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CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW Service will be shared ELECTRONICALLY (contact [email protected] for more information) Church services continue on site at the United Church of Ludlow. The doors will open at 9:45 am, and worship will begin 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. A warm welcome to all visitors. If the Pastor or any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or Rev. Harpster at 802-875-8895. His email is [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 pastor, Rev. Harpster. Upcoming Meetings/Events
Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending 8-16-20 were $1520 including $100 in memory of Pat Liao. 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 August. Prayer Concerns Please keep Bill and Susan Kneebone in your prayers as Susan begins a new phase of life as a resident at the skilled nursing facility Cedar Hill, Windsor, VT. You may write to Susan at Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community, 49 Cedar Hill Drive, Windsor, VT 05089 We continue to keep the following in our prayers: James Almond, Terry DeYoung, Kathy Doyle, Pam Dundy, Judy Edwards, Carolyn Gauthier, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Annie Oakes, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations Congratulations to Jean Eggleston on her recognition by the Ludlow Rotary Club as their 2020 Community Service Award recipient for unselfishly devoting herself to working to improve the quality of life in the community as well as providing needy citizens with the means to enhance their lives. 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. 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 (L[email protected]) or Dean Alexander ([email protected]) 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. _________________________________________________________________________ August 23, 2020 10:00 A. M. Service of Worship TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 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* (Matthew 16:13-20) (Please Stand.) Who do you say I am? Some say Moses, some say Elijah, Prophet who comes with a word from the Holy. Who do you say I am? Some say Messiah, some say “Human One” Healer who shares the life of the Holy. Who do you say I am? Some say Emmanuel, God-with-us, Some say Wisdom, teacher of truth Some say Ruler of Peace, Bringer of Justice. And you, Who do you say I am? You are the Body to which we belong; We are your members, each needed, treasured. In you we are transformed into your Hope, your Love, your Vision, You are the One we long for, the One we seek here today, The One who empowers our lives. Come, Let us worship! HYMN 605* Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters PRAYER OF INVOCATION* Holy One, we tell your story today as a conspiracy of hearts; The defiant midwives, the laboring women, the daughter of power and the daughter of poverty join forces to protect the children of Israel and so set the stage for liberation. Meet us here today and show us the gifts we have to offer in the service of your kin-dom-- resilience, clear-sightedness, courage, compassion-- setting the stage for a Just World for All. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. READING OF SCRIPTURE PSALM 124 Hymnal, pages 846 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 HEBREW PASSAGE Exodus 1:8 - 2:10 SERMON “Cunning, Compassion and Courage” HYMN 358* Dear Lord and Father of Mankind 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 “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers--so many caring people in this world.” (Fred Rogers, 20th Century) 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 DEDICATION* HYMN 664* Sent Forth by God's Blessing 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 August 23 Service 605. Wash, O God, Our Sons & Daughters Wash, O God, our sons and daughters, where your cleansing waters flow. Number them among your people; bless as Christ blessed long ago. Weave them garments bright and sparkling; compass them with love and light Fill, anoint them; send your Spirit, holy dove and heart's delight. We who bring them long for nurture; by your milk may we be fed. Let us join your feast, partaking cup of blessing, living bread. God, renew us, guide our footsteps; free from sin and all its snares, one with Christ in living, dying, by your Spirit, children, heirs. Oh, how deep your holy wisdom! Unimagined, all your ways! To your name be glory, honor! With our lives we worship, praise! We your people stand before you, water washed and Spirit born. By your grace, our lives we offer. Recreate us; God, transform! 358. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways; reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives thy service find, in deeper reverence, praise. In simple trust like theirs who heard, beside the Syrian sea, the gracious calling of the Lord, let us, like them, without a word, rise up and follow thee. O sabbath rest by Galilee, O calm of hills above, where Jesus knelt to share with thee the silence of eternity, interpreted by love! Drop thy still dews of quietness, till all our strivings cease; take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace. Breathe through the heats of our desire thy coolness and thy balm; let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire, O still, small voice of calm. 643. Sent Forth by God’s Blessing Sent forth by God’s blessing, Our true faith confessing, The people of God from His dwelling take leave. The Supper is ended. O now be extended The fruits of this service in all who believe. The seed of His teaching, Receptive souls reaching, Shall blossom in action for God and for all. His grace did invite us, His love shall unite us To work for God’s kingdom and answer His call. With praise and thanksgiving To God ever-living, The tasks of our ev’ryday life we will face. Our faith ever sharing, In love ever caring, Embracing His children of each tribe and race. With Your feast You feed us, With Your light now lead us; Unite us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living With praise and thanksgiving Give honor to Christ and His name that we bear.  Comments are closed.
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