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“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” - Leo Buscaglia 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, October 28, 7:00 pm. Annual Meeting, Sunday, November 8, following the service. Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending September 20 were $865. 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 Sheila Kafer, who underwent spinal surgery this past Thursday, and begins her recovery and rehabilitation, in your prayers. 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: 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]. And Finally – It is with sadness for the congregation of the United Church of Ludlow and excitement for Don that this is his last Sunday with us after 18 years. He began as our interim pastor and then was called to be the pastor for the United Church of Ludlow. Don will officially be retired after the service today. We know not what the future holds for us, but for Don, he has a plan. He has a closing on his house in Rockingham on the 14th of October and a closing on his house in Raleigh, NC on the 16th. He has the movers all lined up and the cleaning crew scheduled. We are all excited for him that he will be enjoying the life of leisure closer to family and in his new home. Once he gets himself unpacked and all settled in, he plans to spend some time doing research and writing. He related that he is excited that they only get an average of one snow storm per year! Don, we all wish you the very best and many years of happiness in your new home. For our church, we will be continuing with in person and zoom services with the support of pulpit supply until we are able to find a replacement. 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 27, 2020 10:00 A. M. Service of Worship SEVENEENTH 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.) We gather today, seeking the peace that 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 731* Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken OPENING PRAYER* 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. Eternal God, from the beginning of time you have called your children into communion with you. Yet we confess that like all the rest, we have turned to our own way and refused your love and grace. Restore us to the joy of knowing you, and of recognizing your reign among us, through Jesus Christ, the bringer of the good news. . . . SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS God who is just and gracious, has sent Jesus Christ into the world to redeem us. As we turn to God with contrite hearts, Christ intercedes on our behalf. So, with assurance we can say to you, in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. READING OF SCRIPTURE PSALM 103 Hymnal, pages 824-825 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 Mark 7: 31-37 SERMON “Be Prepared” HYMN 596* Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word JOYS AND CONCERNSF 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 “And whatsoever you do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col. 3: 17) 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 399* Take My Life, and Let It BeICTION BENEDICTION RESPONSE DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE * All who are able may stand. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” - Leo Buscaglia Lyrics to the Hymns for the September 27 Service 731. Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God; God, whose word cannot be broken, formed thee for his own abode. On the Rock of Ages founded, what can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, thou mayst smile at all thy foes. See, the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love, well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want remove. Who can faint while such a river ever will their thirst assuage? Grace which like the Lord, the giver, never fails from age to age. Round each habitation hovering, see the cloud and fire appear for a glory and a covering, showing that the Lord is near! Thus deriving from our banner light by night and shade by day, safe we feed upon the manna which God gives us when we pray. Blest inhabitants of Zion, washed in our Redeemer's blood; Jesus, whom our souls rely on, makes us monarchs, priests to God. Us, by his great love, he raises, rulers over self to reign, and as priests his solemn praises we for thankful offering bring. 596. Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word Blessed Jesus, at thy word we are gathered all to hear thee; let our hearts and souls be stirred now to seek and love and fear thee, by thy teachings sweet and holy, drawn from earth to love thee solely. All our knowledge, sense, and sight lie in deepest darkness shrouded, till thy spirit breaks our night with the beams of truth unclouded. Thou alone to God canst win us; thou must work all good within us. Glorious Lord, thyself impart! Light of light, from God proceeding, open thou our ears and heart; help us by thy spirit's pleading; hear the cry thy people raises; hear, and bless our prayers and praises. 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.  Comments are closed.
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