Sunday, Sept 24, 2023 17th Sunday after Pentecost
PRELUDE: Jane Herth, worship accompanist
WELCOME Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pastor Jill
POURING THE BAPTISMAL WATER: Pastor Jill
*CALL TO WORSHIP: Betty Cichy-Anderson, reader
Please stand in body or spirit and remain standing in body or spirit until the passing of the peace.
One: Come! Come and worship, you who woke early and you who slept late; you who come often, and you who don’t. Whether we are first or last or somewhere in between, there is room for all of us in God’s kingdom, and more than enough grace to go around.
Many: Let’s worship God together!
*HYMN OF PRAISE: Joyful, Joyful Blk #4 v 1-3
*Unison Prayer of Brokeness Betty
God of Justice and Mercy, we confess that often our desire for justice is a desire for punishment of those who have done us wrong. We confess that we sometimes do not show mercy to those who have wronged us, yet we expect mercy ourselves. Forgive us for our selfish, foolish ways. Forgive us for not seeking Your way that turns the world upside down. In Your reign, You welcome those who have come around last. You embrace those who realize they need to turn their lives around even at the last moment. You love us all as Your children. Help us to love with that same love. Help us to show mercy as You have showed mercy to us. Help us to practice justice that repairs and restores, rather than punishes. In the name of Christ, who has shown us the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we pray. Amen.
Words of Grace: Betty
One: How great and merciful is our God! How just and true! How wonderful that our God loves us and forgives us. How awesome that God accepts us and calls us to love one another as we have first been loved by God.
Many: God’s love and grace are with us always. Thanks be to God!
*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) Betty
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 Hebrew Bible: Jonah 3:10-4:11 Betty
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH
Ministry in Music Christian Fleming
Reading from the Gospel Matthew 20: 1-16 Pastor Jill
HYMN FOR PREPARATION “O Savior, Let Me Walk with You” Blk 503 v 1,3,and 4
SERMON “Inclusion’s Upheaval” Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSICAL REFLECTION Jane Herth
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS, Moment of Silence, Pastoral Prayer, 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.
INVITATION TO GIVE, GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS:
*DOXOLOGY The Old 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: “Together We Serve” TFWS 2175
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
*POSTLUDE: Jane Herth
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY September 24, 2023
The weekly Calendar
Sunday Sept 24th Sunday
10:00 Worship in-person & online
11:00 Pictures taken for Picture directory
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Enneagram class, Journey Toward Wholeness
4:00 Open and Affirming Community Worship Service and Open House Celebration
Monday Sept 25
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity
Tuesday Sept 26
12-4 Elder Network
Wednesday Sept 27
Lunch serve lunch for Habitat for Humanity
4:30 Choir Rehearsal
Thursday September 28
9:00 No group walk
9-1 p Office hour change, DiAnne Loch covers
4:30 Holy Happy Hour @ Pike & Pint
Sunday Oct 1, KXRA Radio Sunday, World Communion
9:15 Choir Rehearsal
10:00 Worship in-person & online, KXRA, Communion
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Enneagram class, Journey Toward Wholeness
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.
Habitat for Humanity Lunch
We will be serving lunch on Wednesday to Habitat for Humanity workers. Volunteers are needed. Contact Barb Brown (766-9119) for details.
Office Hour change Thursday
On Thursday the office will be open from 9-1 pm rather 10-2 pm. DiAnne Loch will be in the office.
Thank you
Choir for leading congregational singing; Christian Fleming for providing special music; All of those who have gone the extra mile the past 2 weeks for the anniversary, Celebration of Life and our Open and Affirming celebration.
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.
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.
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
Clayton Mielke 09/24
Craig Mische 09/25
Mike Gralow 09/26
Cathy Johnson 09/28
Mike Hemann 09/29
Adrian Thompson 09/29
Cathy Grove Barker 10/01
Betty Anderson 10/02
Susan Keehn 10/05
Bonnie Tanquist 10/06
Kris Sundberg 10/06
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.
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.
