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 [email protected]
Church office: (812) 623-3410 or [email protected]
March 19, 2017
3rd Sunday of Lent
Roll Down, Justice!
“I Dream of a Church: Christ’s Representatives
WE GATHER
Welcome/Announcements
Prelude
Lenten Candles - Liturgy
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!
Words of Lent
… Jesus is trying to reconcile all people, making enemies into neighbors and
strangers into friends.
Response
Roll down! Roll down, justice!
Roll like an ever-flowing stream.
Roll down! Roll down, justice!
Roll like an ever-flowing stream,
flowing stream, roll down!
Holy and Living God, extend us beyond our comfort zones.
May peace flow. Let justice roll.
Open us to see our inherent connection to others.
May peace flow. Let justice roll.
May your will be done here on earth.
May peace flow. Let justice roll.
Peace
Opening Hymn
“Lord, Speak to Me”
WE PROCLAIM
Come as a Child
A Word for Humanity
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#593
Scripture
Matthew 25: 31-40
Solo
“I Dream of a Church”
Emily Prifogle
Prayer Poem
“Before It’s Too Late”
I do not know exactly what lies ahead;
how far we will have to travel on the road of unrest.
I cannot foretell the number of bombs that will have to explode
or the lives that will have to be lost before...
Before we understand that we cannot
kill each other into the future we think we have imagined.
You cannot hate enough to make yourself happy.
You cannot destroy enough to make yourself feel secure.
You cannot oppress enough to make yourself feel superior.
You cannot commit enough evil to make yourself feel holy.
I do not know exactly what lies ahead;
how far we will have to travel on the road of unrest.
I cannot foretell how many rights will have to be taken away,
or how much progress will have to be reversed before...
Before we understand that we cannot
persecute each other into the future we think we have imagined.
We cannot neglect each other enough to feel worthy.
We cannot starve each other enough to feel full.
We cannot silence one another enough to feel heard.
We cannot fragment each other enough to feel whole.
I do not know exactly what lies ahead;
how far we will to travel on the road of unrest.
I cannot foretell how many baby's bodies will have to float
on the sea of greed and vainglory before...
Before we understand that we cannot
bully our way into the future we think we have imagined.
We cannot bury each other deep enough to feel alive.
We cannot rape each other enough to feel loved.
We cannot infect each other enough to feel well.
We cannot enslave one another enough to feel free.
Before it is too late may we understand that the call is coming from inside the house.
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Before it is too late may we comprehend that the
Stench – Rot – Brokenness – Emptiness -- Insecurity -- Woundedness -- Disease
is from within and not without.
Erasing you will not heal me.
May we understand before it is too late.
God, help us to understand before it is too late.
Make it so, make it so!
We pray for that day, make it so.
We dream of a world where Love reigns among us
and your will is done, O God make it so!
Amen.
Sermon
Turn to someone near you, and say this to them,
“I see the Christ in you.”
WE RESPOND
Morning Prayer/Lord’s Prayer
Offering
Offertory
Doxology
[Tune: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow, #147]
For death-defying hope, we praise;
for love what conquers all, we raise
Alleluia’s! Alleluia!
For justice here on earth we sing
and righteousness as if a stream.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer of Dedication
For the gift of this church and its work in the world,
we give thanks.
For the way in which these offerings can embody our welcome
to friend and stranger alike,
we give thanks.
For the gift of this community bound and working together,
we give thanks.
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Closing Hymn
“Grace Alone”
#436
Benediction
As counterintuitive as it may seem, let us believe that who we are together is
infinitely stronger than who we are alone, even when we disagree.
Remember, you are part of Christ’s body and all the parts
of that body depend upon each other.
Let the hard work of being a willing part of something greater than yourself
be the labor of love you embrace for the sake of the world.
I invite you make a connection with those around you–
one hand on someone’s shoulder works well for holding your worship guide in the
other hand! -- and to bless one another with these words:
May the song you sing in your heart
be pleasing to God,
moving you to the passion and compassion of Jesus,
uplifted by a Spirit
that keeps you humming life’s tune of love.
Amen.
Benediction Response
“May Peace Flow”
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
Design, leader parts and liturgy © Marcia McFee, www.worshipdesignstudio.com. Used with permission. Opening and Closing Prayer/Poems
© Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling. Used with permission for “Roll Down Justice” Lent series by Worship Design Studio. CCLI #3100743
Volunteers
Front Door Greeter
Side Door Greeter
Liturgist
Organist
Today
Doris Hutson
Mar 26
Jenny Barnhart
Please sign up to
share your talents!
Dee Hutson
Sylvia Gesell
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Next Week’s
Scripture
Focus:
Luke 23: 32-43
Please help us adorn our altar areas
with beautiful Easter flowers!
If you would like to purchase a Lily, please place
this form and payment in the envelope on the bulletin board in the gathering
area at St. John’s or in the back of the church at St. Jacob’s.
Lilies will cost $8.25 (checks payable to St. John’s, please).
All orders and money are due by Sunday, April 2nd.
If you would prefer to bring your own flower(s), please note that below.
_____ for St. Jacob’s
(circle one)
_____ for St. John’s
In Memory of
or
In Honor of
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
From_________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
I would like to order #______ Easter Lilies
OR
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I will bring my own # ________
One Great Hour is a Christian effort to empower, provide water, supply food, and give
relief from disasters. We will take up this special offering next weekend, March 26.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
*March 19 – St. Jacob’s Blue Creek Sausage & Pancake Breakfast, Bake Sale & Raffle –
7:30am-12:30pm in the church hall. Please support our sister church.
*March 21 – 7pm, St. John’s, “Welcoming WADDIE” Disability Awareness Program
*March 26 – No Sunday School due to Spring Break
*March 29-31 Merom Work Camp – multi-generational opportunity, talk with Louie &
Jim if you can come. Lots of fun, lots of hard work! Come make a difference with us.
This year we will be trying something different. Our Maundy Thursday will be a service where we
start with fellowship in the St Jacob’s church hall and end in the sanctuary. This 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
April 14
April 16
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter
7pm St Jacobs
“Journey to Baptism”
9-11am 6-7pm St Johns Pray/Communion
8am and 10:30am
“Welcome to the New Jerusalem”
The Sunman Rural Fire Department sent us a very nice thank you note for
our current donations. See note on the bulletin board.
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 Flaspohler’s dad); Dr. Timothy
Lawler; Jan Cowan (friend of Kim G); Gregg Leppert (friend of Kim G);
and Marcia Agbor (childhood friend of Diana Richter).
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BROOKLAWN:
Sunday School invites you to help us support Brooklawn, a UCC sponsored Children's
Home in Louisville.
This week, we are
asking for bath
towels, wash cloths,
and shower curtains.
Next week is
shampoo,
conditioner, body
wash, deodorant, and
Axe body spray.
As always, any items
on the list are needed
and appreciated.
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