FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WAUWATOSA

March 14, 2004

MORNING WORSHIP 8:45 AND 11:00 A.M.

The Third Sunday of Lent

GATHERING MUSIC

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.

THE PRELUDE Variations on an American Hymntune Young

CHIMES AND TOWER BELLS

CALL TO WORSHIP 8:45 Tom Schalmo/11:00 Neal O’Meara

Liturgist: The heavens rise high above the earth, higher than any bird can soar;

People: The east lies distant from the west, more distant than any wind can blow;

Liturgist: But above the greatest height does God raise up our hearts,

People: And beyond the farthest distance does God remove our sins!

Liturgist: Let us bless the Lord with all our soul--

ALL: Let all that is within us bless God’s holy name!

CHORAL FANFARE

*HYMN 101 There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy

*INVOCATION AND LORD’S PRAYER (unison)

As in a dry and weary land where no water is, our souls have thirsted for you, O Lord. Now we have come into your sanctuary; the shadow of your power and glory envelops us. If you are near, Lord, do not remain silent; do not hide from us. Incline your ear, and come to us; hear, that our souls may live. Make with us an everlasting covenant, and we shall dwell in the shadow of your wings and sing your praise today, tomorrow and forever through him who taught us to pray…

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.

* CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (Hymn 524)

Lead Me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness,

Make thy way plain before my face.

For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only,

That makest me dwell in safety.

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 55:1-9 Bible, page 635

THE ANTHEM 8:45 Part of the Plan Sleeth

Junior Choir, directed by Roxanne Trump Miles

*HYMN 341 Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

(Children are dismissed to Sunday School during the singing of the hymn.)

THE PSALMODY (unison) Psalm 63:1-8 Bible, page 498

THE GOSPEL LESSON Luke 13:1-9 Bible, page 906

THE ANTHEM 11:00 Surely The Lord Is In This Place Mueller

THE CALL TO PRAYER and SILENT MEDITATION

THE PRAYER OF MINISTER AND PEOPLE

THE CHORAL RESPONSE TO PRAYER

THE SERMON “A Seven Letter Word Meaning Change” Dr. Peay

THE OFFERTORY

THE ANTHEM 8:45 I Have Felt the Touch of God Larson

11:00 To Everything There Is A Season Harris

* CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (Hymn 538)

Bless thou the gifts our hands have brought,

Bless thou the work our hearts have planned;

Ours is the faith, the will, the thought,

The rest, O God, is in thy hand. Amen.

*THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Liturgist: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

All: God of mercy, we praise you that in love you have reached across the abyss of our selfishness and brought us into your embrace. We thank you for the self-giving love of your Son on the cross to seal us in the covenant of your love. By your Spirit, give us the grace of repentance, and guide us in ways of righteousness. Take our humble offerings as tokens of our commitment to follow Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord. Amen.

*HYMN (insert) Amazing Grace

*THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

* THE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (Hymn 541)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace.

Whose mind is stayed on thee. Amen.

THE POSTLUDE There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy Johnson

*The congregation is invited to stand.

Today’s chancel flowers are given in loving, joyful celebration of our children and grandchildren:

Kerri, Filip, Margot and Ella Vermeylen;

Kevin, Ainsley and Cully Jacobson
from Doug and Janie Jacobson.

SERVING March 14, 2004

Head Greeters: Mark Hendrickson, Ken Wendt

Head Ushers: Dan Johnson, David Moore

Ushers: 8:45 a.m. Captain: Jim VerDuin, Doug Hoerz, Joel Halvorson, Bonnie Wiegand, Maurie Daigneau

Ushers: 11:00 a.m. Captain: Tracy Lockhart, Mark and Molly Rowbottom, Tom and Nancy Winkel

Greeters: 8:45 a.m. Kevin, Jennifer, Nathan, & Payton Breitzmann

Greeter: 11:00 a.m. Jean Whitmore

Acolytes 8:45 a.m. Jennifer Syburg, Ari Russ

Acolyte 11:00 a.m. Kylee Liska

CARE FOR CHILDREN

A nursery for infants and toddlers is available during the 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. services.

Sunday School at 8:45 and 11:00.

Worship Preview for Sunday, March 21, 8:45 and 11:00 A.M.

Dr. Peay will present the message entitled, “Prodigal Is As Prodigal Does.”

Betty Dethmers is the organist.

Lee Jacobi directs the Pilgrim Choir at 8:45 and the Chancel Choir at 11:00.

Choir Anthems

Pilgrim Choir 8:45

Chancel Choir 11:00

I Have Felt The Touch Of God

Ray McCutcheon and Lloyd Larson

I have felt the touch of God through your hands.

I've seen His look of love through your face.

I have stood before His throne in your prayers.

Because you cared, I've found God's grace.

When I saw no hope in daily living,

you reached a hand of tenderness and care.

Darkness turned to light, a new day dawning.

The joy of finding peace is why I share.

I have felt the touch of God through your hands.

I've seen His look of love through your face.

I have stood before His throne in your prayers.

Because you cared, I've found God's grace.

I have learned to trust the Lord through your faith.

Your faithful walk with Him I clearly see.

I have heard Him speak to me through your voice.

Your love for Christ has helped to set me free.

Surely The Lord Is In This Place

Genesis 28:16,17; Psalm 84:4; Psalm 126:3

Surely the Lord is in this place.

This is none other but the house of God,

And this is the gate of heaven.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house;

they will be still praising thee.

The Lord hath done great things for us;

whereof we are glad.

To Everything There Is A Season

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

To everything there is a season,

To everything there is a time;

for every purpose under heaven

there is a time, a proper time.

To live and die, to plant and harvest.

To kill and heal, To wreck and build;

To cry and laugh, to mourn and dance

there is a time, a proper time.

A time to cast away, to bring together,

a time to be embraced, to be alone;

to find and lose, to keep and give,

there is a time, there is a time.

To tear apart, to mend together,

to be silent, and to speak;

to love and hate, for war and peace,

There is a time, a proper time.

To everything there is a time.

CALENDAR WEEK OF March 14, 2004

SUNDAY, March 14

8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer & Holy Communion-Chapel

8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Nominating Comm. sign up-Atrium

8:45 a.m. Worship/Jr. Choir/Children in Church/Sunday School, Covenant Class-Parlor

9:45 a.m. Cherub Choir rehearsal-202

10:00 a.m. Special Coffee Hour-S.H.

11:00 a.m. Worship/Children in Church/ Sunday School

12:00 p.m. Personnel-Parlor

5:00 p.m. Jr. PF- 302

6:00 p.m. Cinematic View of Jesus-“Jesus Christ Superstar”

6:30 p.m. Sr. PF-302

MONDAY, March 15

4:30 p.m. Nominating Comm.-Conf. Rm.

7:00 p.m. Bd. Fellowship-Parlor

8:00 p.m. AA-B6

TUESDAY, March 16

9:00 a.m. Retired Men’s Club-S.H.

4:00 p.m. Long Range Planning-Conf. Rm.

7:00 p.m. Care Bd.-R.C., Bd. Stewardship-Conf. Rm., Boy Scouts-B6, Historic Hgts. Book Club-Parlor, Tosa Quilters-S.H.

WEDNESDAY, March 17

6:30 a.m. Men’s Bible Study-Lounge

9:00 a.m. Music Jamboree-B3

6:00 p.m. Lenten Supper-S.H., Pioneer Club (pizza @ 5:30)-B3/4

6:30 p.m. Lenten Vespers-Chapel

7:00 p.m. “Bible Workbench”-Parlor, “Basic Spirituality”-Lounge

THURSDAY, March 18

9:00 a.m. Big Band rehearsal-S.H.

6:45 p.m. Pilgrim Choir-B1

7:00 p.m. Jubilation Ringers-B6

7:30 p.m. Combined Choir-B1

8:30 p.m. Chancel Choir-B1

FRIDAY, March 19

9:00 a.m. Harmony Singers-Lounge

10:00 a.m. Artists’ Grp-B6

SATURDAY, March 20

9:00 a.m. Cello Group rehearsal-B1

The Nominating Committee is looking for names of people who would like to serve on a Board, Council or one of the many Committees involved here at Church as they begin to fill open positions. If you are interested, sign up in the atrium today.

Adult Education will not meet this week. Instead, join us in the Social Hall at 10:00 a.m. for a special coffee hour to celebrate Betty Dethmers becoming an American citizen. Adult Ed. will resume next Sunday, March 21 with Marty VanderVelde who will lead a discussion on “Business and the Common Good.” Childcare provided.

The next in the series of the Cinematic Views of Jesus will be shown today, March 14, at 6:00 p.m. in the Lounge. We’ll see “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

The Lenten Supper will be held March 17 from 6:00-6:30 p.m. Vesper services will be held at 6:30. Sign up at the office for dinner and childcare by noon March 14. Following dinner and vespers, the “Bible Workbench” series, lead by Rev. Schaal in the Parlor and the “Basic Spirituality” series lead by Rev. Peay in the Lounge will meet.

It’s time to order your plants to decorate the nave for Easter services on April 11. Plants may be taken home after the 11:00 service. Look for order forms on the welcome tables located at the back of the Nave and in the hallways. Return the form to the office by Sunday, April 4 with your check for $13.50 for each plant ordered.

The Board of Benevolence has chosen the Tosa Food Pantry and the Hosea Fund as beneficiaries of the Lenten/Easter Offering. Please support these worthwhile programs.

Are you interested in joining the Tuesday Night Church League Softball team? Games are played at Whitman Field and Hart Park between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Contact Scott Rondeau at toprankeduncfan@aol.com or 414-258-3874.