ST. PAUL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
108 West Mechanic Street
Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895
“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey,
you are WELCOME here!”
7th Sunday of Easter May 12th, 2024
* (Asterisk) The Congregation Is Invited to Stand
RINGING THE EASTER BELL
LIGHTING THE ALTAR AND CHRIST CANDLES
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The Peace of Christ be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
PRELUDE: Holy, Holy, Holy Arr. By Joel Raney/K Joseph
Karen Joseph & Martha Hefner
*CALL TO WORSHIP (UCC Worship Ways) Liturgist, Rollie Wellington
One: Christ gives us a new commandment:
Many: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
One: Guide us in the path of discipleship, so that, as you have blessed us, we may be a blessing for others,
Many: bringing the promise of the kingdom near by our words and deeds.
One: Let us worship the one who shows us how to love.
Many: Let us worship with the joy of hope! Alleluia!
*OPENING PRAYER
Creator of the universe, you made the world in beauty, and restore all things in glory through the victory of Jesus Christ. We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed, the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace, to the glory of your name. Bless this hour of celebration with your presence O Lord. Amen.
*HYMN: “To God Be The Glory” #66
♫1To God be the glory, great things he hath done; so loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. 2O Perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God; the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. 3Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done, and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son, but purer, and higher and greater will be our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. ! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. ♫
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE: Mark Bishop
CHOIR ANTHEM: “Walk in the Spirit“ by Lloyd Larson
SHARE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS SHARE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS – - Loose cash will go directly to the General Fund for operating expenses. Specifically Designated Benevolence giving for May goes to God’s Storehouse
OFFERTORY: Almighty/I Will Sing of the Mercies Arr. By Bennett and Berry
*PRAISE “Praise God for Whom All Blessings Flow” #147
♪Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise God, all creatures high and low. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! ♫
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Unison)
Loving God, we remember that one of Christ’s most important commandments is loving one another. With these gifts, help us show this love in our words and actions, caring for the vulnerable and offering hope in times of despair. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: I John 5: 9-13 (NRSV)
9If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
GOSPEL TEXT: John 17:6-19
6"I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Scripture Response
One: The word of God for the people of God!
ALL: God is still speaking! Thanks be to God!
SERMON “Testimony” Rev. Dan Busch, NWO Association minister
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Debts and Debtors)
…Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
*HYMN “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” (vss. 1-3) #96
♫1O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace! 2My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, to spread thro’ all the earth abroad the honors of your name. 3Jesus! The name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease, ‘tis music in the sinner’s ears, ‘tis life and health and peace. ♫
*OUR COMMON CALLING
Let us go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good. Render to no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
*BENEDICTION
*BENEDICTION RESPONSE: “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” (vss. 4-5) #96
♫4He breaks the power of cancelled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean, his blood availed for me. 5 To God all glory, praise, and love be now and ever given by saints below and saints above, the Church in earth and heaven. ♫
POSTLUDE: Praise the Lord--Medley arr. by Fred Bock
THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL CHURCH
SUNDAY, May 12, 2024
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
10:15 – Worship Service with Dan Busch marking Pastor Bishop’s 45 anniversary.
1:00 – 2:30 – NO Confirmation Class
MONDAY, MAY 13, 2024
6:30 - Council Meeting
WEDNESDAY May 15, 2024
5:30 P.M. Mission Committee
6:30 P.M. Bell Choir Practice
7:30 P.M. Chancel Choir Practice
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024
9 :00 A.M.—Silver Street Cemetery clean-up
SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
PENTECOST AND CONFIRMATION SUNDAY
10:15 – Worship Service with communion
Pastor Bishop’s last Sunday
Given the Week of May 5, 2024
General Fund $ 3,633.50 Benevolence $ 105.00 Building Fund $15.00
Average General Fund Monthly Expenses $26,595.61
Monthly Income from Piel Endowment $3,922.92
Given to General Fund so far this month $ 3,633.50
Given to Building Fund so far this month: $15.00
Attendance for Sunday May 5, 2024 – 10:15 -69
Online Attendance for Sunday May5, 2024 – (13) 34
CHURCH NEWS –May 12, 2024.
THE ALTAR FLOWERS were placed today by Jon Dearbaugh in honor of all mothers and in memory of his brother Eric Dearbaugh whose birthday was 5-1-1954 and his father Paul Dearbaugh (5-13-1919)
YOU ARE INVITED!!! Chris Wright will be graduating from Wapakoneta High School. His graduation party will be held here on Sunday May 26 at 2:00 p.m. You are all invited, a copy of the invitation is posted on the hallway bulletin board. Hope to see you there.
WANT TO RECYCLE YOUR ECLIPSE GLASSES? –Today , May 12, is the last day to donate your glasses, they will be shipped out May 13th. They can be shipped to Central America so that children can safely enjoy the August 2024 eclipse. Drop them off in the basket near the office, and we will make it happen.
Disaster Buckets: Most of the buckets donated to NWOA conference for disaster cleanup have been put to use. At this time, we would like to start collecting monetary donations towards putting together more buckets. It is estimated to be about $100 per bucket. More information will be coming soon for this project.
Cemetery Clean Up: It is time to spruce up the Silver Street cemetery again. Let's try for Saturday 18-May. Bring your favorite trimming, pruning, lopping tools and if you have flowers for decorating those would be great as well. There is no electrical hook up, so either manual or battery operated or gas powered tools work best. Bring gloves, hats, sunscreen, water and if you would like helpful hints before arriving, please ask Dan Bennett.
NURSERY - The church nursery is usually open each Sunday and is supervised by members of the Faith Formation Committee. The nursery is only open upon request. Any family wishing to have their children attend the church nursery while they are participating in worship in the sanctuary, please notify an usher so they can make arrangements for nursery coverage. Please do not take your child to the nursery first without contacting an usher, as a nursery supervisor is only available in the nursery upon request.
THE NEED HAS RETURNED!! We are once again in need of used plastic grocery bags for the food distributions. Please leave them on desk in the church office lobby. Thank you.
PUT SOME LIGHT ON IT!!! As we have been cleaning, we realized we have a lot of incandescent light bulbs. We have 30--66 watt; 21—60 watt; 14—100 watt; 2—200 watt; 54—200 watt (longer bulb); 11—300 watt; 15—outdoor spot light; 1—outdoor flood light. If interested, see Dan Bennett or Greg Hengstler.
We Support Our Church By Our Prayers
Members of St. Paul’s Prayer Chain are honored to pray for you, your family and loved ones. This is an email group that sends prayer requests as they are received. The requests are confidential to the group and not placed on this published prayer list unless requested. If you have a prayer request, please contact the following:
Pastor Mark or Anthony Brookhart at the church
Jennifer Frische, call or text 419-231-3790, any hour. Leave a message.
The following people are in need of our prayers:
Sharon Knoch * Janet Winkler * Marilyn Brandehoff *Alice and Don Fischbach * Louise Jung* Miriam Smith * Jenny Everhart * Liz Thiedt * Michele Prater * Nancy Schaffer *Delmar Merricle* Desiree Lanteigne * Jim Smithy * Kaelyn Zwiebel * Jamie Clements * Adam & Annette Lange (baby Emersyn) *Jay Jackson (Susan Bishop’s brother) * Richard Guider (Janice Wright’s brother)
Members and friends serving in the U.S. military:
Amanda (Preston) Johnston, Scott Presar, Brady Erb,
Aaron Hibner, Skyla Hibner
We are currently refreshing our prayer lists. If you would like a name listed, please call or e-mail the office at 419-738-2215 or office@stpaulucc.com
ST. PAUL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
108 West Mechanic Street
Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895
Website: www.stpaulucc.com
www.facebook.com/StPaulWapakoneta
CONTACT US:
Church Office Lines (419) 738-2215 or 2270
Pastor’s Direct Line Office (419) 738-2280
CHURCH STAFF & VOLUNTEERS:
Interim Pastor Mark Bishop, pastor@stpaulucc.com Cell: 419-217-0143
Pastor Anthony Brookhart; anthony@stpaulucc.com (419) 738-2215,
Cell: (419) 773-0379
Church Secretary, Janice Wright, office@stpaulucc.com Direct (419) 738-2270
Ministry Coordinator - Tami Zwez; tami@stpaulucc.com Direct (419) 738-2279
Financial Secretary-Mark Freer; mark@stpaulucc.com Direct (419) 739-7716
Custodian – Greg Hengstler
Council President– Tammy Nuesmeyer; president@stpaulucc.com (419)230-4049
Organist / Choir Director-- Karen Joseph; ajoseph2@woh.rr.com (419)233-2518
Pianist – Martha Hefner; mjhefner@woh.rr.com (567)712-1760
Bell Choir Director – Wendy Schlenker; schotch@ohiolink.net
Church Council Treasurer – Fritz Ankerman
Church Council Head Trustee – Dan Bennett
Church Council Head Elder – Michele Prater
Church Council Head Deacon – Kay Wellington
Our Mission Statement:
As a congregation of God’s people we welcome and encourage all to join in fellowship, joyful and inspirational worship and faithful stewardship. United in Christ, we support and nurture one another in personal development and spiritual growth. We strive to reflect Christ’s Love and to spread God’s Word throughout our community and the world.