UNITED IN GOD’S LOVE May 14 Th, 2017

First Congregational ChurchOf Downers GroveUNITED IN GOD’S LOVEMay 14th, 20179:30 am

No matter who you areor where you are on life’s journey You are welcome here!A SPECIAL WARM WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS! Thank you for joining us today! We hope that you feel the warmth of God’sspirit here as we worship together! Please complete the form (in the pew)to let us know a little more about you and place it in the offering plate. Asour guests this day it is the only offering we ask. If you should have a prayerconcern or would like to meet with the Pastor please indicate this next toyour name. Thank you! Following worship please join us in Fellowship Hall for an informalContinental Breakfast. Please note our worship services are online and televised, your participationin the service may be visible during these live ministries. If you should notwish your child to be on screen, please refrain from sending them forwardduring the children’s time or have them sit directly in front of the pews inthe front. Children are welcome in worship; however, should your child grow restlessfeel free to sit with them in the Parlor at the rear of the Sanctuary. Nursery/childcare is available for children up to age 2 and is located onLevel 2 just beyond the Chapel. Children are invited to attend Sunday School following the Children’sMessage. Classes are offered for all ages. Large print bulletins and hearing devices are available. Please ask an usher. An elevator is at your disposal for all levels; our west entrance has a ramp. Our Church Website is http://www.uccdg.orgFollow us on:Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/uccdgFacebook @ http://facebook.com/uccdgWeb stream @ http://www.uccfn.org“The Art of Mothering is to teach the Art of Life to children.” Elaine Heffner“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” Charles R. Swindoll“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” Mark Twain“I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no morewars.” E. M. ForsterGod is still speaking 2

PRELUDE- Justin KonoANNOUNCEMENTSPastor ScottMOMENT OF AWARENESSMarty Schranz*SHARING THE PEACE*OPENING SONGThis is Amazing Grace-WickmanCALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)-Pastor KimLeader: Today we remember Sarai who was taunted by others in the householdbecause of her inability to have children.ALL: All-encompassing God we pray for those who feel excluded when weemphasis one kind of family as normal.Leader: Today we remember Esther, who was adopted and raised by her cousin.ALL: God who embraces us all, we pray for those who cannot be raised by theirparents, for a short time or permanently.Leader: Today we remember Jochobed who released her child Moses to another downthe river.ALL: Saving God, we pray for those who struggle to provide their children, forthose so impoverished that they are made to ration who will eat and who will gowithout.Leader: Today we remember Hannah, who loved her child so much she handed himover to another to raise.ALL: Loving God, we pray for parents who have placed their child in the careof another.Leader: Today we remember Naomi, who grieved the death of her sons.ALL: God, who grieves with us, we pray for parents who mourn the death of achild.Leader: Today, we remember Rachel, crying for her children.ALL: God of justice and hope, we pray for those whose children are killed, andlook to a time when children can live safely in their communities.Leader: We remember Lois and Eunice, who taught Timothy faith by example.ALL: Faithful God we pray for those who teach us faith by their lives, may weremember that we also teach about you in the way we live.Leader: We remember other people, not named in the Scriptures, like the mother ofthe prodigal son.ALL: Companion God, we pray for those who wait for a phone call or a visit,cut off from family and friends by distance and disagreement.Leader: Today as we gather together, we give thanks for those who enrich our lives bytheir presence, who teach us about your abundant love, who encourage us to journey infaith. Amen.SPECIAL MUSICSomebody’s Knocking at Your Door- PageAlleluia RingersAll Things Bright and Beautiful-ShermanJr Choir accompanied by Cindi Duncan3

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISMBaptismal SongPatrick Jackson# 680 Borning Cry-YlvisakerInvitation and Words of Blessing to the BaptizedQuestions of Faith IdentityCongregational Response of Support (read in unison)Patrick, we thank God for you in the love of Christ. As your churchfamily, we will do our best to walk with you as you grow in yourjourney with God as disciples. We will seek to live out the faith weprofess with you, and to learn from your faith and life as you eachgrow in Christ. We give thanks to God, rejoicing with the Holy Spirit,that as sisters and brothers in Christ, we can share this faith journeywith you. Amen.BaptismGifts and PrayerCongregational Care and Pastor ScottCHILDREN’S SONGJesus Loves Me (1st Verse)CHILDREN’S MESSAGEBlessing of the Gift BiblesPastor KimThe Lord’s Prayer (read in unison)Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdomcome, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day ourdaily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And leadus not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is thekingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.CHILDREN’S SONGJesus Loves Me (2nd verse)Jesus loves me still today,Walking with me on my way,Wanting as a friend to give,Light and love to all who live.SCRIPTURE READINGLuke 13:31-35SILENT MOMENT OF REFLECTION4Aiden Purcell

MESSAGEMothering GodPastor KimPRAYERS OF THE PEOPLESilent PrayerPrayerOFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GODSharing Our Gifts with the OffertoryOffertory MusicEverything Changes*Presentation of the Gifts with Praise (sung in unison)To God, all glorious heavenly light,To Christ revealed in earthly night,To God the Spirit now we raise,Our joyful song of thankful praise.Pastor Scott- Bareilles*Prayer of Dedication*CLOSING SONGHonored Christian Mothers- Crosby*BENEDICTIONAncient Words- DeshazoOne of our worship traditions to show our solidarity and love in community is to join handsand sing. If you are visiting with us, we invite you to join us in song and in spirit.*POSTLUDEI Will Bless the Lord- PaceOUR TIME OF WORSHIP TOGETHER HAS ENDED.NOW MAY OUR CHRISTIAN SERVICE BEGIN!Today’s MusiciansVocals: Kelley Calpin, Anthony BergPiano: Sarah Younker Guitar: Owen CooperDrums/Piano: Justin Kono Bass: Conor RoePRAYER CONCERNS AND COMMUNITY JOYSRick and Genevieve Franz, Margaret Craig, Sandy Gales, Michael Ode,Amanda Mierdirk, Sam McHugh, Marlene Anderson, Ken Hall (father of JohnHall- kidney surgery), Jerry TopelToday’s Sunday School: Children 3 years – 4 ½ will meet in room 202.Children 4 ½ - K will be in room 203. 1st & 2nd graders will meet in theChapel, 4th & 5th graders will meet in room 603 and our 5th & 6th graders willmeet in room 604. Our nursery (next to our parlor) is open for 0 – 2 year olds.This week our 1st - 4th graders will meet in the Chapel for class.5

GREETERS: Vicki Christiansen, Adrienne ColvertUSHERS: Len Clark, Perlie Havel, Jill Rahn, Lora FinucaneHEAD USHER: Bob OrsulaCOUNTERS: Adrienne Colvert, Cliff Mazzone(Lead Counter) Larry BryantThere will be no continental breakfast this week.This Week’s AnnouncementsSabbatical blurb: Pastor Scott will be taking a well-earned sabbatical thissummer. It is a time for rest, rejuvenation and further study, and Pastor Scottwill be doing all of those things. He will be continuing mission work in SouthAfrica, reconnecting with a former colleague in Kenya, continuing his ministrystudies and even brushing up on his fluency in Spanish. He will also bespending quality time with his family. It will be the first full sabbatical of hisministerial career and, considering that he has done much of the work of twoministers for most of his tenure with First Congregational, with all of thedemands on his time, it is a well-deserved one. Pastor Scott will be away fromour church from May 26 through Sept. 5. During that time, Pastor Scott willNOT be doing any of the following: preaching on Sunday or at Grounds ofHope, attending church activities, leading mission trips, orchestrating thechurch’s numerous outreach programs, leading the confirmands, visiting thesick, speaking at funerals, preaching at weddings (except for one priorcommitment), or doing the myriad of other things he does at FCC on a dailybasis. Also, if your birthday falls between May 26 and Sept. 5, please note thathe likely will not be calling you to extend birthday wishes, but you will be in histhoughts. In his absence, we will be in excellent hands with the support andleadership of both Pastor Kim and Cathy Sanders, our Minister of PastoralCare and Visitation. We wish Pastor Scott the best on all of his summerendeavors.Church Business Office Volunteers Needed: We are looking for severalvolunteers to work in the church’s administrative office, Friday’s between 9:00am - 12:00 pm to answer phones starting June 2nd. We receive very few phonecalls during this time, so feel free to bring a laptop or crossword-puzzle. If youare interested, please contact Leslie at 630.968.0358 ext 221 for more details.Many Thanks: I would like to thank the congregation for the beautiful gift Iwas presented with on Sunday, April 23rd. It was very unexpected, but greatlyappreciated. Thank you all once again, Joyce Nerud.Graduation Sunday: First Congregational United Church of Christ will hostgraduation Sunday on, June 4th for graduating high school seniors and forcollegiate seniors. Please RSVP to the church administrative office by6