S U N D A Y • J U N E 6 , 2 0 2 1S E C O N D S U N D A Y A F T E R P E N T E C O S T

Masks should be worn by persons >5 years of age. Please practice physical distancing.Ushers will not collect offerings. Instead, you may place yourofferings in the baskets located in the Tower Room and Narthex.Children should sit with their parents in the pews. Children may getactivities from the Prayground and then return to the pews.At the conclusion of worship, attendees should exit the sanctuarypromptly to avoid prolonged, close contact.Social hour following worship will be held without coffee or food onthe Garth, weather permitting. Masks should be worn.

Restrooms are located down the hall on the main floor.

All Gender Restrooms are located at the back of the sanctuary and downstairs in the Fellowship Hall (which is accessible).

Changing tables are located in the Nursery on the main floor

and at the back of the sanctuary.

*An asterisk is an invitation to rise, in body or spirit.Bolded text is an invitation for the congregation to read or sing

in unison. Masks must be worn while speaking or singing.

For everyone's health and safety:

First Congregational Church of St. LouisUnited Church of Christ

An Open & Affirming Congregation

Welcome!

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

Bells Calling to Worship

Welcome & Announcements Ann Kittlaus

Prelude "This is the Day" Mark Hayes Text from Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made, and I will be exceeding glad!This is the day the Lord has made, and I will sing my Maker’s praise!This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and give God praise!

Who is like unto our God the Lord, strong and mighty?Who is like unto our God who reigns above in glorious splendor?

You are the Rose of Sharon, the Lover of my Soul.You are my heart’s Desire;

My soul implores me to exalt your holy name.Your name is music unto my ears;

And I must sing of the great love you’ve shown to me;Because my heart will not be still.

*Call to Worship

Leader: Let us lift up the name of our God!People: Let us praise the faithfulness of the Lord!Leader: For just as the Lord's greatness fills the heavens,People: The Lord's love embraces the earth,Leader: Preserving our life in the midst of trouble.People: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God!

Prayers of the People The Prayer of Our Savior Our Mother, 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom, and the power,and the glory forever. Amen.

Worship June 6, 2021

*Opening Hymns "For All the Children" Text and music by David Lohman

God, we gather as your people to raise our song above,and we dare to claim the promise of Your love.Though the day may not yet be here, we trust it soon will bewhen your children will be free.

RefrainOh, may our hearts and minds be opened,fling the church doors open wide.May there be room enough for everyone inside.For in God there is a welcome, in God we all belong.May that welcome be our song.

God, we're working for the future when children far and widecan live their lives with dignity and pride.As they grow in strength and stature, may they join us hand in hand,as against all hate we stand. Refrain "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" Text by Thomas O. Chilshold

Music by William Marion RunyanGreat is thy faithfulness, O God Creator.There is no shadow of turning with thee.Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not.As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see.All I have needed thy hand hath provided.Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

(Continued on the next page)

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,join with all nature in manifold witnessto thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow;blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain

"Doxology" Text by Thomas Ken, music from the Genevan Psalter 1542

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, all creatures here below;Praise God for all that love has done;Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.

Scripture Mark 3:20-35 (The Passion Translation) Then Jesus went home, but once again a large crowd gathered aroundhim, which prevented him from even eating a meal. When his ownfamily heard that he was there, they went out to seize him, for theysaid, “He’s insane!” The religious scholars who arrived fromJerusalem were saying, “Satan has possessed him! He casts outdemons by the authority of the prince of demons!” Jesus called themto himself and spoke to them using parables. “How can Satan cast outSatan? No kingdom can endure if it is divided against itself, and afragmented household will not be able to stand, for it is divided. And if Satan fights against himself he will not endure, and his endhas come.” Jesus said to them, “Listen. No one is able to break into amighty man’s house and steal his property unless he first overpowers the mighty man and ties him up. Then his entire house can beplundered and his possessions taken. I tell you this timeless truth: Allsin will be forgiven, even all the blasphemies that are spoken. Butthere can never be forgiveness for the one who blasphemes againstthe Holy Spirit, for he is guilty of an eternal sin!” (This is because they said he was empowered by a demon spirit.)

Then Jesus’ mother and his brothers came and stood outside and sent a message to him, asking that he come out and speakwith them. When the crowd sitting around Jesus heard this, they spoke up, and said to him, “Jesus, your mother andbrothers are outside looking for you.”He answered them, “Who is my true mother and my truebrothers?” Then looking in the eyes of those who were sitting ina circle around him, he said, “Here are my true family members.For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and my mother!”

Sermon Dr. Sarah Bereza, Hannah Rice,Emily Stokes, Rev. Mia White

Passing of the Peace

Communion

Holy Communion Invitation

Prayer of Communion

Prepare for your meal. Open the foil of your communion set (both wafer and juice).

Words of InstitutionThe night before Jesus died was a solemn time around the table.Breaking bread. Drinking from the cup. Jesus asking to remember him in our eating and drinking.There was a time to mourn followed by a time to dance.After the day of resurrection The disciples ate on the beach with the risen ChristCelebrating new life, new hope, new vitality.On this Second Sunday after Pentecost, as we come to the table,Let us celebrate the Spirit of ResurrectionAnd the promise of a needed second-wind in our own lives.Let us partake of this celebratory meal together.This is the body of Christ broken for you, take and eat.This is the new covenant of life, take and drink.

Unison Prayer of Thanksgiving Spirit of God, who fed the multitudes, provided the manna in the wilderness, and blessed the elements, we give great thanks for the meal eaten and the company surrounding us. Inspire us as we move forward this day and encourage us to transform our dreams into reality. Amen.

*Hymn "Christ Has Broken Down the Wall" Text and Music by Mark A. Miller

Christ has broken down the wall. Christ has broken down the wall.Let us join our hearts as one. Christ has broken down the wall. We’re accepted as we are. We’re accepted as we are.Through God’s love all is reconciled. We’re accepted as we are. Cast aside your doubts and fears. Cast aside your doubts and fears.Peace and love, freely offered here. Cast aside your doubts and fears. We will tear down the walls! We will tear down every wall!God has called us, one and all. Christ has broken down the wall.

Blessing

Postlude "Toccata in E Minor" Johann Pachelbel

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license # A-720972

Communion liturgy from https://michelletorigian.com/2017/06/01/a-communion-liturgy-for-pentecost/

314.721.5060 | 6501 Wydown Blvd. St. Louis MO 63105office@firstcongregational.org | www.firstcongregational.org

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This morning's ushers: Karen Smethers, Vicky Stringer, Roger Weems

Music Ministry: Dan Brodsky, Mary Brown, Greg Finch, Megan Glass, James Haessig, Carol Klein,

Scott Meidroth, Sheila Merrell, David Piston, Leila Sadat, Aiden Smith

Liturgist: Ann Kittlaus

Our Ministry Team:

Dr. Sarah Bereza, Minister of Music (sbereza@firstcongregational.org)

Anne Chao, Preschool Director (anne@firstcongregationalpreschool.org)

Mehran Moslehikhah, Maintenance

Hannah Rice, Minister of Administration and Membership(hrice@firstcongregational.org)

Emily Stokes, Minister of Children & Families (estokes@firstcongregational.org)

Rev. Mia White, Senior Minister (revmia@firstcongregational.org)