Category: Worship Services

1 Samuel 3:1-20 | It’s not too uncommon for people to joke about “selective hearing.” In certain situations, we hear what we want to hear, and we find ourselves better able to hear when we want to listen. So when it comes to listening to God, do we want to hear what God has to say? Throughout Scripture, God speaks to people time and time again. But, as we hear in the story of Samuel, what God had to say wasn’t always the easiest thing to hear. So, in our walk of discipleship, are we willing to hear what God has to tell us? Even if it’s something we didn’t expect? Or, if it’s something that might challenge us? As we venture into the season of Epiphany, we invite you to join us as we consider what it means to open ourselves to hear God’s Word for us, and as we lean into to follow after this one who has come to redeem and save us.

Sunday, January 21, 2024, Third Sunday of Epiphany Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Prelude: Lord Let My Heart be Good Soil. Text and Music: Handt Hanson, b. 1950. Text and Music: © 1985 Prince of Peace Publishing, Changing Church, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. & A Place at the Table. Text and Music: Lori True, Shirley Erena Murray. Text and Music: © 2001 GIA Publications, Inc. Hope Publishing Company. Covered under One License subscription. Gathering Song: Listen, God Is Calling. Text: Tanzanian traditional; tr. Howard S. Olson, b. 1922. Music: Tanzanian tune; arr. Austin C. Lovelace, b. 1919. Text: © 1968 Lutheran Theological College, Makumira, Tanzanie, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Music: © 1968 Austin C. Lovelace. Covered under One License subscription.
Hymn of the Day: Here I Am, Lord. Text and Music: Daniel L. Schutte, b. 1946. Text and Music: © 1981 OCP Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: Will You Let Me Be Your Servant. Text and Music: Richard Gillard, b. 1953, & arr. Betty Pulkingham, b. 1928. Text and Music: © 1977 Scripture In Song, admin. Integrity Music. Covered under CCLI subscription. Communion Song: Lord, Be Glorified. Text and Music: Bob Kilpatrick, 1952. Text and Music: © 1978 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Sending Song: Send Me, Jesus. Text and Music: South African. Text and Music: Public Domain.

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Mark 1:4-11 | As we move away from the Christmas holiday, the church year turns to focus on the baptism of Jesus. For many, baptism has become synonymous with a gentle, tender, and calm practice (even if there are a few cries from babies!) But at Jesus’ baptism, God’s activity was far, far from calm. God dramatically broke into the world, and into the life of Jesus, as the heavens were torn open, a dove descended into Jesus, and Jesus was publicly named God’s Son. So then what about now? Does God still dramatically break into our world, doing whatever is necessary to come to us and to our weary world? Join us for our last worship in our series, “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” as we witness God’s determination to tear through anything in the way of a relationship with God’s good creation, and as we are sent forth as agents of God’s grace.

Sunday, January 7, 2024, Baptism of Our Lord Sunday Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Prelude: Sing We Now of Christmas. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2019 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Gathering Song: Songs of Thankfulness and Praise. Text: Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885, alt. Music: Jakob Hintze, 1622-1702; arr. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750. Text and Music: Public Domain. Hymn of the Day: Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized. Text: F. Bland Tucker, 1895-1984, alt. Music: Nikolaus Herman, 1480-1561. Text and Music: © 1985 The Church Pension Fund. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: He Is Born. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2018 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Song: You Are Mine. Text and Music: David Haas, b. 1957. Text and Music: © 1991 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Sending Song: This Little Light of Mine. Text and. Music: African American spiritual; arr. Horace Clarence Boyer, b. 1935. Text and Music:©1992 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Covered under One License subscription.

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Luke 2:21-40 | Though we celebrated the day of Christmas last week, the season of Christmas continues in the life of the church – celebrating the light of Christ that has come to the world. As we continue our celebration, we travel with Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem where Jesus is presented in the temple, according to Jewish custom. Much like the holy family, we, too, observe rituals of worship, prayer, and service as a way in which we live out our faith. These rituals form us and provide a foundation for us as we come to know just who this child is who has been born to us. So as we continue to follow in the light of Christ, leading us on, join us for worship as we root ourselves in ritual and as we testify to God’s salvation revealed to us.

Special thanks to lay leaders of Shepherd of the Cross for leading worship this morning, and to Bishop Amy Current, bishop of the Southeastern Iowa Synod, for providing the sermon for us this morning in Pastor Aleese’s absence.

Sunday, December 31, 2023, First Sunday of Christmas Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Prelude: Angels We Have Heard On High. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2019 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Gathering Song: Angels, from the Realms of Glory. Text: James Montgomery, 1771-1854, alt., sts. 1-3; Salisbury Hymn Book, 1857, st. 4. Music: Henry T. Smart, 1813-1879. Text and Music: Public Domain. Hymn of the Day: In His Temple Now Behold Him. Text: Henry J. Pye, 1825-1903, alt.Music: Henry T. Smart, 1813-1879. Text and Music: Public Domain. Offering Song: Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2019 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Sending Song: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice. Text: Medieval Latin carol; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818-1866. Music: German carol, 14th cent.; arr. Robert L. Pearsall, 1795-1856. Text and Music: Public Domain. Prayers written by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org. Adapted Rev. A. Kenitzer

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Luke 2:1-20 | Each year, we hear the story of Christ’s birth. For some, it may be a passage we have half-way memorized by now! So why do we, along with the shepherds, come yet again to see this thing that has taken place? Ask various people and you’ll likely get a myriad of responses – many of which are completely valid! And yet, just as much as we come to worship, and just as much as we come to adore this child who has been born to us, the good news of Christmas is that God comes to us. It sounds simple, because in some ways, it is: God was born to us in ages past, and God continues to be born in our midst today. But beneath this simple message is the profound truth of God’s radical, borderline foolish, love that breaks into our weary hearts and our weary world. So, whatever your reason to come to the manger this season, join us in worship as we hear again the message of the angels and as we look for the arrival of God.

Sunday, December 24, 2023, Christmas Eve Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem. Text: Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893. Music: Lewis H. Redner, 1831-1908. Text and Music: Public Domain. Hymn of the Day: The First Noel. Text and Music: English Traditional; arr. John Stainer, 1840-1901. Text and Music: Public Domain. Offering Song: Coventry Carol. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2007 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.). Covered under CCLI subscription. Communion Songs: Away in a Manger. Text: North American, 19th cent. Music: James R. Murray, 1841-1905. Text and Music: Public Domain. & Infant Holy, Infant Lowly. Text: Polish carol; tr. Edith M. G. Reed, 1885-1933, alt. Music: Polish carol. Text and Music: Public Domain. Sending Song: Silent Night, Holy Night. Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1849; tr. John F. Young, 1820-1885. Music: Franz Gruber, 1787-1863. Text and Music: Public Domain. Prayers written by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org. Adapted Rev. A. Kenitzer

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Luke 1:46-55; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Luke 1:67-80 | Leading up to Christmas, we sing…a lot. Often, we focus on Christmas carols. But this morning, as we await the coming of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, first we hear the songs of Mary, Hannah, and Zechariah as they sing songs of hope. As you prepare for the advent of Christ in your life and our world, join us as we unite our voices with these saints of old – looking in hope and anticipation for the coming of God’s Kingdom to earth.

Sunday, December 24, 2023, Fourth Sunday in Advent Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Prelude: Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella. Text and Music: Joel Raney. Text and Music: © 2003 Hope Publishing Company. Covered under One License subscription. & Light Dawns on a Weary World. Text and Music: Mary Louise Bringle, William P. Rowan. Text and Music: © 2000, 2002 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. & It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. Text: Edmund Sears. Music: Richard Storrs Willis. Text and Music: Public Domain. Gathering Song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Text and Music: Martin A. Seltz, Augsburg Fortress. Text and Music: © 1997, 2006 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn after Reflection #1: Canticle of the Turning. Text and Music: Rory Cooney. Text and Music: © 1990 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn after Reflection #2: My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness. Text: With One Voice, 1995, based on the Magnificat. Music: English folk tune; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958. Text: © 1995 Augsburg Fortress. Music: © Oxford University Press. Covered under One License subscription. Special Music after Reflection #3: O Holy Night. Text: Placide Clappeau. Music: Adolphe-Charles Adam. Translation: John S. Dwight. Arrangement: Sally DeFord. Text and Music: © 2000 by Sally DeFord. Covered under CCLI subscription. Public Domain. Offering Song: Remember Mercy. Text and Music: Lenora Rand, Gary Rand, Elsa Harris. Text and Music: © 2015 Plural Guild LLC. Covered under One License subscription. Sending Song: Savior of the Nations Come. Text: attr. Ambrose of Milan, 340-397; Martin Luther, 1483-1546; tr. hymnal version. Music: J. Walter, Geistliche Gesangbüchlein, 1524. Text: © 2006 Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License subscription. Prayers written by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org. Adapted Rev. A. Kenitzer

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Luke 1:57-66, Psalm 126 | When was the last time you were amazed, and what prompted that amazement? Was it something that happened to you? Or, was it something you witnessed happening to someone, or something, else? This weekend, we catch back up with Elizabeth and Zechariah at the miraculous birth of their son, John. For a variety of reasons, we can surmise that these new parents were filled with awe as they witnessed the fulfillment of God’s promise to them. But in our Scripture passage, we hear most about the amazement of the people that surrounded Elizabeth and Zechariah. So as you make your last minute preparations for Christmas next weekend, join us as we keep watch for moments of awe and amazement, leading us to ponder what God is doing in our midst, and prompting us to testify with joy to God’s ongoing activity in the world.

Sunday, December 17, 2023, Third Sunday in Advent Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.  Prelude: Good Christian Friends Rejoice. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2020 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. & Gloria In Excelsis Deo. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2019 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. & Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2019 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Gathering Song: Blessed Be the God of Israel. Text and Music: Carl P. Daw, Jr. Text and Music: © 1989 Hope Publishing Company. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: Light Dawns on a Weary World. Text and Music: Mary Louise Bringle & William P. Rowan. Text and Music: © 2000, 2002 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: Joy to the World. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2020 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Song: Zechariah’s Song. Text and Music: Nic Bancroft & Jacob Blouse. Text and Music: © permission from Wilmington Church of Christ. Sending Song: Joy to the World. Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748. Music: English melody, 18th cent.; arr. Lowell Mason, 1792-1872. Text and Music: Public Domain. Prayers written by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org. Adapted Rev. A. Kenitzer

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Luke 1:24-45 | As we hear the beloved story of the angel appearing to Mary, it might be tempting to hold the mother of God on a different playing field than ourselves. But just as God was at work in Mary – moving and growing – God is also living and moving within us. And, recognizing that movement of God, we too are given the opportunity to give our response: offering the extent of our willingness to let God’s will have its way within us. Join us this weekend as we continue our preparation for Christ’s birth, and as we recognize and respond to God’s movement within ourselves.

Sunday, December 10, 2023, Second Sunday in Advent Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.  Prelude: Listen for His Coming. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2001 Curb Word Music (Admin. by WC Music Corp.) Covered under CCLI subscription. & O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Text and Music: Lloyd Larson. Text and Music: © 2011 Hope Publishing Company. Covered under One License subscription. Gathering Song: Comfort, Comfort, Now My People. Text: Johann G. Olearius, 1635-1711; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt. Music: Trente quatre pseaumes de David, Geneva, 1551. Text and Music: Public Domain. Hymn of the Day:  Here I Am. Text: Anna Strickland (2022). Music: Traditional French carol (17th cent.) . Text: © Anna Strickland, 2021. Commissioned by A Sanctified Art, LLC.  Music: Public Domain. Offering Song: O Come All Ye Faithful. Text and Music: John Francis Wade. Text and Music: Public Domain. Sending Song: All Earth is Hopeful. Text and Music: Madeleine Forell Marshall. Text and Music: © 1995 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Covered under One License subscription.

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Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Luke 1:1-23 | While much of society has already pushed on to Christmas, as the church, we intentionally begin the season of Advent: a season in which we hold the tension of the weariness of our lives and our world with the hope that God will restore all things to wholeness. To hold both weariness and hope is challenging. And, to wait, and to watch – especially and perhaps most profoundly in silence – isn’t easy. And yet, as evidenced by Zechariah after he receives a message from an angel, this time of waiting and watching has the potential to transform us as we pay attention to what God is doing in our midst. So, as we begin this holy season, and as we ponder how a weary world can rejoice, join us as we acknowledge our weariness, as we acknowledge our need for God’s restoration and redemption, and as we prepare ourselves to receive with joy the promise that God has in store for us.

Sunday, December 3, 2023, First Sunday in Advent Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.  Prelude: Ave Maria. Text and Music: Johann Sebastian Bach. Text and Music: Public Domain. Gathering Song: Now the Heavens Start to WhisperText and Music: Mary Louise Bringle. Text and Music: © 2006 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: Weary World Rejoice (Silent Night). Text: Anna Strickland.  Music: Franz Xaver Gruber. Text: A Sanctified Art LLC.  Music: Public Domain. Offering Song: Unexpected and Mysterious. Text and Music: Jeannette M Lindholm. Text and Music: © 2011 Hope Publishing Company. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Song: Weary Traveler. Text and Music: Andrew Jacob Pruis, Jordan St. Cyr, Matthew West. Text and Music: © 2021 BEC Worship (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) This Little Fire (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Combustion Five (Admin. by Me Gusta Music LLC) Combustion Four Point Five (Admin. by Me Gusta Music LLC) Third Story House Music (Admin. by Me Gusta Music LLC) Remaining portion is unaffiliated. Covered under CCLI subscription. Sending Song: Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn. Text and Music: Marty Haugen. Text and Music: © 1983 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription.

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Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Matthew 25:31-46| Each year, the church closes the year not on New Years Eve (Dec 31), but before the beginning of Advent with the celebration of Christ the King Sunday. The image of Christ as King, ruler, Lord, and master runs throughout Scripture. But what does it mean for Christ to be our King? And how does that title resonate with us today, as people living in 21^st century America? Join us for worship this weekend as we look back in the Gospel of Matthew to consider just who Christ is to us, and how our perception of Christ makes a direct impact on our relationship with Jesus and our relationship with others.

Sunday, November 26, 2023, Christ the King Sunday Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.  Prelude: Majesty. Text and Music: Jack Hayford. Text and Music: © 1981 New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.). Covered under CCLI subscription. Oh, Worship the King. Text: Robert Grant, 1779-1838, alt. Music: William Croft, 1678-1727. Text and Music: Public Domain. Gathering Song: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name! Text: Edward Perronet, 1726-1792, sts. 1-4; J. Rippon, A Selection of Hymns, 1787, sts. 5-6. Music: Oliver Holden, 1765-1844. Text and Music: Public Domain. Hymn of the Day: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service. Text and Music: Albert Bayly, The Sacred Harp. Text and Music: © 1961 Oxford University Press. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: Jesus Is My Lord with All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name. Text and Music: Carol Tornquist. Text and Music: © 1996 Pilot Point Music. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Song: King of Kings. Text and Music: Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, Scott Ligertwood. Text and Music: © 2019 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Fellow Ships Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC). Covered under CCLI subscription. Sending Song: Bring Forth the Kingdom. Text and Music: Marty Haugen. Text and Music: © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription.

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Matthew 25:14-30 | As we look to the coming Thanksgiving holiday, some families might bring out special family dishes for the occasion. These dishes – often quite valuable – are meant to be used, to be shared, and to bring joy to a gathering. They’re not meant to be kept locked up on a shelf to collect dust. In the same way, God generously and even recklessly offers us something valuable: first, God’s grace and mercy; and second, the mission of Christ in the world today. So as we prepare to give thanks, we invite you to join us for worship as we open our hands to receive what has been entrusted to us, without fear, and as we consider why or how we are tempted to keep God’s grace, God’s mercy, and the mission of Christ stuck in a cabinet rather than sharing it for the joy of all creation.

Sunday, November 19, 2023, Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.  Prelude: Be Thou My Vision. Text: Irish, 8th cent.; vers. Eleanor H. Hull, 1860-1935, alt.; tr. Mary E. Byrne, 1880-1931. Music: Irish traditional. Text and Music: Public Domain. The Light of the World Is Jesus. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2016 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Gathering Song: Christ, Be Our Light. Text and Music: Bernadette Farrell. Text and Music: © 1993, 2020 OCP Publications. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light. Text and Music: Kathleen Thomerson. Text and Music: © 1970 Jubilate Music. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: Come to the Mountain. Text and Music: Scott Tunseth & Kathy Donlan Tunseth. Text and Music: © 1996 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Covered under One License subscription.
Communion Song: Faithful Servant. Text and Music: Cindy Berry. Text and Music: © 2001 Shawnee Press. Covered under One License subscription.
Sending Song: This Little Light of Mine. Text: African American spiritual. Music: African American spiritual; Horace Clarence Boyer, b. 1935. Text and Music: Public Domain.

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