First Day Assembly, Sunday, April 26th, 2020

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.

Prayer of Confession: Almighty God, God of Faith, you have loved us with a love so deep that you sent your only begotten son to make right all that was so wrong.  Lord, we confess that often we walk by our own sight and not by faith, that power that established Jesus on the cross to gain the victory, that power that raised him up on the third day, that power that raised us up when we were dead in our sins.  Our minds and hearts are not right within us.  We close our eyes to the pain of our neighbors; we say “No” to pity. We grieve your Holy Spirit.  Father, forgive us, that all lies and half truths may be cleared away.  Have mercy upon us!  Lead us, Father, into all truth that we may we free. 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 103, Philippians 3:12-21

Sermon: Forgetting what is behind and stretching towards what is ahead

Hymns #435 What a Friend We Have in Jesus, #26 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

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 Susan Lafferty, 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

First Day Assembly, April 19th, 2020!

Sunday Service, April 19th 2020

Call to Worship:

L: I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry

P: He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings

L: And he has put a new song in my mouth, praise unto our God

P: Many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord

L: Blessed is the man that makes the Lord his trust: and respects not proud, nor such as turn aside to lies,

P: Many, O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts, which are unto us.

L: They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than could be numbered.

Prayer of Invocation: Father, you raised up Jesus on the first day of the week and he came to the disciples, caught in a trap they had made for themselves and said, “Peace be with you” and he breathed upon them and said “receive the Holy Spirit.”   Father, may your son come to us just as he came to the disciples so long ago.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession: Eternal God in whom we live and move and have our being.  You have drawn us to yourself and we cry to you, Abba, Father! We confess our sin, and the sins of our society, we have used your gifts carelessly, and acted ungratefully. We enjoy the fruits of the harvest, but forget that you have given them to us. We store up goods for ourselves alone, as if there were no God and no heaven. Father, in your mercy forgive us, deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires that we all, with unveiled face, might behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and be transformed into the same image from glory to glory.  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 102, Philippians 3

Sermon: The power of his resurrection

Hymns: #494 Like a River Glorious, #108 Come, Christians, Join to Sing

Announcements: If you would like to communicate any concern to the Ellsworth Ministerial Association please contact Pr. Amy, they will be having a Zoom meeting this week.

Prayers for Eleanor, Laura and Sara, Cal Baker, Bill Baker, Don Gilbertson, for the Food Pantry, for Mayo, for our universities and colleges, for those who work in restaurants and hotels, for those with small businesses, for Mary Flack and her family, for Susan Lafferty for her health and for her to be able to reunite with her congregation

Sunday, April 12th Service

Call to Worship (Isaiah 42)

L: Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen in whom my soul delights

P: I have put my spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations

L: He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street

P: A bruised reed he shall not break and a dimly burning wick he shall not quench.

L: He will faithfully bring forth justice

P: He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth, and the coastlands wait for his law

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: Eternal God in whom we live and move and have our being, your face is hidden from us by our sins, and we forget your mercy in the blindness of our hearts.  Cleanse us from all our offenses; deliver us from arrogant thoughts and vain desires. With humility and openness let us draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and our strength. 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. As John said, “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 102, Philippians 2

Sermon: Our Living Lord

Hymns: #226 The Day of Resurrection, #344 He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

Announcements: Laurel’s session meeting April 15th at 6:30 will be rescheduled.

Prayer Chain: Please pray for Eleanor Oltman, for Susan Lafferty that she not have bleeding in her gums because of the immuno-toxins, for Sara and Laura, for Bill Baker, for those in ICU units, for wisdom and compassion among hospital staff as they learn about the virus and how it attacks the blood. Prayers for Presbytery

Bulletin for Sunday, April 5th, 2020

Call to Worship (Psalm 8)

L: O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth!

P: Thou whose glory above the heavens, is chanted by the mouth of babes and infants

L: Thou hast founded a bulwark because of thy foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

P: When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established, what is man that thou art mindful of him? --and the son of man that thou dost care for him?

L: Yet thou hast made him little less than God and dost crown him with glory and honor.

P: Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands, thou hast put all things under his feet

L: All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea.

P: O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth.

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: Almighty God your wisdom never ceases, nothing can stop your victory in Jesus our Lord. Your righteousness justice rolls down like mighty waters and nothing can stop it. And yet we give into fear, forgetting that he is the way, the truth and the life and there is no other. We give way to confusion and stop seeking the truth. We pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit. That he would come and fill this place, fill our hearts. Abba, Father, we fail to love our fellow man. We fail to extend the hand of friendship and understanding.  Forgive us Father, grant us life. In Jesus' name. Amen 

Assurance of Pardon: May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly and may your spirit and soul and body he kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Anointed He who calls you is faithful and he will do it. Hear the gospel

L : In Jesus Anointed we are forgiven. Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 101, Philippians 2:12-24

Sermon: Blameless and innocent, children of God

Hymns: #174 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, #155 Once in Royal David’s City

Announcements:  Farhad, would you put on the front of the bulletin “For the audio recording of our Sunday service go to https://sundayservicerecording.blogspot.com/"

Could you put below on the back of the bulletin?

For our Youtube Bible Studies go to Youtube and type in “DailyBibleThoughtsTheology”

Do you have any ideas that you would like our Ellsworth Ministerial or the Red Wing Ministerial to discuss. Just let Pastor Amy know.

Prayers: For Don Gilbertson at the Care Center, call ahead to visit him at his window, for Bill Baker, Cal Baker, for all those who are in the hospital, for all hospital workers, for the Pierce County Jail

Bulletin for Sunday, March 29th, 2020

Call to Worship

L: I will extol thee, my God and King, and bless thy name for ever and ever.

P: Every day I will bless thee, and praise thy  name, for ever and ever.

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:  Almighty God, make us your ambassadors.  Your words and deeds are filled with mercy and truth but we fall short.  Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we might see the gift that you have given to us in the Lord Jesus.  Forgive us for giving in to fear, coldness of heart, cowardice, indifference and lies. Release us from the grip of these things and remove all that stands in the way of hearing the word of truth and the good news of salvation, that the eyes of our hearts might be enlightened and we might know the hope to which you have called us.  Amen. (time of silent confession)

Assurance of Pardon: The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.  May the God of mercy who forgives you all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.  Hear the good news

P: In Jesus Anointed we are forgiven. Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 100, Philippians 2

Sermon: Have this mind among yourselves

Praise Songs TBA Hymns #422 No, Not One, #561 We Gather Together

Prayer Chain: We pray for all those who are working in the hospitals, for all those who are in nursing homes and care centers and who miss their families and friends. We pray for all those who are afraid. We thank God for all his goodness and his wonderful plans for us. We pray for Don Gilbertson, Cal Baker, Susan Lafferty, Bill Baker. For all the congregations all around the world. Prayers for Eastern Virginia Medical School and Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Dr. Paul Marik as they go ahead with their new protocol for the treatment of CV19 that has proven so successful. Pray for Farhad as he talks with Mayo about this new treatment.

Announcements: Pastor Amy will be delivering cards to various nursing homes. If you would like to contribute your thoughts to these cards. Please email her at pleasecallifpossible@gmail.com or phone at 715-273-4904

Please let Pastor Amy know if there are any issues for the Pierce County and Red Wing Ministerials that she can address on her next Zoom call.

If you know anyone in need of prayer they can certainly call Pastor Amy if they would like. Please feel free to distribute her number or call Pastor Amy and she will phone them.

Sunday, December 15th, 2019

Call to Worship

L: Who is that coming up from the wilderness, like a column of smoke perfumed with myrrh and frankincense with all the fragrant spices of the merchant.

P: Behold it is the litter of Solomon! About it are sixty mighty men of the mighty men of Israel, all girt with swords and expert in war, each with his sword at his thigh against alarms by night.

L: King Solomon made himself a palanquin from the wood of Lebanon. He made its posts silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; it was lovingly wrought within by the daughters of Jerusalem.

P: Go forth, O daughters of Zion and behold King Solomon withe crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.

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: While we were yet enemies you reconciled us to yourself; you  raise us on high so that even now we are “more than conquerors through him who loved us.” The battle is over and Jesus has won.  Father, forgive us when we hold down this truth in unrighteousness. Our words and deeds show that we have wandered away from you. We fall prey to greed, despair and fear and how clearly we see the speck in our brother’s eye but forget all about the log in our own! Lead us through your Holy Spirit into all truth. Release us from hands too strong for us.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: When John saw Jesus he said, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, and heals all your diseases who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies you with good as long as you live, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Hear the good news.

P: In Jesus Anointed we are forgiven. Amen

Special Moment: Advent Reading and Candle Lighting 

Scripture: Psalm 90, Ephesians 1

Sermon: He chose us in him before the foundation of the world

Hymns (E) #135 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks,   #157 Away in A Manger

Announcements: Our Christmas Eve service is Tuesday, Dec. 24th at 4 pm.

If you would like to go caroling in Ellsworth or Hager City following the service please contact Pastor Amy.

Coming this Sunday, August 18th, 2019

Call to Worship

L: O sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. 

P: Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 

L: Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 

P: For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 

L: For all the gods of the peoples are idols; but the Lord made the heavens. 

P:Honor and majesty are before him, strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Prayer of Invocation:

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.  It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The trees of the wood shall sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. We say with the Spirit and the Bride, Come Lord Jesus! Amen.

Prayer of Confession: “Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee, because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from falling.”   Father, open our eyes to your work in the world, in one another and even in ourselves.  Help us to see your great salvation in the Lord Jesus, that you seek and save the lost, that you lift up those who have fallen, that you bind up the broken-hearted.  Forgive us Father, take away the sins that oppress us. Help us to seek after the truth, throw away our trust in money and possessions; give us a pure and generous heart.   In Jesus name we pray.  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 77, 2 Corinthians 11

Sermon: I will boast of weakness

Hymns (L): #169 The Unveiled Christ, #229 Our God Reigns, #25 Immortal, Invisible

Hymns (E) #169 The Unveiled Christ, #229 Our God Reigns

Announcements

Laurel’s Session meets on the 21st (Wed.) at 6:30

We will have a special guest at Ellsworth on Sunday, the 25th: Sara is a missionary to the Twin Cities area, working specifically with Somali women.

We also look forward in the near future to a minute for mission from Blair Gunderson.

Prayers for the families of Pat Johnson, Jane Fosberg and Marjorie Smith, for those with chronic illness, for the Presbytery, for Hispanic Outreach of Red Wing, for Roxanne, for Sara, for Susan, we pray for Yemen and Venezuela