FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WAUWATOSA
Rally Sunday - September 11, 2005
MORNING WORSHIP 8:45 AND 11:00 A.M.
The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev.
Steven Peay, Ph.D.
THE PRELUDE At
The Name of Jesus Johnson
CHIMES AND TOWER
BELLS
CALL
TO WORSHIP Rev.
Samuel Schaal
Liturgist: Doors open. Hearts ready. God
beckons.
People: Looking
for a center point to life, for a union of all the scattered and
torn
edges.
Liturgist: May your soul find communion
here.
People: Searching for honesty,
for a truth spoken in love.
Liturgist: May your faith be challenged
here.
People: Looking for a place to
offer time and talents.
Liturgist: May your spirit enrich this
community.
People: Searching for joy to
blossom and hope to grow.
ALL: May
our songs reach the heavens, touch our hearts and spread love into
the
world.
*HYMN 383 Forward
Through the Ages
CHORAL
FANFARE
*INVOCATION AND LORD’S
PRAYER (unison)
Almighty God, you call
your church to witness that in Christ we are reconciled
to you. Help us to
proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may turn to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, and
through whom we 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.
*A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR
9/11 AND FOR THE NATION
*RESPONSE
Our
father’s God, to thee, Author of Liberty, To thee we sing;
Long
may our land be bright With freedom’s holy light;
Protect
us by thy might, Great God, our King.
INTRODUCTION OF PASTORAL INTERN AND CFTS FELLOW
R.
Duane Coates
Seth
Jones
THE COMMISSSIONING OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS
*HYMN 101 There’s
a Wideness in God’s Mercy
(Children are dismissed to Sunday School by Class
during the singing of the hymn.)
THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Romans 14:1-12 Bible,
page 988
THE CANTICLE OF THE COVENANT
Minister: We hear Paul’s call to
Timothy, “rekindle the gift that is within you,”
ALL: We
rekindle the gift of being the Lord’s free people, continuing the Way the Pilgrims walked as they bound themselves in
a church estate, “in the fellowship of
the Gospel, to walk in all his ways, made known to or to be made known to us, according to his best
endeavors, whatever it should cost us, the Lord assisting us.”
Minister: “for God did not give us a
spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love,
and
self-control.
ALL: We
are the Lord’s free and gathered people who stand with those in
Salem
long ago who declared, “We Covenant with the Lord and
one with
another; and do bind ourselves in the presence of God,
to walk
together in all his ways, according as he is pleased to reveal
himself unto us in his Blessed word of truth.”
ALL: We
are the Lord’s free and covenanted people bound in God’s love
and
loving service. May the gift of relationship be rekindled within
us!
Amen.
*THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew
18:21-25 Bible,
page 852
THE ANTHEM 8:45 Because
You Are God’s Chosen Ones Smith
11:00 Create
In Me Muskrat
THE
CALL TO PRAYER and SILENT MEDITATION
THE
PRAYER OF PEOPLE AND PASTOR
THE
CHORAL RESPONSE TO PRAYER
THE SERMON “A
Gifted People” Dr.
Peay
THE
OFFERTORY
THE ANTHEM 8:45 How
Lovely Are the Messengers Mendelssohn
11:00 The
Lord is My Shepherd Matthews
*DOXOLOGY (Hymn 515)
*THE
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
*HYMN 259 We
Limit Not the Truth of God
[sung to Ellacombe]
*THE CHARGE AND
BENEDICTION
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.
THE POSTLUDE There’s
a Wideness in God’s Mercy Johnson
*The congregation is
invited to stand.
Today’s
Chancel flowers are given by Grace Forester in memory of her husband, Richard.
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.
SERVING
September 11, 2005
Head
Greeters:
Marilyn Auer, David Moore
Head
Usher: John
O’Meara
Ushers: 8:45 a.m. Bill Cummings – Captain, Neal O’Meara, Leigh
Eggert, Mark Blazich, Marty VanderVelde
Ushers: 11:00 a.m. George Wells – Captain, Neal O’Meara, Mark
Rowbottom, Dennis Gross
Greeters:
8:45 a.m. DdG
and Charlie Wakefield
Greeters: 11:00 a.m. Ken and Lois Wendt
Acolytes:
8:45 a.m. Beau
Allison and Elizabeth Brown
Acolyte:
11:00 a.m.
Sophia Poulos
Worship Preview for Sunday, September 18, 8:45
and 11:00 a.m.
Rev. Steven Peay will offer the sermon, “A
Covenant People.”
Betty Dethmers is the organist.
Lee Jacobi directs the Pilgrim Choir at 8:45 and
the Chancel Choir at 11:00.
Kim Williams will play a handbell solo at 8:45 and
11:00.
Choir Anthems
Pilgrim Choir 8:45
Because
You Are God's Chosen Ones
Col. 3:12-17
Because you
are God's chosen ones, because you are kept in his care:
Clothe
yourselves with mercy and kindness, humility, meekness and prayer.
Bear with one
another, forgive one another, forgive as the Lord forgives you.
Over all
these put on garments of love which will make your life over anew.
Christ's
peace must reign in you;
Christ's word
ordain in you;
Christ's love
remains in your hearts.
Thanks be to
God, and to Him give all praises;
Pledge all to
Him, who to new life upraises.
By wisdom
made perfect, instruct one another;
Sing hymns to
the Lord from your hearts.
In all speech
and action give thanks unto God, who to you all his blessings imparts.
Romans
5:15,16
How lovely
are the messengers that preach us the gospel of peace,
how lovely
are they that preach us the gospel of peace.
To all the
nations is gone forth the sound of their words,
throughout
all the lands their glad tidings.
Chancel Choir 11:00
Create in
Me a Clean Heart, O God
Psalm
51:10-12
Create in me
a clean heart, O God,
and renew a
right spirit within me.
Cast me not
away from they presence;
and take not
thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto
me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me
with thy free spirit. Amen.
The Lord
Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23
The Lord is
my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me
to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me
beside the still waters.
He restoreth
my soul:
He leadeth me
in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear
no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and
Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou
preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of life:
and I will
dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
THE COMMISSIONING OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS ON
RALLY SUNDAY
The Calling Forth
The Directors of Children’s Ministries call the
teachers forward. They stand across the front of the nave.
The Teaching Minister addresses those being
commissioned:
Sisters and Brothers in the Lord, By God’s grace
we are saved,
and enabled to grow in the faith and to commit our
lives in ways that serve Christ.
God has called you to particular service in the
educational ministry of this church.
Show your purpose by answering these questions.
Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple,
obeying his Word and showing his love? I will,
with God’s help.
Do you welcome the responsibility of this service
because you are determined to live out your covenant promise to follow the Lord
Jesus, to love neighbors, and to work for the reconciling of the world?
I do.
Will you serve the children entrusted to you with
energy, intelligence, imagination, and love, relying on God’s mercy and
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit?
I will, with God’s help.
The Minister for Youth and Family addresses all
present:
Do you, members of the First Congregational Church
of Wauwatosa,
confirm the call of God to our sisters and
brothers who have this day undertaken the ministry of Sunday School teacher?
We do.
Will you support and encourage them in this ministry?
We will.
COMMISSIONING PRAYER (said by Teachers,
Directors and Ministers)
Eternal God, you who are mighty in power yet
tender in love; we humbly seek to teach the children of this church your glory
and your redemption. Too often we remember our weakness instead of your
strength. We dwell under the shadow of our own frailties instead of teaching in
the light of your all-sufficient promises.
Now we would dedicate ourselves to the task you
have laid upon us. May a new power, a greater skill, and a deeper love mark our
teaching. Give us, dear Lord, an understanding of our pupils, a comprehension
of their needs, and a revelation of your Holy Spirit.
Endow us with a joy in our work. Make us aware
of your share in our endeavors. Lift us up, we ask you, that as teachers and
pupils, directors and ministers, we may grow in Christian love. Hear our
prayers offered in the Name of the Great Teacher, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BLESSING
The Teaching Minister blesses the teachers:
May the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and keep your whole being, spirit, soul, and body,
free from every fault at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Directors of Children’s Ministries then
dismiss the teachers and students to class.
RALLY SUNDAY, September 11
7:45
a.m. Morning
Prayer and Holy Communion-Chapel
8:45 a.m. Worship/Children in Church/Sunday School
10:00 a.m. Coffee Hour-SH, Covenant Class-LL4, Teacher
Workshop-Parlor, Wauwatosa Historical Society Tour Volunteers-Lounge
11:00 a.m. Worship/Children in Church/Sunday School
3:00 p.m. God and Me program-LL5
5:00 p.m. PF Rally Day Kick-off Potluck Supper-Ridge Ct.
9:00
a.m. @CH-
Suburban Retired Men’s Club
7:00
p.m.
Bd/Benevolence-Conf. Rm., Bd/Christian Educ.-RC
8:00
p.m. AA-LL5
12:00
p.m. Circle
7-Lounge, Wauwatosa Minister’s Assn.-Parlor
7:00
p.m. Boy Scouts-LL5, Wauwatosa
Historical Society-SH
9:00
a.m. Chapel
Devotions, Cream City Rug Club-SH
9:30
a.m. Prayer
& Pilates-Lounge
10:00
a.m.
@Harwood Place-Communion & Chat
4:30
p.m.
Personnel-RC
6:00
p.m. All
Church Potluck Supper Picnic-SH, Debtors Anonymous-LL5
6:45
p.m. Pilgrim
Choir-LL1
7:00
p.m.
Jubilation Ringers-LL5
7:55
p.m. Chancel
Choir-LL1
7:00
a.m. Rotary
Bd.-RC
9:00
a.m. Harmony
Singers-Lounge
9:00 a.m. Hope Community Foundation-Parking Lot
Welcome to all visitors joining us today. Please check the welcome tables in the atrium for information about our church.
For those who wear a hearing aid, our Nave is equipped with an FM loop system. Simply set your hearing aid to the “T” setting.
In addition to the loop system, there is a new hearing assistance system installed in the Nave which can amplify the worship service with the use of a receiver and headset. The headset is not usable with a hearing aid. If you would like to try this system, please ask for a receiver/headset at the church office.
Covenant Renewal classes will be held September 18 through October 27. Various classes will be offered to fit into everyone’s schedule. Childcare will be provided for several of these classes. Sign up at the registration table in the atrium beginning August 28, or call the church office at 414-258-7375. Those wishing to become new members should sign up for the Covenant Renewal classes. A final class, just for new members, will be held Sunday, November 6 at 10 a.m. New members will join on Sunday, November 13.
Mum plants will be for sale in the atrium before and after the services today. All proceeds go to Greater Tosa Interfaith Older Adult Program. The cost is one for $6 or two for $10.
Seth Jones, co-recipient of the FCC CFTS scholarship, will be visiting our congregation today at both services. He will be available to talk with after the services.
Suburban Retired Men’s Club will meet September 12 at 9 a.m. at the Congregational Home. Rev. Carrie Kreps Wegenast will present “A Mustard Seed of Service: The Pilgrim Fellowship at the Nehemiah House.”
Circle 7 will meet September 13 at 12 p.m. in the Friendship Lounge. Rev. Richard Buchman will speak.
An Old Fashioned Church Potluck Supper will be held on Wednesday, September 14 at 6 p.m. in the Social Hall. Please bring a dish to pass, which will serve 8-12 people. Sign up for the number of people in your party, and the dish you will be bringing, at the welcome table in the atrium. The Board of Fellowship will provide the beverages.
Literacy Services of Wisconsin, conceived at First Congregational Church forty years ago, is inviting interested persons to a celebration on Thursday, September 22, 6 p.m. at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Dinner tickets are $25. Call 414-344-5878 for reservations by September 15.