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Lesson of the Week
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
- Organist: Penny Rolf
- DJ: Mark Polzin
- Liturgist: Chris Wing
- Communion Assistant: David Henschen
- Choir: YOU!
Ringing of the Church Bell
Announcements
Greeting
Rev Scott: Jesus says “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Call to Worship (Inspired by Isaiah 55)
Chris: From north and south and east and west,
All: Creation sings forth your praises!
Chris: The mountains and hills burst into song;
All: The trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Chris: Your steadfast love never ceases.
All: With joy and peace, let us worship God together.
Opening Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy” (The Hymnal #1)
Prayer of Invocation
Chris: God of all nations, you have poured out your blessings upon all the peoples of the earth. Grant us eyes to see your gifts of faith and love. Appoint us heralds of your mercies that are new every morning. Empower us to write the vision of your peaceable kingdom, where destruction and violence are no more, where suffering and wars shall cease.
All: Through our worship empower us to be sent out with joy as bearers of your hope in a hurting world; through Christ. AMEN.
Prayer of Confession (Inspired by 2 Timothy 1:1-14)
Rev Scott: God’s grace was given to us in Christ before the ages began. In spite of God’s love for us and gift of love to us, we often act in destructive and hateful ways. Trusting in Christ’s mercy never ends, let us with honesty confess before God and one another. Gracious Lord, you created he whole world and called it good, but we look out at your world and see division and suffering. You call us to maintain the unity of spirit in the bond of peace, but we choose division over diversity, confrontation over civility, conflict over peace born from justice. You call us to love the least of these among us, but we hear the cries of the oppressed and choose our own comfort.
All: Forgive us Grant us fresh vision to see each other as siblings in Christ. Rekindle in us your gifts that with faith in Christ, we might be made new. AMEN.
Rev Scott:I invite you to quietly reflect on our need for forgiveness and grace.
–Time of Silent Confession-
Assurance of Grace (Inspired by Lamentations 3:22-23)
Rev Scott: We call to mind the promises and therefore we find hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. God’s mercies are new each and every morning. Believe the good news. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Scripture Readings & Pastoral Meditation
Psalm 145:8-9,14-21 and Matthew 14:13-21
Pastoral Meditation: “Feeding the World”
Hymn of Response: “Break Thou the Bread of Life” (The Hymnal #204)
Holy Communion
Prayers and Concerns
Joys – Concerns – Blessings
Please share any special concerns, joys, and blessings.
Silent Prayer – Leader’s 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
Rev Scott: God, we open our hearts to give generous and abundant blessings we have received from you. All that we have comes from you; therefore, we give our offerings and tithes in gratitude for all you have done for us.
*Hymn: “Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow” (The Hymnal #551)
*Prayer of Dedication
All: Holy One, we ask that you bless these offerings and tithes so they can multiply to be a blessing for our community, our mission, and worldwide. Accept our offerings and tithes, O God, as testimony of your goodness in our lives. AMEN.
Closing and Blessing
*Closing Hymn: “For the Beauty of the Earth” (The Hymnal #12)
Benediction and Blessing
Ringing of the Church Bell
Upcoming Events & Announcements
- Thursdays – Bible Fellowship – 6pm – Fellowship Hall & Zoom
- TODAY – Indoor Fall Cleaning – following worship
- Oct. 9th – Women’s Guild – 6pm – Fellowship Hall
- Oct. 15th – Fellowship and Painting – 1pm – Fellowship Hall
- Oct. 22nd – Worship & Gather Meeting – following Worship
- Oct. 29th – Service of Remembrance – 915am
Bongards Market finishes another great season! Thank you to everyone who volunteered at the market or donated produce and items at the Market. Thank you if you shopped, too! We could not bring this event to the community successfully without the time, talents, and treasures of St. John’s.
Fruit of the Spirit. This month, the UCC “Our Church’s Wider Mission” will benefit from the donations. A special collection vessel is at the entrance to the sanctuary.
Fellowship and Painting. Registration is required for this event. Cost is $25. If you need help with online registration, contact Michelle.
God uses everyone’s talents. The October Team Up will be available shortly.
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.
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. General giving and Fruit of the Spirit can both be done electronically.
St. John's United Church of Christ 
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