January 18, 2015
Second Sunday after Epiphany
Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-19
Known and Loved
Youth ministry can be a powerful source of renewal in a congregation’s life and in the world.
Ten years ago, First Congregational Church in Montclair, NJ, was experiencing the
downward spiral that many churches know too well. Then a surge in the congregation’s
youth group created an uptick in the vitality of the church.
Not ones to keep their light under a bushel, seven teenagers from First Congregational
traveled to Belize last June on a mission trip made possible by a Neighbors in Need grant
from the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries. The trip to South America was an
immersion experience, where the New Jersey teens lived shoulder to shoulder with Belize
teens. The groups Skyped before the trip, getting to know each other a little and building a
foundation for the relationships that the teens hope will last for a long time. But mostly, they
laughed.
In a video made by the teenagers before their trip (you can see it on the church’s Facebook
page), the youth reveal that, for the most part, they are traveling to Belize because they
want to forge relationships and learn about the culture of other teenagers. One of the
travelers said, “As a teenager, it’s really easy to think that your high school is, like, the
world. But it’s not, obviously. So it’s really expanding to be able to go there and see that
there’s something bigger.”
The mission group, including four chaperones, spent two weeks with the Q’Echi Mayan, an
indigenous people who live in Jacintoville, Belize. Part of their contribution to the community
was to help renovate the local church.
St. John’s United Church of Christ; Schwarzwald
Church Phone: 920-565-2631; Pastor’s Phone: 920-809-7265
Email: Schwarzwald@tds.net; Website: Schwarzwalducc.org
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Sunday, January 18, 2015
ST. JOHN’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
January 18, 2015
2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Pastor: Rev. Melinda Feller
Ministers: All the people
Organist: Helen Schmitz
*Those who are able may stand.
RINGING OF THE BELL
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE PRELUDE & LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
*CALL TO WORSHIP
L: Come, to hear God’s call to service. Come, to meet the Christ who claims you.
P: Speak, O God, for your servant hears. Show us the way, for we would follow.
L: Come, responding to God’s summons. Come, rejoicing that God cares.
P: With longing hearts we seek God’s love. With joyful lips we sing God’s praise.
L: Come, let us worship God.
A TIME OF PRAYER
Sharing our Joys & Concerns
A Time for Silent Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (debts and debtors)
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.
RETURNING TO GOD THAT WHICH BELONGS TO GOD
*PRAISE RESPONSE #448 (v. 3) – Take My Life, God, Let It Be
Take my will; your will be done! Make your will and mine be one.
Take my heart, and by your grace make of it your dwelling place.
*UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
God, you call us to serve you daily and offer many opportunities to do so. Now, you
call us to share part of what has been given to us to help further the ministry of this
church as it serves Jesus Christ. Help us to be generous that others may come to
know your generous love. Bless these tithes and offerings. Amen.
*SONG – Come Now Is The Time To Worship (on TV’s)
*SONG #495 (v. 1, 2 & 4) – Called as Partners in Christ’s Service
UNISON PRAYER OF APPROACH
Open our ears, O God, that we might hear your Word speaking to us in this moment.
Open our ears, O God, that we might listen for your voice calling to us through scripture.
Open our ears, O God, that we might understand your promises to followers both old and
young, ancient and modern. Open our hearts, O God, that we might enter into the love
you offer us. Amen.
*THE BLESSING
L: May the Living Christ go before us…
P: To lead us.
L: May the Living Christ go behind us…
P: To encourage us.
L: May the Living Christ go above us…
P: To protect us.
L: May the Living Christ go beneath us…
P: To guide our footsteps.
L: May the Living Christ go beside us…
P: To befriend us.
L: May the Living Christ go within us…
P: To give us peace.
ALL: Amen.
SCRIPTURE
A READING FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES – 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (The Message)
The boy Samuel, who has been placed in Eli’s care to serve God, hears God speak as he prepares
to sleep, but doesn’t recognize the voice. Then Eli instructs him how to answer, and, after Samuel
responds to God’s call, God speaks a prophecy over Eli’s family.
A READING FROM THE GOSPELS – John 1:43-51 (New Revised Standard Version)
Jesus calls Philip to follow him, and Philip calls Nathaniel, who is, at first, uncertain. When Jesus
sees him he affirms him, and Nathaniel is won over. Jesus assures him that he will see heaven open
and God’s angels ascending and descending on Christ.
*BLESSING RESPONSE #283 – Spirit of the Living God
FOR THE CHILD IN ALL OF US
*THE POSTLUDE
MESSAGE – Who’s Calling Please?
*SONG #173 – You Have Come down to the Lakeshore
WORSHIP ENDS AND SERVICE BEGINS
WELCOME to worship at St. John’s United Church of Christ! It is our hope and prayer that in this
morning’s worship service you will find God’s peace and the light of Christ in your life.
If you are interested in making St. John’s your church home or need pastoral care, please contact
the church or Pastor Melinda at the phone numbers on the front of the bulletin.
Don’t forget to wear your name tag! Help our new and longtime members learn your name. Please
deposit name tags in the baskets near the outside doors.
Please recycle your bulletin in the container under the name tag board.
THE JANUARY 2015 NEWSLETTER IS AVAILABLE IN THE BASKET ON THE TABLE UNDER THE
BULLETIN BOARD IN THE BACK.
SOUPER BOWL OF CARING OFFERING will be received on February 1st. Please bring one or more
cans of soup for the food pantry and one dollar or more for Safe Harbor.
Please hold in prayer…..
Marilee Brockmann (at Golden Living Center), living with cancer.
Emily Wagner, studying abroad in Spain, through the end of April.
Tracy Litz and her service dog Tigger. Tigger will have surgery for a tumor.
Churches of the Northeast Association…
Immanuel UCC, Plymouth with Rev. Laura Yurs
Salem UCC, Plankroad, Plymouth with Rev. Cheryl LePak
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S
Monday, January 19
Tuesday, January 20
4:00 pm Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Peace Walk &
Ceremony begins at Lakeland’s Campus Center
9:30 am Pastor at Clergy Cluster @ Lakeland College
11:00 am Pastor at Founders’ Day lecture @ Lakeland
College
Wednesday, January 21
5:30 pm Confirmation Class
7:00 pm Pastoral Relations
Saturday, January 24
8:30 am Pastor Office Hours at Log Cabin, Howards Grove
8:30 am Tech Grant team at Log Cabin, Howards Grove
Please take a beanie baby to someone who is ill, having surgery or just having a difficult time. You
can take any beanie baby from any church pew.
Food Pantry items needed for the month of January….any nonperishable items.
Annual Meeting will be next Sunday, January 25, 2015 following worship service. You may take a
copy of the Annual Report home with you today but please bring it along for the meeting next
Sunday. We ask one report per family, please.
The proposed changes to the constitution that will be discussed at the annual meeting are listed on
the insert sheet.
The following is from the nominating committee with regards to elections:
Council / Consistory, 2 open positions:
Retiring, Rose Miller and Kevin Wehmeier.
Accepting are Connie Hahn and Aaron Luebke,
volunteers and opens nominations from floor.
Christian Education, 2 open positions:
Retiring, Annette Holtz and Judy Westermeyer.
Accepting are Jennifer Rietbrock and Tammy Endries,
volunteers and open nominations from floor.
Evangelism / Fellowship / Ministry, 2 open positions:
Retiring, Rose Miller and Sandy Voss.
Accepting are Patty Stuckmann and Beth Woepse,
volunteers and open nominations from floor.
Nominating Committee, 1 open position:
Retiring, Carl Johnson.
Accepting is Allen Young,
volunteers and open nominations from floor.
St. John’s Cemetery, 1 open position:
Retiring, Randy Stuckmann.
Accepting is Randy Stuckmann,
volunteers and open nominations from floor.
CHURCH CANCELLATION DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.
This year the cancellation of worship and Sunday School will be on the
following radio and TV stations:
WHBL – 1330 AM Sheboygan radio;
WBAY – Channel 2, Green Bay TV station
WISN – Channel 12, Milwaukee TV station
The cancellations will be made by 7:00 am on those dates and will be
put on the above stations. The information will also be on the website.
You can always call Pastor Melinda at 920-809-7265 or any Council Members
if you have any questions.
WELCOME to worship at St. John’s United Church of Christ! It is our hope and prayer that in this
morning’s worship service you will find God’s peace and the light of Christ in your life.
If you are interested in making St. John’s your church home or need pastoral care, please contact
the church or Pastor Melinda at the phone numbers on the front of the bulletin.
Don’t forget to wear your name tag! Help our new and longtime members learn your name. Please
deposit name tags in the baskets near the outside doors.
Please recycle your bulletin in the container under the name tag board.
THE JANUARY 2015 NEWSLETTER IS AVAILABLE IN THE BASKET ON THE TABLE UNDER THE
BULLETIN BOARD IN THE BACK.
SOUPER BOWL OF CARING OFFERING will be received on February 1st. Please bring one or more
cans of soup for the food pantry and one dollar or more for Safe Harbor.
Please hold in prayer…..
Marilee Brockmann (at Golden Living Center), living with cancer.
Emily Wagner, studying abroad in Spain, through the end of April.
Tracy Litz and her service dog Tigger. Tigger will have surgery for a tumor.
Churches of the Northeast Association…
Immanuel UCC, Plymouth with Rev. Laura Yurs
Salem UCC, Plankroad, Plymouth with Rev. Cheryl LePak
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S
Monday, January 19
Tuesday, January 20
4:00 pm Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Peace Walk &
Ceremony begins at Lakeland’s Campus Center
9:30 am Pastor at Clergy Cluster @ Lakeland College
11:00 am Pastor at Founders’ Day lecture @ Lakeland
College
Wednesday, January 21
5:30 pm Confirmation Class
7:00 pm Pastoral Relations
Saturday, January 24
8:30 am Pastor Office Hours at Log Cabin, Howards Grove
8:30 am Tech Grant team at Log Cabin, Howards Grove
Please take a beanie baby to someone who is ill, having surgery or just having a difficult time. You
can take any beanie baby from any church pew.
Food Pantry items needed for the month of January….any nonperishable items.
Annual Meeting will be next Sunday, January 25, 2015 following worship service. You may take a
copy of the Annual Report home with you today but please bring it along for the meeting next
Sunday. We ask one report per family, please.
The proposed changes to the constitution that will be discussed at the annual meeting are listed on
the insert sheet.
The following is from the nominating committee with regards to elections:
Council / Consistory, 2 open positions:
Retiring, Rose Miller and Kevin Wehmeier.
Accepting are Connie Hahn and Aaron Luebke,
volunteers and opens nominations from floor.
Christian Education, 2 open positions:
Retiring, Annette Holtz and Judy Westermeyer.
Accepting are Jennifer Rietbrock and Tammy Endries,
volunteers and open nominations from floor.
Evangelism / Fellowship / Ministry, 2 open positions:
Retiring, Rose Miller and Sandy Voss.
Accepting are Patty Stuckmann and Beth Woepse,
volunteers and open nominations from floor.
Nominating Committee, 1 open position:
Retiring, Carl Johnson.
Accepting is Allen Young,
volunteers and open nominations from floor.
St. John’s Cemetery, 1 open position:
Retiring, Randy Stuckmann.
Accepting is Randy Stuckmann,
volunteers and open nominations from floor.
CHURCH CANCELLATION DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.
This year the cancellation of worship and Sunday School will be on the
following radio and TV stations:
WHBL – 1330 AM Sheboygan radio;
WBAY – Channel 2, Green Bay TV station
WISN – Channel 12, Milwaukee TV station
The cancellations will be made by 7:00 am on those dates and will be
put on the above stations. The information will also be on the website.
You can always call Pastor Melinda at 920-809-7265 or any Council Members
if you have any questions.