St Jacob’s United Church of Christ, Blue Creek, 8am
Combined Sunday School at St. John’s 9:30am
St John’s United Church of Christ, Penntown, 10:30am
We extend a warm welcome to each of you!
We lift in prayer those who are unable to be here
and all who join us for worship.
Pastor Lynne: (812) 623-0354 or (319) 830-4048 or
Church office: (812) 623-3410 or
April 2, 2017
5th Sunday of Lent
Roll Down, Justice!
“God Has Work for Us to Do: Faithful Disciples”
WE GATHER
Welcome
Announcements
Prelude
Call to Worship
There’s a voice, strong and clear,ringing out far and near,
“Let justice roll down, let justice roll down!”
Like the rush of a stream,
comes a powerful dream,
let justice roll down, justice roll down!
…God has work for us to do!
Holy and Living God, the list is long.
Let us not feel overwhelmed, but convicted in our call.
Remind us as we sit at your table that
we are called to invite the least and the unlikely.
May peace flow. Let justice roll.
Peace
Pastor: Peace be with you!
People: And also with you!
Please pass the peace of Christ with those around you.
Opening Hymn
“Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life”#591
WE PROCLAIM
A Word for Humanity
Scripture
Isaiah 58: 6-12
Prayer Poem
“Righteousness”
God of Righteousness,
May I fully embrace the truth that your
Holy Word names as evil all forms of
injustice and oppression.
May I have the courage to confront
the injustices I witness.
May I be willing to open my mind
and broaden my understanding of
discriminatory practices and positions
of which I was once ignorant.
May I not stand idly by when another
culture, language, or race is used
as the punch line of ill-fated joke.
May I speak out against systemic policies
and practices that continue the oppressive
privilege of the powerful over against the
less powerful.
May I live my faith by believing that
the common good is served when all
have enough, and that in your economy,
there is always enough for everyone.
But, righteous God, before I endeavor
to do any of these things, may I find
the courage to confront the evil and
injustice that resides within me. Amen.
Sermon
…Turn to someone near you and tell them,
“Let’s get to work!”
WE RESPOND
Invitation
Great Thanksgiving
Jesus is with us.
Jesus is with us now.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks for the bounty that is life.
It is right and good to want this feast for all of creation.
It is good to cry out for the waters of justice to roll down
bringing heaven on earth,
watering it with God’s will for love-soaked humanity since creation began.
For God continues to stand with and for all peoples.
And so we sing with all the company of heaven:
O Holy God, Lord God of Hosts,
we sing your praise over all the earth.
Blest are the ones who come here now, and proclaim new birth.
When you hear the phrase written on your piece of blue cloth,
I invite you to lift it high in the air and hold it there….
…We proclaim this truth:
Death is part of life.
Christ has died.
But death will not have the last word.
Christ has risen!
And suffering will end.
Christ will come again…
…and again and again, every time suffering is alleviated,
comfort is given,
food is offered,
hope is restored.
I invite you to connect with the people around you,
a hand on a shoulder, holding hands, whatever is comfortable for you.
[Pause]
Pour out your Holy Spirit on this body gathered here
and on our union with each other and with these gifts of bread and cup.
May we become your body for the sake of a world
where justice rolls down like an ever-flowing stream.
All praise to God, Creator of Love!
All praise to Jesus, Love Incarnate!
All praise to Spirit, Love in Action!
Let us pray the prayer Jesus taught us, saying…
“Our….”
The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are now ready.
As you come forward, bring your offering
and place that on the Communion table.
Prayer after Communion
For the gift of Your love broken and poured,
For the way in which our offerings will become our work in the world,
For the gift of this community bound and working together,
We give thanks.
Closing Hymn
“Here I Am, Lord”#559
Benediction
As counterintuitive as it may seem, the more we give away,
the more we receive.
Remember, you are the hands and feet of Jesus and there is work for us to do!
Let the call to mend brokenness and restore ruins
mend and restore your very life.
May peace flow through me
as music through an instrument,
let it flow through me
like the warmth from the sun
may peace flow through me
so that I may be a vessel
of the love of God for everyone,
for everyone.
Postlude
Worship Notes: Design, leader parts and liturgy © Marcia McFee, Opening and Closing Prayer/Poems © Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling. Used with permission by Worship Design Studio. CCLI #3100743
Organist: Shirley Huber
Next Week’s Scripture Focus: Passion Narrative
Kroger Community Rewards Update: As ofApril 1, 2017, you will no longer have to re-enroll your Kroger Plus Card to earn dollars for St. John’s.
This year we will be trying something different.
Our Maundy Thursday will start with fellowship in St. Jacob’s church hall and end with a service in the sanctuary. It will be a unique experience and I hope all will attend.
Good Friday I invite you to stop by St John’s in the morning or evening for a time of personal prayer followed by Communion in front of the sanctuary. The time you stay in prayer is your choice, 2 minutes to whatever, then conclude by coming forward for your personal family Communion.
April 13 Maundy Thursday7pm St Jacob’s “Journey to Baptism”
April 14Good Friday9-11am 6-7pm St John’s Prayer/Communion
April 16Easter8am and 10:30am“Welcome to the New Jerusalem”
Kathy and Dan Doering; Betty Meyers (Diana Richter’s mom) and her caregivers; Mike Francis, Jr.; Janet Wiedeman; James Robertson;
Ralph Schaefer;Lynsey Gesell; Shirley Huneke (at Chateau of Batesville);
Philip Weisenbach;Charles Hadden; Harold Wendell (Connie F’s dad); Dr. Timothy Lawler; Jan Cowan (friend of Kim G);
Gregg Leppert (friend of Kim G); Marcia Agbor (childhood friend of Diana Richter); and Donna Parkhurst.
Jessica Rehberger 801 Freeland Rd, Apt 1, Greensburg, IN 47240.
Children in the Cradle Roll:
Easter books for childrenon Cradle Roll are on the gathering room table!Please pick up yours today.
BROOKLAWN:
Sunday School invites you to help us support Brooklawn, a UCC sponsored Children's Home in Louisville.
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