|
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 Rev. Christine Boardman 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 22 were $686. 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 Linda Thomson - birthday on September 7 _________________________________________________________________________ August 29, 2021 10:00 am Service of Worship FOURTEENTH 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* (In unison) In worship, we who are called "Christians" gather to express our unity with God and with each other. We are a community that spans the centuries, bound together by a covenant whose signature is baptism. In our worship today we renew our commitment to live in this covenant and we draw together a wider community of believers, including those who bore witness at our baptism. With ancient love that sustains and hope that nurtures our dreams, we worship God as faithful women and men, children and youth have done for years. PRAYER OF INVOCATION* (in unison) Spirit of the living God, be in our midst with your baptism of power and your communion of love. We wait upon you in stillness and patience. Sweep over us with your Spirit, and change us by your love that we may labor and serve with you to bring beauty and healing to our broken world. Amen. HYMN 660* God is Here PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison) Loving God you are Sovereign over our days. When the winds of faith blow strong, you are with us. When the burdens and storms of life seem oppressive you are with us. When a sense of calm purpose centers our lives of love, you are with us. Forgive us when we neglect to acknow- ledge your presence or stubbornly try to live without your guidance. We forget to count our blessings or practice our faith with intention. Great God, forgive us and grant us the wisdom to trust you, the courage to serve you. Amen. SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS READING OF SCRIPTURE PSALM 15 Hymnal, p. 747 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. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Invitation, Welcome and Address Questions and Assent Act of Baptism Closing Prayer NEW TESTAMENT READING Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 SERMON ‘Be Love’ HYMN 111 * How Can We Name a Love 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* (in unison) O God, you have blessed us in mercy and wisdom, opening us to new birth and new beginnings. May the gifts you provide help all of us to accomplish the tasks for which you have called us. Bless what we receive and what we give to build a more just, peaceful and loving world in the name of Christ, the Redeemer. Amen. HYMN 508 * Faith, While Trees Are Still in Blossom 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 29 Service Hymn 660 God is Here God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer, may we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share. Here, as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts. Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace; here are table, font, and pulpit; here the cross has central place. Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence, as in speech, here, in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each. Here our children find a welcome in the Shepherd's flock and fold; here as bread and wine are taken, Christ sustains us, as of old. Here the servants of the Servant seek in worship to explore what it means in daily living to believe and to adore. Lord of all, of church and kingdom, in an age of change and doubt keep us faithful to the gospel; help us work your purpose out. Here, in this day's dedication, all we have to give, receive; we, who cannot live without you, we adore you! We believe! Hymn 111 How Can We Name a Love How can we name a Love that wakens heart and mind, indwelling all we know or think or do or seek or find? Within our daily world, in every human face, Love's echoes sound and God is found, hid in the commonplace. If we awoke to life built on a rock of care that asked no great reward but firm, assured, was simply there, we can, with parents' names, describe, and thus adore, Love unconfined, a father kind, a mother strong and sure. When people share a task, and strength and skills unite in projects old or new, to make or do with shared delight, our Friend and Partner's will is better understood, that all should share, create, and care, and know that life is good. So in a hundred names, each day we all can meet a presence, sensed and shown at work, at home, or in the street. Yet every name we see, shines in a brighter sun: In Christ alone is Love full grown and life and hope begun. Hymn 508 Faith, While Trees Are Still in Blossom Faith, while trees are still in blossom, plans the picking of the fruit; faith can feel the thrill of harvest when the buds begin to sprout. Long before the dawn is breaking, faith anticipates the sun. Faith is eager for the daylight, for the work that must be done. Long before the rains were coming, Noah went and built an ark. Abraham, the lonely migrant, saw the light beyond the dark. Faith, uplifted, tamed the water of the undivided sea, and the people of the Hebrews found the path that made them free. Faith believes that God is faithful: God will be what God will be! Faith accepts the call, responding, "I am willing, Lord, send me." PSALM 15  _________________________________________________________________________
Comments are closed.
|
