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October 11, 2020

Güicha Ajcibinac, Director of the Women’s Center at the San Lucas Tolimán Mission in Guatemala

To join worship this morning via zoom app, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83928727469?pwd=WFhzWkJFQjBhTlp4UEUvdWRhS2lKdz09 (no password needed) To dial in by phone call 1 312 626 6799. When prompted, enter 839 2872 7469#. Next, you will be prompted to enter your participant ID or to push #; simply push # again. Prelude: O Day of Radiant Gladness Welcome & Centering

If you’re new to First Church, we’d love to get to know you better. You can sign up to receive our email communications on the home page of our website, www.firstchurchmn.org (scroll down to the heading “stay connected” on the right side of the page). You find us on Facebook by searching for “First Congregational Church of MN, UCC.” You’re also welcome to introduce yourself later in the service.

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Psalm 146:5–9 L: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, All: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; L: who keeps faith forever; All: who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. L: The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. All: The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. L: The Lord watches over the strangers; All: God upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked God brings to ruin.

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Hymn: Gather Us In, words and music by Marty Haugen © 1982, GIA Publications Inc. Voice of Güicha Ajcibinac, Program Director of the San Lucas Tolimán Mission Women’s Center

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Storytelling & Wondering The Voice; The Widow (Mark 12:38-44, and selected passages from the Hebrew law and prophets) Sermon Hymn: Spirit of Love, NCH 58

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Generosity Moment: Ann Flom Prayers of the People

To share a prayer concern with the community today, please share your prayer in the chat on the zoom call or comment on the livestream. To honor the privacy of those you pray for, please seek their permission, and pray for them using their first name only. Please respond to each prayer with the words: “Hear our prayer.”

Lord’s Prayer

A commonly used form is printed below. Please use the version most meaningful to you. Let us pray with words and in the spirit of Jesus: Our God, 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 for ever. Amen.

Offering Invitation

We invite your financial gifts to support our ministries within and beyond First Church. October’s Special Offering is for Neighbors in Need, a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. You can give online at our website. Find the link to our online giving portal on the homepage. You can also give by text. Please text 612-255-4109: “$(amount) Special” (for the monthly offering) or “$(amount) General Fund. If you give by check, please make it out to First Church with “NIN” in the memo line. Thank you!

Offertory Anthem: When Love Is Found Offertory Response: To You God, All Creatures Sing, verse 1

To you, O God, all creatures sing, and all creation, everything sings your praises, alleluia!

Your burning sun with golden beam, your silver moon with softer gleam

sing your praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

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Prayer of Dedication All: We give you our listening hearts, O God. On this journey, we will let other voices guide us, inspire us, and challenge us. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen. Introductions & Announcements Hymn: I Thank You, Jesus, NCH 41

(cont’d.)

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Benediction Postlude: In Christ There Is No East or West; O God in Whom All Life Begins Thank you to those who led our worship today! Reader: Linda Kelsey Tech Support: Hikaru Peterson, Annie Schenk Special Music: Mercedes Tuma-Hansen, French Horn Today, after worship concludes, stay on the Zoom call and join us for a 2nd Hour Racial Justice update and coffee hour!

Coming up this week Today 11a: 2nd Hour: Racial Justice update (stay on Zoom call) Noon: Congregational Care Team https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85838998086 5p: Youth Gathering at Como Park fire pits Monday October 12 7:30p: Knitting Group 8p: Praying hymns with Sandy Johnson https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87337381871?pwd=cytncDhPS2UrbUlvOGE2d1VoV2ZKUT09

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Tuesday October 13 Noon: Kundalini yoga with Vicki Snowden https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84028373184?pwd=bk43bk02eXF3N2FGV3NzUzlMT21FQT09 1p: Staff meeting 7p: FCC Board https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86400804235?pwd=elhzU3ZvOHl5ZEJIdGpZWXRvRkZHQT09 Wednesday, October 14 7p: Chancel Choir online gathering (contact Byron for zoom info) 8p: Lectio divina with Jane McBride https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82073060366? Thursday, October 15 7:30a: Centering Prayer with Jane McBride https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84475927456 10a: Guided Meditation with Jean Chagnon https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88992712420 11a: “Listening with Lisa” Saturday October 17 9a: CES volunteer morning Sunday, October 18 10a: Worship; 11a: 2nd Hour Budget Update Noon: Worship Team https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85838998086

Contact Us First Congregational Church of Minnesota, UCC • 500 8th Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414• 612-331-3816; office@firstchurchmn.org; www.firstchurchmn.org Ministers The People of First Church Principal Minister Jane McBride: jmcbride@firstchurchmn.org; ext. 304; cell: 612-598-2432 Minister of Music Byron Almén: balmen@firstchurchmn.org; cell: 512-809-9789 Parish Administrator Sarah Tittle: office@firstchurchmn.org; cell: 612-205-9870 Facilities Manager Brad Schumann: bschumann@firstchurchmn.org; cell: 651-357-8082 Moderator Greg Hubinger: hubinger5@comcast.net; cell: 612-384-2631 Music is reprinted and permission to podcast/stream the music in this service under OneLicense.net A-704086.

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Announcements The Racial Justice Working Group will offer an update on their work today after worship. They will share a framework and set of resources they have developed. You can find the “First Church Racial Justice Action Resource” here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pj7ASnsaHC6AviZv869G6iSHbenuS7lo_zeCVSLxMUU/edit Fall Study Group. We’re happy to announce that our seasonal study groups will resume beginning October 22 at 7p with a series of four weekly Zoom discussions led by popular theologian David Weiss. The series “Public Theology: Keeping Company with God at the Crossroads” will explore how we think provocatively about and conversationally with God in the ebb and flow of whatever life sends our way. The series will take place in four Zoom sessions: • October 22: Faith and climate at the crossroads • October 29: Exploring what it means to be in the throes of the pandemic • November 5: Race and abolition • November 12: Race and allies Each week David will share in advance a brief reading or two from his blog, along with a few questions for reflection. These will be the basis for a conversation that David will lead. You can learn more about David, and read his blog, at davidrweiss.com. To sign up for the sessions, contact the church office: office@firstchurchmn.org 2020 Stewardship Campaign. Earlier in the week we sent out a letter from the First Church Board regarding pledging for the 2021 year. If you did not receive the letter, or if you have questions about the pledge campaign, please contact Sarah Tittle in the office: office@firstchurchmn.org. Gatherings for Families and Teens. We are making some changes to reflect our changing situation. • Parent Gatherings will take place on the fourth Sunday of the month at 7p

(beginning October 25) on Zoom. These gatherings will be a time for parents of kids of ALL ages to support each other and to be nourished for the journey of faith and parenting.

• Youth Gatherings, for 6th- to 12th-graders, are going monthly and outdoors! These in-person gatherings will take place on the second Sunday of the month at 5p (beginning this evening!)—whatever the weather. We’ll have opportunities for activities such as campfires, bike outings, sledding, and skating.

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2nd Hour October 18: Budget Update. Over the past few weeks, your Finance Committee has been hard at work putting together a budget for 2021. Our treasurer Beth Adamowicz will be leading a conversation about next year’s budget and our general financial situation after worship on October 18. We will vote as a congregation on the budget at our annual meeting on November 22 (mark your calendars now!) To take part in the 2nd Hour discussion next Sunday, just stay on the worship Zoom call. Elder Lunches Resume! We’ll gather on October 28 at noon on Zoom to hear how each other has been doing in these strange days. At previous lunches we had been taking turns sharing autobiographical presentations. If anyone who has not previously given us a glimpse into your life feels inclined to do so this month, we’d all be honored to hear from you. Please let Jane know if you’d like to be the presenter this month. Even if you don’t consider yourself an “elder,” but you’ve reached that “certain age” and have never been part of an elder lunch (you know who you are), please do join your friends on the 28th at noon. It’ll be wonderful to see everyone—we are looking forward to seeing you! October’s Special Offering is October’s Special Offering is for Neighbors in Need, a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. You can give online at our website. Find the link to our online giving portal on the homepage. You can also give by text. Please text 612-255-4109: “$(amount) Special” (for the monthly offering) or “$(amount) General Fund. If you give by check, please make it out to First Church with “NIN” in the memo line. Thank you! Help Pack Food for School Kids with The Sheridan Story. In a normal year volunteers from SE area churches, including First Church, would be starting to distribute food packages provided by The Sheridan Story to students at Marcy Open School. Since school is on-line this fall those distributions aren’t happening in the same way they have in the past. Food is being provided to families at pick up locations that are coordinated with the Minneapolis Public Schools. The need has increased radically, so it is important that we still find ways to help these children who face food insecurity. Volunteers from SE Minneapolis churches will be packing food bags for Sheridan Project on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 1:00-4:00p. This event will take place at their warehouse is at 2723 Patton Road, Roseville, 55113. Here is information regarding their safety precautions so that you know what to expect: https://www.thesheridanstory.org/volunteer-health-safety/ If you would like to volunteer to help, please go to The Sheridan Project website at https://www.thesheridanstory.org/. You will need to register as an individual to register for the event. There is a limit to the number of volunteers at any event, so please act soon! If you have any questions, you can contact Eve Parker: eparker64@comcast.net.

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Need a listening ear? Befrienders are trained in the ministry of listening. They are available to walk with you in difficult times like these, when you are facing illness, grief, crisis, and life change. Contact Jane McBride to learn more. Pastor Jane’s typical work week is Sun.–Thurs. Please call or email her to set up appointments as she is in and out of the office. She hopes you will contact her for support and prayer in times of illness, hospitalization, or crisis. If your need is urgent, please call or text her cell phone at any time of the week.