United Church of Ludlow Weekly eNewsletter

United Church of Ludlow Weekly eNewsletter - May 16, 2021

5/14/2021

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 C. J. King 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 May 9, were $2150. 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

Bob Kottkamp celebrates a birthday on May 17
Richard Stewart celebrates a birthday on May 24

_________________________________________________________________________
Exciting News!

The United Church of Ludlow will adopt the following rules of operation, consistent with the latest CDC Guidelines and the third step of the Vermont Forward Plan described by Governor Scott, today.

People who are fully vaccinated may go without a mask in both indoor and outdoor spaces and do not have to social distance.
However, 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.

Beginning this Sunday, May 16, 2021, 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.

_________________________________________________________________________
May 16, 2021 10:00 A.M.

Service of Worship
Ascension Sunday

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.

UNISON CALL TO WORSHIP*     (Please Stand.)

  God of love, help us to remember
  That Christ has no body now on earth but ours,
  No hands but ours, no feet but ours.
  Ours are the eyes to see the needs of the world.
  Ours are the hands with which to bless everyone now.
  Ours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good.
                      -- Saint Teresa of Avila prayer

HYMN 75*                                                             All People That on Earth Do Dwell

OPENING PRAYER*

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

  Dear Lord, you call us to proclaim a gospel we find difficult to practice.
  We watch our clocks to make sure we get on to the next thing when
  the service ends, and sometimes we forget to take you with us. We
  are hesitant to witness to your power and healing love. Sometimes,
  we miss the signs that you are near us, in us. Forgive our moments
  of blindness, dear God of Light and Holy Sight. Fill us with the healing
  presence of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your good news, as we
  participate in the life and suffering of our world, following the example
  of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

SILENCE        (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.)

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

  Choosing to set aside judgment, God gives us forgiveness; choosing to let
  go of punishment, God fills us with grace; choosing to set aside anger, God's
  steadfast love rests upon us. Forgiven, redeemed, restored—we will tell
  everyone, through the lives we lead, what God has done for us.
  Thanks be to God. Amen.

READING OF SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE READING                                                                   Acts 1: 1-11

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                                                                    Luke 24: 44-53

SERMON                                          “Why Stand Looking to Heaven?”

HYMN 475*                                                                         Come Down, Oh Love Divine

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

  “And whatsoever you do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord
  Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col. 3: 17)

OFFERTORY

  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 THANKSGIVING*

  Let us give thanks.

  Holy God of mercy, redemption and grace, this morning we bring our gifts and
  pray that you will help us dedicate them to your work of love and reconciliation.
  These gifts are small compared to what you have given us -- the gifts of creation,
  Christ’s sacrifice, and the ongoing inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In our giving,
  may we grow in gratitude, trust, and faithfulness. In the name of Christ, who
  gave all for us, we pray. Amen.

HYMN 157*                                                            Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun

BENEDICTION AND BLESSING*

BENEDICTION RESPONSE

  Dear Lord, Let us go out into the world humbled by our call, yet bold
  because of the grace of God. Let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be
  “no.” And when we miss the mark, help us to acknowledge our
  shortcomings, to accept your grace, and continue to rise again in
  your service.

DISMISSAL

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

POSTLUDE

  * All who are able may stand
_________________________________________________________________________

Lyrics to the Hymns
for the May 16 Service

HYMN 75*                           All People That on Earth Do Dwell

All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell; come ye before him and rejoice.

Know that the Lord is God indeed; without our aid he did us make;
we are his folk, he doth us feed, and for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise; approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always, for it is seemly so to do.

For why! the Lord our God is good; his mercy is forever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.

HYMN 475*                         Come Down, Oh Love Divine

Come down, O Love divine, seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardor glowing;
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace, till Love create a place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

HYMN 157*                        Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does its successive journeys run;
his kingdom spread from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.

To Jesus endless prayer be made, and endless praises crown his head;
his name like sweet perfume shall rise with every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue dwell on his love with sweetest song;
and infant voices shall proclaim their early blessings on his name.

Blessings abound where'er he reigns; all prisoners leap and loose their chains;
the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring honors peculiar to our King;
angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud amen!

Comments are closed.