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Sunday, February 16, 2020

Written by St. James UCC on . Posted in Bulletins.

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

For Meditation and Reflection:

“You show me the path of life, O God. In your presence there is fullness of joy.”

(Psalm 16:11)

Welcome and Announcements

Opening Prayer (Pastor)

Call to Worship (2 Corinthians 4:6) (Lay Reader)

  • Leader: It is the God who said,
  • People: “Let light shine out of darkness,”
  • Leader: who has shone in our hearts
  • People: to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
  • Leader: in the face of Jesus Christ.

Opening Hymn: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You #4

Prayer for Illumination (Lay Reader)

Today’s Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42 (Lay Reader)

Sermon “Worried and Distracted” Mike Lyle

The Offerings and Offertory Music

A Litany of Thanksgiving

  • Pastor: All things come from you, O God, and with gratitude we return to you what is yours. All that we are, and all that we have, is your gift to us.
  • People: And so, in gratitude for all your gifts, we offer ourselves, and all that we have. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.
  • All: Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: Spirit of the Living God (Two times) #283

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the Pastor and People

Lord’s Prayer (Traditional, with “debts”)

Closing Hymn: There Is a Balm in Gilead #553

Benediction (Pastor) Go forward in the comfort and strength of God’s blessing. Remember that you are loved, that God is ever near, and that divine mercy is your way in the world. Amen.

Thought for the Day/Week

“It is winter proper; the cold weather, such as it is, has come to stay. I bloom indoors in the winter like a forced forsythia; I come in to come out. At night I read and write, and things I have never understood become clear; I reap the harvest of the rest of the year’s planting.’”

(Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Sunday, Feb. 16th – Worship led by Rev. Mike Lyle

Next Sunday Feb. 23rd– Worship led by Rev. Roland England

Note: In March, Children’s Sunday School will be held on the 1st Sunday of the month.

Sunday, Mar. 1st

  • 10 am– Children’s Sunday School in Fellowship Hall with Robin Scott.
  • Adult Education in Sanctuary, led by Brenda Lyle. Taking Down the Walls: Cultivating Compassion: Come explore spiritual practices to open our hearts and truly learn how we can follow Jesus’ commandment to love one another.
  • 11 am – Worship led by Rev. Mike Lyle
  • 12:15 pm – Join in for Congregational Pot Luck!

Sunday, Mar. 8th

  • 10 am– Adult Education. Taking Down the Walls with Brenda Lyle
  • 11 am – Worship led by Rev. Mike Lyle

Lovettsville Food Bank: Please bring non-perishable food items to church. See sign and box in Fellowship Hall.

During the Week at St. James:

  • Mindfulness Meditation. Wed. mornings10 am, Fellowship Hall. Free. All welcome; beginners encouraged!
  • Stretch It Out! Fri. evenings 6:30 – 7:30pm. Fellowship Hall: Come feel good with relaxed stretching and strengthening for all ages. First class free.
  • English Language Classes for adults. Please pass the word. Saturday mornings 10am – noon. Free. Led by a certified ELL teacher. Childcare provided. Fellowship Hall. Help Needed: come work with adult students or help with childcare. No experience needed. Talk with Noemi, Lauranne, or Tena.

Statement of Faith: We gather as an open and affirming community to worship God, however known. We welcome everyone, no exceptions. Together we seek spiritual comfort and challenge, learn from ancient and modern texts, and seek new dimensions of truth. We practice following the way of Jesus. We dare to demonstrate God’s love by working for justice and peace among all people.

Cover credit: Jan Vermeer (attr.) – Christ in the House of Martha and Mary – National Gallery of Scotland

Dr. Rev. Michael Lyle