Join us for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost at 915am (in-person only)
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“Recipe for Happiness”
Thank you for worshiping 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
- Worship Leader: Sham Moteelall
- Organist: Penny Rolf
- Liturgist: Jeannette Bachmann
- Choir: YOU!
Ringing of the Church Bell
Announcements
Greeting
Sham: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
Call to Worship
Jeannette: How lovely is Your dwelling place, O God of hosts!
All: My soul longs for You. My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Jeannette: Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at Your altars, O God of hosts.
All: Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise. Blessed are those whose strength is in You.
*Opening Hymn: “How Beautiful, Our Spacious Skies” (New Century Hymnal #594)
Prayer of Invocation
Jeannette: We thank You, living God, that in Jesus Christ You have built a house not made with hands, but with the people among whom You live. We thank You that You have called us and that we belong to You. We come now, longing to know the touch of Your Spirit that we may be encouraged to serve You in the world.
All: Come to us that we may recognize You and sing Your praise; through the grace of Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Prayer of Confession
Sham: Let us confess, trusting in God’s grace. We have promised to live as Your people, God. Yet we confess that we fail You and one another. We do not honor one another as we should. As the body of Christ, we are often disjointed and clumsy. We do not work together as one to Your glory. We refuse Your cry for help in the voices of the poor and hungry. We have not been faithful to the trust You have placed in us.
All: Encourage us with Your love that we may commit ourselves anew to live as those who belong to You; through the grace of Jesus Christ. AMEN.
–Time of Silent Confession-
Assurance of Grace
Sham: Hear the good news. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we learn that God’s love has no bounds. In Christ we are forgiven and are empowered to begin anew.
All: Thanks be to God!
Scripture Readings
Exodus 20:1-20 and Matthew 5:1-12
Meditation by Sham Moteelall: “Spiritual Teachings
Hymn of Response: “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (The Hymnal #593)”
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
Sham: The Holy Spirit comes down to us as a gift of presence, compassion, and companionship. We honor and uphold the Kingdom here on earth through our stewardship; as we are called to present our lives as a living testimony of the God who has created each one of us to be unique and minister to a world that needs what we have to offer in time, talent and treasure. Let us now uphold the glory of God by the giving of our gifts in the spirit of generosity.
*Hymn: “Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow” (The Hymnal #551)
*Prayer of Dedication
All: Generous God, we give out of the generosity of our hearts. We love because you first loved us. We give because you first gave to us. May these gifts glorify your Spirit. In the name of Jesus the Christ, we pray. AMEN.
Closing and Blessing
*Closing Hymn: “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” (The Hymnal #441)
Benediction and Blessing
Ringing of the Church Bell
Upcoming Events & Announcements
- Wednesdays – Bongards Farmers Market – 3pm to 6pm
- TODAY – Fellowship – following worship hosted by Cindy Henschen and Karen Otto
- Jul 2nd – Vacation Sunday – No worship service
- Jul 20th – SJUCC Night Out – Corn Feed and NYA Music in the Park “Jolly Ramblers” – 5pm – NYA Legion Park
- Jul 23 – Worship and Gather Team Meeting – following worship
- Jul 30th – UCC Community Worship in the ‘Son’shine outdoor service and potluck picnic – 1030am – Baylor Park
- Aug 6th – St. John’s Got Talent – 915am followed by Ice Cream Social
- Aug 6th – Consistory Team Meeting following worship
- Aug 13th – Worship Leader: Michelle Bachmann – 915am
- Aug 16th – Shoe Bus at the Market – 3pm to 6pm (donations of new and like-new shoes collected up until the day of the sale)
- Aug 27th – Worship at Stiftungsfest – 9am – Under the Big Tent
Fruit of the Spirit. June focuses on local food insecurity and healthy nutrition, benefitting our PoP and PoP Plus clubs at the Bongards Farmers market. A special collection vessel is at the entrance to the sanctuary.
God uses everyone’s talents. Check out this month’s Team Up flier for ways to share your time and talents to inspire and uplift our community.
St. John’s Got Talent. Singers, dancers, orators, and musicians wanted for our 3rd Annual St. John’s Got Talent on August 6th. Contact Pastor Scott.
Live Streaming. We want to train others on live-streaming and recording services. If you can make a post on Facebook from your computer, you can do this. 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 Facebook Page, St. John’s UCC of 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. Catch up online with the Buzz here.
For Pastoral Care. Please contact Pastor Scott at 804-350-0826 or email pastorsjuccbongards@gmail.com. NOTE: Pastor Scott is on vacation June 21st to July 5th.
We’ve partnered with easyTithe so you can use your bank account for a direct ACH, debit card, or a credit card to make a secure one time or reoccurring gift.
St. John's United Church of Christ 
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