1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Salem Evangelical
United Church of Christ
Seminary Sunday
Last Sunday of Epiphany
February 15, 2015
Rev. Ken Kramer
GATHERING MUSIC
Laura Kammerer
WELCOME AND JOYS AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION
*GATHERING WORDS (Responsively)
Katie Husar
Loving God, You have called us into service and worship.
You have appointed disciples and equipped prophets from
among our communities.
As we respond to Your invitation,
Be with us and call forth our unique gifts as we worship you today.
*SINGING PRAISE TO OUR GOD (Insert)
“We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding”
*THE PRAYER ASKING GOD TO SHARE WORSHIP WITH US (Unison)
Colin Courson
Spirit of Truth, bless us with Your knowledge. Spirit of Love,
pour Your favor into our hearts. And Spirit of Peace, come and
be with us in worship today. Open our hearts for Your will for us,
so we are called to action in word and deed. We pray in Jesus
name, Amen.
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE (Please greet others around you)
The peace of God be with you.
And also with you!
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
THE BELL CHOIR PLAYS
Lorin Cope
“Echoes”
“God’s Train”
by Bill Ingram
by Valerie Stephenson
A SERVICE OF HOLY BAPTISM
Pastor Ken Kramer
Amber & Lisa Wassenhove
Marilynn Ritter, Natalie Ritter, Noah Wassenhove, Maverick Wassenhove
INVITATION AND REMEMBERING WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY
REMEMBERING OUR FAITH
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
and to Your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being,
create persons in Your own image,
and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness
and sin.
You judge people and nations by Your righteous will
declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and
risen Savior,
You have come to us
and shared our common lot,
conquering sin and death
and reconciling the world to Yourself.
You bestow upon us Your Holy Spirit,
creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ,
binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues,
and races.
You call us into Your church
to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
to be Your servants in the service of others,
to proclaim the gospel to all the world
and resist the powers of evil,
to share in Christ's baptism and eat at His table,
to join Him in His passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust You
forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,
courage in the struggle for justice and peace,
Your presence in trial and rejoicing,
and eternal life in Your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen.
THE VOW OF THE ADULTS
THE VOWS OF THE PARENTS FOR THE CHILDREN
THE VOW OF THE CONGREGATION
Brothers and sisters of the household of faith, I commend to your
love, this family whom we now accept as a members of the family of
God. Will you endeavor to live so that they may grow in the
knowledge and love of God, and of our Savior, Jesus Christ?
Will you support this family in their effort to grow in
the way of the Gospel, and to faithful service in Christ’s Church?
We will endeavor to do so and we promise our support.
THE HOLY BAPTISMS
THE PRAYER OF BLESSING
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FAMILY TO THE
CONGREGATION
THE GIVING OF THE CERTIFICATE AND CLOSING PRAYER
THE CHOIR SINGS
“My Savior”
by Don Besig
SHARING OUR TITHES, TALENTS AND TREASURES
Katie Husar
THE CALL TO SHARE AN OFFERING TO OUR GOD
With a variety of gifts, we come.
Ready to serve and ready to grow, we now give back a portion of
gifts that we have so freely been given
We pray that they are multiplied for Your purpose, dedicating them for
the people and places that are building up our Spiritual leaders for
tomorrow.
Bless these gifts today!
OFFERTORY
*OFFERTORY RESPONSE
DOXOLOGY
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW,
PRAISE HIM, ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW,
PRAISE HIM ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOST,
PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN
*OFFERING DEDICATION PRAYER (Responsively)
Giver of every good gift, we offer You these blessings. Let our
gifts be used to further the work of Your church in the building
up of those called to serve in Your divine name. Investing in
Your servants multiplies our own gifts, for they bless our
communities of faith. Blessings abound! Amen.
*MEDITATING ON OUR GOD IN SONG (Insert) “O Jesus I Have Promised”
SCRIPTURE READINGS
II Corinthians 4:3-6 and Mark 9: 2-9
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Courtney Courson
“Belong To God” (Includes Video)
Lorin Cope
*SINGING RESPONSE TO OUR GOD (Insert) “Called As Partners In Christ”
*CLOSING PRAYER (Unison)
Pastor Ken
On this Seminary Sunday, we pray for the future of our church.
Bless those women and men who have heard Your call and are
responding; may their journeys be filled with Your richest
blessings as they strive to how to live into their calling. Bless
also the churches, seminaries, and institutions that hold these
servants in Your loving care, nurturing, and mentoring them until
they are called into the service of Your Church. Bless them with
courage to lead and hearts to serve, and in blessing them, we will
be blessed as well. May we all go and serve you in honor, love
and Peace. Amen
*SUNG PRAYER RESPONSE (Insert)
I Am the Light of the World
*POSTLUDE
Mission of the Month for Feb., 2015
Our U. C. C. Seminaries
As Salem’s mission focus for February, we want to highlight the C. U. E.
seminaries of the United Church of Christ (Chicago, United and Eden), with special
emphasis on Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Founded in 1850,
Eden is a graduate school which prepares women and men for ordained Christian
ministry.
One of the seven seminaries of the U. C. C., it is a community that seeks God’s
justice and peace in the world. Eden is welcoming, inclusive, and ecumenically
diverse. From its roots in the Evangelical Synod of North America, and through its
ongoing relationship with the United Church of Christ, Eden has learned to value:
the authority of the Gospel as mediated through Scripture, a personal piety that
acknowledges the sovereignty of Christ, the church’s ministry of social justice and
the promise of the church ecumenical, and community with people of all faiths.
Salem helps support Eden Seminary through Our Church’s Wider Mission
contributions throughout the year. To read more about Eden Seminary, visit
www.eden.edu on the internet.
You can donate through Salem, directly through their website, or by mail to: Eden
Theological Seminary, 475 East Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119.
We have a new family joining Salem
today! Lisa and Amber Wassenhove
and their four children will be
baptized and become our newest
members.
Lisa and Amber were married on
March 7, 2014. Their children are
Marilynn (7), Natalie (5), Noah and
Maverick (10-month-old twins).
Amber is a nail tech and enjoys arts
and crafts. She heard about Salem
through the internet and likes the
fact that they can be welcomed as a
same-sex married couple.
Lisa is a psych tech and enjoys
basketball and playing with the kids.
She also likes how welcoming Salem
has been.
The children’s God Parent will be
Gena Cramer
Lorin W. Cope is the Director for
Advancement for UCC Church Giving at
Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis,
Missouri.
A native of northeast Ohio, Lorin has
been active in the United Church of
Christ in a variety of settings: as
Consistory President at Bethel United
Church of Christ in Beloit, Ohio; as
program staff at First Congregational
United Church of Christ in Greeley
Colorado; as a member of the Western
Reserve (Ohio) Association staff; and as
the Minister for Conference Relations
at the national setting of the church in
Cleveland. Lorin has also served on the
development staffs for Hope Homes in
Ohio and for the Crossroad-Fort Wayne
(Indiana) Children’s Home.
In addition to his work at Eden
Seminary, Lorin is the Church Secretary
at St. Paul United Church of Christ in St.
Louis, where he is a member; is the
Wedding Coordinator at St. Johns
Evangelical Church of Christ in
Mehlville; is the Clerk of the St. Louis
Association; and is serving on the
Conference
Minister
Search
Committee in the Missouri Mid-South
Conference.
GREETINGS! GREETINGS!
GREETINGS!
February 17th
4:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.
$7.00
Tickets available at the door!
This is a reminder we have greeting
cards for your personal use. A
church member donates the cards.
The card rack is in Fellowship Hall or
the Library. For example, when
someone is added to the Prayer List,
pick up a card and mail it. It's that
easy to show you care.
Ash Wednesday will be celebrated in a special worship service in
the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m., on February 18. The service will
include the “Imposition of Ashes.”
Each Wednesday following on February 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25
we will hold 45-minute services beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the
Lounge.
On Maundy Thursday at 7:00 pm we will once again recreate the
Last Supper of Christ and remember our Lord’s agony in the
Garden. The service will be in the Sanctuary.
On Good Friday at 7:00 pm we will gather to remember our Lord’s
agony on the cross in a Tennebrae Service. This service will be in
the Sanctuary.
This year our theme for the Lenten Services will be seven dramas
titled “Seven Steps To The Cross,” written by Ray Weigland.
The Church at Work
February 15 – February 22
Janet Adair
Devon Baxter
Jayne Brown
Isabelle Cahill
Karen Cookson
Lynn Davis
David Fox
Maizee Gower
Jean Hamann
Carl Johnson
Jim Kosowski
Gary McEwen
Kent Nelson
Charlene Pflum
Teal Raney
Marvin Speckhart
Jeanette Swayzer
Timothy Swayzer
Karen Wright
Letha Althoff
Steve Booher
Bill Buss
Sarah Campbell
Gary Clapper
Denise Eastman
Austin Gower
Steven Gragg
Helen Hardy
Jeannie Kammerer
Ariell Kuriger
Ron Morrison
Valerie Ortbal
Millie Predmore
Matt Rucker
Mary Stormer
John Swayzer
Raina Tappe
Please submit changes to the church office!
Please keep Rev. Carole
Hoke, Fondulac Cong. UCC, East Peoria,
in your prayers this week in support of
her work and ministry.
Sunday, February 15
9:00am
Sunday Worship
10:00am
Coffee Hour/Salem Choristers
10:30am
Adult Bible Study
10:30am
Bell Choir Rehearsal
10:30am
Confirmation Class
Monday, February 16
7:00pm
Qcy Symphony Chorus
Tuesday, February 17
9:00am
Staff Meeting
7:00pm
Choir Practice
Wednesday, February 18
8:30am
Quilters
7:00pm
Ash Wednesday Service
Friday, February 20
8:00am
Deadline for Newsletter
Saturday, February 21
11:30am
Saturday Meals
4:30pm
Saturday Worship
Sunday, February 22
9:00am
Sunday Worship
10:00am
Coffee Hour/Worship Ministry
10:30am
Adult Bible Study
10:30am
Bell Choir Rehearsal
10:30am
Confirmation Class
11:30am
Youth Fellowship
4:00pm
Organ Concert
Acolytes
Sunday, February 15
Hannah Brice
A reminder...we continue to collect the
Hy-Vee brand UPC labels. Each one is
worth five cents and starts with the numbers
75450---. You can deposit the labels in the
box across from the church office or give
them to me. Thanks,
Letha Althoff,
The Label Counter
Sunday, February 22
Lindsey Fuller
Saturday Meals
Saturday, February 21
Trinity-Hagoods
Lindsey Fuller
Saturday, February 28
Zion UCC-Rev. Keela Neumann
Ushers
Sunday, February 15
Youth Sunday
Salem Church is a Gun Free Zone!
Sunday, February 22
Kathy Willing, Ralph Baxter,
Chuck McMullen, Denise Eastman
Nursery Volunteers
Join us for Coffee
Hour immediately following the worship
service in the Fellowship Hall (located
across the Interlink and downstairs). Coffee
& donuts are provided. This is a great way
to get to know others in our Salem family!
Sunday, February 15
Sunday, February 22
Sta ff of Sa lem Eva ngelica l
United Church of Christ
Members & Friends of Salem
Rev. Ken Kramer
Rev. Lynn Bohlmann
Steve Disseler
Kay Whitfield
Dr. Phyllis Robertson
Jeannie Kanauss
Dolores Wemhoener
Laura Kammerer
Jody Messmer
Amy Mueller
Amy Mueller
Salem Web Site
Ministers
Interim Pastor
Calling Minister
Saturday Worship Leader
Service Coordinator
Adult Choir Director
Bell Choir Director
Pianist
Organist
Secretary
Custodian
Wedding Coordinator
www.salemquincy.org
Salem Facebook
facebook.com/salemquincy
Salem Evangelical UCC
435 S. 9th Street
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 222-0601
Please sign the Ritual of
Friendship pad in the pew &
place it in the offering plate!
We are excited to have a
nursery available for your
young ones! Newborn
children to three-year-olds
may attend the nursery. Older
children are encouraged to
take part in the Sunday
children’s activities. If you
need to locate the nursery,
please ask any usher for
assistance.
Salem Evangelical United Church
of Christ is an ‘Open and
Affirming’ congregation. We
believe that…
MISSION STATEMENT
“No m a t t e r w h o y ou a r e
Or w h e r e y ou a r e
on l ife ’s jou r n e y
You a r e w e l c om e h e r e ”
Called to share God’s grace and abundance
with all.
VISION STATEMENT
Building character through Christian virtue.