United Church of Ludlow Weekly eNewsletter - October 4, 2020

CHURCH SERVICES
at the 
UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW

Service will be shared ELECTRONICALLY
(contact unitedchurch@tds.net for more information)
​
Church services continue at the United Church of Ludlow.

This week, our pastor is C. J. King.  She is nearly finished with her Master's degree in Transformative Leadership & Spirituality at Hartford Seminary. She is a graduate of the UCC's Vermont Academy of Spiritual Training.  In addition to serving local churches as a guest preacher, she works as grant writer and marketing assistant at Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital.  She lives in Jamaica with her husband Ben. We thank C. J. for her leadership this week.
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The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am.   

If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us.  Procedures designed to minimize the risk of exposure are described later in this newsletter.  Please read and follow these procedures for your own, and your fellow congregants', safety.

If you are not able to attend in person, the service will be streamed simultaneously using our church Zoom access to allow you to participate.   Send an email to unitedchurch@tds.net to get information about Zoom access.  ​

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, October 28, 7:00 pm.

        Annual Meeting, Sunday,  November 8, following the service.

 
Weekly Offerings
 
        Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending September 27 were $800.
        The costs for each week are $1,118 (derived by dividing the annual budget by
        52 weeks).
 
Altar Guild
 
        Jean Eggleston will do the Altar Guild duties for the month of September.​ 
 
Prayer Concerns
 
        Please keep Sheila Kafer in your prayers as she recovers from surgery.
 
        ​Please keep Pam Dundy and Jean Eggleston in your prayers, as they
        ​recuperate from recent hospitalizations.
  
        ​We continue to keep the following in our prayers:
        ​James Almond, Terry DeYoung, Kathy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Carolyn Gauthier,         ​   Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Oakes, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder,         ​and Evelyn Verro.

 
        If you wish to add someone to the Prayer List, please send an email to
        unitedchurch@tds.net.

Celebrations
 ​
        Sheila Kafer celebrates a birthday on Oct. 4th.
        ​Judy Edwards celebrates a birthday on Oct. 7th.

        If you wish to add someone to the Celebrations List, please send an email to
        unitedchurch@tds.net.
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Reformation Sunday, October 25th

​On Reformation Sunday, we will remember deceased friends and members who died this past year and dedicate gifts that have been made to the church. There is still time for members and friends of the church to present monetary gifts in memory or in honor of individuals.  A dedication form is provided below.

To be included in the bulletin for Reformation Sunday, all gifts should be made out to the United Church of Ludlow and be mailed to the church office by Wednesday, October 21st.  

For more information, you can contact Anne Oakes, Receiver of Offerings, at anneo@tds.net.
​
Memorials for Reformation Sunday
In memory of
_________________________________________
 
Presented by
_________________________________________
 or
In honor of
_________________________________________
 
Presented by
_________________________________________
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Giving Time - Pledge Time!!

 
This week Anne Oakes, the Receiver of Offerings of the United Church of Ludlow, sent out a statement of contributions to the church through September 30 and the Estimate of Giving (EOG) Form to all those who gifted to the church in the past year.  We hope that you will prayerfully and promptly fill out the EOB and return it to Anne in the envelope that was conveniently self- addressed and included with her correspondence.  Please understand that this is considered a good faith estimate to allow us to prepare a budget for the church.  If your circumstances change, we fully understand, and no explanation is expected or necessary.
 
If you did not receive a letter from Anne and have not recently given to the church and are able, please simply drop her a note and indicate such.  Her address is Anne Oakes, 145 Merrill Rd., Ludlow, VT 05149.  As usual, your support is greatly appreciated and fully deductible for tax purposes to the extent permitted by law.
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​CHURCH REOPENING PROCEDURES

​The following procedures were developed to minimize the risk of attending services at the United Church of Ludlow.

Everyone will enter and exit the church through the rear door.  The new entrance is now complete, along with the new walkway from Elm St.  The LULA is operational to facilitate access by those with difficulty managing stairs. 

Masks are required and should be worn when entering the church and at all times when moving about inside. We ask anyone who might need water or other refreshment to please bring your own, as the kitchen will not be available.  
 
Upon entering you will be greeted by a church member, offered a mask if you do not have one and instructed to sanitize your hands with the sanitizer located inside the doorway.  You will be asked some questions about your health and your name and address will be recorded should contract tracing be required.
 
You will then proceed immediately to your pew in the sanctuary.  There will be no congregating inside the church building.  Other than the sanctuary and bathrooms, all other areas of the church are off limits except to those participating in the service. 
 
Upon entering the sanctuary, please look for the cushions placed in the pews.  These cushions indicate where seating may take place in order to maintain proper social distancing.  They will be placed in pairs, but if any core family group is attending, please feel free to add space in your area, keeping in mind the location of those around you. 
 
While we encourage keeping masks on at all times, masks MAY be removed when you are seated in your pew.  Keep in mind that masks should be worn any time you are talking with your neighbor, speaking aloud during the service, and moving throughout the building.  If you wish to sing during the hymns, it must be done with the mask in place, and in a soft speaking voice.  Announcements and prayers will be offered without microphones, so please stand and speak clearly wearing your mask. 

When communion is celebrated, parishioners may bring their own "bread and wine". 

Offerings will not be collected during the service.  We ask that you continue your weekly offering by writing a check to The United Church and mailing it to Anne Oakes, 145 Merrill Rd., Ludlow, VT 05149.  

When services are over, everyone should leave the church building using the rear door.  You should only stop if you need to use the rest rooms, which will be available at all times. 
 
If you wish to mix socially after services, please do so away from the exit so as not to make others leaving feel uncomfortable.  Keep in mind, this is the first phase of reopening our church, and we are sure practices will need to be amended as time and circumstances dictate.  We encourage anyone with thoughts, fears or suggestions to contact either our President, George Thomson, Rev. Harpster, Deacon Laura Lienhard or Trustee Dean Alexander.  We look forward to worshiping together with all of you, whether in person or through the internet and pray that we soon will be able to return to a more normal worship experience together in God's house.
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Zoom Church Services
at the United Church of Ludlow

​We will continue to offer access to our church service using Zoom.  If you are not already in the “Zoom Community” it is not very hard.  We would love to have you join us for Sunday worship.  If you have used Zoom before and have it installed on your computer you are ready to go.

If you have never used Zoom, please contact us before Sunday so we can help you navigate the program.  For help send an email to: 

                    Laura Lienhard  (Laura_Lienhard@hotmail.com)
                    or 
                    Dean Alexander (DiggerDa@aol.com)
 
PLEASE NOTE: You should only have one live microphone at any one location.  Please DO NOT use your phone AND the microphone on your computer at the same time.  Turn one off.  When both are on, rather unpleasant feedback noise can be produced.

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October 4, 2020                                                                                                   10:00 A. M.
 
                                                    Service of Worship
 
                                EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
                                             “World Communion 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.
 
CALL TO WORSHIP*               (Please Stand.)           
 
        The church is not a building; the church is not a steeple
        The church is not a resting place. The church is a people.
        We are the church together, all who follow Jesus.
        Yes, we are the church together.  We are the people.
 
HYMN  62*                All Creatures of Our God and King”
 
OPENING PRAYER*
 
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.
 
        Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought,
        word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
        We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors
        as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your
        Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in
        your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.    
        (from the Book of Common Prayer)
 
SILENCE
            (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.)
 
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS    
 
        Good people, Hear the good news! If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just
        and will forgive and purify us from all righteousness. Christ redeems us! Anyone
        who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun.
        Believe the good news of the gospel: In Jesus Christ you are forgiven.
 
        Thanks be to God!
 
READING OF SCRIPTURE
 
SCRIPTURE READING                  Acts 2: 41-47
 
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 6: 4-14
 
SERMON                               “Communion with a Small ‘C’ ”
 
HYMN 548*                           “In Christ There is No East or West”
 
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.
 
        Lord, we want to cultivate grateful hearts.  Open our eyes so we can see
        all the everyday blessings to which we have become accustomed: clean
        drinking water, electricity, food in the pantry, hot showers, a roof over our
        heads, legs that carry us, hearing and vision, and sound, healthy minds.
        We don’t want to take these blessings for granted. Help us to remember
        to express gratitude to You daily, for that is Your will. Amen.
 
HYMN 102*               Now Thank We All Our God
 
BENEDICTION AND BLESSING*
 
BENEDICTION RESPONSE
 
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
October 4  Service
 
 
#62    All Creatures of Our God and King
 
All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
[Chorus]     Alleluia! Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!
 
Thou rushing wind that art so strong, Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice; Ye light of evening, find a voice,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
[Chorus]
 
Thou flowing water, pure and clear, Make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright, That gives to man both warmth and light,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
[Chorus]
 
Dear Mother Earth, who day by day Unfoldest blessings on our way,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The flow’rs and fruits that in thee grow, Let them his glory also show,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
[Chorus]
 
 
548.     In Christ There Is No East or West
 
In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north;
but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.
 
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find;
his service is the golden cord close binding humankind.
                                                   
In Christ is neither Jew nor Greek, and neither slave nor free;
both male and female heirs are made and all are kin to me.
 
In Christ now meet both east and west, in him meet south and north;
all Christly souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.
 
 
102.     Now Thank We All Our God
 
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
 
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us still in grace, and guide us when perplexed;
and free us from all ills, in this world and the next.
 
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
the Son, and him who reigns with them in highest heaven;
the one eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.