St. Paul United Church of Christ, Taylor, Michigan
Rally & Picnic Sunday/ September 10, 2023
Silent Prayer and Reflection
Reflect: Have you joyfully accepted the cost of following Jesus?
Welcome/Announcements
Opening Voluntary
Responsive Call to Worship / Pastor Schalm & Congregation
Leader: Calling all children of the Living God: the gospel is good news for every age and every stage.
All: Let us worship together, the young and the old.
Leader: The good news is proclaimed in God’s words, and also with crayons, silly songs, snacks, and rest time.
All: Let us worship together every generation.
Leader: After months of change, uncertainty, and concern for the future, we come together seeking God’s peace in this beautiful community.
All: Let us worship together, with our family of faith, united in Christ.
Passing of the Peace Pastor Schalm
One: The peace of Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
*Hymn No. 190 “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”
*Prayer of the Day, Hayley Dykowski
One: Let us pray.
All: Make us to know Your ways, O Lord. Teach us Your paths. Sanctify us in Your truth. Your Word is truth. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
VBS Reflections / Special Music
“Jesus Loves Me” / “I Want to be Thankful”
Blessing of Backpacks
Teacher Acknowledgements
Presentation of Tithes and Offerings
*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.
First Lesson: Isaiah 48:17, Matthew 10:38, John 30:32-33 Hayley & Drake Dykowski
Gospel Lesson: Luke 14:27-34
Message: “What’s in Your Backpack?” Pastor Cheryl Schalm
*Hymn No. 344 “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”
Parents Prayer, Kari Cappello
Almighty God, who has ordained the home to be the center of Christian training, give us by Your Holy Spirit the humility, the wisdom, the courage, and the love necessary to bring up our children in the knowledge of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To this end, we implore You, help us to continue in Your Word, to teach diligently to our children, to work together with our church as it aids us to fulfill our responsibility: through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.
Congregational Prayer, Pastor Schalm
Lord God, our spirit is willing to hear your voice and to follow You, but our flesh is weak. We have not always been eager to hear Your Word nor equip ourselves for service in your kingdom on earth. For these and all our other sins, forgive us in your mercy. Endow us with Your Holy Spirit that we may prepare ourselves for Christian service through the study of Your Word. Help us to see the spiritual needs of every member of this congregation, as well as those who do not yet know the Savior, and fill us with a fervent desire to bring them Your Word through every agency of Christian Education. Grant that by our service Your name may be hallowed, Your kingdom enlarged, and Your will done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (debt/debtors), Kaitlyn Isaacs
*Hymn 494 “They’ll Know We Are Christians”
*Dismissal with Blessing
Closing Voluntary
WELCOME TO ALL SHARING TODAY’S MORNING SERVICE IN PERSON AND FACEBOOK LIVESTREAMING which can be viewed on Facebook at other times as well.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL CHILDREN are sharing their songs with us this morning.
COFFEE HOUR this morning precedes our worship service in the air-conditioned West Room. Coffee, tea, donuts, and other refreshments served. All are welcome. Please note: the floor in our West Room has been stripped and polished clean and shiny! If you notice a spill, please alert the Coffee Hour Host so the floor can be wiped up and kept looking nice.
THE SEARCH COMMITTEE WILL MEET Tuesday, September 12, 5 p.m. in the Parlor. Worship Planning Committee will meet at 6 p.m. in the Parlor. Lastly, Council will meet at 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY EXERCISE CLASS meets at 10:30 a.m. in the West Room. All are welcome to join for fun and fellowship.
FELLOWSHIP OF CONCERN: Judy Albright, Matthew Isaacs, Marion Bolen, Anthony Staten, Loralee Wilson, Elaine Cowper, Barbara Schultz, LaVerne Roe, Joan Smarr, Lois Rice, Sue Stern, Sandi Rose, Dianne Sturgeon, Jennifer Lee, Nancy Kittendorf, Bill Pattenaude, Sally Sigman, Rev. Norm Kirsch, Jerry Rossi, Wayne Jones, Vicki Simon, Shirley Robinson, Kyle Hard, Jeff Natzke, Bill Pattenaude, Neil MacEachern, Kyle Thompson & family, Randy Snelson, Ted Butkin, Kevin Siemers, Rhonda Wioncek Berndt, Jeff MacZink, Sue Spears, Bert Thompson, Margo Charette, Gabriel Siadak, Jane Zeuner, Sue Milatz, Lynn Case, Judy Kirsch, Al & Debi Petri, Claudia & Eric Flores, Abdual family, Barbara Wiley. Condolences to Lois Rice on the loss of dear friend, Mac Gardner, who passed away September 3, 2023, at the age of 97 years. Funeral service will be private.
CHANCEL CHOIR REHEARSALS Wednesday evenings, 7 p.m. We gather in the West Room to rehearse. No auditions and new voices are always welcome. For more information, contact Music Director, Tracy Hoffman.
YOUTH CANOE/ KAYAK TRIP Rock Hard in Faith Youth Fellowship kicks off the 2023-2024 year with a trip down the Lower Huron River Sunday, September 24. Participants will meet at Pastor Schalm’s house for lunch at noon prior to heading to AtWater Paddles. Youth must sign the sheet on the youth board or contact Pastor Schalm today to reserve a spot.
BLOOD DRIVE SCHEDULED FOR Thursday, October 19, 1- 6:45 p.m. Donors are needed. Please share and encourage others you know to donate. Hours are from 1 to 6:45 p.m. It is important to sign up ahead of time. There must be 59 days between donations. Please contact Kathy Williams, if you have questions or want her to sign you up for a time slot from 1 PM – 6:45 p.m. You can make appointments through www.redcrossblood.org. In the upper right-hand corner, type in 48180 (the Zip code, Taylor) and click on the arrow. The left column will show dates for the Taylor area. Choose refine search ‘refine date’ range to search the calendar for October, click on ‘refine results’. It will read ‘St. Paul United Church of Christ’ Taylor, MI 48180. Click on ‘see times’. Sign up for your time slot. You will need to register & obtain a password. IDs & passwords are case sensitive. On the day of the drive, you can also download to your phone or print out a Rapid Pass prior to coming. You can read the educational materials & complete the health history online to save some time at the blood drive. If you have questions about eligibility, you can look at www.redcrossblood.org or contact the Red Cross blood donation center, 1-866-236-3276.
TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will not meet the month of September. Bible Study will resume Tuesday, October 3, 10:30 a.m. All are welcome to join us.
VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED with the St. Paul Fall Rummage Sale which will be held Thursday, Friday, October 5, 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Dollar-A-Bag Day on Saturday, October 7, 9-11 a.m. and clean-up following. Donations will be welcomed through October 3 from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and can be dropped off in Fellowship Hall through the east side entrance. Donations should be clean and in a good state of repair. Help is needed with organization, hosting, and clean-up. To volunteer, please contact someone in the Women's or Men’s Fellowship or by calling the church office (313-291-1221). All proceeds from the rummage sale support church-related projects.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION would like the addresses of all St. Paul UCC college students and High School graduates enrolled in continuing education programs (trade school, skill programs, apprenticeships, etc.). Please forward addresses to Pastor Schalm or to the church office.
Our mission at St. Paul United Church of Christ is to promote God’s plan of salvation in our church, family, and community. Knowing that all blessings come from God, we seek to share these in the church universal and proclaim God’s good news of His love and compassion bringing together all people in Jesus Christ.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY AND FELLOWSHIP
Calendar Week September 10 – September 17
Sunday Worship Service 10:00 a.m. – Pastor Cheryl Schalm
Coffee Hour 9:30 a.m./ Picnic activities 11:00 a.m.
Monday Rummage Sale Set up Begins 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday Search team 5:00 p.m./ Worship Planning 6:00 p.m./ Council 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Exercise 10:30 a.m./ Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. – Rev. John Martin
Kronemann Family Baptism/ Sunday School 10:00/ Coffee Hour 11:00 a.m.
SERVING YOU IN WORSHIP TODAY
Pastor Cheryl Schalm
Tracy Hoffman, Hymn leader
John Joanette, Keyboardist
Conrad Heidt, Deacon