United Church of Ludlow
Visit us on Facebook or Email us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Minister's Bio
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
  • Recent Sermons
  • Photos
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Form
    • Prayer Request
  • Reports
    • 2019 Annual Report
    • 2018 Annual Report
    • 2017 Annual Report
    • 2016 Annual Report
    • 2015 Annual Report
    • 2014 Annual Report
    • Capital Needs Assessment Report, August 2014
    • 2013 Annual Report

United Church of Ludlow Weekly eNewsletter - May 2, 2021

4/30/2021

 
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 Rev. Bruce Bishop 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
​_________________________________________________________________________
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.
​​_________________________________________________________________________
​WINDHAM UNION ASSOCIATION
SPRING GATHERING
The Annual Spring gathering of the Windham Union Association is this evening, May 2nd at 7 p.m.!!  By popular demand, the Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray, Jr., president of Chicago Theological Seminary will present a lecture, "Race, Poverty, and the Mission of the Church." 
 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86363892342?pwd=T3crSDEwYnFUYUpKWHVqdzNuQWR3Zz09
 
Meeting ID: 863 6389 2342
Passcode: 656445
​_________________________________________________________________________
May 2, 2021                                                                                                10:00 A.M.
SERVICE OF WORSHIP
 
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
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 61*                                                               Come, Thou Almighty King
 
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: 7-21
 
PSALM 19                                                                                       Hymnal, page 750-1
                                                                                                                      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                                                                                John 15: 1-8
 
SERMON                                         “The Mark of a Christian”
 
Hymn 413*                                                                        A Charge to Keep I Have
 
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 292*                                                                        What Wondrous Love Is This
 
                              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  374 *                                                                       Standing on the Promises
 
BENEDICTION
 
BENEDICTION RESPONSE
 
POSTLUDE
 _________________________________________________________________________
Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading
for the May 2 Service
 
 
HYMN 61*                           Come, Thou Almighty King
 
Come, thou almighty King, help us thy name to sing,
help us to praise!
Father all glorious, o'er all victorious,
come and reign over us, Ancient of Days!
 
Come, thou incarnate Word, gird on thy mighty sword,
our prayer attend!
Come, and thy people bless, and give thy word success;
Spirit of holiness, on us descend!
 
Come, holy Comforter, thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour.
Thou who almighty art, now rule in every heart,
and ne'er from us depart, Spirit of power!
 
To thee, great One in Three, eternal praises be,
hence, evermore.
Thy sovereign majesty may we in glory see,
and to eternity love and adore!
 
Hymn 413*                        A Charge to Keep I Have
 
A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky.
 
To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage to do my Master's will!
 
Arm me with jealous care, as in thy sight to live,
and oh, thy servant, Lord, prepare a strict account to give!
 
Help me to watch and pray, and on thyself rely,
assured, if I my trust betray, I shall forever die.

 
HYMN 292*                        What Wondrous Love Is This
 
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
 
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of life
to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
to lay aside his crown for my soul.
 
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme I will sing, I will sing;
while millions join the theme I will sing.
 
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and through eternity I’ll sing on.

 
 
HYMN  374 *                                                   Standing on the Promises
 
Standing on the promises of Christ my King, through eternal ages let his praises ring;
glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God.
Refrain:
Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior;
standing, standing, I'm standing on the promises of God.
 
Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
by the living Word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.
[Refrain]
 
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, bound to him eternally by love's strong cord,
overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, standing on the promises of God.
[Refrain]
 
Standing on the promises I cannot fall, listening every moment to the Spirit's call,
resting in my Savior as my all in all, standing on the promises of God.
[Refrain]
​
Picture
Picture

Comments are closed.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.