Lent V: Thy Will Be Done God s Will and My Response - Lydia. Sudbury United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 Lent V: Thy Will Be Done God s Will and My Response - Lydia Sudbury United Methodist Church

2 Fifth Sunday in Lent March 18, 2018 Before worship, please feel free to greet those around you. Concerns or celebrations to be included in today s prayers may be recorded on cards in the pew pockets and passed to the ushers during the second hymn. During the prelude, let us prepare silently to worship God. Welcome Prelude: Prélude sur une antienne (*indicates worshipers may stand, as they are able) Jean Langlais *Sung Response: (Gerhard Terstegan, trans. Frances Bevan Tune: Germany) Thou sweet beloved Will of God, my Bread of life in want and pain; O Will of God, my guiding fire, unite my will to Thine again. *Lenten Call to Worship: Liturgist: Loving God, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. People: Living Christ, fulfill your will to save all who embrace your truth. Liturgist: Enlightening Spirit, blow where you will with the gift of new birth. People: Tireless Trinity, let your will be done in us today and always. *Sung Response: (Gerhard Terstegan, trans. Frances Bevan Tune: Germany) Thou sweet beloved Will of God, for time, and for eternity Give joy or sorrow, all are one to that blest soul that loveth Thee. *Prayer of Confession: (Joel Guillemette, USA, 21 st century) Compassionate God, you ask us to open our hearts to all who receive and reflect the love of Christ. Forgive us when we protect familiar preconceptions by closing our hearts to the stories and struggles of others. You teach us to open our minds to the movement of your Holy Spirit. Forgive us when turbulent fears and feelings cloud our minds and prevent us from welcoming the dawn of your new day. You inspire us to open our doors like your servant Lydia to strangers who represent new perceptions and perspectives. Forgive us when we replace hospitality with barriers, bars, and barricades. Open our hearts, open our minds, and open our doors, O God, to your visitation in whatever guise you may appear. Amen.

3 *Assurance of Pardon: (Creative Communications for the Parish, USA, 21 st cent., alt.) Liturgist: To all who repent, a gracious God offers full and free forgiveness. People: God strengthens us in our weakness to do God s good and gracious will. *Hymn of Praise: UMH # 643 When Love Is Found (verses 1 through 4 only) A Reading from the Scriptures: Acts 16:6-10, (This reading is found on page 136 in the New Testament.) Children's Time: Responding with Welcome Special Music: The Lord s Prayer Robert Stone ( ) *A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 12:28-34 (This reading is found on page 49 in the New Testament.) Sermon: Set-Up *Hymn of Response: FWS # 2228 Sacred the Body The Rev. Dr. Gwen Purushotham A Time of Fellowship Greeting Our Guests Concerns and Celebrations The Pastoral Prayer The Lord s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Presentation of Tithes and Offerings Stewardship Moment: Offertory: Beneath the Cross E. C. Celphane & F. C. Maker *Doxology: UMH # 296 Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle (verse 5) Unto God be praise and glory: to the Father and the Son, to th eternal Spirit honor now and evermore be done; praise and glory in the highest, while unending ages run. *Prayer of Thanksgiving *Hymn of Commitment: FWS # 2220 We Are God s People

4 *Dismissal with Blessing Postlude: Postlude in Bb Kevin F. Murphy Reconciling & Welcoming Statement: The United Methodist Church is a community of believers and seekers, with differences in age, class, nationality, race, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, abilities, and limitations. We at SUMC recognize that there are attitudes, concerning these diverse characteristics, which violate the integrity of individuals and deny the richness of God s creation. Therefore we affirm our welcome to all people into our community of faith. We are committed to be a fellowship in which all persons feel a part of our family, enabling them to grow in their faith, to be fed by our fellowship, and to contribute their talents to the life of the church in its worship, programs, and outreach. We call the church and society to be sensitive to all persons and to advocate programs which attempt to ensure justice for all. Sudbury United Methodist Church 251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury, MA Phones: (978) or (978) Fax: (978) Church Office: sumc@sudbury-umc.org Website: Church Staff Pastor: The Rev. Joel Guillemette Christian Education Director: Eric Magnuson Youth Ministries Director: Zachary Moser Music Director/Organist: Kevin Murphy, AAGO Sanctuary Choir Director: Rob Hammerton Business Manager: Michael Greb Office Administrator: Shetal Kaye Sexton: Joe Picorelli pastorjoel@sudbury-umc.org eric@sudbury-umc.org zack@sudbury-umc.org kevin@sudbury-umc.org rob@sudbury-umc.org michael@sudbury-umc.org sumc@sudbury-umc.org joe@sudbury-umc.org We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation We are a Reconciling and Welcoming Congregation

5 Welcome, Guests! Sudbury United Methodist Church March 18, 2018 Are you visiting Sudbury UMC today? Welcome! If you have time after worship, please pause in the narthex to meet our pastor and a few of our church s leaders. If a longer visit is possible, enjoy coffee and conversation in Hawes Hall, just past The Columns, on the south end of our facility. We hope you enjoy your visit and invite you to come back soon! Joining Us to Celebrate Our 13 th Reconciling Anniversary. Today s service of worship marks Sudbury UMC s thirteenth anniversary as a Reconciling Congregation. With other members of the Reconciling Ministries Network, our congregation urges the inclusion of all persons as full participants in the life and ministry of The United Methodist Church. Joining us in today s celebration are the Rev. Dr. Gwen Purushotham and her daughter Nisha Purushotham. Dr. Purushotham, a retired member of the New England Conference, served five local churches as pastor, including Sudbury UMC from 1981 till She also served as superintendent of two districts and as staff at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, TN. After her retirement in 2016, she also served one year as interim superintendent for the New Hampshire District. Gwen and her husband Sam live in Wells, ME. Their three adult children - Vikram, Nisha, and Matthew - and their families all live on the East Coast. Nisha Purushotham is a writer, musician, social justice facilitator, and grant writer for organizations leading movements of justice and liberation. Organizations she partners with include the Interaction Institute for Social Change, Community Labor United, New England United for Justice, and Alternatives for Community and Environment. She is a world percussionist who has studied with master drummers from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and her native India. As a member of the Evolutionary Leadership Network, she is developing a performance dialogue project that aims to use original songs as a spark for conversations about listeners' deepest longings for themselves and the earth in this time of great crisis and great possibility. She lives in Nyack, NY, with her partner, Carissa Baquiran, and their 4-year-old son, Nishant. Connexions Concert 3:00 p.m. Today! The third in a series of four Connexions Concerts will begin in the sanctuary today at 3:00 p.m. The program will feature Russ Doughty, guitar; Rob Hammerton, bass guitar, vocals; Melissa Glaister, soprano; Dave Miller, baritone; Kevin Murphy, piano, organ, vocals; Cecelia Murphy, violin; Ciaran Murphy, cello and others with selections by Blind Willie Johnson, MaMuse, Paul Bowles, Randall Thompson, Simon & Garfunkel, Franz Josef Haydn, Jack Beal, Irish traditional music, Kevin Francis Murphy and others. Admission is free and open to all. A freewill offering with be received to benefit the Pastor's Emergency Fund.

6 Consider Participating in the Prayer Shawl Ministry Yarn, needles, and instructions are available in Hawes Hall to knit prayer shawls. This year, the Health Ministries Commission is adding a pocket prayer shawl - small enough to be put into your pocket and carried with you and an excellent choice for knitters who find hard to set aside time to knit larger shawls. Prayer shawls are so named because knitters offer prayers and blessings for potential recipients while they are knitting. If you have questions, contact Sophia Harrell at sbaileyharrell@msn.com or An offering of finished shawls will be presented for consecration on Health Ministries Sunday, April 29. Where Is the Rest Room? A unisex rest room is located in the southeast corner of the narthex, behind the back row of pews on the pulpit side of the sanctuary. The next closest rest room is located just past the side door of the sanctuary near the pulpit and three steps up. Quiet Time for Spiritual Growth Quiet time with The Upper Room can lead to a spiritual growth spurt! Booklets are available in the narthex. Or visit The Upper Room online at Is There Child Care during Sunday Morning Worship Services? Infants and toddlers are welcome in worship. Parents with young children may also visit our Family Room with visual and aural access to the sanctuary. Each Sunday, a pair of CORI-ed volunteers cares for kids age two and younger. Stairs in the northwest corner of the narthex lead up to a cozy room furnished with sofas, toys, and children s books. If Our Shopping Cart Could Talk Food donations made to the shopping cart outside the O Reilly Room are delivered to Open Table, our partner in Maynard. If our shopping cart could talk, it would politely say, Thank You! to all who visit. Or, it might drop hints like, Don t be a stranger! and I always need solid white tuna in cans, spaghetti sauce in jars, mixed vegetables in cans, pineapple in cans, raisins, dried beans in bags, bread crumbs, condensed milk, rice pilaf, and instant coffee. What Your Name Tag Says About You Along with your name, your nametag also says you like meeting others and making friends. It tells our church s newest staff members that you understand the challenge of learning the names of a whole congregation in a short time. And it tells Sunday guests you are happy to answer questions or introduce them to others who can. Thanks for wearing your nametag! Tis the Season when Friends and Neighbors May Need Care Seasonal changes can trigger loneliness, sadness, or anxiety. Do you know someone who could benefit from a caring relationship? Sudbury UMC s Stephen Ministers are available to offer support. To ask about beginning a relationship, speak to Pastor Joel, Richard Smith, or Lori Granger. Or consider praying with Gail Smith after worship today in the O Reilly Room.

7 This Month s Church School Classes Preview Holy Week The theme for March Sunday School classes (preschool through Grade 5) is Holy Week. The focus memory verse is: He isn t here, because he s been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. Matthew 28:6. Today s station conductors are Gwen McNeilly & Eric Magnuson. On Palm Sunday, March 25, the children will participate in a Procession of Palms singing a song that is new to them this year. There will be a special rehearsal at 9:00 in the sanctuary. Thank you for helping your child(ren) arrive early for the rehearsal. Also, there will be an Easter egg hunt for children in preschool through Grade 5 following the morning service on Palm Sunday. The Key Word for Prayer Pals in Week 28 Is Purpose The key verse for March is, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 Women s Fellowship Plans Cleaning Day It is that time of year again that our church s women gather to clean the chandeliers in the sanctuary. We will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 19. Please bring cleaning supplies and towels. Many hands make light work. Joe will lower the chandeliers so that we can clean all the globes and replace them. We will sift through the pew racks and remove any outdated envelopes. We want everything sparkling for Holy Week and Easter. Finally, after the cleaning is complete, we will go to lunch together. All women are welcome to join us. Honor or Remember a Loved One in Worship Many Sundays Open in April Consider giving altar flowers by signing up at the 2018 calendar posted near the church office door. Select a date perhaps an anniversary or a birthday and the Flower Team will take care of the rest. The cost is $ Questions contact Wanda Doughty at Sudbury UMC Is a Nut Free Zone! Several Sunny Hill preschoolers and staff members have dangerous allergies to nut products and coconut oil. Do not bring food products or soaps containing tree nuts into the church and remember that coconut oil in kitchen cleaners and lotions can be lethal. Thank you! Staff-Parish Relations Committee Reopens Search for Assistant Custodian After processing several applications and interviewing qualified candidates, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee has decided to reopen its search for a part-time sexton. Do you know someone who might be interested afternoon work? Please contact sumc@sudbury-umc.org. Do You Need Hearing Assistance? Individual hearing assistance units are available. They are as easy to use as an old-time transistor radio. An usher will help you to borrow one. Why not give one a try today?

8 Lenten Opportunities for Worship and Learning Daily Worship at Home - Thy Will Be Done by Ted Schroeder Available in the Office, the Narthex, and Hawes Hall. Services of Worship Sundays in Lent Lent V March 18: Lydia: God s Will and My Response The Rev. G. Purushotham and Nisha Purushotham Wednesday Soup Suppers March 21 at 6:00 p.m. (Hawes Hall) The Membership and Community Life Commission coordinates each week s meal. Commissions, organizations, and individuals invited to volunteer. Simple menu features several soups, macaroni and cheese, bread, fruit, etc. To sign-up, contact the commission s chairperson, Oscar Harrell, at Wednesday Evening Lenten Classes March 21 at 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Acapella Singing: Thy Will Be Done Kevin Murphy, Music Director and Organist Rob Hammerton, Choir Director (Chapel) Adult Class: Thy Will Be Done Joel Guillemette, Pastor (Choir Room) Teen Class: Discerning God s Will Zack Moser, Youth Director (Youth Room) Children s Class: Saying Yes to God Eric Magnuson, Director of Christian Education Services of Worship Holy Week March 25 at 9:30 a.m.: Palm Sunday Worship (Sanctuary) March 28 at 7:00 p.m.: Wednesday in Holy Week (Sanctuary) Acapella Service of Music and Prayer March 29 at 7:00 p.m.: Maundy Thursday (Sanctuary) Service of Word and Table March 30 at 12:00 p.m.: Ecumenical Good Friday Worship (Martha Mary Chapel, Sudbury) 7:00 p.m.: Good Friday Stations of the Cross (Outdoors Weather Permitting) Easter at 8:00 a.m.: Baptismal Renewal 9:30 a.m.: Traditional Service Preaching with Choral & Instrumental Music 11:15 a.m.: Contemporary Service with Preaching & Holy Communion