St Jacob United Church of Christ, Blue Creek 8 am
Combined Sunday School 9:30 am
St John United Church of Christ, Penntown 10:30 am
May 22, 2016
Thought for the Day
The whole purpose of the Bible, it seems to me, is to convince peopleto set the written word down in order to become living words in theworld for God’s sake.
– Barbara Brown Taylor
Welcome / Announcements* (Those who are able, please stand)
*Prelude
*Call to Worship
Leader: Praise to God our Creator, source of our being and wellspring of life.
People: Praise to God our liberator, who sets us free and gives us hope.
Praise to God the Word, love made flesh to dwell among us.
Praise to Jesus the Christ, who feeds the hungry and shows us the Way.
Praise to God the Spirit, fiery light and rushing wind.
Praise to the Holy Spirit, who inspires, challenges, comforts, and sustains us.
Come let us worship the Earth-maker, the Pain-bearer, and the Life-giver*—
All: Let us worship God!
*Opening Hymn “Seek Ye First”#349
*Prayer of Invocation
O God our Sovereign,
how wonderful are the many ways we experience your presence!
Help us to draw near to you,
that we may receive all that you have to offer us in this time and place.
Open our ears so that we can hear wisdom’s call.
Set our hearts ablaze with your healing fire.
Nourish us with the gift of community.
Empower us to follow and to serve you,
our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.
*Passing of Peace
Response“In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful”#448
In the Lord I’ll be ev-er thank-ful, in the Lord I will re-joice!
Look to God, do not be a-fraid.
Lift up your voic-es, the Lord is near; lift up your voic-es, the Lord is near.
Scripture Readings Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31Romans 5:1-5*John 16:12-15
Meditation “Meet Wisdom” Pastor Lynne
Morning Prayer / Lord’s Prayer (sins/sin)
Invitation to the Offering
One: Sisters and brothers, the Spirit of truth is with us!
Each week we take time to acknowledge the many ways
that God continues to bless us with good gifts.
We then share what we have with joy and thanksgiving,
returning to God a portion of what God has given us.
*Offertory Response “Doxology” #44
*Prayer of Dedication
All: We give thanks, O God, for all that you have given us.
Pour out your blessing on these tithes and offerings,
that they might be a source of blessing
in our church, in our community, and in our world.
Through this act of sharing,
may we counter fear with hope and transform scarcity through generosity.
We offer this prayer
in the name of the Creator, the Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*Closing Hymn “The Summons”#350vss 1-2
*Benediction
One: May God our Creator who crowns each of us with glory and honor,
Christ Jesus who bears our pain and shows us the Way,
And the Holy Spirit who gives us light and life,
Go with you and fill you with strength, courage, hope, and love.
All:Thanks be to God!
*Choral Response “The Summons”#350vss3-4
Postlude
Copyright 2015 Local Church Ministries, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100. Permission granted.
Organist: Shirley Huber
Upcoming Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39; Gal 1:1-12; Luke 7:1-10
Calendar of Events
May 29Confirmation & Graduation Sunday… Praise & Worship at St. John’s
May 30 Memorial Day Services
St. John Penntown 8:15am
St. Jacob Blue Creek 8:45am (15-minutes in sanctuary then to cemetery
June 1St. John’s Council, 7pm on Wednesday
June 5St. John’s Homecoming & Chicken Dinner
June 9-11IN-KY Annual Gathering
June 10-11Sunman Fire and Wine Festival
Annual Gathering Service Project ~ Please bring your 16x28 hand towel and gallon-size Ziploc bag donations by next Sunday May 29th. Thanks for your generosity!
This year’s Vacation Bible School will be July 15 - 17
(Friday & Saturday night) with closing activities on Sunday during worship. The fun starts with a pet blessing! Volunteer sign-up sheets are available, along with registration forms.
Who ARE those folks?? Stop by the display in the gathering area at St. John’s to check out the photos we’ve been gathering for our 175th anniversary celebration. Let us know if you have more to add. We’ll have these on the porch during Homecoming.