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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. 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. Bruce Bishop 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, August 25, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending June 27, 2021 were $245. 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 Anne Matalonis in your prayers for a speedy recovery from the surgery for her broken ankle. Cards may be sent to her c/o The Pines, 99 Allen Street, Rutland, VT 05701. We ask that you keep Lee and Sheila Kafer in your prayers as Sheila continues recovery from complications of her back surgery. Cards may be sent to them at 173 Hesperus Ave., Magnolia, MA 01930. Also keep Bridget Janney in your prayers. We continue to keep the following in our prayers: James Almond, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Doyle, Rick Doyle, Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Carolyn Gauthier, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Oakes, Hannah Sotak, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations Janet and Ralph Pace celebrate an anniversary on July 8 Jim and Sandy Peplau celebrate an anniversary on July 18 Annual Church Picnic The Church Picnic will take place at the home of the Thomsons on Sunday, August 1, following our church service. A NOTE ABOUT COFFEE HOUR At a recent Church Board Meeting it was decided that only disposable plates, cups and utensils will be used for food service. It was noticed that clean-up has too often been left to be done by a deacon or trustee assisting at the service. This is not fair to those individuals, who have already taken on extra obligations to make the church services happen. To reduce the work necessary at clean-up, only disposable items will be used. Seeking Caregiver Help I am seeking an individual or several individuals who are willing to spend a couple hours or an afternoon caring for Ginny as it is not safe to leave her alone. This would provide an important break for me as primary caregiver. Since the beginning of the year we have engaged an RN for an afternoon once a week with very beneficial outcomes. But she is leaving soon. I could use help roughly once or twice a week. I am casting a net for possibilities. Remuneration is available. If you are interested or have a neighbor or contact you think might be a possibility, including a responsible high school student, please let me know. You can reach me at 802-228-6282. Bob Kottkamp ECCO News Jack Mahoney, the intern sponsored by the ECCO group, will be leading our worship service next Sunday. He has also proposed leading a faith formation book discussion using Henri Nouwen’s book “Spiritual Direction”. It is planned for Wednesdays at 7 pm on zoom or in person or a combination...remember that this is a work in progress! It will likely begin Thursday the 8th and would run each week through July and August. _________________________________________________________________________ July 4, 2021 10:00 A.M. SERVICE OF WORSHIP Sixth Sunday After Pentecost Independence Day Communion Sunday PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) 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 today, seeking the peace Christ gives. We gather, despite many a conflict, many a doubt, within our souls. We gather, longing for the breath of God’s spirit to give us courage and renewal. Come, Christ Jesus, be our guest. Bless us through the power of your Spirit and give us the courage to live as your disciples day by day. HYMN 92* For the Beauty of the Earth PRAYER OF CONFESSION If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1: 8-9) Let us confess our sins before God and one another. God of compassion have mercy upon us as we confess our sin. In Christ you bring light, yet we still dwell in darkness. Your word offers guidance, but we choose to ignore your counsel. You promise renewal, but we heed not your wisdom. We bow to the gods of this world, choosing to hide from your truth. Speak to us again from beyond the clouds of our sinfulness; dazzle us anew with the light of Christ’s love; restore and forgive us…. SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS Hear the good news. God is light, and in God there is no darkness. “If we say we have fellowship with God while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.” God is faithful and just, and Jesus Christ forgives us our sin. READING OF SCRIPTURE THE OLD TESTAMENT READING Joshua 1: 6-9 PSALM 8 Hymnal, page 743 Response 2 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 Matthew 5: 13-16 SERMON “Saltiness” Hymn 413* A Charge to Keep I Have JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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 PRAYER OF DEDICATION HYMN 624* Bread of the World THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION INVITATION BLESSING OF THE ELEMENTS THE LORD’S PRAYER BREAKING THE BREAD AND LIFTING THE CUP THE COMMUNION PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Let us give thanks. Bountiful God, we give you thanks that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. HYMN 500 * Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart BENEDICTION BENEDICTION RESPONSE POSTLUDE _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading for the July 4 Service HYMN 92 For the Beauty of the Earth For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; (Refrain) Lord of all, to thee we raisethis our hymn of grateful praise. For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light; (Refrain) For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind's delight, for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight; (Refrain) For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; (Refrain) For thy church, that evermore lifteth holy hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love; (Refrain) For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given, for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven: (Refrain) HYMN 413 A Charge to Keep I Have A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, a never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky. To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill; O may it all my powers engage to do my Master's will! Arm me with jealous care, as in thy sight to live, and oh, thy servant, Lord, prepare a strict account to give! Help me to watch and pray, and on thyself rely, assured, if I my trust betray, I shall forever die. HYMN 624 Bread of the World Bread of the world in mercy broken, wine of the soul in mercy shed, by whom the words of life were spoken, and in whose death our sins are dead: Look on the heart by sorrow broken, look on the tears by sinners shed; and be thy feast to us the token that by thy grace our souls are fed. HYMN 500 Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart Spirit of God, descend upon my heart; wean it from earth; through all its pulses move; stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art, and make me love thee as I ought to love. I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, no sudden rending of the veil of clay, no angel visitant, no opening skies; but take the dimness of my soul away. Hast thou not bid me love thee, God and King? All, all thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind. I see thy cross; there teach my heart to cling. O let me seek thee, and O let me find! Teach me to feel that thou art always nigh; teach me the struggles of the soul to bear. To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh, teach me the patience of unanswered prayer. Teach me to love thee as thine angels love, one holy passion filling all my frame; the kindling of the heaven-descended Dove, my heart an altar, and thy love the flame. PSALM 8 Hymnal, page 743, Response 2   _________________________________________________________________________
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