January 30, 2022 Worship

 PIONEER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Worship via Blog     Fourth Sunday after Epiphany    January 30, 2022

 WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome to Pioneer’s blog worship service. Though we are accessing this remotely and unable to look each other in the eye, we are still the Pioneer faith community, gathered as children of God to worship, to be spiritually fed, and to be equipped to go out to serve in Christ’s name—though we do it differently during this pandemic.

 

Pioneer offers worship in several modes:

a)    The blog.

b)   The blog service mailed through US Postal service.

c)    Sermons only, mailed to those who so request.

d)   Zoom services at 10:00 Sunday mornings.

e)    Live worship with masks and social distancing has plenty of room for additional worshipers.

 

-         Women’s Spirituality meets Tuesday at 10:30

 

Now allow yourself a brief time of silence as you open your hearts and feel God’s presence with you, right where you are.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BAPTISM:         Friends, remember your baptism … and be thankful.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

  A word of encouragement came from prophet to people;

              Live a life that is full – build, plant, eat, love, multiply-

       Pray for your communities

                Keep God in the center of all that is.

  We enter into worship today with hope in our hearts

              For something happens here that reminds us that we can live as God desires

   God has made a promise of faithfulness to us

                 And we can trust the promise. 

 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Lord Jesus, thank you for making the perfect plan for our lives; plans for good and not for harm.  Thank you for protecting us while we are led in the way we should go.  We may not always understand why things are the way they are or where exactly we are headed, but we trust you.  We thank you for your master plan.  Help us today to discern your call and direction.  Give us the courage and strength to obey your commands.  Your way is the best way, Lord, and we vow to follow you.  In your good and holy name we pray, Amen 

 

OPENING HYMN:     “We Are the Family of God”                     LU #16

                                    "In The Bulb There is a Flower"                LU #88

                                  

         

CALL TO CONFESSION

The act of confessing our sin is not simply a recitation of our faults and wrongs, but also an opportunity to receive God’s mercy and share in that abundant grace.  Confident of God’s love for us, let us offer our prayers. 

 

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Dear Heavenly Father, we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours.  Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to you.  For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength.  Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to you in our world. Remind us to be who you would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with.  Hold us closes to you and build our relationship with you and with those you have given us on earth. Amen 

PASSING THE PEACE

          May the peace of Christ be with you.

                   And also with you.

Let us extend the peace of Christ in heart and prayer to one another.

 

GLORY BE TO THE FATHER

 

1^st SCRIPTURE READING:  Philippians 4: 4-13                        Page #1024

          2^nd SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 29: 4-7, 11-14a               Page #676

 

SERMON                          "Look For The Flowers"         Sheila Cunningham

 

HYMN:                             “I Will Come to You”                         Glory   #177

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

O great and tender God. You have provided in your carefully crafted plan a path to eternal life, a way to endless love, a means to renewing forgiveness.  But we don’t always see the path.  Sometimes the way is foggy, sometimes we have trouble choosing the right fork in the road.  At times the side streets distract us, and we become lost.  Sometimes the road is just plain washed out and we get bogged down in the muck of life. It’s in those times that you always have a way to find us, a way to rescue us.  For those times we give you thanks. We give you thanks for the comfort and coziness of our homes, and we thank you for the family and friends who fill these homes with love and laughter.  Lord, we have so much to be thankful for.  Help us to come to you in gratitude and humbleness for all these blessings.

 

In our humbleness may we never forget those who find it hard to be grateful.  Those who have suffered from natural disasters, those who are experiencing loss – loss of employment, loss of dreams, loss of relationships, loss of direction.  Those who struggle with addiction.  Those who live in the shadow of fear.  Those who feel alone, scared, cold, beaten down.  And Lord, we all have those feelings at one time or another.  Bless us and all those around us near and far who stumble and fall.  Bring us upright again with you.

 

Lord, we bring to you those in our church family who are hurting.  Please lay your hand of comfort and peace on ___________________________ (please include names on the back of the bulletin.)

 

Are there additional prayers of joys and concerns that you would like to share?

Let us pray together the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray: Our Father… 

OFFERING

Let us bring before God the gifts of our hearts and labors. 

 

DOXOLOGY

 

PRAYER OF THANKS AND DEDICATION

You have blessed us generously in our lives.  These gifts are a token of those blessings.  As we dedicate our monetary gifts, may we also dedicate our lives to spreading your love and compassion to all your children.  Amen 

 

CLOSING HYMN:             “God Be with You Till We Meet Again”              Glory #541

 

BENEDICTION

         So where do we go from here?  We go forward, knowing that we don’t go alone.  God goes with us and provides support through our church family, remember, we are the family of God.   Be there for each other, cry on each other’s shoulders, share memories, laugh, play games – competitively, remember all that Jean has taught us.  I found a list that Jean had written that she titled: I Want to Live My Life Well and then went on to list what that means to her.  Her list included: live without fear, live in love, live generously, live honestly, and live trusting God, among other things.  May we strive to live our lives that way as well. Jean was a great example of what it means when we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Now, go in peace and may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit go with you.

 

CHORAL RESPONSE

May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever. Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor. Lift up your eyes and see his face and his grace forever. May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

LOOKING AHEAD

Today following service: Deacons will meet

 

 

PRAYER CARE:

Tina Bossuot (Alzheimer’s), Verna’s sisters (Covid recovery), (one passed away), Mary and Ray Swarthout, Sandy Cargill (breast cancer), Somer Bauer (breast cancer), Tasha Sizemore (Crohn’s), Jacob Cunningham, Trisha Cagley (health problems), Dave Clark’s family (Dave passed away), Virginia DesIlets (age 100!), Margaret Dunbar (Ashley Manor), George and Joyce Sahlberg (health issues), Darlene Wingfield (pulmonary fibrosis, breast cancer), Courtney Ziegler (Huntington’s).

 

 

LECTIONARY FOR 2/6/22

Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13); Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

January 23, 2022 Worship

 PIONEER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Worship via Blog       Third Sunday after Epiphany      January 23, 2022

 

 WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome to Pioneer’s blog worship service. Though we are accessing this remotely and unable to look each other in the eye, we are still the Pioneer faith community, gathered as children of God to worship, to be spiritually fed, and to be equipped to go out to serve in Christ’s name—though we do it differently during this pandemic.

 

Pioneer offers worship in several modes:

a)    The blog.

b)   The blog service mailed through US Postal service.

c)    Sermons only, mailed to those who so request.

d)   Zoom services at 10:00 Sunday mornings.

e)    Live worship with masks and social distancing has plenty of room for additional worshipers.

 

-         Deacons meet following worship

-         PPW lunch meeting Tuesday at noon

-         Men’s Prayer Group meets Thursday at 8:30

 

Now allow yourself a brief time of silence as you open your hearts and feel God’s presence with you, right where you are.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BAPTISM:         Friends, remember your baptism … and be thankful.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Let the ears of all people be attentive:

the heavens are telling the glory of God.

Everything around us proclaims God’s handiwork.

Let us bow down and worship our Creator.

Day and night, God is at work among us.

We are drawn together into one body, the church.

As we commune with God, we know we need one another.

Let us honor the good to be found in all people.

Hear once again the laws and commandments.

Find them sure and right and true for all.

We weep and mourn our lack of faithfulness.

We seek true community in which all are honored.

 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

On this holy day, we come together to make sense of our lives. We look to your Word, O God, as a source of understanding. Revive our souls that our hearts may rejoice in your presence. Cleanse and enlighten us with your truth. Liberate us from self-imposed limitations. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

 

OPENING HYMN:     “Thy Word”                                              LU#85

                   

                        

CALL TO CONFESSION

Who can discern their own errors? Are we innocent of great transgression? Are there hidden faults of which we are unaware? Do we seek to dissociate ourselves from part of the human race, our sisters and brothers? Let us examine ourselves that we may be open to the leading of the Spirit.

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Sometimes, God, we do not know what to confess. We seek to keep your law, but the right course is not always clear. We want to follow your direction, but it is hard to discern what is true. Sometimes it is difficult to care about people whose values are different from ours. How can we be one with those who do not share our beliefs? At times, our own faith is shaken--our faith in ourselves and our faith in you. We need your help, God, so our sins will not have dominion over us.  (continue with personal prayers………..) Amen.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.

          The old life has gone; the new life has begun.

Friends, believe the Good News!

          In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and restored to new life!

 

PASSING THE PEACE

          May the peace of Christ be with you.

                   And also with you.

Let us extend the peace of Christ in heart and prayer to one another.

 

GLORY BE TO THE FATHER

 

SCRIPTURE 1: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single organ, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

 

SCRIPTURE 2:  Luke 4:14-21

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

 

SERMON                              Rev. Jean Hurst

 

 

 

HYMN:     “Here I Am Lord”                                             Glory #69

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

          Compassionate and loving God, we thank you that you are faithful. No matter how we might wander from you, even when we let other things in our lives become more important than you, even though we lose our sense of purpose and hope, you are there. You redeem us, you renew us, you give your breath to us again and again. With you we have new life, new hope.

          Lord we open our hearts to you. Touch the dry places, pour over them the living waters, bring new growth, fresh beginnings. Take our fears, our disappointments, our losses and fill those places with your peace.

          We know we are not alone in our struggles. Each of us carries his or her own burden. So we pray for each other. We ask that you would guide us as we try to help and encourage one another.

          We remember, too, those who are homeless, those who live in poverty and want, those who suffer from war and oppression and disease and disaster. Watch over them, provide for their needs, tender God, and grant peace for their lives.

          We bring to you those of our church and community who need your healing and peace:

We pray in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray: 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.

 

CALL TO OFFERING

We are part of the body of Christ which extends around the world. Together, we form a caring community, united in spite of many differences in appearance, understanding and function. If others are suffering, we, too, will suffer. When we have the ability to help, it is a joy to do so. May our offerings preach good news, proclaim liberty, and recover among us all the ability to see and hear and respond.

 

DOXOLOGY

 

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

In the spirit of Christ, we give our best for the world. We share what you have allowed us to use and give thanks for the joy of helping others. Through these gifts we seek to proclaim the good news of Jesus. In all we do, we seek to serve you by sharing your love. Amen.

 

CLOSING HYMN:  “Live into Hope”                               Glory #772

 

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

          When Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah and proclaimed his call, he listed several things: good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, liberty for the oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." I challenge you to pick just one this week and focus on doing that.

          As you do the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is with you now and always. Amen.

 

CHORAL RESPONSE

May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever. Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor. Lift up your eyes and see his face and his grace forever. May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

LOOKING AHEAD

January 25: Thursday, at noon:  1st PPW Luncheon Meeting of the year!  Please join us downstairs and bring a Valentine to be sent to our shut-ins and those at a distance. 

January 30: Sunday, following service: Deacons will meet

 

 

PRAYER CARE:

 

Linda Kaesemeyer (multiple health issues), Tina Bossuot (Alzheimer’s), Verna’s sisters (Covid recovery), (one passed away), Mary and Ray Swarthout, Sandy Cargill (breast cancer), Somer Bauer (breast cancer), Tasha Sizemore (Crohn’s), Jacob Cunningham, Trisha Cagley (health problems), Dave Clark (recovery from brain surgery, kidney cancer), Virginia DesIlets (age 100!), Margaret Dunbar (Ashley Manor), George and Joyce Sahlberg (health issues), Darlene Wingfield (pulmonary fibrosis, breast cancer), Courtney Ziegler (Huntington’s).

 

 

LECTIONARY FOR 1/30/22

Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30

 

 

 

January 16, 2022 Worship

 PIONEER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Worship via Blog    Second Sunday After Epiphany     January 16, 2022

 

 WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome to Pioneer’s blog worship service. Though we are accessing this remotely and unable to look each other in the eye, we are still the Pioneer faith community, gathered as children of God to worship, to be spiritually fed, and to be equipped to go out to serve in Christ’s name—though we do it differently during this pandemic.

 

Pioneer offers worship in several modes:

a)    The blog.

b)   The blog service mailed through US Postal service.

c)    Sermons only, mailed to those who so request.

d)   Zoom services at 10:00 Sunday mornings.

e)    Live worship with masks and social distancing has plenty of room for additional worshipers.

 

-         Worship & Music meets following worship

-         Women’s Spirituality meets Tuesday at 10:30

-         Deacons meet next Sunday following worship

 

Now allow yourself a brief time of silence as you open your hearts and feel God’s presence with you, right where you are.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BAPTISM:         Friends, remember your baptism … and be thankful.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

With steadfast love, God calls our names.

Come to find refuge in the shelter of God’s ways.

We long to be recognized and affirmed.

We are eager for a place of shelter and security.

Feast on the abundance of God’s house.

Come to drink deeply from the fountain of life.

We are ready to hear the Word of God.

We want to be guided by eternal truth.

Reach out to claim the gifts God pours out on us.

The Spirit is eager to inspire and empower each one.

When God calls us, we cannot remain silent.

When Christ is real to us, we accept our discipleship.

 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

How awesome it is that you care for us, God of all life! Your delight in us brings out our best. When you rejoice in us, we come to believe in our capacity for goodness. When your light and salvation dawn in our lives, we want to share the joy. Remind us now of the gifts you so freely bestow. Help us to recognize them in ourselves and in one another, that we may use them to serve people in need and give glory to your name. Amen.

 

OPENING HYMN:     “God the Creator”                                  LU #27

           

                                

CALL TO CONFESSION

Despite our best intentions, there is much in life that separates us from God. We find ourselves living for things and being ruled by our appetites. Our possessions become for us dumb idols that keep us from taking risks and making sacrifices of faithfulness.

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 God, we confess that we have moved away from our commitment to Christ. We have denied your gifts, ignored your inspiration, and wandered from your healing presence. Yet we cannot escape your claim on us, for wherever we go, you are there. How precious is your steadfast love that saves us from our selfish desires to live for higher values! Strengthen us to do as you tell us, as Christ demonstrated among us. (continue with personal prayers………..) Amen.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.

          The old life has gone; the new life has begun.

Friends, believe the Good News!

          In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and restored to new life!

 

PASSING THE PEACE

          May the peace of Christ be with you.

                   And also with you.

Let us extend the peace of Christ in heart and prayer to one another.

 

GLORY BE TO THE FATHER

 

SCRIPTURE 1: Psalm 36:5-10

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!

 

SCRIPTURE 2:  John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

 

SERMON                              Rev. Jean Hurst

 

HYMN:     “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”                        Glory #32

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

          God who delights in our laughter, thank you for all you bring into our lives that brings us joy. Thank you for the unexpected ways that you answer prayer and satisfy our hearts’ desires. Open our eyes to see and our hearts to know the many ways you are active in our lives. Lord in your grace …. hear our prayers.

          So often, we doubt not only your willingness to answer our prayers, but we doubt your very presence in our lives. There are times we pray and we feel nothing. We think that you have abandoned us or that we have lost our faith. Walk with us through those lonely times, O Lord. Grant us strength to persevere and help us to hold onto our trust in you. God in your grace … hear our prayers.

          We pray for our community, our families, our friends. We ask on their behalf for your loving presence and your healing touch, for guidance and assistance according to each one’s needs. We lift up ……….    God in your grace … hear our prayers.

          We pray for peace in the world, for wisdom for world leaders, for justice for all your people. Bring comfort and healing and security for your people who suffer. Let your light shine into the darkened hearts of your children who have forgotten who you are and who you call them to be. Guide us and use us as instruments of your work in the world. God in your grace … hear our prayers.

          These prayers, those still within our hearts, those prayers uttered long ago that seem as yet unanswered, we trust to your care and mercy. Together we pray as Jesus taught his disciples:

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.

 

CALL TO OFFERING

What will we give in gratitude for God’s forgiveness and healing grace? Who can repay the many gifts we have received with the miracle of life? Let us rejoice in the mission God entrusts to us.

 

DOXOLOGY

 

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

God of our baptism, whose Holy Spirit fires our imagination and fills our lives with purpose, we rejoice to commit ourselves anew with our gifts. May what we share strengthen your children spiritually, inspiring each person to invest fully in the work you set before us. The varieties of gifts you entrust to us can be realized only if they are used. Thank you for granting us this joy. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN:  “Praise Ye the Lord”                             Glory #633

 

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

          Jesus wants us to live lives of joy, to have abundant life, to experience the generosity of God. So during this next week, challenge yourself to discover the many ways God is putting an abundant life in your path.

          As you do the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is with you now and always. Amen.

 

CHORAL RESPONSE

May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever. Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor. Lift up your eyes and see his face and his grace forever. May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

LOOKING AHEAD

 

PRAYER CARE:

 Linda Kaesemeyer (multiple health issues), Tina Bossuot (Alzheimer’s), Verna’s sisters (Covid recovery),(one who passed away), Mary and Ray Swarthout, Sandy Cargill (breast cancer), Somer Bauer (breast cancer), Tasha Sizemore (Crohn’s), Jacob Cunningham, Trisha Cagley (health problems), Dave Clark (recovery from brain surgery, kidney cancer), Virginia DesIlets (age 100!), Margaret Dunbar (Ashley Manor), George and Joyce Sahlberg (health issues), Chuck VanHise (leg/walking rehab), Darlene Wingfield (pulmonary fibrosis, breast cancer), Courtney Ziegler (Huntington’s), and the passing of Pastor Jean Hurst).

LECTIONARY FOR 1/23/22

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a;

Luke 4:14-21