UNITED CHURCH 1200 Clark Street, Rapid City, SD 57701

605-342-5787 uccoffice@rushmore.com www.rcfirstucc.com

Guided in Prayer Seventh Sunday of Easter May 17, 2015 John 17:6-19

Invites worshipers to stand in spirit or body as they are able. NCH - Indicates the New Century Hymnal

Welcome and Greetings One: When we gather to pray together, we are reminded

that we are not alone. Jesus prayed for all of his disciples. All: No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s

journey, you are welcome here! Organ Prelude Air W. A. Mozart

Call to Worship One: Good morning, friends and neighbors! Of all the plac-

es you could be on a Sunday morning, why are you here?

All: We come seeking the blessing of the Risen One in community.

One: We come to celebrate the presence of One who knows our hearts and guides our choices.

All: We come to witness to the Risen One at work in our community.

One: The Risen One is at work in us, offering us eternal life:

All: Opening our minds to God’s justice, our hearts to God’s mercy, and our world to the place where God is all in all.

One: Eternal life is starting here, starting now: All: Let us celebrate!

Introit Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise arr. John Behnke

Invocation All: Protector of all, so many of us come this morning

with the weight of the world on our shoulders. We are burdened with our own problems and the prob-lems of the world. Remind us that your prayer is for us to become one, to share each other’s hopes

and burdens, and form a community of love and joy. Open us to your presence in this time and in every time of our lives. Amen.

Procession: Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer NCH 18 Passing the Peace

A Time of Recognition and Thanksgiving for Church School Teachers and Leaders

The Gospel: John 17:6-19 Pew Bible, NT, p. 106

A Time of Sharing with our Children Rev. Susan Huffman

Anthem Holy, Holy, Holy arr. Michael Helman

Meditation: Guided in Prayer Rev. Ted Huffman

Hymn: O Love, How Vast, How Flowing Free NCH 209

Prayers of the People Church Concerns: Strengthen the Church Pat Sutliff Quiet Prayer Pastoral Prayer The Prayer of Our Savior (We use “debts” and “debtors.”) Response Hear Our Prayer, O God Whelpton

Offerings: Invitation Offertory With a Voice of Singing M. Shaw Doxology NCH 780 Prayer of Dedication

Recessional: Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing NCH 77

Benediction

Response Benediction Karen Ross

Postlude Finale-Sixth Symphony C. M. Widor

Worshipers are invited to be seated for the postlude. Invites worshipers to stand in spirit or body as they are able.

This Week’s Events Sunday, May 17 8:00am: Bell Choir Practice 8:30am: Adult Choir Practice 8:30am: Dept. of Ministries 9:30am: Worship; Teacher Rec- ognition; Sunday School Play Day 10:30am: Potluck and Fellowship 3:30pm: Jail Ministry 3:30pm: The Well Service Monday, May 18 9:00am: Sanctuary Clean-up Tuesday, May 19 1:00pm: Craft Day

1:15pm: Spiritual Practices 7:00pm: Church Board Meeting

Wednesday, May 20 9:30am: Good Morning Circle 4:15pm: 1st Congregational Trust 6:00pm: Adult Choir Practice 6:00pm: Stewardship and Budget

6:30pm: Good Evening Circle Friday, May 22 1:00pm: BH Watercolor Group 1:00pm: Stained Glass Project 5:30pm: Blankley/Weyer Wedding Rehearsal Saturday, May 23 9:00am: Woodchuck Splitting 10:00am: Front Porch Group 5:30pm: Blankley/Weyer Wedding Sunday, May 24 9:30am: Worship; Strengthen the Church Offering; Graduate Recognition 10:30am: Fellowship 2:00pm: Eunice Johnson Birthday Reception 3:30pm: The Well Service

News and Events ALTAR FLOWERS The flowers on the Communion Table are given by Ruth Ann Kar-len, Robert Karlen and Car-olynn Bryan, in memory of Rhea Karlen and Beverly Burke. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love en-dures forever!” Psalm 106:1

Last week’s flowers were given by Marilyn Sprang Fransen, in memory of her sister, Carol Sprang Willey. “So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13

PRAYER CONCERNS Please hold the following in your prayers as they battle cancer: Jill Kundtz’s sister-in-law, Mindy; Carol Boyles’ brother , Terry Hammon; Sheila Long’s mother , Debbie Torrey; and Laura Boyd’s brother , John Winder. Our prayers are with the following members, families and friends: Marvin Bitterman; Bill Dittmer; Mavis Iverson; Ida Muree St. Pierre; Robin Franson’s sister , Jo Mayber; Jane Seaton’s daughter, Gail Johnson; Gwyn Wathen’s mother , Cheryl; and Reverend Don Stoebner.

BIRTHDAYS May 10: Gerald Koch Georgia O’Connor Wyatt Trana May 11: Jenna Cruz Sharon Darrow Lily Hamann May 12: Linnea Putnam May 13: Mimi Comley Lois Herndon May 15: Lisa Lyons May 16: Merrick Fisher May 18: Loretta Davis May 21: Oona Evans, Lia Green May 23: John Arneson Terry Whiting May 24: Gordon Magnusson

TEACHER RECOGNITION Thank you to all our leaders for the gift of time, devotion, and love you have given to our children and youth this year! The Sunday School teachers being recognized today are Pandi Bollock, Sharon Darrow, Becky Fleming, Lynn Grauman, Patti Rea, and Jenny Seals. Youth group assistants include Courtney Strampe, Nick Strampe and Ryan Webster.

SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC The potluck and day of celebration of a great Sunday School year is finally here! We will have plenty of food, so please stay and show our children and youth how im-portant they are to our congrega-tion and to say thank you to all the wonderful teachers and leaders!

LIBRARY NEWS The Book Club Readers’ Awards

are given this week to Elsa Grau-man, Elyse Seals, and Carter Seals. Congratulations to our readers. There will be no Readers’ Corner today due to the potluck.

BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE Thank you for supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake. The youth will accept donations for one more week. If you would like to make a donation, please see Susan Huffman.

LOVE INC - CLOTHE-A-KID Love INC’s Clothe-a-Kid program helps parents make their dollars stretch so that their children, ages 5-14, can have new clothes for school next fall. Please sign-up following worship today.

CRAFT GROUP PET BEDS The Craft Group has been making pet beds. They are made from brand new, clean scraps left over from our quilting projects and are located in Fellowship Hall. We would like you to take a bed if you need one. If you wish to make a donation for the bed, the money will go to the church roofing pro-ject. If you want a bed and they are all gone, please let us know and we will make more. Thank you.

GUEST SPEAKER Janet Rathbun, the great-grand-niece of Rev. Joseph Ward, the founder of Yankton College, will speak at Good Morning Circle on Wednesday, May 20 at 9:30am. Everyone is welcome.

News and Events BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION The family of Eunice Johnson and the Good Morning Circle invite everyone to an open house recep-tion for Eunice’s 85th birthday on Sunday, May 24 from 2:00-4:00pm in Fellowship Hall.

4TH TUES. LADIES LUNCH Due to the Memorial Day holiday, the 4th Tuesday Ladies Lunch group will not meet in May. Also, the group will not meet during the summer. Their next gathering will be on the fourth Tuesday in Sep-tember. Thank you!

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS Three music scholarships are now available. Further details and ap-plication forms can be found online at www.rcfirstucc.com or at the church office. Applications must be received in the church office by May 31, 2015.

PLACERVILLE CAMPS Summer will be here before we know it, so it’s time to register for summer camp! Remember, First Congregational Church pays half of camp fees. Information is posted on the church bulletin board. Find further details and register at placervillecamp.net.

CORNERSTONE MISSION The Cornerstone Rescue Mission recently announced a critical shortage of coffee there. The mes-sage read, "Many of our guests substitute coffee for previous ad-

dictions, and coffee is a much bet-ter choice." The Department of Ministries invites you to donate coffee, sugar or creamer. Please place these items in the grocery cart located in the Narthex, and they will be delivered to Corner-stone.

CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to Carol and Lee Boyles on the bir th of their new granddaughter, Parker Nancy Boyles.

THANK YOU Dear Church Family, Thank you all so very much for the healing prayers and get well wish-es. Thank you, too, for offering Clair good wishes when caring for an impatient patient. Thanks to you I am healing and ready to get back to “normal.” It is wonderful to have so many caring people sur-rounding us. Clair and Sue Maynard

CHURCH RESPONSE Thank you for participating in our food certificate program. When you purchase food certificates, you automatically donate to your church and to Church Response without spending any extra for your groceries. Church Response uses the money you donate to buy food for our pantry. Last year, you helped us provide 19,524 bags of food to feed fami-lies in our community!

Seventh Sunday of Easter May 17, 2015 John 17:6-19

Guided in Prayer

Fighting Disease The Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa not only stole lives, it also stole any sense of security and well-being for those who lived day to day in fear of contracting the disease. The United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries lent its support to combat the spread of the disease by providing funds for protective equip-ment, education, and sanitation.

"The Ebola outbreak has been extremely difficult to contain and many of the West African governments and facilities are ill-equipped to deal with such a widespread outbreak," said Zach Wolgemuth, executive for Disaster Ministries. "It has been im-portant for the UCC to engage as much as possible, as we have direct connections and relationships with several partners working in the region who are focused on educating the public and preven-tative measures aimed at stopping the spread of the virus.” Early emphasis in preventing the spread of Ebola was placed in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia—the areas hardest hit by the deadly vi-rus. Disaster Ministries sent $12,000 in a two month time span—funds donated through One Great Hour of Sharing and distributed through organizations such as the Council of Churches and ACT Alliance, a global alliance of churches and organizations dedicat-ed to humanitarian assistance.

"I would encourage individuals to continue to keep our West Af-rican sisters and brothers in your prayers," Wolgemuth said. "This is going to be a long fight against this virus and funding will con-tinue to be a need."

UNITED CHURCH 1200 Clark Street, Rapid City, SD 57701 605-342-5787 uccoffice@rushmore.com

www.rcfirstucc.com

Our Church Family and Friends Cam Miller, guestbook and nametags

Bernadette Lambert and Shirley Sackman, greeters Usher Team 3

Landon and Parker Bartling, acolytes Andy Knight, liturgist

The Bell Choir The Adult Choir, Stephen Branch, director

Monty Bollock and Charlie Rea, coffee hosts The Department of Education, potluck hosts

Becky and Randy Fisher, dishwashers

Church Staff

Rev. Dr. Ted E. Huffman Pastor and Teacher

Rev. Susan R. Huffman Pastor and Teacher

Rev. Kathleen Batchelder Pastor and Teacher Denise Webster

Treasurer Julie Burton & Laura Switzer Administrative Colleagues

Michael Bossen Bell Choir Director

Michael Ross Organist

Becky Umenthum Interim Adult Choir Director

Gerry Boehrs Moderator

Rev. Dr. Henry Bradshaw Pastor Emeritus Lynnell Parrott Organist Emerita

Jack Humke, Doris Marie Strom

Choir Directors Emeriti

Thanks to: