FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WAUWATOSA

The Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost

September 5, 2004

10:00 a.m.

GATHERING MUSIC

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Carrie Kreps Wegenast

THE PRELUDE Praise to the Lord Freudenburg

CHIMES AND TOWER BELLS

CALL TO WORSHIP [Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18]

Liturgist: O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and

when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.

People: You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with

all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it

completely.

Liturgist: You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge

is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.

People: For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my

mother’s womb.

Liturgist: I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;

that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being

made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

People: Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all

the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.

Liturgist: How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of

them!

All: I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I

am still with you.

*HYMN 15 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION AND LORD’S PRAYER (Unison)

God of the ages, you call the church to keep watch in the world and to discern the signs of the times. Grant us the wisdom which your Spirit bestows, that with courage we may proclaim your prophetic word, and complete the work that you have set before us; through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever and who taught us to call you saying…

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, for ever. Amen.

*THE GLORIA PATRI (Hymn 513)

THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Jeremiah 18:1-11 Bible, page 666

THE CHILDREN IN WORSHIP

*HYMN 409 Jesus, Thou Divine Companion

(Children 2^nd grade and lower are dismissed to Sunday School during the hymn.)

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Philemon 1-21 Bible, page 1043

THE GOSPEL LESSON Luke 13:25-33 Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph. D.

Bible, page 907

ANTHEM O Saviour, Hear Me! Gluck

Kimberly Porter, Soprano

CALL TO PRAYER and SILENT MEDITATION

THE PRAYER OF MINISTER AND PEOPLE

THE ORGAN RESPONSE

THE SERMON “Choosing Well” Dr. Peay

THE OFFERTORY

ANTHEM Laudamus te Mozart

From Mass in C Minor

Kimberly Porter, Soprano

*DOXOLOGY (Hymn 515)

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

*HYMN 404 Take My Life and Let It Be

*CHARGE and BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

Go now in peace. Never be afraid.

God will go with you each hour of every day.

Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.

Know He will guide you in all you do.

Go now in love, and show you believe.

Reach out to others so all the world can see.

God will be there, watching from above.

Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.

POSTLUDE Go Forth in Faith Ritter

*The congregation is invited to stand.

Today’s chancel flowers are given by

Helen Bailey Milne and Bob Milne in memory of deceased loved ones.

CARE FOR CHILDREN

A nursery for infants and toddlers is available during the 10 a.m. service.

Children 2^nd grade and below will be dismissed to Sunday School during the 10 a.m. service.

Kimberly Porter holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Carroll College in Waukesha. She is currently assisting Artistic Director Christine Flasch at the Music by the Lake Academy of the Arts on the Lake Geneva Campus of Aurora University. Kimberly

will be returning as a member to both First Church choirs this fall.

Worship Preview for Sunday, September 12, 8:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Next week is Rally Sunday! We return to our regular worship schedule at 8:45 a.m. and

11:00 a.m. Sunday School and Choirs resume. Dr. Peay’s sermon is entitled: “The Three R’s.” Join us as we begin our new program year celebrating the theme “Hearts to God.”

Rev. Peay will lead the Wednesday Men’s Ministry Group at 6:30 a.m.

on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays in Friendship Lounge.

All are welcome, including guests. Refreshments are served.

CALENDAR WEEK OF September 5, 2004

SUNDAY, September 5

10:00 a.m. Worship/Children in Church/ Sunday School ages 3-2^nd grade

11:00 a.m. Coffee Hour-Lounge

MONDAY, September 6

Labor Day-Office closed

TUESDAY, September 7

7:00 p.m. Deacons-Parlor, Boy Scouts-LL5

WEDNESDAY, September 8

6:30 a.m. Men’s Ministry-Lounge

9:00 a.m. Devotions-Chapel

10:00 a.m. @Harwood-Communion and Chat

4:30 p.m. Personnel-R.C.

6:00 p.m. All Church Dinner

7:00 p.m. “Beginnings” Preview Class-Lounge, Teacher Workshop-Parlor

THURSDAY, September 9

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

6:45 p.m. Pilgrim Choir-LL1

7:00 p.m. Grief Support Grp.-Lounge, Jubilation Ringers-LL5

7:55 p.m. Chancel Choir-LL1

FRIDAY, September 10

9:00 a.m. Harmony Singers-Lounge

10:00 a.m. @CH-Hug a Tot

SATURDAY, September 11

9:00 a.m. Breakfast w/the Girls-Lounge

6:00 p.m. Russian Reception-Lounge

Welcome to all visitors joining us today. Please check the welcome tables at the back of the Nave or in the hallways for fliers with information about scheduled activities.

For those who wear a hearing aid, our Nave is equipped with an FM loop system. To access the system, set your hearing aid to the “T” setting.

In case of emergency, a minister is on call at 414-205-0519.

SERVING September 5, 2004

Head Greeters: Mark Hendrickson, David Moore

Head Usher: Susie Daigneau

Ushers: 10:00 a.m. Captain: Jim Walsh, Jim Benz, Maurie Daigneau, Janet Schalmo, Gloria Walsh

Greeters: 10:00 a.m. John & Eunice Erdahl

Acolytes: 10:00 a.m. Cory Halvorson, Zoe Harmon

Join us today in the Lounge for a special coffee hour and a chance to visit with our former minister, Mark Dunn and his wife Diana.

The church office will return to regular office hours on Tuesday, September 7. The office will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays; and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Mayfair/Bluemound Interfaith is having a mum sale. Proceeds will benefit their ministry, providing services to seniors living at home. Place your order at the church office. Cost: $6 each, or 2/$10. Pickup is on Rally Sunday, September 12.

Grief support group- the next meeting is Thursday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. here at First Church. This is the 3^rd of 6 consecutive meetings. If you haven’t previously registered, please call the church office.

Circle 8 will meet at the Congregational Home on Tuesday, September 7 at 1:30 p.m. for Bunco and dessert with the residents.

The September All-Church Dinner, will be held Wednesday, September 8 at 6 p.m. Join us for a Turkey Fry and children’s game night. At 7:00, a 45-minute preview of the “Beginnings” program will be held in the Lounge for adults. The program is entitled, “How Can I Make a Life and Not Just a Living?” Dinner cost: $5/adults; $2/children under 12. Please sign up for dinner and/or childcare by noon today.

Breakfast with the Girls will meet Saturday, September 11 at 9 a.m. in the Lounge. Join us for a presentation by Molly O’Connell. Sign up at the church office 414-258-7375. If you can help with baked goods let us know that too. Program cost: $5.

Quilt Raffle tickets are on sale in the atrium each Sunday through September 30. Tickets are $5 each or 3/$10. Proceeds benefit the FCC scholarship for the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies.

A Bridge Marathon for 2004-5 is being organized. If you are interested, contact Joan Halvorson at 414-476-1963.