Published using Google Docs
Bulletin for 02-17-21 Ash Wednesday.docx
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

Prelude                                                                                        Tina Andersen

Greeting

        Let us look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,

        Who for the joy that was waiting endured the cross.

Sentences

        Jesus came to preach the good news to the poor,

        to proclaim release to the captives

        and recovery of sight to the blind,

        to liberate the oppressed,

        and to proclaim the year of God’s favor.

Hymn                                    There Is a Balm in Gilead                   BALM OF GILEAD                        

Refrain

There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.

2 If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus,
and say, "He died for all!"
Refrain

1 Sometimes I feel discouraged
and think my work’s in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again.
Refrain

3 Don't ever feel discouraged,
for Jesus is your friend;
and if you lack for knowledge
He'll ne’er refuse to lend.
Refrain

Confession of Sin                                                                                 UCC Book of Worship

Leader:        As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to struggle against everything

        that leads us away from the love of God and neighbor.

        Repentance, fasting, prayer, study, and works of love help us return to that love.

        I invite you, therefore, to commit yourself to love God and neighbor

        by confessing your sin and by asking God for strength to persevere in the Spirit.

        Let us pray.

People:        Most holy and merciful God; we confess to you and to one another,

        and to the whole communion of saints

        that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed,

        by what we have done and what we have left undone.

Leader:        We have not loved you with all our heart, and mind, and strength.

        We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

        We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.

People:        Have mercy on us, O God.

Leader:        We have been deaf to your call to serve as Christ served us.

        We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.

People:        Have mercy on us, O God.

Leader:        We confess to you, O God, all our past unfaithfulness.

        The pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives.

People:        We confess to you, O God.

Leader:        Our self-indulgent appetites and ways and our exploitation of other people.

People:        We confess to you, O God.

Leader:        Our anger at our own frustration and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves.

People:        We confess to you, O God.

Leader:        Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts

        and our dishonesty in our daily life and work.

People:        We confess to you, O God.

Leader:        Our negligence in prayer and worship

        and our failure to commend the faith that is in us.

People:        We confess to you, O God.

Leader:        Accept our repentance, O God, for the wrongs we have done.

        For our neglect of human need and suffering

        and our indifference to injustice and cruelty.

People:        Accept our repentance, O God.

Leader:        For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward others

        and for our prejudice and contempt for those who differ from us.

People:        Accept our repentance, O God.

Leader:        For our waste and pollution of your creation

        and our lack of concern for those who come after us.

People:        Accept our repentance, O God.

Leader:        Restore us, O God, and let your anger depart from us.

People:        Favorably hear us, O God, for your mercy is great. Amen

Silence        

Scripture                                 Psalm 51:1-12 (NRSV)                                         

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. You desire truth in the inward being therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain in me a willing spirit.

        

Homily                                                                               Rev. Timothy C. Rhodes

Hymn                                 In the Cross of Christ I Glory                              RATHBUN

1 In the cross of Christ I glory,
towering o’er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.

3 When the sun of bliss is beaming
light and love upon my way,
from the cross the radiance streaming
adds new luster to the day.

2 When the woes of life o’ertake me,
hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
never shall the cross forsake me;
lo! it glows with peace and joy.

4 Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
by the cross are sanctified;
peace is there, that knows no measure,
joys that through all time abide.

Proclamation                                                                          UCC Book of Worship

Leader:        Almighty God does not desire the death of sinners,

        but rather that they may turn from their wickedness and live.

        Therefore, we implore God to grant us true repentance and the Holy Spirit,

        that those things which we do this day may be pleasing to God,

        that the rest of our lives may be lived faithfully,

        and that at the last we may come to God’s eternal joy.

People:        Thanks be to God.

Postlude                                                                                        Tina Andersen

Mission Statement:

To live as Jesus lived:  Love without Judgement. Welcome without Exception

Serve with Compassion. Teach by Example.

Vision Statement:

God’s community of unconditional love, made real for everyone, everywhere.

Yorkville Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

409 Center Parkway, Yorkville, IL 60560-1015

        Phone:  630/553-7308                        E-mail:  adminasst@yorkvilleucc.org

        Website:  www.yorkvilleucc.org                Facebook:  facebook.com/yorkvilleucc

        Ministers: The Congregation                                 Pastor:  Rev. Timothy C. Rhodes

        Director of Christian Education: Barb Thurlby                Administrative Assistant: Liz Cronshaw

        Building Manger: Mary Ellen Anderson                        Custodian: Laurie Strong

        Choir Director: Doug Trumble                                 Children’s Choir Director: Sondra Shatters

        Organist: Tina Andersen                                Pianist:  Lori Runkle