November 25, 2018 10:30 am
*STAND IF ABLE
PRELUDE “Elevation” Benoit
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
*GREETING ONE ANOTHER
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Sing aloud to God our strength.
All: Shout for joy to the Lord of life!
Leader: Blessed be the one, holy, living God.
All: Glory to God forever and ever!
*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE #579 “Gloria Patri”
CHILDREN’S TIME Carrie Van Buren
CHOIR ANTHEM “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” I. Watts/R. Leaf
SCRIPTURE READINGS Gayle Foster
Micah 6:6-8 (pg. 759)
Matthew 9:9-26; 25:31-40 (pg. 790, 807)
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
MESSAGE “Eyes of Mercy” Guest Speaker
Rev. David Johnson
*HYMN #220 “All People That on Earth Do Dwell”
WORSHIPING GOD WITH OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS
*Please pass the Friendship Register*
Offertory “Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness” Brahms
*Doxology #592
*Prayer of Dedication
OUR TIME OF PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, for this joy, we give you thanks.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our 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
*HYMN #262 “God of the Ages. Whose Almighty Hand”
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Allegro” Händel/Bish
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEED A RIDE TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY? If you need a ride please contact a Deacon or speak to Ella Lane.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE (November 25-December 1)
SUNDAY November 25 @ 11:30 AM Decorate for Christmas
SUNDAY November 25 Cancelled Bell Choir practice
TUESDAY November 27 @ 9:30 AM Coffee Group
WEDNESDAY November 28 @ 7:00 PM Choir Practice
THURSDAY November 29 @ 9:30 AM Bible Study
FRIDAY November 30 @11:30 AM Lunch Bunch
THE WORSHIP COMMITTEE needs help!
Good morning everyone! Today is the day that we get to decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. Hope you can stay and pitch in. We’ll be getting started right after the service! Thanks, in advance, for helping out.
ADVENT POTLUCK will be held after worship services on Sundays, December 2, 9, 16, and 23 instead of on Wednesday evenings this year. Feel free to bring your own plates and silverware along with a dish to share!
SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING: We will be ringing the bells at the entrance of JC Penney this year on Sunday, December 2 from 12:00-6:00 PM. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
PROJECT JOY: The Deacons have placed a box in the narthex next to the name tags to collect unwrapped clothing and toys for Project Joy. Money may be donated in the offering plates and the Youth from Sunday school will do the shopping for you. The mission for Project Joy is to provide children and families living in Brookings County, who are in need, an opportunity to receive holiday gifts. Please have your donation to the church by Monday, December 3. Let’s open our hearts this holiday season and bring Joy to area children and families in need by generously donating to Project Joy.
BIRTHDAYS in November: Donna Flint, Janet TeBeest, Rosa Glaus, Martin Maca, Doha Rottluff, Diane Broksieck, Judy Sebring, Robby Flint, Don Norton
PRAYER CONCERNS Those with health concerns: Jan Jones, Paul & Shirley Rudolph, Jack & Alice Edge, Beth Rindels, Rozella Potthast, Bev Erdahl, Andrew L’Amour, Eliana Szabo, Michele Kemp, Delores Koepsell, John Peterson
Our homebound (or partially homebound) members: Barb Borstad, Don Hildebrandt, Nona Marshall, Helen Peterson, Adele Sudlow
CHRISTMAS POINTSETTIAS will be displayed starting December 2, through the end of the month. Whether it’s purchasing a plant as a memorial to a loved one, as a homage to the first Christmas, or simply because they’re beautiful, adding your poinsettia to our advent season brings another level of charm to our Christmas celebrations. If you need someone from the church to pick up your purchased plant from a local florist or store, please call the church office. You may drop your poinsettia off at the church office any time, we’ll take good care of it! We’ll add your poinsettia to our display, no matter when it arrives at the church (so no worries if you can’t get it bought before the beginning of Advent).
The Legend of the Poinsettia
The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico. It tells of a girl named Marie and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing.
One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On the way, they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course, the other children teased them when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful star-like flowers and so we see them today.
*STAND IF ABLE
PRELUDE “Elevation” Benoit
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
*GREETING ONE ANOTHER
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Sing aloud to God our strength.
All: Shout for joy to the Lord of life!
Leader: Blessed be the one, holy, living God.
All: Glory to God forever and ever!
*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE #579 “Gloria Patri”
CHILDREN’S TIME Carrie Van Buren
CHOIR ANTHEM “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” I. Watts/R. Leaf
SCRIPTURE READINGS Gayle Foster
Micah 6:6-8 (pg. 759)
Matthew 9:9-26; 25:31-40 (pg. 790, 807)
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
MESSAGE “Eyes of Mercy” Guest Speaker
Rev. David Johnson
*HYMN #220 “All People That on Earth Do Dwell”
WORSHIPING GOD WITH OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS
*Please pass the Friendship Register*
Offertory “Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness” Brahms
*Doxology #592
*Prayer of Dedication
OUR TIME OF PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, for this joy, we give you thanks.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our 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
*HYMN #262 “God of the Ages. Whose Almighty Hand”
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Allegro” Händel/Bish
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEED A RIDE TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY? If you need a ride please contact a Deacon or speak to Ella Lane.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE (November 25-December 1)
SUNDAY November 25 @ 11:30 AM Decorate for Christmas
SUNDAY November 25 Cancelled Bell Choir practice
TUESDAY November 27 @ 9:30 AM Coffee Group
WEDNESDAY November 28 @ 7:00 PM Choir Practice
THURSDAY November 29 @ 9:30 AM Bible Study
FRIDAY November 30 @11:30 AM Lunch Bunch
THE WORSHIP COMMITTEE needs help!
Good morning everyone! Today is the day that we get to decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. Hope you can stay and pitch in. We’ll be getting started right after the service! Thanks, in advance, for helping out.
ADVENT POTLUCK will be held after worship services on Sundays, December 2, 9, 16, and 23 instead of on Wednesday evenings this year. Feel free to bring your own plates and silverware along with a dish to share!
SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING: We will be ringing the bells at the entrance of JC Penney this year on Sunday, December 2 from 12:00-6:00 PM. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
PROJECT JOY: The Deacons have placed a box in the narthex next to the name tags to collect unwrapped clothing and toys for Project Joy. Money may be donated in the offering plates and the Youth from Sunday school will do the shopping for you. The mission for Project Joy is to provide children and families living in Brookings County, who are in need, an opportunity to receive holiday gifts. Please have your donation to the church by Monday, December 3. Let’s open our hearts this holiday season and bring Joy to area children and families in need by generously donating to Project Joy.
BIRTHDAYS in November: Donna Flint, Janet TeBeest, Rosa Glaus, Martin Maca, Doha Rottluff, Diane Broksieck, Judy Sebring, Robby Flint, Don Norton
PRAYER CONCERNS Those with health concerns: Jan Jones, Paul & Shirley Rudolph, Jack & Alice Edge, Beth Rindels, Rozella Potthast, Bev Erdahl, Andrew L’Amour, Eliana Szabo, Michele Kemp, Delores Koepsell, John Peterson
Our homebound (or partially homebound) members: Barb Borstad, Don Hildebrandt, Nona Marshall, Helen Peterson, Adele Sudlow
CHRISTMAS POINTSETTIAS will be displayed starting December 2, through the end of the month. Whether it’s purchasing a plant as a memorial to a loved one, as a homage to the first Christmas, or simply because they’re beautiful, adding your poinsettia to our advent season brings another level of charm to our Christmas celebrations. If you need someone from the church to pick up your purchased plant from a local florist or store, please call the church office. You may drop your poinsettia off at the church office any time, we’ll take good care of it! We’ll add your poinsettia to our display, no matter when it arrives at the church (so no worries if you can’t get it bought before the beginning of Advent).
The Legend of the Poinsettia
The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico. It tells of a girl named Marie and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing.
One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On the way, they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course, the other children teased them when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful star-like flowers and so we see them today.