April 21, 2024 Guide

GATHERING MUSIC Hope

WELCOME Candace

Good morning! Welcome to Black Forest Community Church; an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ. I am Reverend Candace Woods and I’m here with Hope Tine on the piano, plus others who are helping with the service today. And welcome and good morning to everyone watching live from home (look at camera if you want). I invite you to take a deep breath and just allow yourself to be here in community with each other.

A TIME FOR CHILDREN Stephanie

CALL TO WORSHIP Kyle

Will you please rise as able for the call to worship.

One: Scripture tells us that “creation waits with eager longing for the children of God to be revealed.”

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To open our eyes to the devastation in our world.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To put the needs of the most vulnerable above the greed of the powerful.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To move from doing what is easy to doing what is necessary and right.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To prioritize the needs of community over the convenience of self.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To remove the pollution from our seas, land, air, bodies and hearts.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: In all these things and more, creation waits for us to assume our roles as its servants and protectors.

All: With God’s help, we will answer creation’s call. Amen.

Please remain standing and sing

OPENING HYMN Help Us To Accept Each Other #376

OPENING PRAYER Ethan

Please join me in prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the many good gifts you have given us - so much beauty and abundance in creation all around us. Help us fulfill Jesus’ call to love our neighbors and take action to look out for one another. Help us to restore and care for this beautiful earth you blessed us with. Amen.

PASSING OF THE PEACE Ethan

This is the time in the service where we greet each other and pass the peace. We are in this together. Again and again, the gospel indicates that we are not in this alone, that we are made to work this out together; we are meant to be reconciled; we are meant to be in relationship with God and with our neighbor. Let us now pass the peace saying, “The peace of Christ be with you” and we respond “And also with you.”

Please be seated as we sing,

HYMN OF PREPARATION Lord, Make Us Servants of Your Peace #458

SCRIPTURE Lorena

The scripture comes from 1 John 3:16-24 (Inclusive Bible):

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ died for us. And we, too, ought to lay down our lives for our sisters and brothers. If you have more than enough material possessions and see your neighbors in need yet close your hearts to them, how can the love of God be living in you? My children, our love must not be simply words or mere talk—it must be true love, which shows itself in action and truth. This, then, is how we’ll know we belong to the truth; this is how we’ll be confident in God’s presence, even if our consciences condemn us. We know that God is greater than our consciences and that God knows everything. And if our consciences do not condemn us, my friends, then we have confidence before God, and we will receive whatever we ask from God’s hand—because we keep the commandments and do what is pleasing in God’s sight. The commandments are these: that we believe in the name of God’s Own, Jesus Christ, and that we love one another as we were told to do. Those who keep these commandments live in God and God lives in them. We know that God lives in us by the Spirit given to us.

INTERACTING WITH THE WORD “Action and Truth” Candace

INTERLUDE A time of silent reflection.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Ethan

One of the ways we live as a community is to share the cares, concerns, joys and hallelujahs of our life together. You are invited to come forward and light a candle silently, lifting your prayer to God or you can share it with others. You can also say your prayer from your pew and a candle will be lit for you.

After everyone has said their prayers, say:

Lord give us the strength to protect the beautiful creatures that walk on our Earth. Precious Father, thank you for allowing us to benefit that your hands have created. Amen

Please join me in the Lord’s prayer:

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Creator who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kin-dom* 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, and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil for thine is the kin-dom,

and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING Ethan

We have the opportunity now to offer financial support to the important work of our church in the world. As you give, know that other gifts will be added, and that we will have enough and an abundance. Thank you for your generous spirits.

OFFERING (please rise as able in body or spirit and sing the doxology)

DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ and Spirit, One. Amen

BLESSING OF THE OFFERING Ethan

Glorious God, we know that your capacity to love is infinitely greater than our own ability. Indeed, you call us to love one another in truth and in action. We yearn to be active disciples, so that our hearts truly abide with you. Use these gifts to increase our ability to be your followers. Amen.

Please remain standing and sing

PARTING SONG This Is My Father’s World #60

ANNOUNCEMENTS Cindy

The last “Created to Thrive” class taught by Barbara Murray will be today. We will meet in the sanctuary starting at 11:15 AM to about 12:45 PM.
On Saturday, April 27, Angela Sorrentino will be teaching a class about high altitude organic gardening from 10 to about noon at her home in Black Forest. She will also be at the garage sale selling her plants in the parking lot, so this is a good time to learn how to make sure your garden is successful this summer!
Next Sunday, April 28 from 9 AM to 9:50 AM, Hope Tuin will be playing her senior recital songs for us. We invite you to come early and relax and listen to her play anytime during that hour.
Saturday May 4, is our annual garage sale. Please talk to Cindy Halsey or Marykay Carroll about organizing days and times.
Rev. Shelly Wilson will be back with us on Sunday, May 5.
Stable Strides, which is the next group our congregation has chosen to work with this year, will also be here on Sunday, May 5, after worship to educate us about what they do.
May 18 from 10 AM to 11:30 AM we will be presenting a film called “What I Wish My Parents Knew,” from the Tell My Story organization. We will be offering this to the community to address and talk about teenage suicide as a part of mental health month in May.

BENEDICTION Candace

POSTLUDE Hope Tuin

*In an effort to remain true to our tradition as well as our commitment to inclusive language,the word “kin-dom” reflects the kind of society Jesus envisions—a shared community of equals

who serve each other, united in a kin-group, not by blood but by a covenant with God and one another.

Welcome Guests and Visitors!

We invite you to complete a visitor card found in the Narthex and drop it in the offering plate so we can send you weekly emails and call if desired. We invite everyone to join us for coffee after worship either downstairs in the fellowship hall or in the foyer.

References to God in traditional prayers, readings, and hymns in our worship may sometimes be gender specific. As we pray and sing together, you are invited to substitute terms that reflect your understanding of the full inclusiveness of the spirit of God.

We acknowledge that the land on which this church stands is the homeland and unceded territory of the Tséstho’e (Cheyenne). We acknowledge this indigenous community who stewarded this land throughout the generations and pay respect to their elders past and present.

Ministry Team: Board Members:

Reverend Dr. Shelly Wilson Janet Burns, Personnel

Dr. Levi Murray Brad Carroll, Buildings & Grounds

Leslie Sheley, Ministry Coordinator Sue Garrett, Secretary

Hope Tuin, Accompanist Cindy Halsey, Treasurer

Shelley Levi

Steve Murtagh, Chairperson

Lisa Snyder, Asst Treasurer

April 21, 2024 Guide

GATHERING MUSIC Hope

WELCOME Candace

A TIME FOR CHILDREN Stephanie

CALL TO WORSHIP Kyle

Will you please rise as able for the call to worship.

One: Scripture tells us that “creation waits with eager longing for the children of God to be revealed.”

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To open our eyes to the devastation in our world.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To put the needs of the most vulnerable above the greed of the powerful.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To move from doing what is easy to doing what is necessary and right.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To prioritize the needs of community over the convenience of self.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: To remove the pollution from our seas, land, air, bodies and hearts.

All: Creation is waiting for us.

One: In all these things and more, creation waits for us to assume our roles as its servants and protectors.

All: With God’s help, we will answer creation’s call. Amen.

Please remain standing and sing

OPENING HYMN Help Us To Accept Each Other #376

OPENING PRAYER Ethan

Please join me in prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the many good gifts you have given us - so much beauty and abundance in creation all around us. Help us fulfill Jesus’ call to love our neighbors and take action to look out for one another. Help us to restore and care for this beautiful earth you blessed us with. Amen.

PASSING OF THE PEACE Ethan

Please be seated as we sing,

HYMN OF PREPARATION Lord, Make Us Servants of Your Peace #458

SCRIPTURE Lorena

The scripture comes from 1 John 3:16-24 (Inclusive Bible):

INTERACTING WITH THE WORD “Action and Truth” Candace

INTERLUDE A time of silent reflection.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Ethan

After everyone has said their prayers, say:

Lord give us the strength to protect the beautiful creatures that walk on our Earth. Precious Father, thank you for allowing us to benefit that your hands have created. Amen

Please join me in the Lord’s prayer:

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Creator who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kin-dom* 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, and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil for thine is the kin-dom,

and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING Ethan

We have the opportunity now to offer financial support to the important work of our church in the world. As you give, know that other gifts will be added, and that we will have enough and an abundance. Thank you for your generous spirits.

OFFERING (please rise as able in body or spirit and sing the doxology)

DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ and Spirit, One. Amen

BLESSING OF THE OFFERING Ethan

Glorious God, we know that your capacity to love is infinitely greater than our own ability. Indeed, you call us to love one another in truth and in action. We yearn to be active disciples, so that our hearts truly abide with you. Use these gifts to increase our ability to be your followers. Amen.

Please remain standing and sing

PARTING SONG This Is My Father’s World #60

ANNOUNCEMENTS Cindy

The last “Created to Thrive” class taught by Barbara Murray will be today. We will meet in the sanctuary starting at 11:15 AM to about 12:45 PM.

Next Sunday, April 28 from 9 AM to 9:50 AM, Hope Tuin will be playing her senior recital songs for us. We invite you to come early and relax and listen to her play anytime during that hour.

Saturday May 4, is our annual garage sale. Please talk to Cindy Halsey or Marykay Carroll about organizing days and times.

Rev. Shelly Wilson will be back with us on Sunday, May 5.

Stable Strides, which is the next group our congregation has chosen to work with this year, will also be here on Sunday, May 5, after worship to educate us about what they do.

May 18 from 10 AM to 11:30 AM we will be presenting a film called “What I Wish My Parents Knew,” from the Tell My Story organization. We will be offering this to the community to address and talk about teenage suicide as a part of mental health month in May.

BENEDICTION Candace