Author: Admin

Welcome to Myerstown United Church of Christ
Church Office: 304 West Main Avenue, Myerstown , PA 17067-1023
Phone: 717/866-5252 myerstownucc@comcast.net
website: myerstownuccchurch.org
If you are visiting, we welcome you!

Kory Leppo, Council President 717-269-6033
Marie Hibshman, Elder 717-343-3247
Emily Frantz, Parish Administrator/Choir Director 717–383-1147
Mark Herr, Organist/Christian Education Coordinator
Lindy Bennetch, Financial Administrator
Elicia Frank, Custodian
Beverly Asroff, Church Secretary
WORSHIP LEADERS & ASSISTANTS
Appreciation to the following people who assisted with today’s service:
9:00 am Supply Pastor: Rev. Jim Yoder
Open Church: Cal Beamesderfer
Greeter: Terry and Suzie Schott
Worship Leader: Margo McQuate and Bill Arnold
Communion Servers: Ed and Candy Hibshman, Steve and Marianne Fritsch
Ushers: Ed and Candy Hibshman, Terry and Suzie Schott, Kenny Patrick
Sound: Paulie McQuate
Counting Team: Ted and Carol Batdorf, Darryl Brown Flowers: In loving memory of departed loved ones by the Lee Smith Family.
Stewardship Report for Sunday, July 29, 2019
Offerings: General Fund $ 3,806
Our Church’s Wider Mission 230
Church Improvement Fund 60
Total Attendance: 59

Myerstown United Church of Christ
306 West Main Avenue
Myerstown, PA 17067-1023
717-866-5252
myerstownucc@comcast.net

August 4, 2019
Worship Time 9:00 am
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude Jesus the Very Thought of Thee Arr. by: Anna Laura Page
Rejoice the Lord Is King Arr. by: Anna Laura Page
Welcome and Announcements
Update from the Search Committee
*Call to Worship (Leader/All)
We are children of God, learning to walk.
Day by day, we are learning to be the church.
God is a loving parent, teaching us to walk.
God love us, leads us, and feeds us.
*Opening Hymn Now Thank We All Our God #14
[please be seated]
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession Nurturing God, you continue to lead us in upright ways on account of your love for us. Yet we do not always follow your call; we turn away from you and go our own way. Forgive us, and return us to our rightful home in you, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
A Word for Children

Scripture Readings
The Epistle lesson is from Hosea 11:1-11.
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. 5 They shall return to the land of Egypt and Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. 6 The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle-priests, and devours because of their schemes. 7 My people are bent on turning away from me. To the Most High they call, but he does not raise them up at all. 8 How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. 9 I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. 10 They shall go after the Lord, who roars like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west. 11 They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will return them to their homes, says the Lord.
All who are able, please stand for the reading of the Gospel.
*A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
All: Glory to you, O Lord!
The reading is recorded in chapter 12:13-21.
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
One: Here ends the Gospel reading. It is the Good news of Jesus Christ
All: Thanks be to God!
*Prayer for Illumination [please remain standing]

Prayer List
Family Member/s
Long-Term Prayer Concerns
Family Members
Nancy Brown
Ellen Goodyear
Ruthann Snoke
Joyce Mitstifer
Friends
Suzanne Fritsch — mother of Steven Fritsch
Bill Gracely— father of Margo McQuate
Dennis Palm— former ScoutMaster of Troop 20
Katie Long— friend of Phyllis Keith
Linda Feaser– friend of Kathy Grose
Jewel Fessler– friend of Kathy Grose
Joanne Frantz– mother-in-law of Emily Frantz
Heather and Elvin Perez– friends of Marianne Fritsch

Announcements
Mark Herr will be on vacation this from August 2-5.
** Please let us know of anyone who would enjoy a ‘Sharing Our Love’ card shower. We can announce it in the bulletin anytime. This is a great opportunity to reach out with a simple card or short note to lift someone’s spirit and let them know they are loved and not forgotten. Please see Emily Frantz or contact the office by phone or email to set up a card shower. **
Help needed - an easy job to do on your schedule: The office is looking for someone to package the empty ink cartridges in the office so we can send them off. This would be great for a youth member looking to build a resume or college application.
There are openings for flowers on August 11th and 18th. Please contact Betty Arnold if interested. The Elders would like to establish a more organized schedule for visiting shut-Ins. Would you be willing to “adopt” a shut-in, committing to visit that person at least once a month? Visitors would be encouraged to share church news, perhaps taking a copy of the Vineyard if appropriate, and to convey any needs back to the Elders. Updated shut-in lists are on the information table. Talk to Marie Hibshman if you are willing to help in this ministry. Zion UMC in Myerstown will be holding a school supply and clothing drive for the upcoming school year for families of the ELCO school district and Myerstown community. We will be collecting gently used and new clothing for adults, youth, and children. We also will be collecting new socks and underwear. Our church will be providing all the school supplies. Prior to Pastor Randy Leitzel's retirement he provided us with a list of churches in the area he notified last year. If anyone from your congregation would like to donate to the clothing drive we would welcome community support. Clothing may be dropped off in the mornings Monday - Friday. There will also be additional drop off times in the evenings from 6 - 8 pm, August 1, 2, 5, 6, 7. Information is available on our website at https://myerstownzionumc.org/events/elco-treasure-chest. Any questions you can contact myself or Keara Dagen at kdagen@live.com. Thank you in advance, Jackie Gostomski, Zion UMC Outreach
Local Volunteer Need: The Lebanon Free Clinic welcomes new volunteer providers and nurses with a desire to help patients in need of routine medical care without access to attaining it. Practicing or retired physician, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners are encouraged to contact Margaret Brandt at 717-273-2715 or mbrandt@lebanonrescuesmission.org for a tour of the clinic. The Lebanon Free Clinic at 135 S. 9th St will be offering FREE Blood Pressure and Blood sugar checks for all to recognize “Health Care for the Homeless Day” August 7th from 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m.

(Please be seated)
The Message “Tell Me Again Why We Have Cats” Hymn O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go #446 Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer 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 gory forever. Amen.
Offertory Let All Things Now Living
*Offertory Response Praise God #34
*The Apostles Creed (on the inside back cover of the hymnal)
Service of the Sacrament
*Invitation
Beloved in Christ, . . . and was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. This is the joyful feast of the people of God. Men and women, youth and children, come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and gather about Christ’s table.
*Communion Prayer God be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to God. Let us give thanks to God Most High. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
[the prayer continues]
We give you thanks, Holy One, . . .
. . . Therefore, with the entire company of saints in heaven and on earth, we worship and glorify you, God Most Holy.

*Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty, the whole universe speaks of your glory, O God Most High. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God! Hosanna in the highest!
*Communion Hymn We Come as Guests Invited #702
[the congregation may be seated]
Words of Institution
Proclamation Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of our faith. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Consecration Eternal God, we unite in the covenant of faith, . . .
Restore the earth with your grace that is able to make all things new. Be present with us as we share this meal, and throughout all our lives, that we may know you as the Holy One, who with Christ and the Holy Spirit, lives for ever. Amen.
Breaking Bread and Pouring Wine
Call to the Supper
Dining at Christ’s Table
*Prayer of Thanksgiving
[will those who are able please stand]
Bountiful God, we give you thanks that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*Closing Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory #569 *Benediction
*Congregational Response Seek Ye First #349 Moments of Meditation (seated)
Postlude Crown Him with Many Crowns

Jim Yoder is an ordained minister with the UCC whose standing is held in Lebanon Association due to his membership with Myerstown UCC. A Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains, Jim returned to Pennsylvania in 2012 and has worked in hospice care as a Bereavement Care Coordinator and Spiritual Care Coordinator. He currently is employed by Heartland Hospice and provides end of life ministry in eastern Lebanon County, Schuylkill County, and western Berks County. Thank you, Pastor Jim, for your message!
David Schulz, home-schooled senior and organ student with Lancaster AGO chapter member Margaret Marsch, has enjoyed playing piano, organ, cello, percussion, harpsichord, and singing in choir. He has played piano for his church, Zeltenreich Reformed Church, for the last four years and has substituted for other churches on the organ. He is a board member of the Lancaster AGO chapter and enjoys running and cooking. He is going to study mechanical engineering at Penn State Berks while continuing to play piano and organ for churches. Thank you, David, for playing for us today!
Today: Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Gift Card orders are due.
This Week: Monday: 8:30 am Strong Bones in the Social Hall
Monday: Elders at 10 am.
Tuesday: Council Meeting at 6:30 pm in the Library
Thursday: 8:30 am Strong Bones in the Social Hall
Next Sunday: August 11– Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship 9:00 am Open Church: Mark Herr
9:00 am Greeter: Dawn Hassler
Worship Leader: Sally Kulp
Ushers: Marie Hibshman, Emily, Kara, Abby Frantz, and Kenny Patrick
Sound: Paulie McQuate
Counting Team: Marie Hibshman, Kathy Grose, Charles and Carolyn Williams
3

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

55 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.