The First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ & Disciples of Christ
627 Sunnyside Drive, Reno, Nevada 89503
(775) 747-1414
CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
October 19, 2014 - 10:00 a.m.
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We welcome you this morning in the name and Spirit of Jesus Christ!
Children four and under are welcome to visit the nursery with Ms. Sharon in the Annex building.
Older children are welcome to attend Sunday School following the Children’s Conversation.
We ask that you record your presence with us by signing the attendance register at the end of the pew.
Hearing assistance devices and large print bulletins are available - please let an usher know if needed.
Following morning worship, please join us for the Food and Fellowship in the CE Building.
Gathering in God's Presence
Give to us laughter, O Source of our life.
Laughter can banish so much of our strife.
Laughter and love give us wholeness and health.
Laughter and love are the coin of true wealth.
--Walter Farquharson
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHORAL INTROIT
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Rejoice, for God is among us!
People: Give thanks, for in Christ we are a new people!
Leader: Sing praise, for we come to worship God!
People: Amen!
*HYMN
Come, O Fount of Every Blessing
NCH (Black Hymnal) 459
Please pass blue prayer request cards to the center aisle.
Ushers will collect them during the last verse of the hymn
* UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, distant yet near,
we gather as witnesses to your promise
that if we seek you with all our hearts,
we will find you.
Be among us this day.
Hear the confessions of our mouths
and the yearning of our hearts.
Help us change the narrowness of our vision
and the pettiness of our living.
Make us new again with your holy grace.
Grant us the maturity to accept your many gifts
in humility and to use them with faithfulness.
Grant to us your spirit that our worship may have
integrity and energy,
ever witnessing to your holy presence in our lives.
We praise and give thanks to you, Eternal One;
through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
*WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Leader: God knows us better than we know ourselves.
God loves us like a father
and nourishes us like a mother.
God draws us near, claims us, forgives us,
and sets us on a right path.
All: Thanks be to God!
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
NCH (Black Hymnal) 760
(Sing Amen!) Amen, we praise your name, O God.
(Sing Amen!) Amen, we praise your name, O God.
(Sing Amen!) Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!
Amen! We praise your name, O God!
Proclaiming God's Word
SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 22:15-22
CHILDREN’S CONVERSATION
NT page 21
Saralinda Kiser
CHORAL ANTHEM
SERMON
Sayings Hard and Humorous
Rev. Rich Smith
Responding as God's People
* HYMN
More Love to Thee, O Christ
Pilgrim (Red Hymnal) 400
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom 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 kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
NCH (Black Hymnal) 581
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,
from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace,
let peace fill our hearts, let peace fill our world,
let peace fill the universe.
CALL TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY
*PRESENTATION OF OFFERING
Tune: Pilgrim (Red Hymnal) 64
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise God all creatures here below. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God for all that love has done. Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Accept these offerings now placed on your altar, O God, giver of every good and perfect
gift. Grant that they may be expressions of our love and of ourselves now offered more
fully to you. Use these gifts and us, we pray, to the end that your realm may come and
your will be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
*HYMN OF PARTING
Be Now My Vision
NCH (Black Hymnal) 451
*BENEDICTION
*CHORAL BENEDICTION
*GREETING ONE ANOTHER
*POSTLUDE
* = Those who are able are invited to stand.
CROP Hunger Walk, Today at Idlewild Park
Afternoon Circle will be packing care packages on Nov. 12th to send to troops from Nevada
who are overseas. Requested items include toiletries bagged in Zip lock bags, socks, stretchy
black gloves, wash cloths, travel sized wet wipes, any and all food items. They like the pop
top soups & stews, drink mixes to add to water bottles, jerky, hard candy and especially
cards & letters of encouragement. All items need to be individually wrapped or travel size.
Donations for postage are also needed. Please mark donations “care packages.”
Looking Ahead
October 26 REFORMATION SUNDAY
Love, Law & Elections, Matthew 22:34-46
NEW MEMBERS RECEIVED (See pastor Rich for more information)
November 2 ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
150 years of Sinners and Saints, Psalm 107:1-9, 33-37 and Hebrews 11:32-12:2
Reno Family Co-op Open House: Sunday, November 9th, Lunch provided (Date change)
Consecration Sunday and Annual Thanksgiving Potluck
Sunday, November 23rd following worship
Beyond Sunday
Home Means Nevada—Celebrate Nevada’s 150th Birthday, this Friday, October 24th
Don Jessup bicycled across the state on Highway 50 in 1998, he will be sharing the story
of his travels. Rev. Rich will share his new verses to Home Mean Nevada.
Do you have a story to share? Join us in fellowship at 7pm in the Annex.
ACTIONN Public Assembly, "Smart Solutions to Creating Jobs",
Temple Sinai on Gulling St. in Reno, Wed., October 29th, 6:30 pm check-in; 7:00 - 8:15 pm.
See our ACTIONN Leadership Council representative, Rick Odynski, for more information
ABUNDANCE
Last week’s attendance
This Year: 103
Income
Expenses
Last Year: 92
Balance
YTD 9/30/2014:
186,089
181,131
$ 4.958
Budgeted Expenses for September: $ 22,565, Income received this month: $10,927
Line of Credit balance owed as of September 30, 2014: $6,253
Liturgy today adapted and reprinted from BOOK OF WORSHIP © 1986, by permission of the
United Church of Christ Office for Church Life and Leadership
LIFE AND WORK OF OUR CHURCH
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF RENO
–Worship ............................................................................................. 10:00 am
–Food & Fellowship ................................................................ Following Worship
 Today, Oct 19
–Crop Walk, Idlewild Park .................................................................................... 1:00 pm
 TUESDAY, Oct 21
 WEDNESDAY, Oct 22
 THURSDAY, Oct 23
 FRIDAY, Oct 24
 SATURDAY, Oct 25
 SUNDAY, Oct 26
–Children’s Cabinet Stitchers CE Building ...............................................9:30 am
–Newsletter Deadline ......................................................................................... 11:00 am
–Afternoon Bible Study ............................................................................2:00 pm
–Diaconate Meeting.................................................................................5:00 pm
–Video Discussion (Annex) Saving Jesus Encore ...................................7:00 pm
–Supper & Study, Saving Jesus DVD based series ................................5:30 pm
–Chancel Choir Rehearsal ......................................................................7:00 pm
–Men’s Prayer Group, Chism Chapel ...... ………………………………… 6:30 am
–Fall Travelogue, Home Means Nevada ................................................. 7:00 pm
–Prayer Shawl Ministry (Annex) ............................................................ 11:00 am
– Reception of New Members ..................................................... During Worship
Mark Your Calendar
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


TUESDAY, Oct 28
WEDNESDAY, Oct 29
WEDNESDAY, Nov 12
TUESDAY, Nov. 18
–Fellowship & Growth Committee, Home of Kay Kurvers .......................7:00 pm
–Newsletter Folding ............................................................................... 11:00 am
–Afternoon Circle (Annex) .......................................................................1:00 pm
–Church Council ......................................................................................7:00 pm
Serving this Week
Greeters: Kathy Odynski
Deacon of the Month: Jane Chapman
Head Usher: Rick Odynski
Sound Technicians: Don Busick, Steve Rowell
Liturgist: Liz Tiffany-Jones
Sunday School Teacher: Chai Cook
Refreshments: Neil & Kay Sanders
Church Photographer: Meredyth Busick
Counters: Don Jessup, Cinda deWyk
Our Staff
Pastor: Rev. Rich Smith, [email protected]
Music Director: Ted Owens
Office Administrator: Cindy Evans
Christian Education Director: Saralinda Kiser
Youth Intern: Amy Urban
The Reno Crop Hunger Walk is TODAY
It’s not too late to join the walk or sponsor a walker!
$10 can provide a pair of rabbits,
which are a great source of protein.
$50 can provide hoes, shovels and seeds,
tools a family needs to grow a garden.
$100 can provide 200 chicks,
helping families find their way from need to nourishment.
Imagine that you’re in Kenya, walking to get water that you’ll carry back home
in a 5-gallon jerry can balanced on your head. Your family needs this water for
drinking, bathing, preparing meals or watering the garden or livestock.
Whatever the reason, 5 gallons of water weighs about 42 pounds, and you
may have to walk miles to get it.
There’s a solution, and you can be part of it. CROP Hunger Walks help Church
World Service work with communities to determine the best solution to their
challenges. It could be a sand dam to help provide water. Livestock to help
start a farm. Or tools or seeds to help keep a family fed – and healthy.
Contact Us
Phone: 775.747.1414, email: [email protected]
627 Sunnyside Drive, Reno, NV 89503
Office Administrator hours: Mon– Thurs 10 am to 3 pm, Friday 10 -to 1
or by appointment
We are on the web: www.renofirstcongregational.org
First Congregational Church of Reno
October 19, 2014