Weekly Bulletin
ST. PAUL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
101 South Perry Street
Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895
Click Here for the On-Line Attendance
Liturgy for Sunday May 15th
Fifth Sunday of Easter
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PASSING THE PEACE
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLES
PRELUDE Sing to the King McDonald and Shackley
Karen Joseph & Martha Hefner
*CALL TO WORSHIP: (From UCC Worship Ways) Liturgist: Linda Bryan
One: Celebrate our God, from the plains to the mountains!
All: Celebrate our God, from the waters and hills.
One: Sing to our God who designed creation.
All: Fill the air with song to the One who painted the world with love.
One: Let us praise our God, the author of grace.
All: Let us worship our God, the composer of joy.
*HYMN #595 “They’ll Know We Are Christians”
♪We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit; we are on in the Lord.
And we Pray that all unity may one day be restored. ♫
Refrain: ♪And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. ♫
♪We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand.
We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand.
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. ♫ Refrain
♪We will work with each other; we will work side by side.
We will work with each other; we will work side by side.
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride. ♫ Refrain
♪All praise to the Father, from whom all things come.
And all praise to Christ Jesus, his only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one. ♫ Refrain
*OPENING PRAYER: (Unison)
Spirit of Joy— God of Awe and Harmony—Basking in your presence, we dance in the knowledge that your presence dwells with us. We were given the great commandment to love one another the way you, the Christ, the Spirit loves us. And yet, the way we love becomes conditional. What events have distorted our view of Divine Love? How can we return to a simple but radical way of loving? Transform our hearts as we work to understand one another, creating an earth which reflects God’s heaven. We celebrate your name, your grace, your love in this space with our siblings. We proclaim our excitement that we, together, can glorify your name through sharing your love. May this minute be the start of a new chapter of our love for you and our love for our neighbors. Amen.
*GLORIA PATRI
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Anthony Brookhart
THE SHARING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Benevolence giving in May: God’s Storehouse
*WE GIVE GLORY TO GOD “Doxology” (Wren) #147
♪Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures high and low.
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one.
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! ♫
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION(Unison) (From UCC Worship Ways)
Loving God, Holy Vessel of Kindness-We glorify you by sharing our gifts of love with this community. We celebrate your presence by caring for your creation. May these offerings today nourish a world craving more love, peace, justice, and hope. Amen.
CHANCEL CHOIR ANTHEM Total Praise Setting by Joel Raney
FIRST GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 8:4-15
4When a large crowd was gathering, as people were coming to him from town after town, he said in a parable: 5“A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed some fell on a path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6Some fell on rock, and as it grew up it withered for lack of moisture. 7Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8Some fell into good soil, and when it grew it produced a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “If you have ears to hear, then hear!” 9Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but to others I speak in parables, so that ‘looking they may not perceive and hearing they may not understand.’ 11“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. 14As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bear fruit with endurance.
SECOND GOSPEL LESSON: John 13:31-35
31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
HYMN #559 “Here I Am, Lord” (Refrain Only— Sung Twice)
♪Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. ♫
SERMON “Plant by Faith” Anthony Brookhart, Pastoral Intern
PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
*HYMN #557 “Pass It On”
♪It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
that’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it;
you spread God’s love to everyone, you want to pass it on. ♫
♪What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding, the birds begin to sing,
the flowers start their blooming; that’s how it is with God’s love,
once you’ve experienced it; you want to sing, it’s fresh like spring, you want to pass it on. ♫
♪I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I’ve found-on god you can depend,
it matters not where you’re bound; I’ll shout it from the mountain top,
I want my world to know; the Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on. ♫
*OUR COMMON CALLING
*BENEDICTION
*BENEDICTION RESPONSE: “He Lives” (Refrain Only – Sing Twice)
♪He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart. ♫
POSTLUDE Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing Richard Unfreid
THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL CHURCH
SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2022
10:15AM Worship Service w/Anthony Brookhart
2-4:00PM Confirmation Class
4:30PM Senior High Youth Meeting
MONDAY, MAY 16th
6:00PM Back Bay Mission Meeting
7:00PM Mission Committee Meeting
TUESDAY, MAY 17th
2-4:00PM Adult Activity Day w/Crafts
5-6:00PM Take Out Tuesday Meal
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18th
6:00PM Summer Lunch Meeting
7:30PM Chancel Choir Practice
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2022
10:15AM Worship Service w/Kevin Gehres
(Conf. Disaster Ministries)
CHURCH NEWS – MAY 15, 2022
NEXT WEEK’S GUEST PASTOR – Next Week’s guest pastor will be Kevin Gehres, Disaster Ministries Coordinator for the Heartland Conference. Please plan to welcome our guest pastor and hear a message designed to help us continue our spiritual growth.
JEWELRY MAKING – Jack Preston will be hosting a jewelry making class on Tuesday, May 17th from 2-4:00PM. Participants will get to make and finish a beautiful necklace. If you are interested, please call the church office so we can reserve your spot. This is part of our Adult Activities Day on Tuesday afternoons.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP – We will be meeting today from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. All Senior High School Youth grades 8-12 are welcome to participate. This month’s activity will be bowling and pizza in St. Mary’s. Transportation will be provided for those who are not able to get to the bowling lanes. Additional details have been sent to all teen’s homes.
CONFIRMATION CLASS – Confirmation Class will be held today from 2PM to 5PM in the High School Youth Room.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LITERGISTS AND CHILDREN SERMONS – Help is needed for pulpit support in the form of liturgists and guest presenters of Children’s Sermons. If anyone is nervous about presenting a Children’s Message, please know that help is available from Mark Vaughn or Anthony Brookhart; these positions are not difficult, but having volunteers serve greatly helps with the planning and leading the worship service. Interested people may contact Mark Vaughn or Anthony Brookhart at the church office 419-738-2215 or contact Cindy Preston at 419-303-0325. Thank you for considering this important need.
ADULT GATHERING CLASS – The Adult Gathering class meets at 9:00 on Sunday morning in the Ritter Room. The group will be using a series of short videos that look at our modern day world from the perspective of Jesus as the basis for their discussion. All are welcome!!!!
CHANCEL CHOIR DIRECTOR – St. Paul UCC in Wapakoneta, Ohio is looking for our next Chancel Choir Director to lead and inspire our dedicated and talented adult choir. Our church has a strong history of outstanding choral, bell and organ music, and we need a new person to join our worship team! The position requires practices on Wednesday evenings, performances at Sunday worship three out of four weeks per month, as well as special services deemed necessary by the music committee throughout the year. Applicants must have experience directing choirs and a degree in music is preferred. Anyone interested should email their resume to office@stpaulucc.com. For more information, please call the church office at (419) 738-2215.
BACK BAY MISSION TRIP MEETING – A reminder that there will be a meeting of all participants attending the Biloxi, MS trip on Monday, May 16th at 6:00PM in the Ritter Room.
CHILDREN INTERESTED IN CAMP – The church has ways to help send you to camp FREE!!!! Experience God’s presence at Templed Hills this summer by going to camp!!! Interested? See Tami Zwez, Coordinator of Lay Ministries for more information.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – Vacation Bible School is just around the corner. It is from June 6th to 10th from 9AM to 12:00 Noon. It is once again to be held at First English Lutheran. Registration forms can be found in the back of the sanctuar
We Support Our Church By Our Prayers
Pete Amstutz
Dan Arnold
Mike Bartlett
Ann Bonito
Ethan Brandt
Betty Brookhart
Connie Claybaugh
Joshua Copeland
Kay Coy
Alicia Cummins
Marsha Elliott
Teagan Elliott
Emil George
Cindy Gillian
Pam Halfhill
Jim Hearn Jr
Family of Ernie &
Marilyn Hengstler
Troy King
Tim Kinstle
Kenda Kohler
Ron Kohler
Rex Lippincott
Lauren Makuh
Gayle Marshall
Wayne McMichael
Jade Miller
Rich Miller
Reyes Nevarez
Carol Presar
Judy Sergent
Doris Sunderland
J J Truesdale
Carol Vaughn
Eileen Werling
Janet Winkler
Members and friends serving in the U.S. military:
Alex Bowersock
Matthew Cox
Brady Erb
Aaron Micah Hibner
Amanda Preston Johnston
Jordon Jurosic
Haley Jean Kill
Valerie Orellana
Scott Presar
Nathan Quellhorst
Morgen Sindelar
Dave Sodders
Douglas Sodders
Jeff Sunday
Daniel Turnbow
Jian Feng Zhao
