CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW are shared ELECTRONICALLY Contact [email protected] 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 [email protected] to get Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting - Wednesday, April 21, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending on April 11 were $1265. 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 George and Linda Thomson's daughter and granddaughter, Amanda and Hailey LaPlatte, and George's niece and her daughter, Chrissy and Emma Reynolds, tested positive for coronavirus, two weeks ago. Prayers for all would be appreciated. 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 Carl Hagge celebrates a birthday on April 19 Dotti Humm celebrates a birthday on April 24 Bill Kneebone celebrates a birthday on April 25 _________________________________________________________________________ Let’s Say Thank You in a Big Way Have you ever noticed when you arrive at the church in the winter, the driveway is always plowed? For as many years as we can remember Wayne Hammond has plowed the parking area at our church. He has never charged us for his services. It is his donation to the church. We think it is way past time to thank him for his generosity. Let’s put together a gift basket for him with gift certificates, gift cards, homemade goodies, jams, syrups or whatever else you think would be appropriate. You can leave it in the church in the designated box on the table in the social hall or call George or Linda and they will come to you to pick it up. If you would prefer to make a cash contribution, please send a check made out to the United Church, to Anne Oakes, 145 Merrill Rd., Ludlow, VT 05149. Write Wayne Hammond Gift in the memo line. _________________________________________________________________________ Help Needed! The Church Board is looking for someone to take a few photographs of the town of Ludlow with Okemo in the background, and of the Sanctuary as you first enter. They will be used to illustrate our church profile. If interested contact Laura ([email protected]) or Dean ([email protected]). _________________________________________________________________________ April 18, 2021 10:00 A.M. Service of Worship Third 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.) We gather here today, invited and loved by God to come as we are. Yet God loves us far too much to leave us this way… God has given all of God’s self that we may be made whole. Piece by pieces, moment by moment, breath by breath, we are made new. May God bind us together this day by the power of the Holy Spirit that together, we may be into the Sacred Space that is the Church. Let us pray: OPENING PRAYER* God of all Creation and Recreation who makes us new again each day; gather us in and make from us the Body of Christ that we may, after we leave this time together, become the Body of Christ for the world. For it is in Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN. HYMN 480* O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go READING OF SCRIPTURE Acts 3: 12-19 Psalm 4: 6-8 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O LORD!” You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound. I will both lie down and sleep in peace; For you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety. 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: 36-48 SERMON “When God Speaks in Silence” HYMN 142* If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee 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 363* And Can it Be That I Should Gain, vs. 1,2,4 BENEDICTION AND BLESSING* (written by Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell Used with Permission) The tomb is empty. The stone is rolled away. There is no darkness now, only light. God continues to renew us and restore us. We are forgiven, loved and restored, receiving the gift and promise of new life and resurrection now. Go and share the wondrous news of God’s love in Jesus the 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. _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading
for the April 18 Service HYMN 480* O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be. O Light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to thee; my heart restores its borrowed ray, that in thy sunshine's blaze its day may brighter, fairer be. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow thru the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be. O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life's glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red life that shall endless be. HYMN 142* If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee If thou but suffer God to guide thee, and hope in God through all thy ways, God will give strength, whate'er betide thee, and bear thee through the evil days. Who trusts in God's unchanging love builds on the rock that naught can move. Only be still, and wait God's leisure in cheerful hope, with heart content to take whate'er thy Maker's pleasure and all-discerning love hath sent; we know our inmost wants are known, for we are called to be God's own. Sing, pray, and keep God's ways unswerving; so do thine own part faithfully, and trust God's word; though undeserving, thou yet shalt find it true for thee. God never yet forsook at need the soul that trusted God indeed. HYMN 363* And Can it Be That I Should Gain, vs. 1,2,4 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. 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. PSALM 4 page 857-858 Reading Verses 6 – 8 only Comments are closed.
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