Sept 3, 2023 14th Sunday after Pentecost
“The Divine Benefits Package”
*please stand in body and/or spirit
PRELUDE: Margaret Kalina
WELCOME Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pastor Jill
POURING THE BAPTISMAL WATER: Pastor Jill
CHORAL INTROIT Sweet, Sweet, Spirit by Doris Akers
*CALL TO WORSHIP: Evelyn Henrickson, reader
One: We may be thirsty and parched, like an un-watered garden, so we come into God’s presence:
Many: The Divine One is a spring of water!
One: We may be weary from worry and work so we come into God’s presence:
Many: The Holy One offers us Sabbath rest!
One: We may be lost or confused so we come into God’s presence:
Many: The Wise One offers us welcome and guidance!
One: We may be bent over with struggle or pain so we come into God’s presence:
Many: The Healing One empowers us to stand strong!
*OPENING HYMN “Sing Praise to the Father” Worship and Rejoice #142 vs 1,3 and 4
*Opening Prayer: (Unison) Evelyn
O God of all goodness, you welcome us, forgive us and heal us. You seek us out from places where we have hidden from you. You crown us with steadfast love and mercy. Reveal yourself to us in this moment. Let us know your presence so that we may bless you: Bless you, O God! Bless your holy name! Amen.
~ written by The Rev. Catherine Rolling, and posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-c/p/pentecost-ordinary-time-11.html–
*GLORIA Black 236
*PASSING OF THE PEACE: (responsive) Evelyn
READING FROM THE PSALMS: Psalm 103 Evelyn
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH, BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS
HYMN FOR PREPARATION “O My Soul, Bless Your Creator” Blk 13 vs 1-4
SERMON “The Divine Benefits Package” Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSICAL REFLECTION 10,000 reasons, Matt Redman Andrew Fleming
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS, MOMENT OF SILENCE,
PASTORAL PRAYER
PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
INVITATION TO GIVE, GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS:
*DOXOLOGY Lasst uns Erfreuen
*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS & PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Unison)
*CLOSING HYMN: “This is a time to remember” Worship and Rejoice #579 vs 1-3
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
CHORAL BENEDICTION Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness by Manly
*POSTLUDE: Margaret Kalina
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY September 3, 2023
The weekly Calendar
Sunday Sept 3 KXRA Radio Sunday
10:00 Worship in-person & online Backpack blessing and choir
11:00 Pictures taken for Picture directory
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday Sept 4 Labor Day
No Caffeinated Christianity
Tuesday Sept 5
5:30 Painting Party
Thursday September 7
9:00 Walk @ Big Ole
1100 Women’s Fellowship Board
12:00 Women’s Fellowship
4:30 Holy Happy Hour @ Pike & Pint
Sunday Sept 10th Communion Sunday
10:00 Worship in-person & online Backpack blessing and choir
11:00 Pictures taken for Picture directory
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Enneagram class, Journey Toward Wholeness
KXRA Radio Sunday
We extend a warm welcome and greetingto our KXRA listeners this morning. Our service is re-broadcast each 1st Sunday of the month at 11:00 am. Caroll Bluhm is sponsoring today’s broadcast in memory of Donald.
Backpack Blessing
We will be blessing people’s backpacks, briefcases or other back to school or back to work items. Are you someone starting a new grade, new phase of education, looking for a job or starting a new job bring your backpack, briefcase to church to be blessed.
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.
Painting Party
Sept 5 Light meal served at 5:30, Painting begins at 6 pm. The Redesign Taskforce invites you to a painting party for the Pilgrim room and the Heritage room. Many hands make the work light and fun.
Women’s Fellowship
Women’s Fellowship will kick off our first meeting of our year Thursday, September 7 at noon in the Plymouth Room. Bring your own “bag lunch” and coffee and a treat will be provided by Carol Zavadil and Ann Branch. Our program will be a discussion of topics we want to address this coming year based on the banner “Be the Church”. Some of you may have noticed the very colorful banner in the east stairway leading to the Sanctuary (or the Fellowship Hall). The topics for our meetings will be from the statements on the banner: “Protect the environment. Care for the poor. Forgive often. Reject racism. Fight for the powerless. Share earthly and spiritual resources. Embrace diversity. Love God. Enjoy this life.” Tell us what is important to you or that you wish to discuss more in a future monthly meeting.
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.
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.
Choir
Choir rehearsal will be on hiatus for the month of September. The Choir will help with congregational singing and sit in the choir pews for this month.
Disaster Ministries—Hawaii Wildfires
A historic United Church of Christ congregation lost their sanctuary and community center. Many of the congregants have lost their homes. Donations can be given during church—please put that on your memo line of your check. Two quicker ways to send support include giving directly to the Hawaiian UCC conference at bit.ly/hcuccrelief or to https://support.ucc.org/hawaii-wildfires. Both of these sites will provide relief for anyone in need in the devastated areas.
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
The bountiful basket is back in its place near the elevator. We welcome early bird donations for Alexandria Technical College. These donations can include non-perishable groceries and hygiene supplies.
Help out with Worship
There are sign ups at the back of the church for August. 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
Lee Becker 09/09
Hodges/Puyear anniv 09/13/13
LaDonna Anderson 09/16
If the office has missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact us.
Directory Update
We have decided it has been a long time since our last photo directory. We will start taking photos this Sunday if you are ready, however, our main push will be during September. 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. beginning September 10and ending October 15th. Please sign up as soon as possible so we can order a book for you. For more information contact Marcie at at marciewatson2027@gmail.com or text (call too) her at (319) 310-0565.
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.
Conference Events
Fall Conference Youth Event
October 6 – October 8
Location: Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center
Ages: Grades 6-12 Cost: $125/Youth, $100/Adult Leader
So often we have people in our lives who ask, “What do you plan to do?”, as if we must have a perfect answer. Through this time together, youth and adults will practice shifting our language that is more about curiosity and wonder rather than having the “right” answers. Through playful discussions, activities, and music, we will reimagine our “wild and precious life” that speaks to who we are, what we value, and how our faith can guide us in the world.
Musician and faith leader Hans Peterson will help shape the weekend and offer space to wonder together.
