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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 the Pastor or any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or Rev. Harpster at 802-875-8895. His email is [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 pastor, Rev. Harpster. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 7:00 pm. Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending September 13, 2020, were 1,420. 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 Please keep Anne Matulonis in your prayers as she continues her recovery from a broken hip. We continue to keep the following in our prayers: Dean Alexander, James Almond, Terry DeYoung, Kathy Doyle, Pam Dundy, Judy Edwards, Carolyn Gauthier, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Oakes, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. If you wish to add someone to the Prayer List, please send an email to [email protected]. Celebrations If you wish to add someone to the Celebrations List, please send an email to [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, Rev. Harpster, 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. _________________________________________________________________________ September 20, 2020 10:00 A. M. Service of Worship SIXTEENTH 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* (inspired by Matthew 20:1-16) (Please Stand.) Our eyes are heavy. Our hope is soaring. We wait in the marketplace. Our God is gracious. Our feet are tired. Our expectations rise. We are hired first. Our God is merciful. Our backs are sore. Our spirits are low. We are paid last. Our God is slow to anger. Our tempers flare. Our anger rages. We take what belongs to us. Our God abounds in steadfast love. Let us worship God! HYMN 494* Kum Ba Yah OPENING PRAYER* (inspired by Matthew 20:1-16) Call all the laborers, O God, call your laborers who woke early, Call your laborers who came late, call your laborers who feel wronged, Call your laborers who feel overlooked. Call your laborers who have no employment, Call your laborers who can't feed their children with this wage, Call your laborers who know they are working in your fields, Call your laborers who use their wage to increase your love, Call all your laborers, O God, tell us to roll up our sleeves For we know that we have work to do. Let us find you in the work we share here and now, in Christ's presence we pray. Amen. 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 forgiveness grant us your favor as we make our confession. You call us to excellence: we fall short of your confidence in us. You grant to us grace: we abuse your gifts. You expect our decisions to match your desires, our love to be genuine in obeying your will: yet we trust our appetites rather than relying on your goodness. We look to our comfort rather than our neighbor’s need. In Christ, have mercy on us and forgive our sin. SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS Paul assures us of God’s reconciling graciousness when he writes, “You know the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for your sake he became poor, so that by the poverty you might become rich.” In Christ we may dwell in the richness of God’s favor, and rest assured in the fullness of God’s redeeming forgiveness. READING OF SCRIPTURE PSALM 145:8-21 Hymnal, pages 857-858 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. EPISTLE LESSON Philippians 1:21-30 THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 20: 1-16 SERMON "How do we keep the faith?" HYMN 534* Be Still, My Soul 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 When our eyes are heavy, we dream of another world. When our spirits are low, we turn to each other. When our anger flares, we need each other's gifts most. We give our gifts of tithes and offerings to create your realm of heaven. 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* HYMN 670* Go Forth for God 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 of the Hymns for the September 20 Service 494. Kum Ba Yah Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah. Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah. Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah. Oh, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone's praying, Lord, kum ba yah. Someone's praying, Lord, kum ba yah. Someone's praying, Lord, kum ba yah. Oh,, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone's crying, Lord, kum ba yah. Someone's crying, Lord, kum ba yah. Someone's crying, Lord, kum ba yah. Oh, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone needs you, Lord, kum ba yah. Someone needs you, Lord, kum ba yah. Someone needs you, Lord, kum ba yah. Oh, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone's singing, Lord, kum ba yah. Someone's singing, Lord, kum ba yah. Someone's singing, Lord, kum ba yah. Oh, Lord, kum ba yah! Let us praise the Lord, kum ba yah. Let us praise the Lord, kum ba yah. Let us praise the Lord, kum ba yah. Oh, Lord, kum ba yah! 534. Be Still, My Soul Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to your God to order and provide; in every change God faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. Be still, my soul: your God will undertake to guide the future, as in ages past. Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below. Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last. 670. Go Forth for God Go forth for God, go to the world in peace; be of good courage, armed with heavenly grace, in God's good Spirit daily to increase, till in the kingdom we see face to face. Go forth for God, go to the world in peace. Go forth for God, go to the world in love; strengthen the faint, give courage to the weak; help the afflicted; richly from above God's love supplies the grace and power we seek. Go forth for God, go to the world in love. Go forth for God, go to the world in strength; hold fast the good, be urgent for the right; render to no one evil; Christ at length shall overcome all darkness with his light. Go forth for God, go to the world in strength. Go forth for God, go to the world in joy, to serve God's people every day and hour, and serving Christ, our every gift employ, rejoicing in the Holy Spirit's power. Go forth for God, go to the world in joy.  Comments are closed.
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