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 thank Christine Boardman for leading us in worship this week.
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 thank Christine Boardman for leading us in worship this week.
_________________________________________________________________________
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 to leave a message or send an email to
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, Feb. 24, 7:00 pm
Weekly Offerings
Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending February 14, were $1575.
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 Bob Kottkamp in your prayers as he recovers at home from surgery.
We ask that you keep David and Beth Almond's son, James, in your
prayers as he continues his recovery at home.
We continue to keep the following in our prayers:
James Almond, Terry DeYoung, Arthur Marin, Kathy Doyle, Judy Edwards,
Jean Eggleston, Carolyn Gauthier, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone,
Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Oakes, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder,
and Evelyn Verro.
Celebrations
Lee Potter celebrates a birthday on February 25th
Linda and Lee Potter celebrate an anniversary on Feb 26th
Marge Macintyre celebrates a birthday on February 28th
Susan Kneebone celebrates a birthday on March 5th_________________________________________________________________________
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 to leave a message or send an email to
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, Feb. 24, 7:00 pm
Weekly Offerings
Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending February 14, were $1575.
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 Bob Kottkamp in your prayers as he recovers at home from surgery.
We ask that you keep David and Beth Almond's son, James, in your
prayers as he continues his recovery at home.
We continue to keep the following in our prayers:
James Almond, Terry DeYoung, Arthur Marin, Kathy Doyle, Judy Edwards,
Jean Eggleston, Carolyn Gauthier, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone,
Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Oakes, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder,
and Evelyn Verro.
Celebrations
Lee Potter celebrates a birthday on February 25th
Linda and Lee Potter celebrate an anniversary on Feb 26th
Marge Macintyre celebrates a birthday on February 28th
Susan Kneebone celebrates a birthday on March 5th_________________________________________________________________________
February 21, 2021 10:00 AM
Service of Worship
First Sunday of Lent
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* (adapted from Ps 25, 1-3) (Please stand)
To you, O GOD, we lift up the spirit of our whole selves.
O God, we trust unashamedly in you;
seeking that you be not ashamed of us;
May we begin our Lenten journey together in right relationships;
Teach us. Show us. Guide us in your paths.
Grow us to know your ways more clearly.
You are the God of our salvation and the Sustainer of good relations.
For you we wait.
May integrity, a clean conscience, and upright living preserve us.
Amen.
HYMN 269* Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
INVOCATION: (Unison)
As in days of old, Creator God,
we come to look for your signs of covenant promises.
Like the rainbow days of Noah,
we see and know your signs
and hear your voice again
directing us to places
of preparation and transformation
in our lives and in our world.
Thank you God,
for your covenant signs
in this season of Lent. Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Sisters and Brothers, in our daily lives
we need the gift of the season of Lent.
These 40 days can help us restore right relationships
with God and with others.
This is a fine time to focus,
clear our hearts and minds of distractions,
and re-orient and restore our whole selves.
May God be with us. Let us pray:
PRAYER:
Creating and Renewing God.
In this Lenten season we each need the opportunity
to clear our eyes of the glaze of indifference and apathy.
Help us get our minds off distractions, obsessions and self-pity
so that we don’t feel helpless.
Help us to start over.
Re-orient head and heart
so that we may fill our whole selves
with life-affirming activities and thoughts.
(Silence)
May I be in right relationship with you and all your creation
and join the United Church of Christ
in over-coming violence, hunger, and injustice.
May I find courage and clarity to assist me
in works of justice and compassion
which make daily life bearable for many.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
SILENCE (observed for reflection and prayer.)
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S STEADFASTNESS:
Brothers and Sisters,
God hears our prayers and, even in our human frailty,
promises to be with us in the wilderness times.
Observe, find comfort, and offer with courage
to restore and build relationships among God’s people.
Experience a new and renewed sense of hope. Amen.
READING OF SCRIPTURE
OLD TESTAMENT Genesis 9:8-17
PSALM 25:1-10 Hymnal, pages 756-757
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 1:9-15
SERMON “Covenant: Signs of Promise”
HYMN 430* O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
THE 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
Psalm 25:10 reminds us,
“All the paths of God are steadfast love and faithfulness
for those who keep God’s covenant and decrees.”
Our church’s ministries are extensions of God’s love
and faithfulness made possible through the generous giving
of our time, energy, and money. With love let us offer our gifts to God.
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, you heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION*
God of all bounty and blessing,
receive our lives and our gifts
to be bounty and blessings
to you, our church, and the world. Amen.
HYMN 256* We Would See Jesus
BENEDICTION AND BLESSING*
Mindful of your mercy, forgiveness, and instruction, O God,
we go into the world renewed, refreshed,
and full of courage to be your people.
We go in peace to work for justice. Amen.
BENEDICTION RESPONSE
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
* All who are able may stand.
_________________________________________________________________________
Prayers for the Journey: Service Prayers for the First Sunday of Lent were written by the Rev. Rosemary McCombs Maxey, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, who is retired clergy and a member of Fellowship Congregational United Church of Christ, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
_________________________________________________________________________
Service of Worship
First Sunday of Lent
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* (adapted from Ps 25, 1-3) (Please stand)
To you, O GOD, we lift up the spirit of our whole selves.
O God, we trust unashamedly in you;
seeking that you be not ashamed of us;
May we begin our Lenten journey together in right relationships;
Teach us. Show us. Guide us in your paths.
Grow us to know your ways more clearly.
You are the God of our salvation and the Sustainer of good relations.
For you we wait.
May integrity, a clean conscience, and upright living preserve us.
Amen.
HYMN 269* Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
INVOCATION: (Unison)
As in days of old, Creator God,
we come to look for your signs of covenant promises.
Like the rainbow days of Noah,
we see and know your signs
and hear your voice again
directing us to places
of preparation and transformation
in our lives and in our world.
Thank you God,
for your covenant signs
in this season of Lent. Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Sisters and Brothers, in our daily lives
we need the gift of the season of Lent.
These 40 days can help us restore right relationships
with God and with others.
This is a fine time to focus,
clear our hearts and minds of distractions,
and re-orient and restore our whole selves.
May God be with us. Let us pray:
PRAYER:
Creating and Renewing God.
In this Lenten season we each need the opportunity
to clear our eyes of the glaze of indifference and apathy.
Help us get our minds off distractions, obsessions and self-pity
so that we don’t feel helpless.
Help us to start over.
Re-orient head and heart
so that we may fill our whole selves
with life-affirming activities and thoughts.
(Silence)
May I be in right relationship with you and all your creation
and join the United Church of Christ
in over-coming violence, hunger, and injustice.
May I find courage and clarity to assist me
in works of justice and compassion
which make daily life bearable for many.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
SILENCE (observed for reflection and prayer.)
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S STEADFASTNESS:
Brothers and Sisters,
God hears our prayers and, even in our human frailty,
promises to be with us in the wilderness times.
Observe, find comfort, and offer with courage
to restore and build relationships among God’s people.
Experience a new and renewed sense of hope. Amen.
READING OF SCRIPTURE
OLD TESTAMENT Genesis 9:8-17
PSALM 25:1-10 Hymnal, pages 756-757
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 1:9-15
SERMON “Covenant: Signs of Promise”
HYMN 430* O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
THE 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
Psalm 25:10 reminds us,
“All the paths of God are steadfast love and faithfulness
for those who keep God’s covenant and decrees.”
Our church’s ministries are extensions of God’s love
and faithfulness made possible through the generous giving
of our time, energy, and money. With love let us offer our gifts to God.
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, you heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION*
God of all bounty and blessing,
receive our lives and our gifts
to be bounty and blessings
to you, our church, and the world. Amen.
HYMN 256* We Would See Jesus
BENEDICTION AND BLESSING*
Mindful of your mercy, forgiveness, and instruction, O God,
we go into the world renewed, refreshed,
and full of courage to be your people.
We go in peace to work for justice. Amen.
BENEDICTION RESPONSE
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
* All who are able may stand.
_________________________________________________________________________
Prayers for the Journey: Service Prayers for the First Sunday of Lent were written by the Rev. Rosemary McCombs Maxey, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, who is retired clergy and a member of Fellowship Congregational United Church of Christ, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
_________________________________________________________________________
Lyrics to the Hymns and
Responsive Readings
for the February 21 Service
HYMN 269 Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
Lord, who throughout these forty days for us didst fast and pray,
teach us with thee to mourn our sins and close by thee to stay.
As thou with Satan didst contend, and didst the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight, in thee to conquer sin.
As thou didst hunger bear, and thirst, so teach us, gracious Lord,
to die to self, and chiefly live by thy most holy word.
And through these days of penitence, and through thy passiontide,
yea, evermore in life and death, Jesus, with us abide.
Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering over past,
an Easter of unending joy we may attain at last.
HYMN 430 O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
O Master, let me walk with thee in lowly paths of service free;
tell me thy secret; help me bear the strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move by some clear, winning word of love;
teach me the wayward feet to stay, and guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me thy patience; still with thee in closer, dearer company,
in work that keeps faith sweet and strong, in trust that triumphs over wrong;
In hope that sends a shining ray far down the future's broadening way,
in peace that only thou canst give, with thee, O Master, let me live.
HYMN 256 We Would See Jesus
We would see Jesus; lo! his star is shining above the stable while the angels sing;
there in a manger on the hay reclining; haste, let us lay our gifts before the King.
We would see Jesus, Mary's son most holy, light of the village life from day to day;
shining revealed through every task most lowly, the Christ of God, the life, the truth, the way.
We would see Jesus, on the mountain teaching, with all the listening people gathered round;
while birds and flowers and sky above are preaching
the blessedness which simple trust has found.
We would see Jesus, in his work of healing, at eventide before the sun was set;
divine and human, in his deep revealing of God made flesh, in loving service met.
We would see Jesus, in the early morning, still as of old he calleth, "Follow me!"
Let us arise, all meaner service scorning; Lord, we are thine, we give ourselves to thee.
PSALM 25:1-10 Hymnal, pages 756-757
Responsive Readings
for the February 21 Service
HYMN 269 Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
Lord, who throughout these forty days for us didst fast and pray,
teach us with thee to mourn our sins and close by thee to stay.
As thou with Satan didst contend, and didst the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight, in thee to conquer sin.
As thou didst hunger bear, and thirst, so teach us, gracious Lord,
to die to self, and chiefly live by thy most holy word.
And through these days of penitence, and through thy passiontide,
yea, evermore in life and death, Jesus, with us abide.
Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering over past,
an Easter of unending joy we may attain at last.
HYMN 430 O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
O Master, let me walk with thee in lowly paths of service free;
tell me thy secret; help me bear the strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move by some clear, winning word of love;
teach me the wayward feet to stay, and guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me thy patience; still with thee in closer, dearer company,
in work that keeps faith sweet and strong, in trust that triumphs over wrong;
In hope that sends a shining ray far down the future's broadening way,
in peace that only thou canst give, with thee, O Master, let me live.
HYMN 256 We Would See Jesus
We would see Jesus; lo! his star is shining above the stable while the angels sing;
there in a manger on the hay reclining; haste, let us lay our gifts before the King.
We would see Jesus, Mary's son most holy, light of the village life from day to day;
shining revealed through every task most lowly, the Christ of God, the life, the truth, the way.
We would see Jesus, on the mountain teaching, with all the listening people gathered round;
while birds and flowers and sky above are preaching
the blessedness which simple trust has found.
We would see Jesus, in his work of healing, at eventide before the sun was set;
divine and human, in his deep revealing of God made flesh, in loving service met.
We would see Jesus, in the early morning, still as of old he calleth, "Follow me!"
Let us arise, all meaner service scorning; Lord, we are thine, we give ourselves to thee.
PSALM 25:1-10 Hymnal, pages 756-757
R
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Let none that wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are clothed with treachery.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long. R
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 and leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches them their way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. R
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Let none that wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are clothed with treachery.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long. R
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 and leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches them their way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. R
