PREPARING FOR WORSHIP As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your waterfalls; all your waves and your billows have gone over me. Psalm 42, selections *Please stand in body or spirit. Please silence cell phones. GATHERING MUSIC Variations on “At the River” Jon Spong WELCOME Please sign and pass the black Connections pad. Alicia Reese *PASSING THE PEACE The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. *OPENING SONG God Welcomes All THEMBA AMEN GATHERING AS GOD’S PEOPLE *CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 104, adapted Bless the LORD, O my soul. You are clothed with honor and majesty. You are wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent. You set the beams of Your chambers on the waters and make the clouds Your chariot, You ride on the wings of the wind. You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, giving drink to every wild animal. By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From Your lofty abode You water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your work. One: I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. *HYMN Crashing Waters at Creation CRASHING WATERS CALL TO PRAYER John Edgerton PRAYER FOR WHOLENESS O God there are broken places within us that never seem to mend, Empty places within us that always seem to ache. In our brokenness, we have lashed out at others. In our emptiness, we have held tight to what we have. From seeing pain without being moved, From speaking of love, but refusing to love the unlovely, From speaking of faith without living your word, From seeing injustice and wanting to make excuses, From remembering wrongs done to us, and forgetting Your grace, From all of this, O God, turn us around. Turn us around from brokenness and set our feet on paths of healing among people. Turn us around from emptiness and set our feet on paths of abundance. SILENCE IS KEPT. ASSURANCE OF LOVE SUNG RESPONSE Children please come forward during the second singing of the Alleluia: Alleluia Jerry Sinclair TIME FOR SHARING Alicia Reese LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD TO US SONG OF ILLUMINATION Let It Breathe On Me SCRIPTURE READING Genesis 1:1-13, OT p. 1 Ally Vertigan SERMON Taming the Waters RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD *HYMN 478 I’ve Got Peace Like a River PEACE LIKE A RIVER Black Hymnal PRAYER OF DEDICATION Lydia Mulkey OFFERTORY Down to the Water to Pray Larry Harris *DOXOLOGY TALLIS’ CANON Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below. Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God whom we adore. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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 glory, forever. Amen. GOING FORTH IN DEDICATION AND SERVICE OUR LIFE TOGETHER Lydia Mulkey *HYMN 459 Come O Fount of Every Blessing NETTLETON Black hymnal *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION John Edgerton *BENEDICTION RESPONSE SENDING MUSIC Allegro Maestoso from “Water Music” G. F. Handel TODAY AT FIRST UNITED TODAY’S FLOWERS are given by Joanne and Ted Despotes in celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary! 90+ BIRTHDAY PARTY! Come celebrate folk in our church family who are turning 90 years old and older this year with cake and fellowship TODAY after worship! The Deacons are excited to throw this party for people of all ages. Please join us! PLEASE RECYCLE your bulletin in one of the bins near the Sanctuary exits. JOIN THE DEACONS for prayer and anointing in the chapel following Worship. HEARING AMPLIFICATION DEVICES--INCLUDING T-COIL CABLES, LARGE PRINT BULLETINS, BIBLES AND HYMNALS are available for use during worship. Please talk to a greeter to obtain these items and return the amplification device to the greeter. Large print bibles and hymnals should be returned to the table behind the middle pews. HOSPITALITY IN WORSHIP - It takes many hands and hearts to make our worship pleasing in the sight of God. We are grateful to our Worship and Music leaders and to those who provide Hospitality through various ministries. This week we thank Greeters: Marsha Hubbuch, Bob Larson, Kate Larson and Dale Sorenson; Lead Usher: Susan Buchanan and the on-call ushers; Sanctuary Guild members: Cindy Palombi and Nina Roher; and the Sound Board crew including Pete Todd, Mark Breen, Ezra Broughton and Carl Nauert. We ask forgiveness for any omissions. We need more people for this work! If you think one or more of these Hospitality Ministries might be a fit for you, please contact Joanne Despotes at [email protected] or 708-209-1377. EVENTS AND UPDATES HELP NEEDED FOR PADS. We need 5 or 6 regular volunteers to help staff our shifts on the 3rd and 5th (if there is one) weeks of the month. Although all are welcome, we are in particular need of additional male volunteers. We need help on the Monday dinner shift (6:30 – 10:30 p.m.) and also on Tuesday mornings (5 – 7:30 am). Questions? Contact Matt Kemper, [email protected], PADS site supervisor. UNITED POWER INVITES YOU to a major assembly with Mayor Lori Lightfoot: On the agenda is Affordable Housing, Crisis Stabilization Units, and public gun purchases. The meeting is on Sunday, September 22 from 5 - 6:30 p.m. at DRW College Prep, 931 S. Homan Avenue, Chicago. A carpool will leave First United at 4:15 p.m. Please contact Lois Thiessen Love at [email protected] if you plan to attend this important meeting! CHALLENGE: HOUSING JUSTICE is again partnering with Housing Forward to provide 5 House-to- Home kits of household items to furnish apartments for those moving from homelessness to housing stability. Sign up in the Lounge or online at bit.ly/HousetoHome to donate requested items. Bring your donated items to church on Sunday, October 6 and 13. Joy: Providing the comforts of home to the formerly homeless is a great way to live into our vision of moving from Words to Witness! A list of the needed items is at the back of the bulletin. DINNER & A MOVIE! Friday, September 13: Spotlight. Revealing a string of cover-ups stretching back decades, a team of Boston Globe reporters exposes the Catholic Archdiocese's history of keeping reports about child molestation and other priest-initiated abuse under wraps. Dinner at 5:55 p.m. ($5 donation); Movie at 6:25 p.m. (free). Sign up in the Lounge or call Cynthia Colazzo, 708-383-9228. NEWCOMERS CLASS meets Sundays at 9:30 a.m. from October 6-27. New to First United? Interested in learning more about us? Participants in the class have the option to join the church on October 27th in worship. You are welcome to take the class whether you feel ready to join, or just ready to learn more. RSVP to Lydia at [email protected]. DO YOU HAVE A NAMETAG? Please check to see if you have a nametag on the nametag rack in the lounge. If not, please request one on the clipboard on the lounge desk. It would be great if everyone had a nametag and wore it while our new lead pastor if getting to know us! SING WITH PRO MUSICA YOUTH CHORUS! We’re starting a new season! Pro Musica Youth Chorus is an umbrella organization for several children and youth choruses for ages 4 years through High School. Rehearsals are held at First United. For more information, visit the website, www.promusicayouthchorus.org, email [email protected], or call 708.405.9597. WELCOME- We’re glad you joined us for worship. Learn about First United: • Visit the welcome desk in the lounge or the visitor table in the narthex to receive more information about the church. • Sign the registration pad when it’s passed. Include your email to receive our weekly e-news and devotional! • Speak with any greeter or minister or join us for coffee hour following worship. • Contact Lydia Mulkey at 708.386.5215 or [email protected] for information about Newcomers Gatherings and any additional questions. ABOUT US - We are a union church of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ. We seek to be an inclusive expression of Christ’s body celebrating our diversity while finding our unity in Christ. We are a More Light/Open and Affirming congregation, committed to full inclusion of GLBTQ people in membership & ministry. ABOUT WORSHIP - Worship is our time to praise and grow closer to God. Worship each week includes song, prayer, learning, silence and giving. If you have any questions about what we do, please ask a minister or a member. WORSHIP WITH CHILDREN - We welcome all children to participate fully in worship. Age-appropriate worship activities and books are available as you enter the sanctuary.