Word, through Christ and in Christ, the one who came for us, died for us, rose for us, and prays for us. Amen.
Words of Institution
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Leader: The bread on Christ’s table is blessed and broken. As long as it is open to all, it is holy.
Unison: Sharing love, we will never be hungry.
Leader: The cup on your table is blessed and poured like the overflowing of tears and joy.
Unison: Drinking deeply, we will never thirst.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (Unison) Gracious God, we offer our thanks, for the whole communion of saint’s witness to this feast, and for the ministry of churches around the world who gather with us today. By this broken bread may we each be restored for the work yet to come. By this shared cup may we each be claimed for the proclamation of your Kingdom. At this shared table may we be united as children of your promise, children of your word, dying and made new again, sent boldly together into the world as servants of your peace. Amen.
INVITATION TO GIVE, GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS:
*DOXOLOGY TheOld Hundredth
O God, may we who bear your name,
By gentle love your grace proclaim.
Christ’s gift of peace on earth declare,
And your anointing Spirit share.
*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS & PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*CLOSING HYMN: “Sent out in Jesus’ Name” TFWS 2184
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
*Choral Benediction
*POSTLUDE: Margaret Kalina
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY October 1, 2023
The weekly Calendar
Sunday Oct 1 World Communion, KXRA Sunday
9:15 Choir Rehearsal
10:00 Worship in-person & online, KXRA, Communion
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Enneagram class, Journey Toward Wholeness
Monday Oct 2
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity
Wednesday Oct 4
4:30 Choir Rehearsal
Thursday Oct 5
9:00 No group walk
12:30 Women’s Fellowship meeting, board meeting prior
4:30 Holy Happy Hour @ Pike & Pint
Sunday Oct 8
9:15 Choir Rehearsal
10:00 Worship in-person & online,
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Enneagram class, Journey Toward Wholeness
KXRA Radio Sunday
We extend a warm welcome and greeting to our KXRA listeners this morning. Our service is re-broadcast each 1st Sunday of the month at 11:00 am. Celesta Podolske and family are sponsoring today’s broadcast in memory of Harold.
Today is World Communion Sunday
All are welcome at God’s table. We celebrate open communion (everyone invited), and for today’s Communion, we will invite everyone to come forward to receive the sacrament. Those who wish may be served in their pew.
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.
Note Pastor Jill’s vacation: Pastor Jill will be on vacation October 2-15. For pastoral emergencies this week, please contact the church office or the pastor on call, the Rev. David Fleener, pastor at Shalom Lutheran Church in Alexandria. His number is 762-8641.
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 your giving account online using our new software provider, Churchtrac.
Women’s Fellowship
This month’s women’s fellowship is meeting at 12:30 rather than noon. Our guest speaker is from West Central Minnesota Communities Action and she will talk about the Launch Pad program beginning at 1:15.
Walking Group
There will be no group walk this week. You are encouraged to walk with purpose individually if you can.
Cookies/Baked Goods Wanted
Do you have extra cookies or baked goods? Love to bake but don’t want a lot of extras at home. We would love to have a supply of frozen cookies to serve on Sundays. This would relieve the burden on those who choose to serve on Sunday. Please put them in the freezer in the Plymouth Room.
Neighbors in Need Offering
Neighbors in Need is one of our regular conference offerings and we will start collecting on World Communion Sunday and will collect throughout the month of October.
This offering supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects.
Harvest Table
Stop and check out the Harvest table across from the elevator near the east entrance. Please bring garden produce to buy, sell and share. Money from the table will go to purchase gas cards for the students at Alexandria Technical and Community College.
Bountiful Basket
We will be collecting for the bountiful basket for ATCC students until Oct 15. That is the day that we will box up and load after church
Help out with Worship
There are sign ups at the back of the church for October. If you are able to greet, usher, or read, help serve coffee or clean up after Fellowship, please sign up there.
Angel Express and Angel Care Team
Volunteers are needed to cover additional months. Please contact the church office or Daisy 763-9461. Daisy and Neva Nickel will be angels for September.
Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries
Roger Hochsprung 10/10
Kris Sundberg/David Pressler 10/10/1998
Bea Morrison 10/11
Dillon Schauff 10/12
Jacob Fleming 10/12
If the office has missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact us.
Directory Update
Please stop to have your photo taken on Sunday if you haven’t done so already. Connections will help schedule any additional photos after September 24, including committee pictures. If your contact information has recently changed, please let the office know. We expect the new picture directory will come out in October.
The Journey Toward Wholeness
3rd enneagram book group
if you studied one or both of suzanne stabile’s books on the enneagram or if you have studied the enneagram on your own, please join Marcie Watson for six consecutive Sundays following worship and coffee time from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.
Freeing Jesus — Book Discussion Group
On Sundays, Oct. 22 – Dec. 3, 11:30-12:30, Julie McCarty will be leading a book discussion group exploring Diane Butler Bass’ book Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence, exploring the various ways, we relate to Jesus at various times in our lives. Sign-up after worship or call/text Julie at 320-766-6176 or e-mail juliemccarty@usfamily.net .
About First Congregational United Church of Christ
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.
