Sunday, February 23, 2014
Seventh Sunday After Epiphany
National Black History Month
Rev. Michelle Townsend de López, Presiding
Rev. Arlen Solem, Preaching
Introduction
In today's first reading we hear, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." Yet we know we cannot achieve perfection. Our attempts to love neighbors and even our enemies fall short of what God desires for us. Yet in Jesus we see one who loved even those who persecuted and killed him. We are made holy in baptism, and forgiven at the table of God's mercy. As a people made holy by God, we go in peace to love as we have been loved.
The Elders serving today are Brad Hausler, Lydia McCoy, Debra Taylor and
Ciara Torrence-Sims.
GATHERING MUSIC Cross Community Gospel Choir
CALL TO WORSHIP
E: Teach us, O Lord, all of your ways,
C: and we will follow You until the end.
E: Give me understanding, that we may keep your covenant,
C: and trust it with our whole heart.
E: Lead us in the path of your commandments,
C: for we find joy in following You.
E: Turn our hearts to your decrees,
C: and away from selfish gain.
E: In this time of worship, lead us to draw closer to You.
C: May we love You and love our neighbors as ourselves.
ALL: Open our hearts and minds to You in this time of worship.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.
C: Amen.
P: Let us come into the light of Christ, confessing our need for God's mercy.
P: God of peace,
C: we so often choose our own way instead of yours. We think we can evade your commandments. We have spoken in ways that kill, strayed with our hearts, betrayed friends, and hated enemies. We have broken our promises. Search us deeply and create us anew. Lift the heavy burden of our sin and free us to follow your way of life. Amen.
P: "Call upon me," says the Lord, "and I will answer." Our God has come among us to loose every bond and set us free from all that weighs us down. Receive the forgiveness of all your sins in the name of + Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Savior.
C: Amen.
GREETING
P: Christ is the light. Alleluia, alleluia! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Loving Savior,
C lead us into the way of life. Help us to love our enemies, to resist evil whenever we can, to live in your ways of peace and justice.
Remind us to seek Your wisdom and guidance and not the wisdom of the world. The wisdom of the world leads us to seek fame, wealth, and our own success. Your wisdom calls us away from the path of the world and into the path of righteousness, where we seek the well-being of others, remembering to love our neighbor as You have first loved us. Guide us, and keep us close, and help us to seek the strength and love of others on the journey. In Your name we pray. Amen.
OPENING HYMN ‘Victory Is Mine” #266, TFBF
FIRST READING Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
MUSICAL SELECTION Cross Community Gospel Choir
CHILDREN’S SERMON Linda Radder
CONTEMPORARY WITNESS Bronzeville Paul Geenen
CONTEMPORARY WITNESS Advanced Directives Linda Radder
Gospel Acclamation “He Is Lord” #95, TFBF
GOSPEL Matthew 5:38-48
Gospel response “He Is Lord” #95, TFBF
SERMON
Hymn of the Day “I Must Tell Jesus” #183, TFBF
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Peace & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Offering and Preparation
offering
OFFERTORY HYMN “Bless the Lord” #273, TFBF
Offertory Prayer
E: God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine. Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen.
DIALOGUE
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
PREFACE
P: It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord. Sharing our life, he lived among us to reveal your glory and love, that our darkness should give way to his own brilliant light. And so, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn lifting our voices to say:
SANCTUS
C: Holy, holy, holy God. You are Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
All that you have made proclaims the goodness you have instilled.
Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is the One who embodies love and justice! Hosanna in the highest!
Words of Institution
P: God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, you have brought us this far along the way. In times of bitterness you did not abandon us, but guided us into the path of love and light. In every age you sent prophets to make known your loving will for all humanity.
The cry of the poor has become your own cry; our hunger and thirst for justice is your own desire. In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant to preach good news to the afflicted, to break bread with the outcast and despised, and to ransom those in bondage to prejudice and sin.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remem- brance of me. For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
P: Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection, we await the day when Jesus shall return to free all the earth from the bonds of slavery and death. Come, Lord Jesus! And let the church say "Amen!"
C: Amen!
P: Send your Holy Spirit, our advocate, to fill the hearts of all who share this bread and cup with courage and wisdom to pursue love and justice in all the world. Come, Spirit of freedom! And let the church say "Amen!”
C: Amen!
P: Join our prayers and praise with your prophets and martyrs of every age, that, rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection, we might live in the freedom and hope of your Son.
C: Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
P: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Blessed are all who are called to the supper of the Lamb.
holy Communion
HYMNS DURING DISTRIBUTION
“Come, Ye Disconsolate” #186, TFBF
“Come, Let Us Eat” #119, TFBF
post communion Prayer
E: Lord, it is good for us to be here, for we have tasted your glory in this holy meal. Continue your goodness as we go out from here. Open our eyes to see your face shining in every person, and send us to be your servants in every place, for you are the life and light of all, both now and forever.
C: Amen.
Benediction
P: May the God of glory dwell in you richly, name you beloved, and shine brightly on your path; and the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.
C: Amen.
SENDING SONG “Lift Every Voice And Sing” #296, TFBF
P: Go in Peace. Christ is light.
C: Thanks be to God.
COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK
Sunday, February 23, 2014 Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr, died 156
Because he is said to have been known by John, the author of Revelation, as well as the important early church fathers Irenaeus and Ignatius, Polycarp serves as a vital link in church history. He was burned at the stake at age 86 for refusing to renounce his faith.
Tuesday, February 25 Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, died 1921
Born in Norway and trained there as a deaconess, Fedde was asked to come and minister to the poor and to seamen in New York City. She established the Deaconess House in Brooklyn as well as Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis.
Saturday, March 1 George Herbert, hymnwriter, died 1633
An excellent scholar, Herbert served briefly in the English parliament, then became a parish priest. He was known for devoted care of his parishioners, as well as for writing poetry and hymns, including "Come, my way, my truth, my life." He died at age 40.
Sunday, March 2 John Wesley, died 1791; Charles Wesley, died 1788; renewers of the church
These brothers led a revival originally intended to remain within the Church of England, one that involved frequent communion and advocacy for the poor. Except for a brief time in America, they worked in England. Charles was also a prolific hymn writer. After their deaths, their work led to the formation of the Methodist Church.
All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23141.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Thank you for worshipping with us today. Please feel free to participate fully in today’s service. Join with us as we sing, pray, listen, respond, greet and encourage one another celebrating God’s extravagant love for all people in Jesus Christ. You are especially invited to the meal of our Lord at Holy Communion where Jesus meets us through the bread and wine, his body and blood.
Cross Church Office Hours: Monday– Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on Fridays.
If you have a pastoral emergency, please call Pastor Michelle at 414.434.9620 or Pastor Arlen at 715.497.0497.
Announcements for the bulletin: Please turn all announcements for the bulletin in to the office by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Please email them to or leave a message on Sandy and Deb’s voicemail.
Bible Readings for March 2: First Lesson: Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28; Second Lesson:
Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-28, (29-31); Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29.
Second Lesson Readers for March
March 2: Brad Hausler Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28, (29-31)
March 9: Chuck Ellingson Romans 5:12-19
March 16: Michelle Glover Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
March 23: Tracy Harris Romans 5:1-11
March 30: Bradley Hausler Ephesians 5:8-14
Upcoming Birthdays
Feb. 23 Sarah Olson
Feb. 23 Dawn Mahtar
Feb. 25 Tamara Bender
Feb. 26 Leonel Lopez
Feb. 27 Kinley Hogan-Quam
Feb. 27 Gary Eggert
With the start of the New Year, how about sporting your name tag on Sunday mornings? It could bring you surprising rewards beyond the obvious. In a few weeks we will randomly choose a name tag wearer and give them a gift. The process will be periodically repeated through the year. It's a win-win proposition!! Talk to Emory Churness or Marian Wasierski, Hospitality Committee, for encouragement.
FREE yoga class: Yoga classes are being held every Thursday at Cross in the Ellwanger Fellowship Hall from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
A N N O U N C E M E N T S
· Adult Center meets on Tues., Feb. 25, at 9:30 a.m.
· Bridges Tutoring continues on Tues., Feb. 25, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
· Bridge Tutoring continues on Thurs., Feb. 27, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
· Cross Youth Praise Team will practice on Sat., March 1, at 10:00 a.m.
· Cross Community Gospel Choir will practice on Sat., March 1, at 11:00 a.m.
· Cross Praise Choir will practice on Sat., March 1, at 12:30 p.m.
· Worship is scheduled for Sunday, March 2, at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School /Adult Forum will follow the service.
If you have names of family or friends who should be taken off the prayer list, please let the church office know so that the names may be removed. Thank you.
Prayers of the People
Donneva Griffin - Granddaughter of June Torrence Richard Franklin - Cross member
Raila Jackson - Friend of Pat Coleman Bobby Riley - Husband of Aroma Riley
Kendra Haney - Daughter of Bonnie Williams Bonnie Williams - Cross member
Bertha Mounger - Cross member Pauline McCollum - former Cross member