United Church of Ludlow Weekly eNewsletter

United Church of Ludlow Weekly eNewsletter - April 25, 2021

4/23/2021

CHURCH SERVICES
at the
UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW

are shared ELECTRONICALLY
Contact unitedchurch@tds.net
or call 802-228-4211
for more information.
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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.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

We wish to thank Rev. Hannah K. Sotak for leading our worship service this Sunday.

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, May 26, 7:00 pm

Weekly Offerings

Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending on April 11 were $350.
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 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

Bill Kneebone celebrates a birthday on April 25
Larry Humm celebrates a birthday on April 27
Dick Dansingburg celebrates a birthday on May 10
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Exciting News!

The church will open on Sunday, May 2, 2021 according to the Vermont Forward Roadmap to Reopening

We will move to universal guidance:

Stay at Home if sick
Wear a mask
Six foot spaces
Practice good hygiene

Indoor Gatherings-

1 unvaccinated person per 100 square feet up to 150 plus any number

of vaccinated people

We will start 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.

After Church, beginning on Sunday, May 16, 2021, we will have coffee hour 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.
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April 25th, 2021 10:00 A.M.

Service of Worship
Fourth Sunday of Easter

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.)

            The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
            For the Lord knows and leads the ways to the sweetest and safest
    green pastures, and the Lord leads me to drink from the still, cool,
    clear water.
    As we gather this day, may we trust in the Good Shepherd to lead us, mold
            us, and make us;
    May we trust God’s Holy Spirit to form from us the Body of Christ,
    the Sacred Space of God in the world.

    Let us pray:

OPENING PRAYER*

  Good Shepherd, in whom we have safety and provision; as we gather
  in this place to worship, may we trust you to feed our hungry hearts,
  soothe our worried minds, and rejuvenate our tired souls so that we
  may be the Body of Christ for the World when we leave this place.
  For it is by the power of the Holy Spirit we pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

HYMN 144*   This Is My Father’s World
READING OF SCRIPTURE Acts 4: 5-12

Psalm 23 P. 754

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 10: 1-16

SERMON   “Good Shepherd of my Soul”

HYMN 377* It Is Well with My Soul

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 98*     To God Be the Glory

BENEDICTION AND BLESSING*

  There is no orphan of God; there is no depth too deep, no mountain too high,
  no hatred too strong, no oppression too great; Not death, nor life, nor angels,
  or demons, not government or institution, not even the Church, that can
  separate us from the love and grace of God because of Jesus Christ, the Way,
  the Door, the Gate, the Good Shepherd. May we live this truth in all we do
  and say as we leave this place and go into the world to be the Body of Christ.
  AMEN.

BENEDICTION RESPONSE

DISMISSAL

  Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
  Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE
  * All who are able may stand.
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Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading
for the April 25 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 377*                         It Is Well with My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain: It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain)

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul.
(Refrain)

HYMN 363*                         And Can it Be That I Should Gain, vs. 1,2,4

1. And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

‘Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.

He left his Father's throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!),
emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Psalm 23                                        P. 754

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