October 13 – Creation Care Sunday

Genesis 1 | Exodus 23:10-11 | Jeremiah 17:5-8

God delights in creation and declares it good. We celebrate, remember, and advocate for creation as an act of faith.

Pastor Kirstin Shrom-Rhoads will preach and lead worship. Spirit will be sharing in music leadership this morning. At Fellowship, The Transition Team will present on the church’s heritage and then a special Congregational Meeting will be held where members of the congregation will vote on whether we should consider changing the name of our congregation from “Evangelical Reformed.” A meal will be served.

Livestream 10:30 AM Worship Service

October 13 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

October 6 – World Communion Sunday | Consecration Sunday

Psalm 133 | Luke 19:1-10

We will celebrate communion with Christians around the world, symbolically gathered at a common table, and give God thanks by consecrating our gifts to God’s work in the coming year. The Rev. Sam Chamelin, pastor of St. Mary’s United Church of Christ in Silver Run, Maryland, will preach and lead worship. Children’s Music and Movement and the Senior Choir will sing. A Consecration Sunday Luncheon will follow worship in the Community Room. All are welcome!

Livestream 10:30 AM Worship Service

October 6 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

September 29 – Faith and Democracy Sunday | Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 | Mark 9:38-50

Our Gospel reading for this Sunday is from Mark 9:38-50. In a cultural context where who is in, who is out, and who is right is an important concern, the first disciples find themselves preoccupied with another who is not a part of their group.

Today we recognize Faith and Democracy Sunday, a time of worship and mobilization to call on citizens to vote in the 2024 General Election organized by the Justice and Witness Action Network of the Central Atlantic Conference UCC around faith and democratic principles of valuing and affirming the voice and dignity of all, especially “the least of these” among us. We will also hear from Marj Berkheimer as part of our Season of Stewardship. The Senior Choir will sing.

Livestream 10:30 AM Worship Service

September 29 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

September 22 – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8  |  Mark 9:30-37

The epistle from James may be understood as a meditation on the contrast between godly and worldly leadership. The attributes of a godly leader are laid out in James 3:13: evidence of works born out of good conduct that are done in the gentleness of wisdom. In the passage from Mark 9, Jesus tells the disciples that he is to be betrayed, killed, and resurrected on the third day. The disciples turn to arguing with each other about who is the greatest among them. Jesus teaches his ambitious followers about the shape of faithful discipleship by taking a little child in his arms and blessing the child. God’s wise children are called to welcome and care for the “little ones” among us. Wise ones reach out with encouraging presence to those who are vulnerable.

Our Season of Stewardship continues as hear from Justin Coen. The Senior Choir will sing.

Livestream 10:30 AM Worship Service

September 22 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

September 15 – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

James 3:1-12 | Mark 8:27-38

The letter of James speaks of the qualities of teachers and the power of words and speech for good and for will. In our reading from Mark 8: 27-28, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” Peter responds by answering, “You are the Messiah.”

Our Season of Stewardship begins with thoughts from Tommie Bradshaw. The Senior Choir returns to share their wonderful gifts with us.

Livestream 10:30 AM Worship Service

September 15 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

September 8 –Rejoice in Our Welcome Sunday | Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

James 2:1-17  |  Mark 7:24-27

The first lesson, James 2:1-17, relates the responsibilities of Christians, emphasizing charity as a sign of living faith. In the Gospel lesson from Mark 7:24-27, Jesus is encountered by a Syrophoenician woman who earnestly asks him to heal her daughter. Though the woman and her daughter are Gentiles, Jesus reaches out in compassion and heals the daughter.

We will celebrate Rejoice in Our Welcome Sunday! We will commission and bless those leading Christian education and formation for the coming year. Spirit will be sharing in music leadership this morning.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the September 8 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

September 1 – Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 | Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

God acts in our lives with generosity and love. We are children of the God of lights; we are fruit born through the generosity of God and by the word of truth. Generosity is at the heart of who we are. How do we act on our beliefs about God? How do we live out the word of God? The reading from James challenges us to find connections between what we believe and say about God and the actions we take each day.

We will share in communion at the chancel rail this morning. The Rev. Phyllis Byrd, a Global Ministries mission co-worker in Nairobi, Kenya, who serves with the Organization of Africa Instituted Churches (OAIC) as its Director of its Just Communities program, will share about her work. Rev. Byrd’s appointment to mission work by the United Church of Christ is made possible in part by our contributions to Our Church’s Wider Mission. Jenna Duranko will share music on the marimba.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the September 1 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

August 25 – Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Psalm 84  |  John 6:56-69

Together, this week’s readings remind us of the mutual indwelling of God in us and us in God. Psalm 84 celebrates the temple as a dwelling place for God. “How lovely is your dwelling place” sing the pilgrims as they enter the temple in Jerusalem. They have reached this place of prayer, preparation, and sustenance. In John 6:56–69, Jesus’ own disciples seem to be offended by his teachings, yet Peter recognizes that in Jesus is the “Holy One of God.” In Christ, a dwelling place of God, they have found their home and strength to go on when others have turned back.

The Rev. Kirstin Shrom-Rhoads will preach and lead worship. We will also honor the milestone ordination anniversaries of Rev. Fred Wenner, Rev. Robert Manthey, Rev. Kirstin Shrom-Rhoads, and, posthumously, Rev. Dr. Gerry Hanberry.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the August 25 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

August 18 – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14  |  John 6:51-58

In 1 Kings 2:10–12; 3:3–14, Solomon becomes king, and is a fine exemplar of a wise person with his request for the gift of discernment. People listening to Jesus, struggle to discern his message in John 6:51–58. Just as God provides wisdom to Solomon, Jesus provides spiritual nourishment to the people. Together, these passages affirm the centrality of God’s gift of wisdom in the life of faith. Our scriptures remind us through encouragement, example, prayer, and story, to take care and remain attentive to the way of God, the way of wisdom.

The Rev. David Cooney will be preaching and leading worship. We will celebrate our annual Blessing of the Backpacks.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the August 18 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.