CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW are shared ELECTRONICALLY Contact unitedchurch@tds.net or call 802-228-4211 for more information. _________________________________________________________________________ If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us. The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am. We follow procedures to minimize the risk of exposure. Please read and follow those procedures for the safety of all. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to unitedchurch@tds.net to get Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS We wish to thank Hannah Sotak for leading our worship service this morning. Hannah invites anyone who has a topic or scripture they would like to hear a sermon on to please email her this week. Her email address is hsaediving@gmail.com. She would love to speak on any issues, questions, or themes that might be helpful. A Warm Welcome to All Visitors If any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Regarding Individuals in the Hospital or Sick at Home It would be greatly appreciated if you know of individuals or family members in the hospital or sick at home, to kindly inform the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting - Wednesday, June 30, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending June 20, were $ 1100. The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Please continue to mail your offerings to our Receiver of Offerings, Anne Oakes, at 145 Merrill Road, Ludlow, Vermont 05149. Altar Guild Linda Alexander and Carol Wu provide our Altar Guild services. Prayer Concerns Please keep Anne Matalonis in your prayers for a speedy recovery from the surgery for her broken ankle. Cards may be sent to her c/o The Pines, 99 Allen Street, Rutland, VT 05701. We ask that you keep Lee and Sheila Kafer in your prayers as Sheila continues her recovery from complications of her back surgery. Cards may be sent to them at 173 Hesperus Ave., Magnolia, MA 01930. We ask that you keep Hannah Sotak in your prayers as she deals with some health issues. We continue to keep the following in our prayers: James Almond, Arthur Marin, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Doyle, Rick Doyle, Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Anne Oakes, Carolyn Gauthier, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations James Almond celebrates a birthday on June 30 Laura and Jeff Lienhard celebrate an anniversary on July 3 Janet and Ralph Pace celebrate an anniversary on July 8 Annual Church Picnic The Church Picnic will take place at the home of the Thomsons on Sunday, August 1, following our church service. Seeking Caregiver Help I am seeking an individual or several individuals who are willing to spend a couple hours or an afternoon caring for Ginny as it is not safe to leave her alone. This would provide an important break for me as primary caregiver. Since the beginning of the year we have engaged an RN for an afternoon once a week with very beneficial outcomes. But she is leaving soon. I could use help roughly once or twice a week. I am casting a net for possibilities. Remuneration is available. If you are interested or have a neighbor or contact you think might be a possibility, including a responsible high school student, please let me know. You can reach me at 802-228-6282. Bob Kottkamp _________________________________________________________________________ June 27, 2021 10:00 A.M. Service of Worship Fifth Sunday of Pentecost PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREETING The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13: 13) And also with you. CALL TO WORSHIP * (Please Stand.) Sometimes, it feels like the world swallows us whole. Holy Spirit, be with us in the belly of the whale. Sometimes, it feels like the world spits us out! Savior Jesus, be with us as we try to get to shore. Sometimes, we find this new place is exactly where we were meant to be. Creator God, make us ready for this new way in this new day of worship. Let us pray: OPENING PRAYER* (In Unison) God of power and mercy, in whom we have our being; prepare us in body,mind, and spirit this day, to be healed and restored that we may be made into the Sacred Space of God, present in the world. For we pray these things by the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus the Christ. AMEN. HYMN 145* ‘Morning Has Broken’ READING OF SCRIPTURE Jonah 1: 1-12, 17 REsponsive Reading: Jonah 2: 1-10 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. ALL: But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” ALL: And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. GLORIA 70* Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 12: 38-45 SERMON “Who Did Jonah Worship?” HYMN 390* ‘Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive’ JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. LORD’S PRAYER (“trespasses”) PRAYER RESPONSE Hymnal, No. 473 Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, That makest me dwell in safety. OFFERTORY SENTENCE OFFERTORY DOXOLOGY At the Presentation, Hymn 95* Old 100th Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION* HYMN 394* ‘Something Beautiful’ X3 BENEDICTION AND BLESSING* BENEDICTION RESPONSE DISMISSAL Go forth, now, into the calling you have received from the Father, clothed in the restoring and renewing Light of Christ, held and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Go in peace to make peace! AMEN. POSTLUDE * All who are able may stand. _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns
for the June 27 Service HYMN 145* Morning Has Broken Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing Praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the Word. Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven Like the first dewfall on the first grass Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden Sprung in completeness where his feet pass Mine is the sunlight Mine is the morning Born of the one light Eden saw play Praise with elation, praise ev'ry morning God's recreation of the new day HYMN 390* Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive ‘Forgive our sins as we forgive,' You taught us, Lord, to pray But you alone can grant us grace To live the words we say How can your pardon reach and bless The unforgiving heart That broods on wrongs and will not let Old bitterness depart? In blazing light your cross reveals The truth we dimly knew: What trivial debts are owed to us How great our debt to you! Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls And bid resentment cease; Then, bound to all in bonds of love Our lives will spread your peace HYMN 394* Something Beautiful (repeat 3 times) Something beautiful, something good; All my confusion, he understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, But He made something beautiful of my life. _________________________________________________________________________ CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW are shared ELECTRONICALLY Contact unitedchurch@tds.net or call 802-228-4211 for more information. _________________________________________________________________________ If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us. The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am. We follow procedures to minimize the risk of exposure. Please read and follow those procedures for the safety of all. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to unitedchurch@tds.net to get Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS We wish to thank Hannah Sotak for leading our worship service this morning. Hannah invites anyone who has a topic or scripture they would like to hear a sermon on to please email her this week. Her email address is hsaediving@gmail.com. She would love to speak on any issues, questions, or themes that might be helpful. A Warm Welcome to All Visitors If any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Regarding Individuals in the Hospital or Sick at Home It would be greatly appreciated if you know of individuals or family members in the hospital or sick at home, to kindly inform the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting - Wednesday, June 30, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending June 13, 2021 were $ 680. The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Please continue to mail your offerings to our Receiver of Offerings, Anne Oakes, at 145 Merrill Road, Ludlow, Vermont 05149. Altar Guild Linda Alexander and Carol Wu provide our Altar Guild services. Prayer Concerns Please keep Anne Matalonis in your prayers for a speedy recovery from the surgery for her broken ankle. We ask that you keep Lee and Sheila Kafer in your prayers as Sheila recovers from complications of her back surgery this past week. We ask that you keep Linda Thomson’s sister, Starr Anderson, who lost her husband to metastatic cancer, in your prayers. We ask that you keep Hannah Sotak in your prayers as she deals with some health issues. We continue to keep the following in our prayers: Lorraine Fitzgibbons, James Almond, Arthur Marin, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Doyle, Rick Doyle, Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Anne Oakes, Carolyn Gauthier, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations Larry and Dotti Humm, Penny Trick & Pat Moore, and George and Linda Thomson celebrate anniversaries on June 24 Herb and Sandra Van Guilder celebrate an anniversary on June 25 James Almond celebrates a birthday on June 30 Annual Church Picnic The Church Picnic will take place at the home of the Thomsons on Sunday, August 1, following our church service. _________________________________________________________________________ June 20, 2021 10:00 A.M. Service of Worship Fourth Sunday after Pentecost PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREETING The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13: 13) And also with you. CALL TO WORSHIP * (Please Stand.) God invites all to this place who wish to come as they are before the Lord; Come, Holy Spirit, prepare for worship this day. Make us ready in body, mind, and spirit; Still our racing thoughts, ease our tired bodies, and open our hearts and minds Come, let us prepare to worship the Lord. HYMN 92* For the Beauty of the Earth vs. 1,2,4,6 OPENING PRAYER* READING OF SCRIPTURE 2 Corinthians 6: 1-13 Psalm 107: 1-9, 33-43 page 831 GLORIA 70* Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 4: 35-41 SERMON “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?” HYMN 474* Precious Lord, Take My Hand JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. LORD’S PRAYER (“trespasses”) PRAYER RESPONSE Hymnal, No. 473 Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, That makest me dwell in safety. OFFERTORY SENTENCE OFFERTORY DOXOLOGY At the Presentation, Hymn 95* Old 100th Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION* HYMN *368 My Hope Is Built BENEDICTION AND BLESSING* BENEDICTION RESPONSE DISMISSAL Go forth, now, into the calling you have received from the Father, clothed in the restoring and renewing Light of Christ, held and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Go in peace to make peace! AMEN. POSTLUDE * All who are able may stand. _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading
for the June 20 Service HYMN 144* For the Beauty of the Earth For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Refrain Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light; (Refrain) For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; (Refrain) For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given, for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven: (Refrain) HYMN 474* Precious Lord, Take My Hand Precious Lord, take my hand Lead me on, let me stand I am tired, I am weak, I am worn Through the storm, through the night Lead me on to the light Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near When my life is almost gone Hear my cry, hear my call Hold my hand lest I fall Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home When the darkness appears and the night draws near And the day is past and gone At the river I stand Guide my feet, hold my hand Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home HYMN *368 My Hope Is Built My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. Refrain: On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. (Refrain) His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay. (Refrain) When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found! Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne! (Refrain) PSALM 107 CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW are shared ELECTRONICALLY Contact unitedchurch@tds.net or call 802-228-4211 for more information. _________________________________________________________________________ If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us. The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am. We follow procedures to minimize the risk of exposure. Please read and follow those procedures for the safety of all. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to unitedchurch@tds.net to get Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS We wish to thank Hannah Sotak for leading our worship service this morning. Hannah invites anyone who has a topic or scripture they would like to hear a sermon on to please email her this week. Her email address is hsaediving@gmail.com. She would love to speak on any issues, questions, or themes that might be helpful. A Warm Welcome to All Visitors If any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Regarding Individuals in the Hospital or Sick at Home It would be greatly appreciated if you know of individuals or family members in the hospital or sick at home, to kindly inform the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting - Wednesday, June 23, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending June 6, 2021 were $ 917. The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Please continue to mail your offerings to our Receiver of Offerings, Anne Oakes, at 145 Merrill Road, Ludlow, Vermont 05149. Altar Guild Linda Alexander and Carol Wu provide our Altar Guild services. Prayer Concerns We ask that you keep Lee and Sheila Kafer in your prayers as Sheila recovers from complications of her back surgery this past week. We ask that you keep Linda Thomson’s sister, Starr Anderson, who lost her husband to metastatic cancer, in your prayers. We ask that you keep Hannah Sotak in your prayers as she deals with some health issues. We continue to keep the following in our prayers: Lorraine Fitzgibbons, James Almond, Arthur Marin, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Doyle, Rick Doyle, Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Anne Oakes, Carolyn Gauthier, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations Brenda and Dick Dansingburg celebrate an anniversary on June 18 Herb Van Guilder celebrates a birthday on June 19 Larry and Dotti Humm, Penny Trick & Pat Moore, and George and Linda Thomson celebrate anniversaries on June 24 Herb and Sandra Van Guilder celebrate an anniversary on June 25 Peony Pie Party at Happy Acres Farm All are invited to this year's Peony Pie Party at Jim and Sandy Peplau's farm on Sunday, June 13 at 2pm. Bring a vase or container for a bouquet, along with your craving for pie this Sunday. The peonies are getting close to full bloom, but with the weather forecast for next week, this is our best bet for viewing. Happy Acres is located at 826 Twenty Mile Stream Road, South Reading, VT. Email at hpyacres@gmail.com for directions or more info. Hope to see you then. Jim and Sandy Annual Church Picnic The Church Picnic will take place on Sunday, August 1 following church at the home of the Thomsons. Exciting News! The United Church of Ludlow has adopted the following rules of operation, consistent with the latest CDC Guidelines and the third step of the Vermont Forward Plan described by Governor Scott. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, please contact Dean or Laura. Please refer to vermont.gov for complete guidance and additional detail. _________________________________________________________________________June 13, 2021 10:00 A.M. Service of Worship THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREETING The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13: 13) And also with you. CALL TO WORSHIP * (Please Stand.) Give thanks to God; give praise to the One who saves; Rejoice and sing, for our lives are held fast in God’s mercy! Give thanks to God; give praise to the One who restores; Rejoice and sing, for our lives are held fast in God’s grace! Give thanks to God; give praise to the One who calls us by name! Rejoice and sing, for our lives are held fast in God’s love! HYMN 144* This is My Father’s World OPENING PRAYER* READING OF SCRIPTURE 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17 Psalm 92 page 811, Response 1 GLORIA 70* Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 7: 14-30 SERMON “Are There Still Crumbs for the Dogs?” HYMN 400* Come, Though Fount of Every Blessing JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. LORD’S PRAYER (“trespasses”) PRAYER RESPONSE Hymnal, No. 473 Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, That makest me dwell in safety. OFFERTORY SENTENCE OFFERTORY DOXOLOGY At the Presentation, Hymn 95* Old 100th Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION* HYMN *519 Lift Every Voice and Sing BENEDICTION AND BLESSING* BENEDICTION RESPONSE DISMISSAL Go forth, now, into the calling you have received from the Father, clothed in the restoring and renewing Light of Christ, held and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Go in peace to make peace! AMEN. POSTLUDE * All who are able may stand. ________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading for the June 13 Service HYMN 144 This is My Father’s World This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declare their maker's praise. This is my Father's world: he shines in all that's fair; in the rustling grass I hear him pass; he speaks to me everywhere. This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad! HYMN 400 Come, Though Fount of Every Blessing Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love. Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I'm come; and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood. O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above. HYMN *519 Lift Every Voice and Sing Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty; let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us; sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on till victory is won. Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, felt in the days when hope unborn had died; yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered; we have come, treading our path thru the blood of the slaughtered, out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last where the white gleam of our bright star is cast. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; thou who hast by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee; lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee; shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand, true to our God, true to our native land. PSALM 92 ________________________________________________________________________
CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW are shared ELECTRONICALLY Contact unitedchurch@tds.net or call 802-228-4211 for more information. _________________________________________________________________________ If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us. The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am. We follow procedures to minimize the risk of exposure. Please read and follow those procedures for the safety of all. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to unitedchurch@tds.net to get Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS We wish to thank Rev. Bruce Bishop for leading our worship service this morning. A Warm Welcome to All Visitors If any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Regarding Individuals in the Hospital or Sick at Home It would be greatly appreciated if you know of individuals or family members in the hospital or sick at home, to kindly inform the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting - Wednesday, June 23, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending May 30, 2021 were $550. The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Please continue to mail your offerings to Anne Oakes, our Receiver of Offerings, at 145 Merrill Road, Ludlow, Vermont 05149. Altar Guild Linda Alexander and Carol Wu provide our Altar Guild services. Prayer Concerns We ask that you keep Hannah Sotak in your prayers as she deals with some health issues. We continue to keep the following in our prayers: Lorraine Fitzgibbons, James Almond, Arthur Marin, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Doyle, Rick Doyle, Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Anne Oakes, Carolyn Gauthier, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations Bob Watts celebrates a birthday on June 10 Brenda and Dick Dansingburg celebrate an anniversary on June 18 Herb Van Guilder celebrates a birthday on June 19 _________________________________________________________________________ Exciting News! The United Church of Ludlow has adopted the following rules of operation, consistent with the latest CDC Guidelines and the third step of the Vermont Forward Plan described by Governor Scott. • People who are fully vaccinated may go without a mask in both indoor and outdoor spaces and do not have to social distance. • You may continue wearing a mask if you are not comfortable with the relaxed rules. • Those who are not fully vaccinated must continue to follow masking and social distance guidelines for the time being. • We will begin using offering plates again. If you feel uncomfortable, please continue to send your gifts to Anne. • We will continue to use the Prefilled Communion cups and wafer sets until we run out of them. • We will have coffee hour following the service in the fellowship hall for those who would like to stay. For those who do not yet feel comfortable, both the front and back doors will be open for you to enter or depart from the church! If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, please contact Dean or Laura. Please refer to vermont.gov for complete guidance and additional detail. _________________________________________________________________________ June 6, 2021 10:00 A.M. SERVICE OF WORSHIP SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST COMMUNION SUNDAY PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) GREETING The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13: 13) And also with you. CALL TO WORSHIP* (Please stand.) We gather today, seeking the peace Christ gives. We gather, despite many a conflict, many a doubt, within our souls. We gather, longing for the breath of God’s spirit to give us courage and renewal. Come, Christ Jesus, be our guest. Bless us through the power of your Spirit and give us the courage to live as your disciples day by day. HYMN 73* O worship the King, all glorious above PRAYER OF CONFESSION If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1: 8-9) Let us confess our sins before God and one another. God of compassion have mercy upon us as we confess our sin. In Christ you bring light, yet we still dwell in darkness. Your word offers guidance, but we choose to ignore your counsel. You promise renewal, but we heed not your wisdom. We bow to the gods of this world, choosing to hide from your truth. Speak to us again from beyond the clouds of our sinfulness; dazzle us anew with the light of Christ’s love; restore and forgive us…. SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS Hear the good news. God is light, and in God there is no darkness. “If we say we have fellowship with God while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.” God is faithful and just, and Jesus Christ forgives us our sin. READING OF SCRIPTURE THE EPISTLE LESSON I John 4: 7-12 PSALM 139 Hymnal, page 854 GLORIA 70* Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. THE GOSPEL LESSON John 13: 1-15 SERMON “Service in the Lord’s Name” Hymn 445* Happy the home when God is there JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE PRAYER RESPONSE Hymnal, No. 473 Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, That makest me dwell in safety. OFFERTORY SENTENCE PRAYER OF DEDICATION HYMN 620* Gentile or Jew, servant or free THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION INVITATION BLESSING OF THE ELEMENTS THE LORD’S PRAYER BREAKING THE BREAD AND LIFTING THE CUP THE COMMUNION PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Let us give thanks. Bountiful God, we give you thanks that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. HYMN 530 * "Are ye able," said the Master BENEDICTION BENEDICTION RESPONSE POSTLUDE _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading for the June 6 Service HYMN 73* O worship the King, all glorious above O worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully sing God's power and God's love; our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise. O tell of God's might, O sing of God's grace, whose robe is the light, whose canopy space, whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, and dark is God's path on the wings of the storm. The earth with its store of wonders untold, Almighty, thy power hath founded of old; hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree, and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea. Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail; thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. HYMN 445* Happy the home when God is there Happy the home when God is there, and love fills every breast; when one their wish, and one their prayer, and one their heavenly rest. Happy the home where Jesus' name is sweet to every ear; where children early speak his fame, and parents hold him dear. Happy the home where prayer is heard, and praise is wont to rise; where parents love the sacred Word and all its wisdom prize. Lord, let us in our homes agree this blessed peace to gain; unite our hearts in love to thee, and love to all will reign. HYMN 620* Gentile or Jew, servant or free Refrain One bread, one body, one Lord of all One cup of blessing which we bless And we, though many, throughout the earth We are one body in this one Lord Gentile or Jew, Servant or free, Woman or man, No more (Refrain) Many the gifts, many the works One in the Lord Of all (Refrain) Grain for the fields, scattered and grown, Gathered to one, for all. (Refrain) HYMN 530 * "Are ye able," said the Master "Are ye able," said the Master, "to be crucified with me?" "Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered, "to the death we follow thee." Refrain: Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty. Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes, that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise? (Refrain) Are ye able when the shadows close around you with the sod, to believe that spirit triumphs, to commend your soul to God? (Refrain) Are ye able? Still the Master whispers down eternity, and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee. (Refrain) PSALM 139 _________________________________________________________________________
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