FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WISCONSIN

 

July 17, 2005

MORNING WORSHIP 10:00 a.m.

The 9th Sunday after Pentecost

 

GATHERING MUSIC                                                                                                          

 

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS                                              Rev. Samuel Schaal

 

THE PRELUDE                                  Spanish Hymn                                                 Ashford

 

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                    David Swanson                                               

Liturgist:    Rejoice, the people have gathered, and God is among us!

People:     Give thanks, for in Christ we are a new people.

Liturgist:    Sing praise, for creation continues—even here, even today.

People:     We wait with longing for the revealing of the Spirit.

ALL:         We wait for the birth of a new creation.

 

*HYMN 15 (pg. 2)                     Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

 

*INVOCATION AND LORD’S PRAYER (unison)

Abiding God, your mercies to us are new every morning. We gather here to give you our thanks and praise. Your creation unfolds its gifts for us daily—a great tapestry of love spread for our care. May we continue to grow in faith through Jesus Christ our Lord 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.

 

*THE GLORIA PATRI

 

THE CHILDREN IN WORSHIP                                                                   Carrie Sgarlata

 

*HYMN (pg. 4)                        Womb of Life, and Source of Being

(Children 2nd grade and younger are dismissed to Sunday School during the singing of the hymn.)

 

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON   Romans 8:12-25                                            (NRSV)

 

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

 

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

 

THE PSALMSODY (responsive)            Psalm 139

                 

Liturgist:   O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me!

People:     Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar.

Liturgist:    Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all

                  my ways.

People:     Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Liturgist:    Thou dost beset me behind and before, and layest thy hand upon me.

People:     Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.

Liturgist:    Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

People:     If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou

                  art there!

Liturgist:    If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

People:     Even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Liturgist:    If I say, "Let only darkness cover me, and the light about me be night,"

People:     Even the darkness is not dark to thee, the night is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with thee.

Liturgist:    How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

People:     If I would count them, they are more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with thee.

Liturgist:    Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

People:     And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

 

GOSPEL LESSON                     Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

 

Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?'  He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'  But he said, 'No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

 

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.  Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let

him hear.

 

ANTHEM                                           The Lord’s Prayer                              arr. Liles & Gentry

The Steeple Belles

 

THE CALL TO PRAYER and SILENT MEDITATION

 

THE PRAYER OF PEOPLE AND MINISTER

 

THE SERMON                               “The New Creation”                                     Rev. Schaal

 

THE OFFERTORY                                                                                                                                       America

 

SPECIAL MUSIC                                Ride the Chariot                                                Spiritual

                                   

*DOXOLOGY 

 

*THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

 

*HYMN 228 (pg. 7)                  Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

                                                                       

*THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

 

CHORAL BENEDICTION    The Lord Bless You and Keep You                              arr. Fellows

 

THE POSTLUDE                                   Psalm 150                                                      Jordan

                                                                       

*The congregation is invited to stand.

 

Today’s Chancel flowers are given by Jeff, Kris, Spencer, & Annika Bard,

 in fond memory of Kris’ mother,
Barb Haeny.

 

 

SERVING July 17, 2005

Head Greeters: Marilyn Auer, David Moore

Head Ushers: John O’Meara, Sharon Raymond

Ushers: 10:00 a.m. John O’Meara - Captain, Neal O’Meara, David Wareham, Gloria Walsh, and Jim Walsh

Greeters: 10:00 a.m. Harry and Kathy Collis

Acolytes: 10:00 a.m. Emily Dueker and Jeffrey D’Ambrisi

 

CARE  FOR  CHILDREN

A nursery for infants and toddlers is available during the 10:00 a.m. service.

Sunday School for children 2nd grade and younger at 10:00 a.m.

 

About our quartet: The Steeple Belles feature church members Marj Fowler, Diane Houriet,

Nan Cleveland and Jill Bruss.  They all sing in our church choirs and have performed at some of our church dinners.

 

 

Worship Preview for Sunday, July 24, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.

Rev. Carrie Kreps Wegenast will offer the sermon.

Ralph Ehlert is the organist.

            A Barbershop Chorus, Midwest Vocal Express, will provide the special music.

 

 

                 

 CALENDAR WEEK OF July 17, 2005

SUNDAY, July 17

8:45 a.m. Lectionary Bible Study-RC

10:00 a.m. Worship/Children in Church/ Sunday School for ages 4 & 5 and grades 1 & 2 in LL2 

11:00 a.m. Coffee Hour-Social Hall

 

MONDAY, July 18

5:00 p.m. Cardinal Stritch Class-SH

7:00 p.m. Bd/Fellowship-RC

8:00 p.m. AA-LL5

 

TUESDAY, July 19

9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study-RC

10:00 a.m. Music Jamboree-LL2

7:00 p.m. Tosa Quilters-SH

 

WEDNESDAY, July 20

6:30 a.m. Women’s Bible Study-Parlor, Men’s Bible Study-RC

9:00 a.m. Chapel Devotions

9:30 a.m. Prayer & Pilates-SH

6:00 p.m. Debtors Anonymous-LL5

 

THURSDAY, July 21
9:00 a.m. Big Band-SH

 

FRIDAY, July 22

No church events scheduled

SATURDAY, July 23

No church events scheduled

 

 

Lectionary Bible Study will meet on Sunday mornings until September 4 from 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. in the Resource Center. Drop in –

no registration required. Childcare is available.

 

Men’s Bible Study, with Maurie Daigneau, will meet on July 20 at

6:30 a.m. Men’s Ministry will not meet during the month of July as Rev. Peay will be attending the ICF conference in Greece.

 

Men’s Tuesday Night Church League Softball Team’s next game is July 19 at 8:30 p.m. at Whitman Field.

 

VBS 2005 Ventures to Jerusalem Marketplace - Join us at Vacation Bible School August 1 - 5, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.  Experience new traditions, taste new foods, try new arts and crafts projects and discover Jesus’ unfailing love for each of us.  Register at the church office early to help with planning, and be sure to invite your neighbors and friends!

 

Sausage Fest sponsored by the church sports’ teams will be held Wednesday, August 3 at 6 p.m. on Ridge Court.  Join us for hot dogs, brats and sides.  Adults; $5.00, children under 12; $3.00; under three; free.  Sign up at the church office.

 

God and Me Program beginning this fall for first, second and third graders accompanied by a parent.  The program is designed to correspond with the religious component of Boy or Girl Scouts and is open to children who are interested in growing in their Christian faith. Led by Rev. Carrie Kreps Wegenast, a maximum of ten students will meet on five Sundays from 3 - 4 p.m. The fee is $10 per child. Please sign up at the church office.