We are a community where:

Faith and reason meet, where spirits and minds

are nurtured, and questions are welcomed and encouraged.

Justice and peace are practiced, as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus,

and touch the hurting and the oppressed

with God’s healing love, so we can bring dignity, equality,

and harmony to our broken world.

Every person and every gift matters, as all participate and support one another in love

and friendship.

Our Vision:

To be a beacon of faith, compassion and justice for St. Louis,

the wider faith community, and beyond.

Our Mission:

To know God’s word, do God’s work,

and live God’s love.

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here.

An Open and Affirming Congregation 6501 Wydown Blvd, St Louis, MO

63105 • 314.721.5060 www.firstcongregational.org

Facebook: http://facebook.com/firstcongregationalucc

We are a community where:

Faith and reason meet, where spirits and minds

are nurtured, and questions are welcomed and encouraged.

Justice and peace are practiced, as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus,

and touch the hurting and the oppressed

with God’s healing love, so we can bring dignity, equality,

and harmony to our broken world.

Every person and every gift matters, as all participate and support one another in love

and friendship.

Our Vision:

To be a beacon of faith, compassion and justice for St. Louis,

the wider faith community, and beyond.

Our Mission:

To know God’s word, do God’s work,

and live God’s love.

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here.

An Open and Affirming Congregation 6501 Wydown Blvd, St Louis, MO

63105 • 314.721.5060 www.firstcongregational.org

Facebook: http://facebook.com/firstcongregationalucc

Mother’s Day

Sixth Sunday of Easter

10:30am

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An Open and Affirming Congregation

A warm welcome to all, especially those who are worshipping with us for the first time or who have returned after a long absence.

As we gather this morning, please spend a moment in prayer for those around you,

outside our walls and far away.

* - An asterisk is an invitation to rise (in body or in spirit). Bolded text is an invitation for the congregation to read in unison.

A time of quiet begins, inviting us into quiet reflection as we prepare for worship.

“I’ve Got Peace Like a River” arr. Linda R. Lamb Handbell Choir

Joe Rezny A time for the community to share news of our ministries.

“Rain Down Your Love” Jaime Cortez The choir leads us into worship with sacred song.

Valerie Jackson Mary Kemen, adapted

One: Today is Mother’s Day. The modern celebration of Mother’s Day began with

Ann Marie Jarvis who founded ‘Mother’s Day Work Clubs’ after the Civil War. The Clubs worked to bring healing to all. In the spirit of that care and healing let us pray… One: Mothering God, Source of all living things, Many: You knit us together in our mothers’ wombs One: You breathed the breath of your life into us.

Many: We are your likeness. One: Mothering God, Source of all living things, Many: Cradled in your arms, we are safe. One: Thank you for your gift of life Many: and for those who have borne us and nurtured us in it. One: Thank you for your gift of healing Many: teach us to bring healing and kindness to one another. One: Help us to remember our sacredness as your children. Many: Enfold us again in your holy presence as we gather to you once more.

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“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.” - Stevie Wonder “My doctors told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother.” - Wilma Rudolph “My mother never gave up on me. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back.” - Denzel Washington “Yes, Mother. I can see you are flawed. You have not hidden it. That is your greatest gift to me.” - Alice Walker “To nourish children and raise them against odds is any time, any place, more valuable than to fix bolts in cars or design nuclear weapons.” - Marilyn French “Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown. In my heart it don't mean a thing.” - Toni Morrison “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.” - Maya Angelou

“God Made from One Blood” 427 ST. DENIO

Valerie Jackson Kate McIlhagga

Come, Mother God, come as an enfolding nurturing presence, come as steadfast love to hold us.

Come, Mother God, come as an enabling strengthening force, come as tough love to let us go.

Come, Mother God, come as friend and comforter healing our wounds, walking our way, come as wounded healer to make us whole.

Valerie Jackson G. Vosper, adapted One: In caring for one another

All: May we be untiring. One: In sheltering one another All: May we be strong. One: In holding one another All: May we be tender. One: In greeting one another All: May we remember we are greeting the face of Christ. One: Let us share the sacred peace of Christ with one another.

H. Ronald Hall

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“God Bless Families” Natalie Sleeth Choristers

God bless families everywhere,

Thoughtful people who truly care. Kind and giving in all they do,

They let the love shine through! God bless families great and small, Fathers, mothers and children all,

Daily offering thanks anew, They let the love shine through!

Joy or sorrowing, come what may, Faithful families find the way,

Help the ones who would go astray, Bring the kingdom day by day, God bless families far and near,

Homes of happiness, hearts of cheer, Like the family Jesus knew.

They let the love shine through! God bless families old, God bless families new,

Made of people like me and you!

Hannah Rice Hill Children are invited to come forward and sit on the chancel steps.

from the Sarum Primer, 1538, adapted God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in my eyes, and in my seeing; God be in my ears, and in my listening; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my mind, and in my thinking; God be in my heart, and in my loving. Amen.

“Halle Halle Halle” Caribbean Melody arr. Marty Haugen

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John 15:9-17 (NRSV) As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

The Rev Dr. Heather Arcovitch

“All People That on Earth Do Dwell” (vv 1 & 2) 7 OLD HUNDREDTH

Prayers of the People and Silent Meditation

(unison) 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.

“A Choral Amen” John Rutter

PLEASE HOLD IN PRAYER Anne & Bill Chao and their family, on the birth of their grandson, Henry Robert Chao Jon Tiede, who lost his father Russell Tiede last week Mike & Marty Mallett, for Mike’s uncle Fred Corl Sierra, as they do further tests for a bone tumor Stephen Gaioni’s brother, who was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer Rev. Lou Ellen Hartley, as she discerns her next “call” Ron Brooks, with love & thanks for almost 30 years as our beloved custodian at FCC Bonnie Wilcox, who recently had surgery All who loved Don Brodersen, Cindy Brodersen’s brother-in-law College students graduating this month and searching for jobs Those with dementia and their caregivers Chuck Hansen Jim & Judy Headley Renee Eligio Lois Alexander Mary Crow George Frattarelli, Sr. Nancy Galofre Andrew Lewis Tevis Mellish Teresa Neil Ryan Alan Siegerist The Vance Family Dianna Walters Barbara Marilyn Patrick Barr …and their caregivers & loved ones. Our Associate Search Committee Our Conference Minister Search Committee African American youth & families First responders & their families Communities, elected leaders, clergy, organizers, and citizens working to build healing solutions for all. All persecuted for their religion. Those throughout the world who misuse religion as an excuse to terrorize. The people and leaders of Jordan, the Ukraine, Syria, Palestine, Israel, France, Nepal, Baltimore, the US, and all living in violent, uncertain times.

New additions are in bold. To add your prayer, please submit a pew prayer

card to an usher or call the church office.

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Our offering is not only the amount we put in today’s plate, but a reflection of our whole living & spending plan. The offerings we make represent our vision as a congregation– where we want to go and where we place our priorities. Our giving is an important part of our spiritual relationship with God, and yet, we must never allow what we place in the plate to keep us from worship. We offer all we do to God with thanks for all God gives to us.

“My Song Shall Be Always of the Loving-Kindness” Godfrey Sampson Mary Brown, Soloist (1902-1949)

My song shall be always of the loving kindness of the Lord:

With my mouth will I ever be showing thy truth From one generation to another.

Psalm 89:1

LASST UNS ERFREUEN Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; O Praise God, Alleluia! Praise God above, ye heavenly Host: Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost O Praise God, Alleluia! O Praise God, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Mothering God, we offer these gifts in celebration of your generous love. We give joyfully and with gratitude to participate in your ongoing ministry of care and nurture for all Creation. Thanks be to God! Amen!

“Now Thank We All Our God” 419 NUN DANKET

“An Easter Chant” Gordon Young

“Coronation March” Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864)

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The fellowship continues…

Please join us in the Parlor for Coffee & Community Go in peace renewed to love and serve our God!

Greeters: Jeral & Wanda Becker Ushers: Bert Merrell, Marni Dillard, Ken & Celeste Blumer Infant/Toddler Room: Michele Bryan, Elisa Wang Preschool: Claire Sizemore SEEDS Grades K-1: Mary Lou Mellish SEEDS Grades 2-4: Janet Griffard Grades 5-7: Hannah Rice Hill Counters: Ken Blumer, Joyce Peipert Coffee & Community: Tom Redick

“You did not choose me but I chose you.

And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last,

so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my

name.” ~John 15:16

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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SUNDAY – May 10 10:00 am Quiet Time: Chapel 10:30 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Coffee & Community: Parlor 6:30 pm 6-8 Grade Youth: Fellowship Hall 6:30 pm HS Youth: Parlor

MONDAY – May 11 11:30 am Lunch & Learn Bible Study: Boardroom 7:00 pm Mission & Outreach: Boardroom

TUESDAY – May 12 11:30 am Women’s Gathering: Parlor 7:00 pm Worship & Education: Boardroom

WEDNESDAY – May 13 7:00 am Wydown Men’s Club: Social Hall 6:15 pm Wednesday Night Live Supper: Social Hall 7:00 pm Wednesday Night Live Program: Social Hall

THURSDAY – May 14 7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal

SUNDAY – May 17 10:00 am Quiet Time: Chapel 10:30 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Coffee & Community: Parlor 6:30 pm 6-8 Grade Youth: Fellowship Hall 6:30 pm HS Youth: Parlor

Heather Arcovitch Senior Minister harcovitch@firstcongregational.org Hannah Rice Hill

Interim Minister of Faith Development for Children & Youth hrice@firstcongregational.org H. Ronald Hall Director of Music / Organist rhall@firstcongregational.org Mia Ulmer Youth Specialist mia@birchtreestudiostl.com George H. Sirois

Administrative Assistant / Communication Specialist office@firstcongregational.org gsirois@firstcongregational.org Anne Chao Preschool Director anne@firstcongregationalpreschool.org Valerie Jackson Student Pastor valvacious13@gmail.com Don Hubatka Bookkeeper dhubatka@firstcongregational.org James Harrison Custodian Randy Wang FCC Council Moderator rwang@bryancave.com

Church office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Never place a period where God has placed a comma…

God is still speaking!

An Open and Affirming Congregation First Congregational Church of St. Louis, United Church of Christ

6501 Wydown Blvd, St Louis, MO 63105 • 314.721.5060 www.firstcongregational.org

Facebook: http://facebook.com/firstcongregationalucc

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