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 listed on the front
of the bulletin
LARGE PRINT BULLETINS are available from the ushers.
Recycle your Bulletin in the container under the name tag board.
If you chose to wear your Name Tag today, THANK YOU! Not only are you helping our newer
members and youth learn your name, you demonstrate hope – hope that guests will worship with
us today who do not yet know you, hope that God will bless us with growth as we share the love of
Jesus Christ.
JANUARY 2016 newsletters are available in the basket under the bulletin board in the Narthex.
For the month of JANUARY we are collecting Personal & Feminine Hygiene Products which
shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. The Food Pantry box is located in the Narthex
under the fire extinguisher.
Doors Locked. All church doors with the exception of the door by Pastor Melinda's office will be
locked after worship. Also if you are the last person leaving a room with a light on, please turn it off.
The shed is open for recycling aluminum (refreshment) cans. Only aluminum cans are accepted
and they are to in clear plastic bags!! We will have the garage open until the snow flies!
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
The church books will close on December 31, 2015. Please keep this in mind for any contributions
or expenses you may have to be reimbursed for.
The Church office will be closed: Thursday, December 31st, and Friday, January 1st. Pastor Melinda
will be on vacation until Saturday, January 2nd. In the event of an emergency, call Dave Wagner at
920-627-4589.
Annual Meeting will be Sunday, January 31, 2016 following worship services.
All reports need to be to Vicki no later than January 10, 2016 in order for it to be in the Annual
Report. This includes the Scrip account, the Women’s Guild, St. John’s Cemetery and St. Paul’s
Cemetery.
Check out Scrip before and after worship. Scrip gift cards can be ordered to do your everyday
shopping or they also make a great gift! If you don’t know if Scrip has a certain gift card, just ask
Denise and she will be able to help you!
Monday, December 28
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S
12:00 pm to 12:05 pm Pause to Pray
All Community Prayer for St. John’s UCC
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
facebook.com/StJohnsUCCSchwarzwald
Sunday, December 27, 2015
ST. JOHN’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
December 27, 2015
First Sunday After Christmas
Pastor: Rev. Melinda Feller
Ministers: All the people
Organist: Helen Schmitz
*Those who are able may stand.
The bulletin is sponsored by Brian Westermeyer.
SCRIPTURE
RINGING OF THE BELL
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE PRELUDE AND LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
*SONG #144 Hark the Herald
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We gather to worship together,
All: Different people, different lives, different histories,
One: Yet all children of the same Parent,
All: Created lovingly by the Source of all life!
One: We gather to reconnect with one another,
All: Different people, different lives, different histories,
One: Yet all disciples of one Teacher.
All: Jesus, the Word made flesh, dwelling among us.
One: We gather with different joys and sorrows, different hopes and fears....
All: Different people, different lives, different histories,
One: Yet one people with one God, one faith, one baptism.
All
Let us open ourselves to the presence of God at work in us, among us,
and through us.
*SONG #154 Go Tell It On The Mountain
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND PARDON
ALL: Dear Heavenly Father, we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have
too often forgotten that we are yours. Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there
was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You. For these things
we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds
and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world. Remind us to be who You
would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us
to You and build our relationship with You and with those You have given us on
earth.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
ONE: Hear the good news, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and
death. Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ.
ALL: Thanks be to God!
Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52
FOR THE CHILD IN ALL OF US
MESSAGE – Time at Father’s House
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 #785 – We Give You But Your Own (traditional words)
We give thee but thine own, whate’er the gift may be;
All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from thee.
*UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
In response to the promise of God, let us give thanks through the presentation of our gifts and
offerings.
God of Vision, Take these offerings of money and turn them into vision;
vision of all people fed,
vision of all people safe,
vision of all people housed,
vision of all people educated. Amen
*SONG #139 The First Noel, verses 1,2,5
*A UNISON BLESSING
O God, may we go forward into the coming year confident of your guidance and your love
binding us together. Receive these gifts and the service of our lives as signs of our
thanksgiving. May everything we do, in word and deed, reflect our gratitude for the gift of
Christ Jesus our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
*CLOSING RESPONSE #327 (v. 3) – Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me! Still today, walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give light and love to all who live.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
*THE POSTLUDE