St. Paul’s United Church of Christ

18th Sunday after Pentecost

October 13, 2019

10:30 am

 

Journeying together toward deeper faith, justice, and love for all

 

‘A WONDER FULL LIFE’ WORSHIP SERIES

Looking at Money and Meaning — Looking In

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” — John 10: 10b

 

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES                                                                                  

 

PRELUDE                                                Marche                              by Lefebure-Wely

                                                          Andante Religioso                       by Mendelssohn

                                                                     Largo                                            by Handel

                                                         If You Are With Me                                 by Stolzel

                                                                                                   Geoff Olson, harpsichord

RINGING THE BELLS

 

WELCOME  |  JOYS & CONCERNS  |  SINGING BOWL      Cindy Mueller, Interim Lead Minister

 

GATHERING: COMPASSION

As we open our eyes and come out of any avoidance we have regarding our feelings
about money, we illumine a candle and ask God to be with us on this journey,
giving us fresh perspectives that can shift any “dis-ease” that holds us back
from a courageous vision about our money paths. We have compassion for ourselves
and each other because the systems of money we live in are not easy to navigate.

 

ILLUMINATING THE SHADOWS

 

*GATHERING SONG              Be Now My Vision (verse 1)                                          SLANE

Be now my vision, O God of my heart;

Nothing surpasses the love you impart,

You my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, your presence my light.

 

*GATHERING WORDS                                                                       Nicollette Kruger

One    We light this flame to affirm that where there is light,

All       there is understanding;

One    where there is understanding,

All       there is compassion;

One    where there is compassion,

All       there is possibility;

One    where there is possibility;

All       there is transformation.

One    Holy and Living God, transform our fears into awe-inspired wonder.

All       Open us to this lightand to the rich possibilities that it brings usfor a “wonder full” life.

 

*OPENING SONG           Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing                                   #16

 

*SHARING THE PEACE

Offer a smile, a handshake, or a hug as a sign of the peace of Christ

 

*SUNG RESPONSE                       A Wonder Full Life

 

YOUNG PEOPLE’S TIME OF WONDER                                                                  

 

COMMISSIONING OUR CROP HUNGER WALK PARTICIPANTS AND HELPERS

 

BLESSING ONE ANOTHER

Children: God be with you,

Congregation: And also with you.

Young people may depart for Chapel Time (age 3–Grade 5) as we sing ‘A Wonder Full Life’ one more time

 

PROCLAIMING: CURIOSITY

We become curious—full of “wondering”—further transforming our tendency to avoid
money issues into a desire to learn more, know more, about the systems of money
and our own relationship to it. We explore what our faith story invites us to do
about the systems of money in which we find ourselves.

 

THE WORD IN MUSIC              Treasures in Heaven              by Joseph W. Clokey

                                                                                     text from Matthew 6: 19–21, 7: 7–8

 

Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth,

Where moth and rust doth corrupt,

And where thieves break through and steal,

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heav'n,

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Ask, and it shall be given you;

Seek, and ye shall find;

Knock, and it shall be opened unto you,

For everyone that asketh receiveth,

And they that seeketh findeth,

And to them that knocketh it shall be opened.

 

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW   Matthew 6: 19–24             Rick Panning

 

SUNG RESPONSE                  Be Now My Vision (verse 2)                                         SLANE

Be now my wisdom, O be my true Word;

Ever within me, my soul is assured;

Mother and Father, you are both to me,

Now and forever your child I will be.

 

MESSAGE                                                                                                            Cindy Mueller

 

RESPONDING: CREATIVITY

This part of the service helps us to “wonder” in a different way. We invite a state of awe
at the abundance of our lives by noticing the “riches” and beauty around us; the presence
of “treasured” people, along with new and unexpected “gems” that cross our paths.
We commit to engage our creativity to multiply good in the world.

 

THE WONDER OF IT ALL: PRAYERS

Response      One:    … God in your love,

                       All:        Hear our prayer.

 

There are different versions of the prayer Jesus taught, which is why we offer choices.
Please know you are welcome to recite the version that is most familiar or comfortable
to you. We want to make this prayer meaningful for all who choose to share in it.

THE PRAYER JESUS TAUGHT US (all)

Our Father/Mother, who art/is in heaven, hallowed/holy be thy/your name.
Thykingdom/Your kindom come, thy/your 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/yours
is the kingdom/kindom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

 

WITNESSING STEWARD                                                                       Mary Johnson

 

INVITATION

 

OFFERTORY          50 Elevations for Organ on Modal Themes, #36          by Benoit

 

*SUNG RESPONSE                  Be Now My Vision (verse 3)                                        SLANE

Riches I need not, nor life’s empty praise;

You my inheritance, now and always;

You and you only are first in my heart,

great God my treasure, may we never part.

 

*UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION (all)

Gracious God,looking inward, we recognize our own hesitation to see and believe what we can accomplish together. Give us the courage to bring the vision of your hospitality and justice to life, now and for the future. May the earthly treasures we offer become the path to treasures of wellbeing for those they touch.In the name of the one who called all to the true treasure of life with God, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

 

SENDING FORTH: COMMITMENT

Having walked with God in “looking” into our heart’s relationship to money,
we commit to take the practices out into the world and our daily lives
with renewed compassion, curiosity, and creativity.

 

*SENDING FORTH SONG                 Take My Life                                                        #609

                                                               (verses 1–3 & 6)

*BLESSING

 

POSTLUDE                          Prelude and Fugue in G-Minor          attributed to Bach

                                                                                                                                                                                   

The Postlude is a time of worship and meditation for many people.

You are invited to remain and enjoy the Postlude in silence

or depart to the lobby for fellowship and conversation.

 

Rev. Cindy Mueller Interim Lead Minister  |  Rev. Clare Gromoll Associate Minister

Judith Melander Director of Music  |  Geoffrey Olson Organist

CREDITS  |  Worship design and liturgy adapted from www.worshipdesignstudio.com. Used with permission.

 

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

Today  |  October 13  |  CROP Hunger Walk

         9:15 am   OWL (Grades 1–3)  |  Fireside Room

         9:15 am   OWL (Parents of Grades K–3)  |  Conference Room

         9:15 am   Childcare (infants–Grade 5)  |  Explorers Room

        9:45 am   Parents Share  |  Conference Room

        9:45 am   Acolyte Training  |  Sanctuary

       10:00 am   Usher Training  |  Sanctuary

       10:20 am   Explorers Room opens (infant & toddler care)

       10:30 am   Worship  |  Sanctuary

        11:00am   Sunday School  |  various rooms

        11:30 am   Fair Trade Coffee Hour  |  lobby

            Noon   Childhood Center workday  |  Playground

        12:15 pm   Transition Team/Search Committee  |  Conference Room

         1:00 pm   CROP Hunger Walk begins at Interfaith Action (1671 Summit Avenue)

Monday October 14  |  Office closed

        7:00 pm   Widening Circle Women’s AA  |  Fireside Room

Tuesday October 15

         5:30 pm   Finance Committee  |  Conference Room

         6:10 pm   Childhood Center Board of Directors  |  Conference Room

Wednesday October 16

         6:30 am   Women’s AA  |  Fireside Room

        6:00 pm   Wednesday evening meal  |  lobby

        6:30 pm   Journey of Faith  |  Integrating Money and Meaning book study groups

Fireside Room, Conference Room

        6:30 pm   Childcare  |  Explorers Room

        6:30 pm   Youth Group  |  Upper Room

         7:30 pm   Sanctuary Choir rehearsal  |  Music Room

Thursday October 17

         6:30 am   11th Step Meditation  |  Fireside Room

            Noon   Soup & Substance  |  Fireside Room

         1:00 pm   Seamsters  |  Fireside Room

Friday October 18

         6:15pm   OA  |  Fireside Room

Saturday October 19

        9:00 am   Men’s AA  |  Great Hall

       10:00 am   Connor Sanford’s Crescent Garden Project

        8:00 pm   Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra concert  |  Sanctuary

Sunday October 20

        9:45 am   Acolyte Training  |  Sanctuary

       10:00 am   Usher Training  |  Sanctuary

       10:20 am   Explorers Room opens (infant & toddler care)

       10:30 am   Worship  |  Sanctuary

        11:00am   Sunday School  |  various rooms

        11:30 am   Fair Trade Coffee Hour  |  lobby

        11:30 am   Blood pressure checks  |  office

        11:45 am   Artisan Festival Planning Team  |  Fireside Room

        12:15 pm   Ministry of Spiritual Life  |  Conference Room

       12:30 pm   Connor Sanford’s Crescent Garden Project

         5:15 pm   Evensong service with folk ensemble  |  Sanctuary

---

Special services and experiences