FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
410 North Broadway, Union City, Michigan
Growing in Spirit! Serving God’s World,
Sharing the love, grace & peace of Jesus with all!
Donald Mason, Pastor Emily Chard, Music Director
Third Sunday in Lent March 15, 2020
Thought for the Day
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Teresa
Gathering Music “Ah, Holy Jesus” Cruger/Wilson
Ringing of the Bells
Welcome/Announcements/Moment of Gratitude
Prelude “Aria” Handbell Choir
(Please observe silence during the prelude
as we prepare our hearts and minds for worship)
**Solemn Declaration: (Liturgist)
**Opening Hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” #2
**Invocation (All)
Creative, passionate God, you delight to shape the world in beauty and harmony. You invite us to participate in the balance of creation.
We grow in wisdom as our experience unfolds; we take good learning out of difficult situations yet also find our well-meant endeavors leading to unintended consequences. Too often we give in to temptation that disrupts the joyous, chaotic order of the universe.
We cannot undo all our mistakes, but we can turn once more to the living presence of Jesus and find new ways to live and love each other and the earth.
**Congregational Response “Change My Heart, O God”
Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.
Change my heart O God, may I be like you.
You are the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart O God, make it ever true
Change my heart, O God, may I be like you.
Pilgrim Choir “Seek Ye First” #354,
“To Serve”,
“Alleluia” #106 (1)Alleluia, (2)He’s My Savior, (3)I Will Serve Him, (4)Alleluia
Children’s Moment Amber Herman
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
Things I would ask him to tell me if he were here.
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea, Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
Choral Anthem “Whoever Would Be Great Among You” Chancel Choir
“GOD SPEAKS: The Twin Commandments (Insert)
Scripture Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:5-42
Message “Double Dipping” Pastor Don Mason
Special Music “Vega” Jacob Waffle
Joys and Concerns Liturgist
Pastoral Prayers & Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen
Giving Our Tithes and Offerings “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” Handbell Choir
**Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
**Prayer of Dedication (All)
O God, please take these gifts and multiply them; let them be a means to create the justice and peace you long for in this world.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
**Closing Hymn “Here I Am, Lord” #452
**Choral Benediction “May the Love of the Lord” Combined Choirs
**Ringing of the Bell
Postlude “Gethsemane” Paxton
**Denotes to please stand if able. Printed music and texts are used with permission under license #2719661 of Christian Copyright License, Inc. Videos are used with permission under license #503199900 of Christian Copyright License, Inc.
Church Calendar
03/15 Worship 10am, Pastor Don Mason/(Nursery – Dawn Miller)
03/18 6:00pm/Special Guest David Moffett-Moore
03/22 Worship 10am, Pastor Don Mason/(Nursery – Deidre Swartzle)
Confirmation Class/ 6pm to 8pm
03/25 Bible Study – 10:30 am and 6:00pm (Note the pm time change)
03/26 Council and Board Meetings/Council -6pm, Boards -6:30pm
03/29 Side Door Sunday, Please bring a dish to share and your own place settings. No Sunday School, children will remain with us.
Families to pray for this week
Melissa Fischer
Deb Geiger & Family
Katie & Steve Locker
Deborah Gorski & Family
SW Association 26 Week Prayer Project: This week please pray for:
Athens, First Congregational.
Did you know? Your church lends Mobility Assistance Equipment!
Wheelchairs – Walkers - Footed Canes - Bath Chairs - and More!!!
Announcement/Chimes Information: Please update any of your joys and concerns so we can put them in the announcements and make corrections as needed. Feel free to drop a note in the box, outside the office to do this. Please remember any announcements need to be into the church secretary, deadline is Noon on Wednesday. The Chimes will be published on the 1st of every month. Deadline for submitting articles will be one week before publishing. You can access The Chimes on our website: www.firstcongunioncity.org, where you can see it in color and save us postage and paper. Drop a note in the box outside the secretary’s office door if you want to be taken off the printed or mailing list for The Chimes. If you have an email address then you might want to sign up for The Chimes email subscription. Just drop a note in the drop box outside the office door with your email address.
Contact Information:
Pastor Don Mason: Email: madvicar44@gmail.com Office Phone: 517-741-5581
Email: secretary@firstcongunioncity.org or Phone: 517-741-5581
Website: www.firstcongunioncity.org
Facebook @First Congregational United Church of Christ-Union City MI
Service Date
Attendance
General Offering
Weekly Goal
Difference
YTD
March 1
82
$2,970.02
$2,800
+ $ 170.02
($ 958.08)
March 8
43
$2,245.00
$2,800
- $ 555.00
($ 1,503.08)
March 15, 2020
Welcome to our guests: We are glad that you are here. We hope you will find our church friendly and inspiring. Please sign the attendance pads so we may remember your presence with us. Children are dismissed for classes after the Children’s Moment. Childcare is provided every Sunday for ages 4 and under. The restrooms are located off the Fellowship hall toward the back of the church. Join us for coffee hour in the Social Hall after worship so we might get to know you. If you are interested in learning more about us, or becoming a member, indicate your interest on the attendance pads or talk to Pastor Don.
We would like to say thanks to those serving among us today:
Liturgist
Deb Geiger
Usher(s)
Tom Rathburn, Jim Troust, Murcie Wallen
Greeter(s)
Audrey Strong
Nursery
Dawn Miller
Trustee of the month
Deanne Rathburn
Deacon(s) of the month
Ron Wells and Sara Leson
Flowers
Lent (no flowers)
Coffee Hour: Coffee hour is hosted today by Amber Herman (Music & Worship).
March 18th,25th– On the 18th there will only be a 6pm study, guest speaker David Moffett-Moore will be joining the session. March 25th times will be back to 10:30am and 6pm.
March 26th – Council and Board Meetings/ 6pm and 6:30.
March 28th – Will be the next collection date for items donated for the Helping Veterans Organization. Handouts will be passed out with times and items needed.
Just a reminder: If you have a special day coming up and would like to host coffee hour in honor of the event, you are welcome to sign up. The signup sheet is on the large bulletin board by the lounge.
To contact a Deacon: FCCDeacons410@gmail.com
March Birthdays
2 Jean Mitchell 16 Sheryl Burlingame
Michael Turner Amy Houtz
Elizabeth Wickham 18 Kelcey Parks
3 Katie Geiger 20 Deb Geiger
Nolan Chard Audrey Strong
4 Dustin Neveraski Lauren Tundevold
5 Kassandra Kohsmann
Caden Hoppe 21 Tim Kennedy
6 Larry Parkison 24 Raygan Watson
Sara Rathburn25 Margaret Geiger
26 Robert D. Brewer Jr.
7 Chris Maye 27 Anna Baumeister
8 Ian Lindsey Joyce Shaffer
9 Terry Harvey 28 Stacy Baylis
10 Bob Peloquin Christian Hubbert
11 Sally Bishop 30 Emily Swift
Wayne Miller 31 Carleigh Gillaspie
12 Jean Grimes Noel Spooner
Bracy Swift Anniversaries
14 Phyllis Bronson 4 Dora & Bob Fast
Darien Dyer 25 Donna & John Clayton
15 Curt MacRae
If you or someone you love are in need of someone to visit you at home, or while hospitalized, or for communion at home, please contact
Beth Arey at 517-227-7475
Call Audrey Strong 741-7353 or email Dawn at mackdawn@gmail.com for names to be added to the Prayer List.
Please continue to keep these friends with cancer in your prayers:
Linda, Eldon Voelker, Sandi Stump, Laura, Barbara Haller, Rachel, Rudy, Ralph, Matthew Miles, Dylan Marten, Ruth, Nancy, Pat, and John, Dave Lucas, Jean Hamilton, Bob Mitchell, Jess Cole, Joe Beard, Ethan Fox, Meghan Vandenboss, Christine, Melissa Dorbeck, Nancy, Maxine, Joyce, Bob, Jeannie, Marianne Mack, Judi Henckel, Jack Ladd, John Dyksta, Ian Bredice, Allison Holtz, Christina Schilling, Anita Kierkes, Loretta, Jenny, Sara, and Tom Tassie.
Joys
Men and Women in the Service who sacrifice for our freedom and their families
Pastor Don's message of Nicodemus being doubly born
Cold bodies with warm hearts for Sunday worship as the furnaces were not firing which were being fixed before all left after coffee hour
The fast action of the Trustees in getting the sanctuary furnaces fixed
The beautiful sunshine and warmer weather
Union City High School Choir being asked to sing before the MIS race in August.
Marianne Wells is doing great after surgery, she thanks everyone for their prayers and for the cards she received.
All those who help with Sunday School teaching
All those volunteers who are out collecting sap for the maple syrup. (Thank You)
Concerns
Prayers for Rose Mavis, Larry Parkison’s sister. Praying for insurance to cover physical therapy so she can walk again after a stroke.
Prayers for Bob Merchant who is being treated for heart issues at Borgess Hospital.
Prayers for Owen Neveraski. He has not been gaining weight and his blood test came back with low numbers on his thyroid. He will go back on March 17th after more blood work.
Pray for Harry Stechney who is ill and has requested prayers
Pray for those who are cold and without heat within their homes or those who are homeless
Don Read found his heart is fine, will have a CT scan on lungs with results Friday morning
Prayers for both Joe and Becky Beard
Pray for Matt & Tyanne Funk, recently had 11 mth old son, Maxon, die while at daycare
Prayers for Susie Smith who fell and broke her hip and underwent surgery.
Pray for Don who is having a heart cath.
Prayers for both Joe and Becky Beard
Aliza, 6th grader, parents recently broke up, starting at a new school, & diagnosed with non hodgkin's lymphoma (friend of Murcie)
Catherine while she is grieving for her grandma
Tom Tassie - pancreatic cancer had elevated levels, traveling to Florida for possible surgery
Pray for Frank Gorsline and his wife, she has been diagnosed with lung cancer
Greg as he waits for a biopsy, having prostrate issues
Frankie, who has special needs, has had a kidney transplant, has problems with anger, pray for his parents as they assist him
Anita Dierks, has liver cancer, and now has a suspicious lymph node to be biopsied.
Frank who needs to heal from greiving and find peace`
Melinda's friend Christy has breast cancer
Pray for Ian Geiger in his job search.
Aggie Fritsch, 8 month old, has Spinal Muscular Atrophy/will be in isolation for 2 months
Bob Mason, Pastor Don's Father, has medical issues with his larynx
Our nation, police, and first responders as we struggle with solutions for the increased violence in our schools, churches, and workplaces.
All those struggling in troubled marriages or relationships
Pray for the youth of our community.
All those dealing with PTSD, depression, or mental illness and/or addictions
Our government and all of the world's leaders to find peace among violence and intolerance
*Our practice is to run prayer requests for 4 weeks, please let the office know if you would like to extend it, or need changes.