Fourth Sunday after Epiphany January 31, 2016 THE GATHERING THE WELCOME THE PRELUDE (#697) DeCou “Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee” LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE CALL TO WORSHIP With powerful words and dramatic gestures, with a quiet conversation and a gentle touch, we respond to God’s call to offer healing and hope to our world. With courage to face the injustices around us, with the willingness to go into the brokenness, we fulfill the call of Jesus to engage in faithful obedience. With the patience of a teacher of six-year-olds, with the gentleness of a nurse helping a patient, we become the Spirit’s refuge for all who live in worry and fear. *OPENING PRAYER “O God, Who Gives Us Life” p. 53 *CALL TO RECONCILIATION Arrogance, envy, harsh words, empty hands, pleasure in doing what we know is wrong – these are what we often use to fill our lives. Let us confess in faith, trusting in the hope that God’s love restores us and makes us whole. Please join me, praying, *UNISON PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS Ah, Lord God, we do not know how to speak words of hope, because we listen to the purveyors of fear. We do not know how to be loving because our role models are ridicule and anger. We do not know how to be faithful to you, because at an early age, we learned to trust the promises of all the false prophets who entice us with their simple thoughts. But you know how to forgive, God of kindness, so we pray you would pour out your mercy upon us. May faith abide in us, so we may serve others even as you have served us; may hope abide in us, so we may surround the broken with your compassion and grace; may love abide in us, not only in these moments of brokenness, but in every moment of our life with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who abides in us. Silence is kept We pray for loved ones...Comfort and heal those who are sick, and give us the wisdom and grace to help them in their suffering. O God of grace, bless us with peace. Mighty God, strengthen your people so that we may live in the world as those you have chosen and called; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. SENDING *SENDING SONG “Send Me, Jesus” p. 746 *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE “Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing” (#546) Warner *ASSURANCE OF PARDON The good news is that, in our God, we find that safe place for our lives. In God’s forgiveness, we are offered the healing we need. In God’s acceptance, we discover the love in which we may abide in every moment of our lives. Thanks be to God! Amen. *GLORIA “Jesus, Light of Joy” (stanza 3) p. 673 THE WORD CHILDREN’S TIME SCRIPTURE Psalm 71: 1-6 p. 907 Luke 4: 21-30 p. 1596 Jeremiah 1: 4-10 p. 1169 MESSAGE Forward in Faith *SONG OF RESPONSE “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky” p. 69 THE EUCHARIST MOMENT FOR MISSION Jamaica Bound! Dan & Deb Thompson INVITATION TO SHARE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS *DEDICATION OF THE GIFTS OFFERTORY “History Maker” Delirious PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Joining our hearts and minds in prayer, let us call on the name of the Lord, saying: O God of grace, bless us with peace. We pray for the church...Help us to be a true and living sign of the faith, hope, and love we have in you, reaching out for the life of the world. O God of grace, bless us with peace. We pray for the world...Uproot systems of oppression, weed out violence and corruption, and plant new seeds of life and hope. O God of grace, bless us with peace. We pray for this community...Rescue those who are in trouble in our streets and in our homes. Protect the vulnerable from danger. O God of grace, bless us with peace. MOMENTS FOR MEDITATION And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6: 8 Please join us after worship for coffee and fellowship In the Fellowship Hall. WELCOME ~ We are pleased you are here this morning. In order to be a welcoming congregation we encourage you to pick up your nametag, or make one at the table in the narthex. A nursery is available for children 4 and under in room 104, follow the signs down the hallway. BE STILL AND KNOW ~ Recognizing the importance of having a time for stillness in order to prepare for worship, we have a time of welcome and announcements at 10:25 a.m. Following this, we invite you to allow the music of the prelude to touch your heart, quiet your spirit and lift your soul towards God. The lighting of the Christ Candle will move us into active worship. We encourage you to arrive a few minutes early so you can participate in this important time of preparation. Those who enter during this time are asked to do so quietly. LARGE PRINT ~ Large print copies of our hymnal are available in the narthex. CHILDREN’S CHAPEL ~ Children ages 4 through 5th grade will be invited to the Chapel following the children's time. The lesson today is “The Gift of the Poor Widow” Pam will be the storyteller and Lucille will be the greeter. The children will return to the sanctuary to join their parents at the close of the service. SUNDAY SCHOOL ~ Classes for children, youth and adults are offered each Sunday morning from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Jeff Peters is facilitating a class on the Book of Acts. This class meets in the fellowship hall. If you haven’t had a chance to try out this class yet, please do so!
Transcript
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany January 31, 2016
THE GATHERING
THE WELCOME THE PRELUDE (#697) DeCou “Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee” LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE CALL TO WORSHIP
With powerful words and dramatic gestures, with a quiet conversation and a gentle touch, we respond to God’s call to offer healing and hope to our world. With courage to face the injustices around us, with the willingness to go into the brokenness, we fulfill the call of Jesus to engage in faithful obedience. With the patience of a teacher of six-year-olds, with the gentleness of a nurse helping a patient, we become the Spirit’s refuge for all who live in worry and fear.
*OPENING PRAYER “O God, Who Gives Us Life” p. 53 *CALL TO RECONCILIATION
Arrogance, envy, harsh words, empty hands, pleasure in doing what we know is wrong – these are what we often use to fill our lives. Let us confess in faith, trusting in the hope that God’s love restores us and makes us whole. Please join me, praying,
*UNISON PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS Ah, Lord God, we do not know how to speak words of hope, because we listen to the purveyors of fear. We do not know how to be loving because our role models are ridicule and anger. We do not know how to be faithful to you, because at an early age, we learned to trust the promises of all the false prophets who entice us with their simple thoughts. But you know how to forgive, God of kindness, so we pray you would pour out your mercy upon us. May faith abide in us, so we may serve others even as you have served us; may hope abide in us, so we may surround the broken with your compassion and grace; may love abide in us, not only in these moments of brokenness, but in every moment of our life with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who abides in us. Silence is kept
We pray for loved ones...Comfort and heal those who are sick, and give us the wisdom and grace to help them in their suffering. O God of grace, bless us with peace. Mighty God, strengthen your people so that we may live in the world as those you have chosen and called; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SENDING
*SENDING SONG “Send Me, Jesus” p. 746 *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE “Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing” (#546) Warner
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON The good news is that, in our God, we find that safe place for our lives. In God’s forgiveness, we are offered the healing we need. In God’s acceptance, we discover the love in which we may abide in every moment of our lives. Thanks be to God! Amen.
*GLORIA “Jesus, Light of Joy” (stanza 3) p. 673
THE WORD CHILDREN’S TIME SCRIPTURE Psalm 71: 1-6 p. 907 Luke 4: 21-30 p. 1596 Jeremiah 1: 4-10 p. 1169 MESSAGE Forward in Faith *SONG OF RESPONSE “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky” p. 69
THE EUCHARIST
MOMENT FOR MISSION Jamaica Bound! Dan & Deb Thompson INVITATION TO SHARE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS *DEDICATION OF THE GIFTS OFFERTORY “History Maker” Delirious PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Joining our hearts and minds in prayer, let us call on the name of the Lord, saying: O God of grace, bless us with peace. We pray for the church...Help us to be a true and living sign of the faith, hope, and love we have in you, reaching out for the life of the world. O God of grace, bless us with peace. We pray for the world...Uproot systems of oppression, weed out violence and corruption, and plant new seeds of life and hope. O God of grace, bless us with peace. We pray for this community...Rescue those who are in trouble in our streets and in our homes. Protect the vulnerable from danger. O God of grace, bless us with peace.
MOMENTS FOR MEDITATION
And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6: 8
Please join us after worship for coffee and fellowship
In the Fellowship Hall.
WELCOME ~ We are pleased you are here this morning. In order to be a welcoming congregation we encourage you to pick up your nametag, or make one at the table in the narthex. A nursery is available for children 4 and under in room 104, follow the signs down the hallway. BE STILL AND KNOW ~ Recognizing the importance of having a time for stillness in order to prepare for worship, we have a time of welcome and announcements at 10:25 a.m. Following this, we invite you to allow the music of the prelude to touch your heart, quiet your spirit and lift your soul towards God. The lighting of the Christ Candle will move us into active worship. We encourage you to arrive a few minutes early so you can participate in this important time of preparation. Those who enter during this time are asked to do so quietly. LARGE PRINT ~ Large print copies of our hymnal are available in the narthex. CHILDREN’S CHAPEL ~ Children ages 4 through 5th grade will be invited to the Chapel following the children's time. The lesson today is “The Gift of the Poor Widow” Pam will be the storyteller and Lucille will be the greeter. The children will return to the sanctuary to join their parents at the close of the service. SUNDAY SCHOOL ~ Classes for children, youth and adults are offered each Sunday morning from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Jeff Peters is facilitating a class on the Book of Acts. This class meets in the fellowship hall. If you haven’t had a chance to try out this class yet, please do so!
ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNUAL MEETING ~ Make plans now to attend the annual meeting of this congregation on February 7th following worship. We will be celebrating another year of ministry together and enjoying a potluck meal. Drinks will be provided. For those with a last name ending in A-I please bring a meat dish, J-R a salad or vegetable and S-Z a dessert. The PW will be setting up and the Session members will be doing clean up.
ASH WEDNESDAY ~ The Lenten Season will begin on Wednesday, February 10th, with a contemplative worship service at 7 p.m. We will gather in the sanctuary and then move into the fellowship hall for a time of quiet reflection at various stations. The service will conclude back in the sanctuary where worshipers will be invited to come to the front to receive a mark of ashes.
LENTEN SMALL GROUPS ~ Sign up in the narthex to be part of a Lenten Small group during the season of Lent. This year each group will be exploring the topic of Prayer through a study with the same name by Philip Yancey. We are planning on offering 4 different groups in order to reach people of various ages. Group hosts will be Linda & Dennis Smith and Deb & Dan Thompson, Pat & Lowell Penning and Teresa & Jeff Peters, Jacki & Kevin Albers and co- hosts yet to be named. Pastor Jan will be offering a group for those who prefer meeting during the day on Friday afternoons location to be announced.
GRIEF AND GROWTH ~ It is not too late to join the Grief and Growth program spon-sored by Hospice of Siouxland. This program is designed for adults who have experienced the death of a loved one and provides group support within an educational format. This 6-week program is held every Thursday evening, running through February 25th, at St. John’s Lutheran Church. The evening begins with a light supper at 5:15 p.m., a speaker at 5:45 p.m. is followed by group discussion. The program ends at 7:15 p.m. To register, call Hospice of Siouxland at 712-233-4137. Pastor Jan serves as part of the leadership team for Grief and Growth. A big thank-you to our deacon’s for providing the meal for this past week’s meeting!
PRAYERS AND SYMPATHY ~ To Benji and Lori Kasel, Kenna and Teagen upon the death of Benji’s father. John Kasel died on Sunday, January 24th in Osage, IA. A Funeral Mass was held on Friday. Cards and condolences may be sent to the family at 565 Penny Lane in Le Mars.
PRAYERS AND SYMPATHY ~ To Herb and Hester Caswell upon the death of Herb ’s mother, Minnie Caswell. The funeral was January 16th at the American Reformed Church in Hull. Cards may be sent to Herb and Hester at 9797 E. 32nd Street, Site 189, Yuma, AZ 85365.
EASTER LILIES ~ If you would like to order an Easter lily to be displayed on Easter Sunday the sign-up sheet is in the narthex. The cost is $10.00.
GIVING ENVELOPES ~ The 2016 giving envelopes are available in the narthex.
SOUP SUPPER ~ Plymouth County Senior Helpmates will hold their (Ash Wednesday) Soup Supper on February 10 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. A free will offering will be received. Chicken Noodle, Chili, and Potato Soup will be served plus pies, desserts and beverages. If you would like to donate a pie, dessert or help serve contact Cheryl Palmer 546-8946,Ruth Postma 546-8313 or Lois Newill 548-5362.
A NEW GREAT GRANDSON~ Congratulations to Rod and Colleen Scholten on the birth of their great grandson Zeke Randall on Wednesday, January 20th. Zeke is the son of Allison and Dustin Gollhofer, and the grandson of Nancy Scholten and the late Steven Scholten. Zeke weighed in at 7 1/2 lbs and was 21 1/2 " long. He joins two sisters, Selena (4) and Scarlett (2).
WELCOME EVERYONE! If you are here today, looking for a friendly church...where you will be loved and accepted regardless of your age, class,
race, ethnicity, or lifestyle orientation...where you will be challenged to reflect on your beliefs, acknowledge your doubts, ask your questions, and grow in faith...where God’s desire for
compassion, healing, reconciliation, justice and joy is preached...where you are given the opportunity to put your
faith into action through effective outreach ministries...then we trust you will feel at home here! No matter who you are, or
where you are in your life journey… You are welcome here!
Presbyterian United Church of Christ 858 Seventh St. S.E. Le Mars, IA 51031
SERVING THIS SUNDAY USHERS - Casey & Karen Stengel Roger & Karen Dempster GREETER - Carol Beckwith READER - Rod Scholten CANDLELIGHTERS - Patty & Emma Bendlin HOST/HOSTESS - Dave & Sue Schneider AUDIO/VISUAL - Mike Cunningham, Lon Penning ELDER - Rob Bixenman NURSERY - Open but Unattended ORGANIST– Laurey Zwart MUSIC DIRECTOR - Deb Thompson PASTOR - Rev. Jan Christensen
SERVING NEXT SUNDAY USHERS - Dave & Sue Schneider Roger & Karen Dempster GREETER - Pat Penning READER - Lowell Penning CANDLELIGHTERS - Cunningham Family HOST/HOSTESS - Annual Meeting Potluck AUDIO/VISUAL - Jeff Peters ELDER - NURSERY - Open but Unattended ORGANIST– Laurey Zwart MUSIC DIRECTOR - Deb Thompson PASTOR - Rev. Jan Christensen
