Bulletin for First Day Service, Sunday, May 24th

See You Soon!

Call to Worship (Psalm 51) 

 L: Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

P: Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

L: Hide your face from my sins and blot our all my iniquity.

P: Create in me an pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

L: Do not cast me away from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

P: Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Prayer of Invocation: Dear Lord Jesus, you say to us, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me,” and we answer thee, “O Jesus, thy father’s son, come in, blessed of the Lord!” Amen.

Praise Song: #561 We Gather Together

Prayer of Confession:Almighty God, you gave the Lord Jesus, our “Leader Triumphant.”  He goes before us, leading us in the Way. In the darkness he is the light shining. We say with the thief on the cross, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Remember us, O Lord this day.  We pray for the forgiveness of our sins and renewal through the Holy Spirit, that right now we might be part of the restoration that is to come. We pray that we would be released from the spirit of fear and anxiety, and that instead we might have fearless hearts just like yours. Abba, Father, we are sorry for all that we have done to grieve you. We are caught in a prison house. But you set the captive free.  We pray that we might be the free people that we truly are in Jesus Anointed. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Our Lord said, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Anointed Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might be dead to sin, and alive to all that is good.   Hear the good news.

P: In Jesus Anointed we are forgiven. Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 107, Colossians 2

Sermon:  That they might be encouraged

Hymns #575 Eternal Father, Strong to Save, #572 America, the Beautiful

Announcements: Community Meal will continue this Wednesday in a slightly different form. Farhad Kosari has offered to buy Subway sandwiches or salads to the first 10-15 who call the manse before 4 pm on Wednesday June 10th.

First Presbyterian’s congregation will be meeting in the church building again on Sunday, June 7th and we will be celebrating communion. Please see the letter that the session has sent out regarding the building’s opening. God bless you all and hope to see you there!

Laurel’s session meets to discuss the opening of the building at Hager City. Please stay tuned for more information.

 A message from Pastor Amy: Listening to NPR on Thursday, I learned that all telephone and texting scams are on the rise.  Some scam artist are pretending to be contact tracers and public health officials. Please be aware.

Bulletin for Sunday, May 17th

First Day of the Week Service!  Sorry that I did not share bulletin for last Sunday. We had a technological snafu because of the snow on my computer (long story) and I did not end up recording the service properly (turned off the computer accidentally).  Anyway, here is the bulletin for tomorrow!  God bless!

Call to Worship (Psalm 18)

L: For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God

P: The God who girded me with strength, and made my way safe

L: He made my feet like hinds feet and set me secure on the heights

P: He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.  Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation and thy right hand supported me and thy gentleness made me great.

Praise Songs: #117 We Will Glorify,  #51 Beloved

Prayer of Invocation: Dear Lord Jesus, you say to us, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me,” and we answer thee, “O Jesus, thy father’s son, come in, blessed of the Lord!” Amen.

Prayer of Confession: Lord God you are generous, tenderhearted, fearless. You gave your only begotten son, the lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world, "the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men.'' Father, forgive us for the many times we have turned our backs on you, denying the truth. Forgive us for the ways we have given in to fear. Help us to keep our eyes on the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, Jesus our savior. Comfort us, renew our hearts by thy Holy Spirit. Teach us thy way. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon:  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. Give thanks to the Father who has given you a share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.

P: In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 106, Colossians 1:15-29

Sermon: The unseen God

Hymns #25 Immortal, Invisible, #60 Morning Has Broken

Announcements: Know someone who is in need of an AA meeting? A list of virtual meetings as well as instructions on how to access the meetings can be found at www.district05.org.  If you wish to speak to a recovered member of Alcoholics Anonymous from the Chippewa Valley, please contact their 24-hour hotline at 715-835-5543. Feel free to reach out with any questions at pi@district05.org

The Red Wing School district is looking for volunteers to help students as they pick up lunches during the day.

Go to Sign-Up Genius online if interested.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4DAEA928A1FA7-student 

Ellsworth’s Session will meet this Wednesday at 6 pm

First Day Assembly! Your Sunday, May 3rd Service

Call to Worship (Isaiah 41)

L: When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none and their tongue is parched with thirst.  I the Lord will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

P: I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the desolate country a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

L: I will put in the barren places the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. 

P: I will set in the desolate country the cypress, the plane tree, and the pine together, that men may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel created it.

*Prayer of Invocation: Dear Lord Jesus, you say to us, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me,” and we answer thee, “O Jesus, thy father’s son, come in, blessed of the Lord!” Amen.

Praise Songs: #51 Beloved, #262 More Precious Than Silver

Prayer of Confession: “Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem.” Father, forgive us, the sins in our society and the sins in our hearts push away the truth. We forget the story of your love and faith. We forget that now we are part of that story, more than conquerors through him who loved us. Almighty God give us eyes to see your only begotten son, Jesus.  Our many fears, our cruel words and deeds, our busyness, our laziness, our lack of love, our lack of faith, these things show that  things are not right. But heal us O Lord and we shall be healed. With you nothing is impossible. Have mercy on us that we might no longer be slaves but sons who are free. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Jesus said, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink,” and “whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. Come, buy, without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1). Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Hear the good news.

P:In Jesus Anointed we are forgiven. Amen

Scripture: Psalm 104, Philippians 4

Sermon: Rejoice in the Lord always

Hymns # #559 Come, Ye Thankful People Come, #296 We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations

Announcements: Please contact Jack Hines if you would like to be a census worker. Mr. Hines is coordinating the census in our region. Pay is $22/hour plus 58 cents/mile working on one’s own time. For more information contact him at 715-307-1274

Prayer Chain: For Doris and Harold, for Gary, for Susan, for Don Gilbertson and Audrey, for Cal Baker, for Eleanor Oltman, for Debbie Baker, for Sara and Laura, for the Food Pantries in Ellsworth and Red Wing, for all prisoners, for John in his prison where there is 100% CV19—thankful that most are completely symptom free.