United Church of Ludlow
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission & Vision
    • Open & Affirming
    • What We Do
    • Our History
    • Meet Our Pastor
    • Resources
  • What's New!
    • Mission & Vision
    • Events & Activities
    • In the News
    • Calendar
  • Sermons & Services
    • Sermons
    • Services
  • Photos
    • 2024 Christmas Caroling
    • SINGO for Disaster Kits
    • Almonds Farewell
    • Wild Church 2024
    • SINGO for the Church Bell
    • Grace Congregational Choir
    • Quilt Dedication
    • Ring Out Love Reception
    • Wild Church 2023
    • Pastor Michelle's Installation
    • Play Every Town Concert
    • Easter Sunday Breakfast
    • Valentine's Day Hearts
    • Christmas
    • Kottkamp Vow Renewal
  • Contact Us
    • Request Prayers
    • Google Map
  • Church Business
    • Executive Board Minutes
    • Annual Reports >
      • 2025 Annual Report
      • 2024 Annual Report
      • 2019 Annual Report
      • 2018 Annual Report
      • 2017 Annual Report
      • 2016 Annual Report
      • 2015 Annual Report
      • 2014 Annual Report
      • 2013 Annual Report
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission & Vision
    • Open & Affirming
    • What We Do
    • Our History
    • Meet Our Pastor
    • Resources
  • What's New!
    • Mission & Vision
    • Events & Activities
    • In the News
    • Calendar
  • Sermons & Services
    • Sermons
    • Services
  • Photos
    • 2024 Christmas Caroling
    • SINGO for Disaster Kits
    • Almonds Farewell
    • Wild Church 2024
    • SINGO for the Church Bell
    • Grace Congregational Choir
    • Quilt Dedication
    • Ring Out Love Reception
    • Wild Church 2023
    • Pastor Michelle's Installation
    • Play Every Town Concert
    • Easter Sunday Breakfast
    • Valentine's Day Hearts
    • Christmas
    • Kottkamp Vow Renewal
  • Contact Us
    • Request Prayers
    • Google Map
  • Church Business
    • Executive Board Minutes
    • Annual Reports >
      • 2025 Annual Report
      • 2024 Annual Report
      • 2019 Annual Report
      • 2018 Annual Report
      • 2017 Annual Report
      • 2016 Annual Report
      • 2015 Annual Report
      • 2014 Annual Report
      • 2013 Annual Report
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

12/11/2020

United Church of Ludlow Weekly eNewsletter - December 13, 2020

CHURCH SERVICES
at the 
UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW


Service are shared ELECTRONICALLY
(contact [email protected] 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 these 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
Our worship this week, and throughout the Advent Season is led by Christine Boardman, who we thank for this gift.
 
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  
 
          Christmas Eve Service - Thursday, December 24, 4:00 P.M. (Zoom only)

          Executive Board Meeting, Wednesday, January 27, at 7:00 pm
 
 
Christmas Flowers

          If you would like to make a donation for Christmas flowers in memory of or
          in honor of a loved one, please contact Linda Alexander.  If possible, please
          contact Linda by December 13.
 
Weekly Offerings

          Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending Offerings and
          other cash receipts for the week ending December 6, 2020, were $500. 
          The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget
          by 52 weeks).
 
Altar Guild

 
          Linda Alexander will do the Altar Guild duties for the month of December.
 
Prayer Concerns

          We ask that you keep Terry DeYoung's father, Arthur Marin, as he
          recovers from Covid-19.

          We continue to keep the following in our prayers:
          James Almond, Terry DeYoung, Kathy Doyle, Pam Dundy, Judy Edwards,
          Jean Eggleston, Carolyn Gauthier, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone,
          Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Oakes, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, 
          and ​Evelyn Verro.

          If you are aware of someone in need of prayer, please leave a message at
          the church office by phone, 802-228-4211, or email, [email protected].

Pastor Harpster’s Address
 

          Reverend Dr. Donald E. Harpster
          1716 Horne Creek Drive
          Durham, North Carolina 27703-7845
          ​Phone:  919-302-6011
          [email protected]
​_________________________________________________________________________
A New Way for Churches
Bob Kottkamp and George Thomson have participated in a weekly Zoom partnership called ECCO (Experiment in Covenantal Community Outreach).  It is an idea born of a need for pastoral leadership along the southern end of the Connecticut River Valley in both Vermont and New Hampshire.  It consists of four small churches (Acworth, NH, Bellows Falls, Ludlow and Springfield) all facing problems and trying to stay alive and vibrant to serve their congregations.  All the churches are dealing with the fact that they are looking for part time pastors with few if any candidates.  It is challenging if not impossible to even find interim pastors. 
 
We are working on establishing a collaborative covenantal cluster of possibly one ordained minister, and a combination of licensed lay ministers, semi-retired pastors, and student pastors to support one another and our individual congregations.  We have been working with the Conference in developing this model of church leadership.  The goal would be to have a person in our houses of worship every Sunday to lead our worship services and then provide opportunities for all the churches to gather together for a wide variety of activities.  Now these other activities would be provided virtually through Zoom. 
​_________________________________________________________________________
Picture
ECCO
EXPERIMENT IN COVENANTAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Advent Bible Study
​

“A Walk with Mary” continues during Advent, with the final session on Thursday, December 17th at 7 pm by Zoom.  
 
E-mail Diane Holme at [email protected] if you would like to join in or try it out.
​_________________________________________________________________________
December 13, 2020                                                                                   10:00 A.M.
 
Service of Worship
THIRD Sunday of Advent – JOY
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.
 
 
A READING                          1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
 
THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
 
          O Holy One, we light this third candle, and delight in the sparkle of its
          outrageous reminder to “rejoice”!  Let its flame cast light into shadowy places
          and show where work is to be done.  Let a community of builders be formed
          in the Light of Joy.

          Let Joy find home in our hearts, and make space for your presence there,
          As we work for justice and peace in the service of Love.
 
          God be with us in this Light of Joy. 
 
CALL TO WORSHIP*
 
          ​Rejoice!  The spirit of God is sending us:
          to bring good news to the oppressed,
          to comfort the brokenhearted,
          to proclaim liberty to the captives,
          to proclaim the year of favor among God’s people.

          Rejoice! The work of the Spirit is calling us:
          to rebuild ancient relationships ruined by injustice,
          to repair the cities as places of hope,
          to restore land devastated across generations.
          to proclaim the year of favor among God’s people.

          Rejoice! The Glory of the Spirit is leading us:     
          to cast off any faint spirit
          and put on the mantle of praise,
          to take root as the plantings of the HOLY ONE,
          to display God’s glory.

          Come, let us worship in Joy!
 
HYMN 198 *                                                            My Soul Gives Glory to my God
 
INVOCATION
 
          Holy One, builder who delights in making spaces of safety and beauty,
          Matchmaker who rejoices in presenting new spouses with a future of hope,
          fill us today with the gifts we need to join you in your life-sustaining, hope-giving
          work in the world; let us share your joyful vision of beauty and justice
          in this world you have created and loved.  In the name of the One who is coming,
          Amen.
 
THE PSALTER READING           Psalm 126                                 Hymnal page 847
 
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.
 
WITNESS TO JOY  
 
          Instead of a typical Confession of Sin, today let us try something that may be
          equally challenging in light of the difficult year we have spent: Let’s give
          witness instead to signs of Joy in our midst, signs that our God is doing
          something new, and calling us to faithfulness in our contexts. What are signs
          of hope, of encouragement, of change, of comfort, that point to the
          Holy One at work?
 
          Are there signs which call us to join in, or amplify these signs in our community?

                        Encourage people to answer out loud.
 

Assurance of Grace
 
          Holy one, we give you thanks that you meet us in our struggles, and call us
          into a future of hope and joy. You have promised to be faithful, and we open 
          our hearts to you in trust, in the name of the one you send, Jesus.
 
THE GOSPEL LESSON                                            John 1:6-8, 19-28
 
SERMON                                          “An inside job”
 
HYMN 211 *                                                            O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
 
SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS
 
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
 
          The Lord be with you.
          And also with you.
          Let us pray.
 
THE 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.
 
 
CALL TO OUR OFFERING
 
          In struggle and in joy, God is faithful to us.
          We bring forth our offerings –
          our tithes, our treasures, our least coins –
          to demonstrate our faithfulness to God.
 
OFFERTORY AND 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
 
          O Faithful One, accept these gifts of our hearts and hands.  May they be
          multiplied and magnified as the living presence of Christ in the world.  Amen.
 
CLOSING HYMN 216*                              Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
 
BENEDICTION AND BLESSING *
 
BENEDICTION RESPONSE
 
DISMISSAL
 
          Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
          ​Thanks be to God.
 
POSTLUDE 
​_________________________________________________________________________
Lyrics to the Hymns
and Responsive Reading
for the
December 13 Service
 
 
HYMN 198               My Soul Gives Glory to my God
 
My soul gives glory to my God, My heart pours out its praise.
God lifted up my lowliness in many marvelous ways.
 
My God has done great things for me: Yes, holy is this Name.
All people will declare me blessed, And blessings they shall claim.
 
From age to age to all who fear, Such mercy love imparts,
Dispensing justice far and near, Dismissing selfish hearts.
 
Love casts the mighty from their thrones, Promotes the insecure,
Leaves hungry spirits satisfied; The rich seem suddenly poor.
 
Praise God, whose loving covenant supports those in distress,
Remembering past promises With present faithfulness.
 
 
 
HYMN 211               O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
 
O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
 
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
 
O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in its ways to go.  Refrain
 
O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe.  Refrain
 
O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem, unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o'er the grave.  Refrain\
 
O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death's abode.  Refrain
 
O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light.  Refrain
 
O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace.  Refrain
 
 
HYMN 216               Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
 
Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming As men of old have sung.
It came, a flower bright, Amid the cold of winter
When half-gone was the night.
 
Isaiah 'twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind:
With Mary we behold it, The virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright She bore to men a Savior
When half-gone was the night.
 
This Flower, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor The darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God, From sin and death He saves us
And lightens every load

 

Picture

Comments are closed.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.