UNITED CHURCH 1200 Clark Street, Rapid City, SD 57701 605-342-5787 uccoffice@rushmore.com www.rcfirstucc.com
Guided in Prayer Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 17, 2015 John 17:6-19 <
Invites worshipers to stand in spirit or body as they are able. NCH - Indicates the New Century Hymnal
Welcome and Greetings One:
All:
When we gather to pray together, we are reminded that we are not alone. Jesus prayed for all of his disciples. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
Organ Prelude
Air
W. A. Mozart
Call to Worship
All:
Good morning, friends and neighbors! Of all the places you could be on a Sunday morning, why are you here? We come seeking the blessing of the Risen One in community. We come to celebrate the presence of One who knows our hearts and guides our choices. We come to witness to the Risen One at work in our community. The Risen One is at work in us, offering us eternal life: Opening our minds to God’s justice, our hearts to God’s mercy, and our world to the place where God is all in all. Eternal life is starting here, starting now: Let us celebrate!
Introit
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise arr. John Behnke
One:
All: One: All: One: All:
One:
Invocation All:
Protector of all, so many of us come this morning with the weight of the world on our shoulders. We are burdened with our own problems and the problems of the world. Remind us that your prayer is for us to become one, to share each other’s hopes
and burdens, and form a community of love and joy. Open us to your presence in this time and in every time of our lives. Amen. <Procession:
Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer
NCH 18
<Passing the Peace A Time of Recognition and Thanksgiving for Church School Teachers and Leaders The Gospel: John 17:6-19
Pew Bible, NT, p. 106
A Time of Sharing with our Children Anthem
Rev. Susan Huffman
Holy, Holy, Holy
Meditation: Guided in Prayer Hymn:
arr. Michael Helman
Rev. Ted Huffman
O Love, How Vast, How Flowing Free
NCH 209
Prayers of the People Church Concerns: Strengthen the Church Pat Sutliff Quiet Prayer Pastoral Prayer The Prayer of Our Savior (We use “debts” and “debtors.”) Response Hear Our Prayer, O God Whelpton Offerings: Invitation Offertory With a Voice of Singing <Doxology <Prayer of Dedication <Recessional:
Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing
M. Shaw
NCH 780 NCH 77
<Benediction <Response Postlude <
Benediction
Karen Ross
Finale-Sixth Symphony
C. M. Widor
Worshipers are invited to be seated for the postlude. Invites worshipers to stand in spirit or body as they are able.
This Week’s Events Sunday, May 17
6:30pm: Good Evening Circle 8:00am: Bell Choir Practice Friday, May 22 8:30am: Adult Choir Practice 1:00pm: BH Watercolor Group 8:30am: Dept. of Ministries 1:00pm: Stained Glass Project 9:30am: Worship; Teacher Rec5:30pm: Blankley/Weyer ognition; Sunday School Play Day Wedding Rehearsal 10:30am: Potluck and Fellowship Saturday, May 23 9:00am: Woodchuck Splitting 3:30pm: Jail Ministry 10:00am: Front Porch Group 3:30pm: The Well Service 5:30pm: Blankley/Weyer Monday, May 18 9:00am: Sanctuary Clean-up Wedding Tuesday, May 19
1:00pm: Craft Day 1:15pm: Spiritual Practices 7:00pm: Church Board Meeting Wednesday, May 20
9:30am: 4:15pm: 6:00pm: 6:00pm:
Good Morning Circle 1st Congregational Trust Adult Choir Practice Stewardship and Budget
Sunday, May 24
9:30am: Worship; Strengthen the Church Offering; Graduate Recognition 10:30am: Fellowship 2:00pm: Eunice Johnson Birthday Reception 3:30pm: The Well Service
News and Events ALTAR FLOWERS
The flowers on the Communion Table are given by Ruth Ann Karlen, Robert Karlen and Carolynn Bryan, in memor y of Rhea Karlen and Beverly Burke. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 106:1
PRAYER CONCERNS
Please hold the following in your prayers as they battle cancer: Jill Kundtz’s sister -in-law, Mindy; Carol Boyles’ br other , Terry Hammon; Sheila Long’s mother , Debbie Torrey; and Laura Boyd’s br other , John Winder. Our prayers are with the following members, families and friends: Last week’s flowers were given by Marvin Bitterman; Bill Dittmer; Marilyn Sprang Fransen, in Mavis Iverson; Ida Muree St. memory of her sister, Carol Sprang Pierre; Robin Franson’s sister , Willey. “So faith, hope, love Jo Mayber; Jane Seaton’s abide, these three; but the greatest daughter, Gail Johnson; Gwyn of these is love.” Wathen’s mother , Cheryl; and I Corinthians 13:13 Reverend Don Stoebner.
BIRTHDAYS May 10: Gerald Koch
May 11: May 12: May 13: May 15: May 16: May 18: May 21: May 23:
Georgia O’Connor Wyatt Trana Jenna Cruz Sharon Darrow Lily Hamann Linnea Putnam Mimi Comley Lois Herndon Lisa Lyons Merrick Fisher Loretta Davis Oona Evans, Lia Green John Arneson Terry Whiting Gordon Magnusson
are given this week to Elsa Grauman, Elyse Seals, and Carter Seals. Congr atulations to our readers. There will be no Readers’ Corner today due to the potluck. BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE
Thank you for supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake. The youth will accept donations for one more week. If you would like to make a donation, please see Susan Huffman. LOVE INC - CLOTHE-A-KID
Love INC’s Clothe-a-Kid program helps parents make their dollars stretch so that their children, ages May 24: 5-14, can have new clothes for TEACHER RECOGNITION school next fall. Please sign-up Thank you to all our leaders for the following worship today. gift of time, devotion, and love you CRAFT GROUP PET BEDS have given to our children and The Craft Group has been making youth this year! The Sunday School teachers being recognized pet beds. They are made from brand new, clean scraps left over today are Pandi Bollock, Sharon from our quilting projects and are Darrow, Becky Fleming, Lynn Grauman, Patti Rea, and Jenny located in Fellowship Hall. We would like you to take a bed if you Seals. Youth gr oup assistants need one. If you wish to make a include Courtney Strampe, Nick donation for the bed, the money Strampe and Ryan Webster. will go to the church roofing proSUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC ject. If you want a bed and they are The potluck and day of celebration all gone, please let us know and we of a great Sunday School year is will make more. Thank you. finally here! We will have plenty GUEST SPEAKER of food, so please stay and show Janet Rathbun, the great-grandour children and youth how imniece of Rev. Joseph Ward, the portant they are to our congregation and to say thank you to all the founder of Yankton College, will speak at Good Morning Circle on wonderful teachers and leaders! Wednesday, May 20 at 9:30am. LIBRARY NEWS Everyone is welcome. The Book Club Readers’ Awards
News and Events BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
The family of Eunice Johnson and the Good Morning Circle invite everyone to an open house reception for Eunice’s 85th birthday on Sunday, May 24 from 2:004:00pm in Fellowship Hall. 4TH TUES. LADIES LUNCH
Due to the Memorial Day holiday, the 4th Tuesday Ladies Lunch group will not meet in May. Also, the group will not meet during the summer. Their next gathering will be on the fourth Tuesday in September. Thank you!
dictions, and coffee is a much better choice." The Department of Ministries invites you to donate coffee, sugar or creamer. Please place these items in the grocery cart located in the Narthex, and they will be delivered to Cornerstone. CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Carol and Lee Boyles on the bir th of their new granddaughter, Parker Nancy Boyles. THANK YOU
Dear Church Family, Thank you all so very much for the Three music scholarships are now healing prayers and get well wishavailable. Further details and apes. Thank you, too, for offering plication forms can be found Clair good wishes when caring for online at www.rcfirstucc.com or at an impatient patient. Thanks to you the church office. Applications I am healing and ready to get back must be received in the church to “normal.” It is wonderful to office by May 31, 2015. have so many caring people surrounding us. PLACERVILLE CAMPS Clair and Sue Maynard Summer will be here before we know it, so it’s time to register for CHURCH RESPONSE summer camp! Remember, First Thank you for participating in our Congregational Church pays half food certificate program. When of camp fees. Information is posted you purchase food certificates, you on the church bulletin board. automatically donate to your Find further details and register at church and to Church Response placervillecamp.net. without spending any extra for your groceries. Church Response CORNERSTONE MISSION The Cornerstone Rescue Mission uses the money you donate to buy food for our pantry. recently announced a critical shortage of coffee there. The mes- Last year, you helped us provide 19,524 bags of food to feed famisage read, "Many of our guests lies in our community! substitute coffee for previous adMUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Seventh Sunday of Easter May 17, 2015 John 17:6-19 Guided in Prayer Fighting Disease The Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa not only stole lives, it also stole any sense of security and well-being for those who lived day to day in fear of contracting the disease. The United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries lent its support to combat the spread of the disease by providing funds for protective equipment, education, and sanitation. "The Ebola outbreak has been extremely difficult to contain and many of the West African governments and facilities are illequipped to deal with such a widespread outbreak," said Zach Wolgemuth, executive for Disaster Ministries. "It has been important for the UCC to engage as much as possible, as we have direct connections and relationships with several partners working in the region who are focused on educating the public and preventative measures aimed at stopping the spread of the virus.” Early emphasis in preventing the spread of Ebola was placed in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia—the areas hardest hit by the deadly virus. Disaster Ministries sent $12,000 in a two month time span— funds donated through One Great Hour of Sharing and distributed through organizations such as the Council of Churches and ACT Alliance, a global alliance of churches and organizations dedicated to humanitarian assistance. "I would encourage individuals to continue to keep our West African sisters and brothers in your prayers," Wolgemuth said. "This is going to be a long fight against this virus and funding will continue to be a need."
Thanks to: Our Church Family and Friends Cam Miller, guestbook and nametags Bernadette Lambert and Shirley Sackman, greeters Usher Team 3 Landon and Parker Bartling, acolytes Andy Knight, liturgist The Bell Choir The Adult Choir, Stephen Branch, director Monty Bollock and Charlie Rea, coffee hosts The Department of Education, potluck hosts Becky and Randy Fisher, dishwashers
Church Staff Michael Ross Rev. Dr. Ted E. Huffman Organist Pastor and Teacher Becky Umenthum Rev. Susan R. Huffman Interim Adult Choir Director Pastor and Teacher Gerry Boehrs Rev. Kathleen Batchelder Moderator Pastor and Teacher Rev. Dr. Henry Bradshaw Denise Webster Pastor Emeritus Treasurer Lynnell Parrott Julie Burton & Laura Switzer Organist Emerita Administrative Colleagues Jack Humke, Michael Bossen Doris Marie Strom Bell Choir Director Choir Directors Emeriti
UNITED CHURCH 1200 Clark Street, Rapid City, SD 57701 605-342-5787 uccoffice@rushmore.com www.rcfirstucc.com