CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW Service will be shared ELECTRONICALLY (contact [email protected] for more information) The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins 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. Send an email to [email protected] to get information about Zoom access. 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 Annual Meeting, Sunday, November 8, following the service. Dedication of newly completed, accessible rear entrance will occur immediately after the meeting. Windham Association Meeting, Sunday, November 15th at 3 pm Executive Board Meeting, Wednesday, December 9, at 7:00 pm. Altar Guild Linda Alexander will do the Altar Guild duties for the month of November. Prayer Concerns 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. UNITED CHURCH ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of the United Church of Ludlow will be on Sunday, November 8, 2020, beginning immediately after the service. The congregation will review the events of the past yea and plan for the future, as we review the Annual Report. We will elect members to the Executive Board and the various committees that work to ensure the continued operation of the church. There are vacancies for Board President, Board Vice-President, Board Clerk, Trustees (2), Auditor (1), and Outreach (1), and Nominating (4) Committee members. If you wish to volunteer for one of these positions, contact George Thomson (802-228-6275 or [email protected]) A New Way for Churches For the past 7 months, Bob Kottkamp and George 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. At the moment these other activities would be provided virtually through Zoom. Looking for an Opportunity for Bible Study? We have not had bible study offered in our sanctuary for a long time. ECCO is a vehicle for this and in fact is already doing so on a weekly basis. The exciting news is that anyone from all four congregations can participate from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Currently Bible Study is on Thursday mornings from 10 am – 11 am. The current topic is “Into the Wilderness” and is available for everyone. All you have to do is contact Diane at [email protected] and she will make sure you get your Zoom invitation. I understand that it is a very collegial group and everyone has an opportunity to participate. It is not a lecture! Coming Attractions Sunday, November 15th at 3 pm Windham Union Association meeting with Speaker, Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray Jr., President of Chicago Theological Seminary. “He is the President of the Society for the Study of Black Religion. Having written and lectured broadly in the areas of Systematic Theology, African American religion, human rights and the intersection of religion and politics, President Ray’s current work focuses on reinvigorating the public square as a place for all and reclaiming a vital expression of progressive religion in that project.” It will be via Zoom and the link sent out to you for your church’s participation. Thursday, November 26th -Thanksgiving Gathering during Bible Study time. All are welcome. Content in progress. All you have to do is contact Diane at [email protected] and she will make sure you get your Zoom invitation. Thursday, December 3rd at 7 pm- Advent Bible Study for 4 weeks. A Walk with Mary. All you have to do is contact Diane at [email protected] and she will make sure you get your Zoom invitation. If you have any questions and/or need information on how to connect via Zoom to any of these opportunities please feel free to contact Diane at [email protected] and she will make sure you get your Zoom invitation or contact George at thomson131vt@gmail or Bob at [email protected] 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. _________________________________________________________________________ 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, 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. November 1, 2020 10:00 A. M. Service of Worship TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION 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.) Listen to the good news. God is with us, this day and every day. Because God is with us, we can face each day with courage. We can find some good in everything, for we are never completely alone. God’s goodness sometimes seems to be a trickle, sometimes pulsing spurts, and sometimes a mighty flood. But always God is with us. We worship you, O God, for your goodness. We praise you with our songs. We seek you in our prayers. We offer ourselves to you because you are our God. HYMN 66* Praise My Soul the King of Heaven OPENING PRAYER* CONFESSION OF SIN 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. Caring and compassionate Creator, we enter this place set apart for your worship, knowing that we have failed to see you in other places. We have ignored your beauty around us, in earth and sky, in plants and creatures, in the people who surround us. We have chosen to live more by our fears than by our faith, to be weighed down by what we do not have, rather than rejoicing in your gifts to us. In these moments together, draw us so close that we cannot help but know every day that you are with us, wherever we go. Enlarge our capacity to care, so we may see you in all whom we meet. SILENCE (may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS God hears the confession of our hearts and lips. Through Jesus Christ we are forgiven of all our sins, and by the Holy Spirit we are empowered for new life. Thanks be to God for the good news of Jesus Christ. Amen. READING OF SCRIPTURE Genesis 22: 1-13 PSALM 34 Hymnal, page 769-770 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 Hebrews 11:17-29 SERMON “Who is a Saint?” PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. 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 At the Presentation, Hymn 95* Old 100th Praise God from whom all blessing flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, you heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION* HYMN 545* The Church’s One Foundation INVITATION THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Lift up your hearts We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is meet and right so to do. We give thanks to you, O holy Lord. . .. With patriarchs and prophets, apostles and martyrs, with your church on earth and with all the company of heaven, we magnify and praise you, we worship and adore you, O Lord Most Holy: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Hymnal, page 21 WORDS OF INSTITUTION THE LORD’S PRAYER (“trespasses”) BREAKING THE BREAD AND LIFTING THE CUP THE COMMUNION PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Let us give thanks. We thank you, God, for inviting us to this table where we have known the presence of Christ and have received all of Christ’s gifts. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and let us show forth your praise in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. HYMN OF DEDICATION 723* Shall We Gather At the River 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 November 11 Service 66. Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, to the throne thy tribute bring; ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore God's praises sing. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King. Praise the Lord for grace and favor to all people in distress; praise God, still the same as ever, slow to chide, and swift to bless. Alleluia! Alleluia! Glorious now God's faithfulness. Father-like, God tends and spares us; well our feeble frame God knows; mother-like, God gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia! Alleluia! Widely yet God's mercy flows. Angels in the heights, adoring, you behold God face to face; saints triumphant, now adoring, gathered in from every race. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace. 545 The Church's One Foundation The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the Word. From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride; with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died. Elect from every nation, yet one o'er all the earth; her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth; one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued. Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up, "How long?" And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song. Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war, she waits the consummation of peace forevermore; till, with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest, and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest. Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One, and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won. O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee. 723. Shall We Gather at the River Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod, with its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God? Refrain: Yes, we'll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river; gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God. On the margin of the river, washing up its silver spray, we will walk and worship ever, all the happy golden day. (Refrain) Ere we reach the shining river, lay we every burden down; grace our spirits will deliver, and provide a robe and crown. (Refrain) Soon we'll reach the shining river, soon our pilgrimage will cease; soon our happy hearts will quiver with the melody of peace. (Refrain) Comments are closed.
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