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CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW Service will be shared ELECTRONICALLY (contact [email protected] for more information) Church services continue at the United Church of Ludlow. 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 Reformation Sunday, Sunday, October 25, 10:00 am. Executive Board Meeting, Wednesday, October 28, 7:00 pm. Annual Meeting, Sunday, November 8, following the service. Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending October 11 were $1655. 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 September. 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 Carolyn Gauthier celebrates a birthday on Oct. 20 Penny Trick celebrates a birthday on Oct. 21 Lisha Klaiber celebrates a birthday on Oct. 24 Reformation Sunday, October 25th On Reformation Sunday, remember deceased friends and members who died this past year and dedicate gifts that have been made to the church. There is still time for members and friends of the church to present monetary gifts in memory or in honor of individuals. A dedication form is provided below. To be included in the bulletin for Reformation Sunday, all gifts should be made out to the United Church of Ludlow and be mailed to the church office by Wednesday, October 21st. For more information, you can contact Anne Oakes, Receiver of Offerings, at [email protected]. Memorials for Reformation Sunday In memory of _________________________________________ Presented by _________________________________________ or In honor of _________________________________________ Presented by _________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Giving Time - Pledge Time!! Anne Oakes, the Receiver of Offerings of the United Church of Ludlow, recently sent out a statement of contributions to the church through September 30 and the Estimate of Giving (EOG) Form to all those who gifted to the church in the past year. We hope that you will prayerfully and promptly fill out the EOB and return it to Anne in the envelope that was conveniently self- addressed and included with her correspondence. Please understand that this is considered a good faith estimate to allow us to prepare a budget for the church. If your circumstances change, we fully understand, and no explanation is expected or necessary. If you did not receive a letter from Anne and have not recently given to the church and are able, please simply drop her a note and indicate such. Her address is Anne Oakes, 145 Merrill Rd., Ludlow, VT 05149. As usual, your support is greatly appreciated and fully deductible for tax purposes to the extent permitted by law. _________________________________________________________________________ UNITED CHURCH ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of the United Church of Ludlow will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2020, beginning immediately after the service. This meeting provides a chance for the congregation to review the events of the past year, assess the current status of the church, and plan for the future, as we review the Annual Report. We will also elect members of the Executive Board the various committees that work to ensure the continued operation of the church. In this regard, there are vacancies for the following positions; Board Secretary, Auditors (2) and the Altar Guild. If you are interested in any of these positions, please leave a message at the church office (802-228-4211 or [email protected]) or contact George Thomson (802-228-6275 or [email protected]). _________________________________________________________________________ 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. _________________________________________________________________________ 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. _________________________________________________________________________ October 18, 2020 10:00 A. M. Service of Worship TWENTIETH 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.) God has called us and chosen us by name. We come to worship declaring God’s sovereignty. From the rising of the sun, God will be known, in all our days. We worship a God who offers us love and support. Let us worship together as a community of faith. HYMN 119* O God of Heaven INVOCATION* God of forever and right now: By your Spirit open our ears to hear your Word to us in scripture, in sermon, in song. Open our eyes to see your Word to us in children’s faces, in troubling statistics and in our action together. Open our hearts to feel your Word to us in the warmth of love, in the ache of sadness, in the energy of commitment. Strengthen our desire for justice for all peoples and our wills to advocate and organize so that all may grow up safe and thrive in community. Amen. CONFESSION OF SIN Gracious God, we confess that we sometimes forget to be your servant people in the world of great need. Forgive us when we feel inadequate forgetting you give us courage and compassion in these times. Move us out of discouragement into determination to serve your purposes. Allow us to grow into your ways and find favor in your sight. Mature with us so that just love may be realized for the world. Daydream with us so that we might do justice holding no malice. Answer these prayers we pray in the name of your Beloved Child, the hope of the world. Amen. SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer) ASSURANCE OF PARDON The Holy One hears our cries and understands better than we understand ourselves. God affirms us and leads us away from the idols we create. God forgives us and opens us to new ways of living as disciples of Jesus. Receive the blessings of God and the new life we are offered as beloved children. Amen. READING OF SCRIPTURE PSALM 96 Hymnal, pp. 815-816 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 22:15-22 SERMON “What Belongs to God?” HYMN 382* Have Thine Own Way, Lord 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 God looks upon your face. God assures you when nothing else can. “My presence will go with you”, God says. “I will give you rest”, God prays. Let us carry this spirit into our giving. Let us praise God with our gifts of tithes and offerings. OFFERTORY 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* Gracious God, receive the gift of our lives and this offering of our service to carry your love from this place to a world in need. This we pray in the name of Christ, whom with you and the Holy Spirit, reign in our hearts and lives, one God now and forever. Amen. HYMN 730* O Day of God, Draw Nigh 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 for the October 18 Service 119 O God of Heaven O God in heaven, grant to thy children mercy and blessing, songs never-ceasing; love to unite us, grace to redeem us, O God in heaven, dear Lord, our God. Jesus, Redeemer, may we remember thy gracious passion, thy resurrection: Worship we bring thee, praise we shall sing you, Jesus, Redeemer, Jesus, our Lord. Spirit descending, whose is the blessing: strength for the weary, help for the needy; sealed in our kinship, thine be our worship, Spirit descending, Spirit adored. 382 Have Thine Own Way, Lord Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Thou art the potter; I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Search me and try me, Savior today! Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now, as in thy presence humbly I bow. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me I pray! Power, all power, surely is thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine! Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Hold o'er my being absolute sway. Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me! 730 O Day of God, Draw Nigh O day of God, draw nigh in beauty and in power; come with thy timeless judgment now to match our present hour. Bring to our troubled minds, uncertain and afraid, the quiet of a steadfast faith, calm of a call obeyed. Bring justice to our land, that all may dwell secure, and finely build for days to come foundations that endure. Bring to our world of strife thy sovereign word of peace, that war may haunt the earth no more, and desolation cease. O day of God, draw nigh as at creation's birth; let there be light again, and set thy judgments on the earth.  Comments are closed.
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