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CHURCH SERVICES CONTINUE at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW Service are 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. Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending November , 2020, were $885. Contributions for the Access project were $12,300.The costs for each week are $1,118 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). 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. Celebrations Anne Oakes celebrates a birthday on November 12. _________________________________________________________________________ UNITED CHURCH ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of the United Church of Ludlow will be held today, Sunday, November 8, 2020, beginning immediately after the service. The congregation will review the events of the past year 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, and an Auditor, an Outreach Committee and an Altar Guild member. If you wish to volunteer for one of these positions, contact George Thomson (802-228-6275 or [email protected]). _________________________________________________________________________ Zoom Church Services at the United Church of Ludlow We 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. _________________________________________________________________________ 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] _________________________________________________________________________ November 8, 2020 10:00 A.M. Service of Worship TWENTY-THIRD 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.) It is good to give thanks to you, O God, To declare your steadfast love in the morning; For you have made us glad by your work; At the works of your hands, we sing for joy. HYMN 400* Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing 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. God of everlasting mercy hear our prayer today, as we bring our lives before you. We come as people who dwell on the past. We want to face your new day with life and hope in our hearts, but many times the events of our own lives weigh us down. We forget to forgive one another. We dwell on our own past mistakes. We refuse to bury dead issues and worn-out memories. Free us, free us from ourselves, God, so that we might walk new pathways, alive with grace. . . SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS The Good News in Christ is that God offers us life at every moment, forgiving us, and inviting us to the freshness of new beginnings. May God be praised for this gracious and loving gift. READING OF SCRIPTURE Romans 12: 7-16 PSALM 70 Hymnal, page 793 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 18: 1-5 SERMON “Child Like, Not Childish” HYMN 399* Take My Life and Let it Be 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 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* HYMN 593* Here I Am, Lord 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 8 Service 400. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love. Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I'm come; and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood. O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above. 399. Take My Life, and Let It Be Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for thee. Take my voice, and let me sing, always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be, filled with messages from thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose. Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure-store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee. 593. Here I am, Lord I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry All who dwell in dark and sin, My hand will save Chorus Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night I will go, Lord, if you lead me, I will hold your people in my heart I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? [Chorus] I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people's pain I have wept for love of them, They turn away. [Chorus] I will break their hearts of stone, Give them hearts for love alone I will speak my words to them, Whom shall I send? [Chorus] I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame I will set a feast for them My hand will save [Chorus] Finest bread I will provide, 'Til their hearts be satisfied I will give my life to them, Whom shall I send? [Chorus] _________________________________________________________________________  Comments are closed.
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