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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. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to [email protected] to obtain Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS We wish to thank Hannah Sotak for leading our worship service this morning. 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, September 15, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending August 15 were $965. 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 Please keep Laura Caravatt in your prayers as she recovers from injuries sustained in a fall. We keep the following in our prayers: James Almond, Anthony Cuteri, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Rick and Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Gavin Greenawalt, Bridget Janney, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Matulonis, Anne Oakes, Hannah Sotak, Bernie Stolp, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations David and Beth Almond anniversary on August 27 _________________________________________________________________________ August 22, 2021 10:00 am Service of Worship THIRTEENTH 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* (Please stand.) (Words by Marty Haugen, copyright 1991) Here in this place new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away See in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to You, O God, in the light of this day Gather us in, the lost and forsaken Gather us in, the blind and the lame Gather us in, the rich and the haughty Gather us in, the proud and the strong Gather us in and hold us forever Gather us in and make us your own Gather us in, all peoples together Fire of Your love in our flesh and our bones. Let us pray: OPENING PRAYER* (in unison) God of all people, gather us in this day, bind us with your love, and make from us the Body of Christ that we may be the Body of Christ for the world. For we pray these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Sprit. AMEN. HYMN 57* vs. 1-2, 4, 7 ‘O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing’ CONFESSION OF SIN: ONE: Not one of us is without sin. ALL: Not one! ONE: Each of us has fallen short of the Glory of God. ALL: Seen or unseen, all our sins are known by God. ONE: Let us come before the Lord in a time of confession. (Silent reflection and Prayer of Confession) ALL: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. ONE: Each of us has been betrayed, harmed, hurt, and sinned against. ALL: Every one of us! ONE: We know the pain and destruction of sin is deep and scarring. Out of our hurt, we are often tempted to hurt others. ALL: As we cry out for justice and healing, let us turn to the Lord in a time of prayer. (Silent Prayer for Healing) ALL: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. DECLARATION OF THE GOOD NEWS: ONE: Now, hear the Good News! While all people were still sinners, Christ died for all. This is proof of God’s love for each of us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! MANY: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! ONE: In the name of Christ, may you find healing! Many: In the name of Christ, may you find healing! ONE: Praise be to God. AMEN. READING OF SCRIPTURE OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 9: 1-7 PSALM 84 p. 805 w/ refrain 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. NEW TESTAMENT READING Mark 2: 1-17 SERMON ‘Can We Be Set Free?’ HYMN 375* “There Is a Balm in Gilead’ 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, you heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION* HYMN 480* “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” 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 and Responsive Reading for the August 22 Service HYMN 57 O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing vs. 1-2, 4, 7 O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace! My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, to spread through all the earth abroad the honors of thy name. He breaks the power of canceled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean; his blood availed for me. In Christ, your head, you then shall know, shall feel your sins forgiven; anticipate your heaven below, and own that love is heaven. HYMN 375 There Is a Balm in Gilead Refrain: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. Some times I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain. But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. (Refrain) Don't ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend, and if you look for knowledge he'll ne'er refuse to lend. (Refrain) If you can’t preach like Peter, if you can’t pray like Paul, just tell the love of Jesus, and say he died for all. (Refrain) 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. PSALM 84   _________________________________________________________________________
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