United Methodist Church of Cadillac

1020 East Division Street • Cadillac, Michigan

775-5362 • Fax 775-6475

March 30, 2003

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Celebration Worship at 11:00 a.m.

THE GATHERING TO WORSHIP

PRELUDE

BRINGING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

WELCOME AND PARISH NOTES

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: God calls us to faith in the Christ nailed to the cross, as wisdom wiser than ours and power stronger than ours.

People: May we hear that call this morning.

*HYMNS OF PRAISE

“My Tribute” - # 99

“To God Be the Glory” - # 98

*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

THE PEOPLE OF GOD PRAYING

PRAYER HYMN #2108

“Oh How He Loves You and Me”

If you have a prayer joy or concern to be shared

during the Prayer of the People, please fill out a prayer card

and hand it to an usher during the Prayer Hymn.

REFLECTIVE MOMENTS

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Leader: The word of the cross is the wisdom of God to those who are saved. Merciful God, we confess our bewilderment over the presence of any wisdom at all in such a dreadful act as the crucifixion of Jesus, your Son, our Lord. Each year as we hear the story again, we wonder - why did it have to happen?

People: It seems as though evil triumphed in this wretched deed. Yet, when we know the outcome of the crucifixion, we realize that it was an act of powerful and sacrificial love, and that in the end, good did triumph over evil, life defeated death.

Leader: And so, forgive us, O God, when we become so influenced by the wisdom of the world that we demand signs and seek intellectual certainty as proof of your existence. Forgive us when we get caught up in the quest for achievement and power, forgetting that Jesus’ power was made perfect in weakness.

People: Forgive our reluctance, O God, to proclaim with our lips and our lives that the crucified Christ is Lord of our lives and help us to empty ourselves of all that hinders such proclamation of our faith.

Time of Silent Reflection

Leader: Have mercy on us, O God, and strengthen us to do your will. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

WORDS OF PROMISE

PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER #895

READING AND PROCLAIMING OF THE WORD

CHORAL ANTHEM Chancel Choir

“Look to the Lamb” Arr. Don Wyrtzen

TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN

SCRIPTURE LESSON N.T. pg. 166

I Corinthians 1:18-28

MESSAGE Pastor Dale Ostema

“God’s Fool”

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GOD

OFFERTORY INVITATION

OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY Tune: Old 100^th

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all. Amen

*PRAYER OF CONSECRATION (In unison)

Gracious and wise God, you give us the freedom to relate to you through the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. You empower us with the wisdom of your Spirit to proclaim our deliverance from evil through the power of the cross. We offer these gifts and our lives as symbols of our thanksgiving, praying that you will bless them and use them to proclaim the wonders of your love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

THE SCATTERING TO SERVE

*HYMN OF DEDICATION #301

“Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”

*COMMISSION AND BLESSING

*POSTLUDE

*All who are able, please stand.

One Great Hour of Sharing is today. Envelopes were included with your March Newsletter or you may use a pew envelope - please indicate. People around the world depend on the United Methodist Committee on Relief and UMCOR depends on our gift to One Great Hour of Sharing.

The First Sunday of each month, non-perishable food products and paper goods are collected to help the need in our community. A box is available in Fellowship Hall. April beneficiary is the King’s Storehouse Pantry at the First Baptist Church.

First Sunday “Loose Plate” for April will go the Lansing Shalom Center for Peace and Justice.

Reminder Next Sunday, April 6

Acolytes: Jennifer and Kristin McKibben

Greeters/Ushers 8:30: Betty and Karen Klinker

Greeters 11:00 - Mike and Lynda Coy Family

Head Usher: Tom Maxwell

Ushers 11:00 - Jim and Shirley Petersen, Inga Fuller,

Becky Dorrell, Margaret Benninger

Nursery: Jim and Lisa Weaver

Sermontime: Darlene Fowler

Coffee Hour: Endowment Committee

CHURCH STAFF

Pastor Dale Ostema

Parish Assistant Judy Coffey

Coordinator-Children & Youth Ministries Debbie Ostema

Church Secretary Carol Sharp

Assistant Secretary Karen Elenbaas

Treasurer Beverly Campbell

Chancel Choir Director Walt Stump

Bell Choir Director Tonja Hinkston

Organists Virginia Pulford, Ann Hunt

Pianist Darlene Ressler

Choir Accompanist Ann Hunt

Nursery Care Giver Lisa Wilson

Custodial Staff Dee Piltz and NOC Work Crew

Snow Removal & Carpet Maintenance Paul Helton

Opportunities for Ministry This Week . . .

Sunday, March 30, Fourth Sunday in Lent

One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday

8:30 am - Contemporary Worship Service

9:30 am - Church School all ages

11:00 am - Celebration Worship Service

Coffee Hour Fellowship follows each service

Monday, March 31

7:00 pm - Boy Scouts

7:00 pm - Lenten Study at the Ostema’s - 114 Barbara Street

Tuesday, April 1

6:30 pm - Membership Committee

7:00 pm - Finance Committee

7:00 pm - Missions Committee

7:30 pm - Evangelism Committee

Wednesday, April 2

7:00 am - Lenten Breakfast - First Presbyterian

1:30 pm - Lenten Study - Judy Coffey

6:30 pm - Staff/Parish Relations Committee

6:30 pm - Bell Choir Practice

7:30 pm - Chancel Choir Practice

Thursday, April 3

Promise Keepers will not meet until Thursday, April 24

7:30 am - Habitat For Humanity Board

6:00 pm - Wesley Fellowship

7:00 pm - Lenten Study - Laurie Kinney ??????

7:00 pm - Parish Nurse meeting at Shirley Petersen’s home

7:30 pm - Education Committee

Saturday, April 5

8:15 am - Dead Sea Scrolls Trip to Grand Rapids

8:30 - 5:00 pm - Cadillac Philharmonic

Sunday, April 6, Fifth Sunday in Lent

Daylight Savings Time Begins

Holy Communion at both worship services

8:30 am - Contemporary Worship Service

9:30 am - Church School all ages

11:00 am - Celebration Worship Service

Coffee Hour Fellowship follows each service

For Changes in Activities for the Week

Info Source 775-4636 - Message # 3152

The Lenten Breakfasts continue. The next one is Wednesday, April 2 at 7:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Nancy Barton, rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, will be the speaker. ALL (men, women and youth) are invited.

Wesley Fellowship will meet Thursday, April 3, at 6:00 for a Potluck Supper. At 7:00 p.m., Mary Bellows will present the program, Love and Logic for Grandparents. All are welcome.

Our Sanctuary will be opened for prayer each day this week during the Lunch Hour (noon to 1:00 p.m.) to the community for all who would like to come and be in prayer for our world, the situation in Iraq, for those in the military and for peace.

Calling all Nurses! Join me for a meeting at my home 1105 Sunset Lane in Cadillac on April 3 at 7:00 p.m.. I need your input, ideas and help on how we can enhance the Parish Nurse program for our congregation. I hope to see you then; get ready for some fun nurse trivia! If you have any questions, call me.

Your Parish Nurse, Shirley Petersen

Love INC is looking for Budget Counselors to work with a person or family to help them with financial difficulties. Training and support are provided contact the Love INC office at 779-1888 for more details of this rewarding program.

The Chancel Choir could use some additional voices. Some of our regular members will be away for a few weeks during Lent. Practice is Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Come, join us for a season; we would love to have you. Need additional information, call Walt Stump, Director.

Today’s Worship Ministry . . .

Liturgist: 8:30 -

11:00 -

Pianist/Organist: Ann Hunt

Acolytes: Hailey Amlott and Kara Wilson

Greeters/Ushers 8:30: Dan and Laurie Kinney

Greeters & Ushers 11:00: Junior Disciples

Nursery: Marian Fuller

Sermontime: Sue Christensen

Coffee Hour: Open

The flowers on the Lord’s Table are presented to the glory of God and in celebration of the 18th birthday of Brandon Kinney from his family, Dan, Laurie and Grant.

The Prayer Tree for those serving in the military continues to be available in the narthex for you to place a heart on with the name and service of a member of the armed forces that you would like remembered in prayer during these precarious days of Operation+++.

The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit trip is scheduled for this Saturday, April 5. We will be leaving the church as a group around 8:15 a.m.. We will be visiting the Planetarium as part of the tour, having lunch and touring the Exhibit. Please see Judy this morning for your instruction/information sheet regarding the trip.

The Flower Calendar for 2003 has some openings for April. You may place flowers in honor or memory of a friend or loved one, in honor of a special occasion or to the Glory of God. The cost is still $15. After use on Sunday, the flowers are available for your enjoyment.