Join us this Sunday for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany (in-person and live stream when available)
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“Forgiving and Forgiven”
Thank you for worshiping online with us. We are so glad that you are spending part of your day with us!
Order of Service
Worship Service Participants
- Rev. Scott Siefert
- Organist: Penny Rolf
Ringing of the Church Bell
Announcements
Gathering
Call to Worship
(Inspired by Sirach 15:15-20)
One: Great is the wisdom of the Holy One, powerful and knowing.
All: God gives us the choice to follow and to be faithful.
One: Great is the wisdom of the Holy One, powerful and knowing.
All: God offers fire to warm us and water to quench our thirst.
One: Great is the wisdom of the Holy One, powerful and knowing.
All: God considers us with care and knows our ways.
*Opening Hymn: “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” (The Hymnal #7)
Prayer of Invocation
One: Righteous God, in you we find life and liberty, compassion and care, redemption and reconciliation. You make your ways known to us, and you recognize your people as we are – fully human and made in your image. You come to us, and we come to you. Let us meet in this time and place. Let us bring our hope and our fears, our joys and our sorrows, our successes and our disappointments in the fullness of this glorious and maddening life toward you.
All: We are assured that you meet us here. AMEN.
Prayer of Confession
One: We are called to examine our faithfulness to God’s covenant with us. God, in whose presence we gather, promises us grace and pardon when we acknowledge our weakness. Let us confess our sin to almighty God.
All: Eternal God, whose Word is the lamp for our feet and a light of our path, we recognize and confess that we have failed to respond fully to your gracious presence in our lives. Through Jesus Christ you have offered us new life, fulfillment, and the freedom to serve you. We confess that we are filled with false pride, and that the wrong we do is made worse by the good we leave undone. Reconcile us to you and to all people. God of mercy, forgive us and strengthen us anew for life as you intend it; through Jesus Christ our Savior. AMEN.
–Time of Silent Confession-
Assurance of Grace
One: Anyone in Christ becomes a new person altogether; the past is finished and gone, everything has become fresh and new. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Scripture Reading
Sirach 15:15-20 and Matthew 5:21-37
Message for Young and Young at Heart: “Prayer of Confession”
Pastoral Meditation: “You Have Heard”
Hymn of Response: “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” (The Hymnal #217)
Prayers and Concerns
Joys – Concerns – Blessings
Please share any special concerns, joys, and blessings.
Silent Prayer – Pastoral Prayer – Lord’s Prayer
ALL: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. AMEN.
Collection and Presentation of the Offering
Invitation to the Offering
One: Paul reminds us that, “The one plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together: you are God’s field, God’s building.” What a privilege to be God’s vessel and participant in kingdom nurture and care. Let us give generously knowing we have been given gifts to be used for the building.
*Hymn: “Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow” (The Hymnal #551)
*Prayer of Dedication
All: God who gives the increase, receive these gifts and magnify them for your kingdom. Continually grow generosity in us and be glorified.
Closing and Blessing
*Closing Hymn: “Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing” (The Hymnal #35)
Benediction and Blessing
Ringing of the Church Bell
Upcoming Events & Announcements
- Wednesdays – Confirmation Class – 6pm – schedule on website
- Thursdays – Bible Fellowship – 6pm – Fellowship Hall and ZOOM
- TODAY – Faith & Service Review Meeting – following worship
- Feb. 7th – Consistory Team Meeting – 6pm via ZOOM
- Feb. 18th – All Ages Bowling – 2pm – Lazy Loon Lanes
- Feb. 19th – Annual Meeting in the Sanctuary following worship
- Feb. 19th – ‘Fat Sunday’ Potluck following the meeting
Fruit of the Spirit. The January Fruit of Spirit for His House Foundation, helping Carver County homeless, raised $197. Look for the special collection basket at the rear of the sanctuary. February will focus on literacy, to create a lending library at the Bongards Farmers Market.
Weather Watch Policy. This includes weather forecasts for wind chills below -20 degrees, significant snowfall, or dangerous winter weather conditions. Announcements cancelling services or events will be made via social media, our website, and email.
Many hands make light work! Please consider serving as a Consistory Team Member. We need 3 members in 2023. All talents and skills are welcomed. Contact Michelle Bachmann at 952-361-3033 or Pastor Scott for more details.
Find Food Carver County. Volunteers are needed to pack produce, sort food items, and distribute food into vehicles in NYA the first Friday of the month. This program helps with food insecurity and food rescue to reduce waste. If interested, contact Michelle Bachmann at 952-361-3033 or findfoodcarvercounty.org.
Live Streaming: We want to train others on live-streaming and recording services. Contact Michelle Bachmann if you’re interested.
Looking for a church community? If you have been led to St. John’s looking to be more than a visitor, we welcome you openly and would love an opportunity to chat. Contact Pastor Scott at 804-350-0826 or email pastorsjuccbongards@gmail.com.
The Word To Go: Find Sunday morning worship services on our YouTube channel, St. John’s UCC-Bongards. Worship will also be live-streamed on Facebook, when available.
Bongards Buzz: Submit items for the newsletter by the 1st of each month to Michelle Bachmann or sjuccbongards@gmail.com.
For Pastoral Care. Please contact Pastor Scott at 804-350-0826 or email pastorsjuccbongards@gmail.com.
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St. John's United Church of Christ 
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