Welcome to

POLK CITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

“Reaching Out, Growing and Serving in Christ”

Church  984-6274

Mark Haverland, Pastor  964-4000

Becky Beck, RN Parish Nurse  685-3195

Web Page:    http://www.gbgm-umc.org/polkcityumc

We extend a special welcome to all visitors, who are requested not to put money in the collection plate.  Those who attend this church regularly have committed their time and resources so that you can be our guests.  Immediately following the service, everyone is invited to share in fellowship and refreshments.  A nursery is available during worship for very young children and children over 2 will be dismissed for Children’s Church during the service.

Sunday, September 9, 2001

14th Sunday after Pentecost

Invitation to Prepare — Church Bell

Welcome and Announcements— (Please sign the attendance pads)

 “Come, Lord Jesus, Come”

Call to Worship:

L:      Jesus calls us to leave all, to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to follow him.

M:  We are Jesus' disciples, ready to follow where he leads, to grow in faithfulness, to learn obedience.

L:   This is to embark upon a narrow way, at a great risk, and a cost of great price.

C:   How shall we be willing?  How shall we be able?

L:   When we ask, God will answer. When we are sincere in our desire, God will supply what we need to build a life of true commitment. Let us give thanks and worship God.

*Opening Song #126  “Sing Praise To God”

*Invocation:

   Gracious God, you have given us the great example of loyalty and love in Jesus who was obedient even to death upon the cross. His call to follow him, to lay down our lives in obedience to your will as he did, is a summons to a commitment that demands our all. We know ourselves weak and often heavy-laden with earthly responsibilities.  Unless you take us and shape us, give us new and strong wills aligned with your own, and equip us with the strengthening of your Spirit, we cannot hope to fulfill such a calling. As we offer you praise and worship in this hour, make us willing and able to begin, or begin again, the life-challenging, life-changing journey as disciples of Jesus,  our Lord.

*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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  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

*Assurance of Pardon:

   God does not hold our sins against us, but removes them far from us, to be remembered no more. At the price of his life, Jesus established this freedom for us. And we can begin again to live our thanks as we take up our calling as faithful disciples of Jesus. Glory be to God!  Praise be to God!

*389  “Freely, Freely”

Responsive Reading — Psalm 81:1, 10-16

            You examine me and know me, O God,

            you know my thoughts, you know my deeds.

            Before I speak you know my words;

            you prepare my way,

            and shield me on every side.

            Such knowing is beyond my grasp.

"Your love reaches everywhere."

            In what circumstance

            could I be beyond your reach?

            If I fly to the stars, you are there;

            there, too, if I lie in the grave.

            If I make my way to the farthest shores,

            your hand will still greet me and guide me.

            If I find myself in utter darkness,

            it is as light to you.

"Your love reaches everywhere.”

Celebration and Concerns

Call to Prayer:

        Leader:  The Lord be with you.

        People:   And also with you.

        Leader:   Let us pray.

Personal Prayers in Silence

Pastoral Prayer

Lord Jesus, you call us to be your disciples, to follow you down narrow ways of faithful discipleship.  Lord, give us the grace we need to risk discipleship, todiscipline our lives to your will, to love you enough to serve you in all that we door say. Teach us to listen to you more than we listen to the voices of the world.  Keep us close to you inall the times of our lives.  Help us to count the cost and to be able to pay the price.  Amen

*Hymn #77   “How Great Thou Art”

Scripture Reading:  Luke 14:7-14

Sermon:  “At the Table With Jesus”

Mark Haverland

Offering 

*The Offertory (to #566—”Blest Be the Dear Uniting Love”)

The cost of true discipleship

means taking up a cross;

may our giving be a sacrifice

that you, O Lord, will bless.

Prayer of Dedication

        Lord Jesus, to follow you is to submit to stewardship of God's gifts in accordance with your claim on our lives and resources. As you walk among the suffering to rescue and relieve, so we walk there with you. Receive and bless this offering as we share with you the ministry of sacrificial caring.  Amen

*Hymn #2151    “I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me”

*Commissioning:

Let us go out to be loyal in love and obedience to Jesus, willing to pay the price and bear the weight for the sake of him who bore it all for us.

*Benediction: 

     The blessing of God who ordains the journey of discipleship, of Jesus the Christ who calls us to it, and the Holy Spirit who enables our faithfulness, rests upon us.  Amen.

*Postlude……………………………….*Indicates congregation stands

Word Search Puzzle

M N R S V D S L L I W E R I D I C U L E W

O E G N L N N P N E R D L I H C L S W B H

T T N O A A O E G A W A F E L B A A D R I

H A I N I S I G N I K O F C A R R Y E O L

E M L E D U S W O L L E F E V I G I L T E

R I E L P O S S D L S D W O R C E N E H W

E T V I S H E A O T H E R W I S E G G E H

W S A F R T S W W D D E M O C E B S A R I

T E R E E N S A N I H S I N I F P T T S C

F H T D T E O Y S W F E N O U G H I I Z H

I P I A S V P C O T W E N T Y S T L O R F

R A N S I E I N T E N D I N G I F L N E O

S G A K S P W G F C F N E E S O P P O D U

T A G S L E D H N A A L E R D L I U B I N

M I E E A S O P E I T N E H O E U E E S D

N N B M M N M D R T O H N S T F N K Y N A

I S K O S S O R C U H G E O T O E R E O T

G T M C O S T T E O O E Y R T I W R U C I

E P E A C E M I H T J Y R T A H W E E T O

B V H A S D N E S E Y R E V E O H W R H N

H A T E P U H T I W R M E T E L P M O C T

Word List: POSSESSIONS FOUNDATION DELEGATION TRAVELING THEREFORE OTHERWISE INTENDING THOUSAND RIDICULE ESTIMATE DISCIPLE CONSIDER COMPLETE CHILDREN BROTHERS WHOEVER WHETHER SISTERS ANOTHER AGAINST TWENTY TURNED SAYING OPPOSE MOTHER ITSELF FOLLOW FINISH FELLOW FATHER ENOUGH CROWDS CANNOT BECOME WHILE WHICH TOWER TERMS STILL  SENDS PEACE LARGE GOING FIRST CROSS  COMES CARRY BUILD BEGIN BEGAN YOUR WITH WILL  WIFE WHEN WHAT WERE WAGE THIS  THEN THEM SAID NRSV  NONE LUKE LIFE LAID KING  HATE GIVE EVEN DOWN  DOES COST AWAY ASKS  ABLE YES WAS WAR SIT SEE OUT NOW HIM HAS FAR ALL  UP MY

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Building Project — As the building progresses, we now need to begin paying for the construction.  Your timely payment of pledges helps minimize and delay borrowing.  If you have not yet pledged, additional contributions are still needed to lower the loan amount and duration.  A pledge card is available on the table in the entryway.  Pledges are important because they help the Trustees during the construction and financing phase deal to know how much we can expect to receive each year.

United Methodist Women News—Next meeting will be September 13 at Mary Jones’ home.

Music – The choir begins again.  Rehearsals will be at 9:15 am. 

Church Directories – The latest church directories are available on the table by the door to the sanctuary.

“Grace Space” – If you are late, have small children, are a visitor, have lots of stuff to carry, are having a bad hair day, or for whatever other self diagnosed reason, need a little grace, take one of the Grace Spaces in the parking lot and receive some grace to smooth out the morning.

Financial Statements — Reports of the church finances for Jan-Jun 2001 are on the table in the front of the church.

Fall Schedule — Sunday School classes begin today.  The children will be dismissed to classes early in the service.  We will be in temporary classes while the new addition is finished.  Thanks to those who are willing to teach this year.  If you can help let Mark or Mary Lamka know.

Worship Accompanist — We are looking for someone to play the piano for worship.  For now, we’ll use recorded music.  If you know of someone who can help us, let Mark know.

Church Conference — Our annual meeting with the District Superintendent is October 7, after worship.

Pastor-Parish Committee—September 5, 7:00 pm

Trustees — October 3, 7:00 pm

Nominating Committee — September 9, 4:00 pm at Mary Jones’ house

Administrative Council—September 13, 7:00 pm

Health and Wellness Ministries: Contact Becky Beck, RN, parish nurse 685-3195

Counseling:  Contact Pastor Haverland at 984-6274 for counseling or referrals to various counseling services and support groups.

Food Pantry:  Donations welcome any Sunday.  Food is distributed at eight sites in the metro-area to those in need.  Contact Linda Pennington at 984-6693.

Family Fund: All quarters in the collection plate go for financial and pastoral assistance for families and travelers in need in our community.

Luke’s Clinic:  Physicals, vaccines, flu shots, and other medical care. Open Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

Alcoholics Anonymous:  Meets every Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND FELLOWSHIP

Men’s Fellowship: The men of PCUMC have a breakfast meeting with men from the other churches in town on Saturday October 13, 8:00 am at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Polk City

Senior High Youth Group: 

Junior High Youth Group:  Contact Mary Jones at 999-2678.

Food Pantry Drivers

(Fill in blanks and place in offering or contact Linda Pennington 984-6693)

September — Scott George

October — Joan Hart

November —

The food pantry Warehouse is located at 3816 36th St, Des Moines.  See Linda Pennington for instructions,

Reception Hosts

(Fill in blanks and place in offering)

Sept 9 —

Sept 16 — Nancy Peterson

Sept 23 — Greg, Mary, Kathry Lamka
Sept 30 — Ginger Larson & Diane Lukasik

Nursery (for 10:15 worship)

Sept 9 — Chris Russell

Sept 16— Mai Golbuff

Sept 23 — Linda Link

Sept 30 — Shari Miller

October 7 — Kristin and Katie

Ushers

(Fill in blanks and place in offering)

October —  

November —

December —

Worship Leaders

(Fill in the blanks and place in offering)

September — Becky Beck

October —

November —

December —

Meal Site

(Fill out and place in offering)

Four people are needed to serve the meal prepared by others for Our Community Kitchen from 5:30 –7:00 pm on the second Wednesday of each month.  Sign up and place this form in the offering. Call Dixie Bequeaith for more information (984-6224)

September 12 —

October 10 —

November 14

December 12

Luke 14:25-33

Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Other wise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."

Prayers for the Week: