Prelude: Tina Andersen
Lighting the Path (Please light a candle to begin your worship.)
Welcome & Greeting
Call to Worship (Psalm 139)
Leader: Gathered together, we lift our voices with the ancient Psalmist,
People: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me.”
Leader: We gather to worship the living God
People: who is acquainted with all our ways.
Leader: God is the Lord of all life.
People: We bring praise and glory to God.
Prayer of Praise and Adoration (Unison)
O God, distant yet near, we gather as witnesses of your presence in our hearts.
Be among us this day. Hear the yearnings of our hearts and help us expand our vision to the whole of life. Make us new again with your holy grace and use us with faithfulness in living. Amen
Opening Hymn God is Here! ABBOT’S LEIGH
God is here! As we your people | Lord of all, of church and kingdom, |
Time for the Young and Young at Heart
Announcements, Joys & Concerns
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer Chorus Spirit of the Living God LIVING GOD
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Litany of Remembrance
We pause to remember those who entered eternal glory during 2020. With reverence for God and gratitude in our hearts, we lift the following people and all who have died and reside in our memories. We toll a bell to mark the passing of those we love and light a candle to honor the light these persons brought to life.
Sharon L. Simmons | Clifford J. Jahp, Jr. |
John N. Schneider | Holman F. Horton, Jr. |
James Ruzicka | Kerry S. Green |
John P. Patterson | James W. Follmer |
Harvey A. Knell | Helen G. Clayton |
Robert J. Johnston |
Prayer of Committal (Unison)
Almighty God, who breathed life into form, we commit the lives of these saints who have died, and all who reside in our hearts, to your eternal care. Amen
Prayer for All Who Mourn
Pastor: Gracious God, fountain of all mercy and giver of all comfort, deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn, that casting all our care upon you, we may know the consolation of your love. Keep us in everlasting communion with all your people so we may be filled with eternal hope, in the power of Jesus’ resurrection, we pray. Amen.
Offering Offerings may be made at yorkvilleucc.org or mailed to the church office.
Prayer of Dedication of Gifts and Self (Unison) Words4Worship
For the wondrous gift of life, we are thankful, O God. Your generous outpouring of grace reminds us of the fruitful life we are called to bear. May these gifts of time and labor, therefore, embody our desire to share and contribute to your coming reign among us. Amen.
Choir Will the Circle be Unbroken
Scripture Psalm 139:1-18 (NRSV)
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you.
Message Added Dimension to Humanity Rev. Timothy C. Rhodes
Closing Hymn Be Still, My Soul FINLANDIA
1 Be still, my soul: for God is on your side; | 3 Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on | |
2 Be still, my soul: for God will undertake | ||
Carrying the Light into the World: Alleluia & Blessing
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 Manager: Mary Ellen Anderson Custodian: Laurie Strong
Choir Director: Doug Trumble Children’s Choir Director: Sondra Shatters
Organist: Tina Andersen Pianist: Lori Runkle
Announcements
1) The Heritage Celebration meets today for those that have signed up! Information & remaining dates are on the last page of this bulletin. Please sign up, limited dates remain!
2) The church office will be closed tomorrow in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
3) The Spiritual Formation group begins the Book of Acts on Wednesday at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Get connected with your church family! A workbook is available at a nominal fee. Please contact Pastor Michael Obenauer.
4) New Book Study! Caste, The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson is an Oprah top pick. This online study begins Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Contact Aimee List for details.