*THE PEACE L: May the peace of the Lord be always with you. P: And also with you. (Greet one another with signs of Christ s peace.

Transcription

1 MARY TAYLOR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 168 South Broad Street Phone: Milford, Connecticut FAX: Order of Worship 10:00 a.m. (* Those who are able may stand. Late arrivals will be seated.) THE BELL TOLLS Welcoming us to worship God PRELUDE Fairest Lord Jesus Piano/Organ Duet WELCOME TO THE CHURCH INTROIT Mary Taylor Sailor Song (insert) *CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Our God of grace calls us to worship People: Come, let us gather together in this place Leader: Yes! Let us gather and share God s story, lived out here, in this holy place. People: Let us prepare to worship the Lord, who loves us dearly. All: LET US MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE, AS WE WORSHIP THE ALMIGHTY GOD! *HYMN #191 Jesus Loves Me Jesus Loves Me SUNDAY SCHOOL SKETCH #1: God Loves Us (Grades Pre-K through 2) PRAYER OF THE DAY (seated, unison) Loving God, we give you thanks for the many wonderful signs and symbols that tell your story and remind us of your love. As we gather for worship this morning, and share in the journey of our Sunday School students, open our ears, hearts, and minds, that we might learn from you this morning. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION (by the pastor) UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION Merciful God, often, we stray from the path you have called us to. We fail to love you and we fail to love our neighbors. We walk by those in need of love and care. Help us to see the journey you have planned for us. Help us to live and love all of your creation, according to your will. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen SILENT CONFESSION AND WORDS OF PARDON ooo RECOGNITION OF GRADUATES Names as provided to us on the insert. BLESSING (prayed by all) O only wise God, in whom are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge: we ask you earnestly to illumine all schools, colleges and universities with the light that comes from you, that those who teach may be taught of you, and those who learn may be led by your Spirit; and that by the increase of knowledge your truth be confirmed and your glory made known, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. COMMISSIONING OF UM ARMY VOLUNTEERS Pastor: All who take the name of Christ are called to ministries of love and service by Christ s example. Samantha Bennett, Olivia D Andrea, Hayley Lapadula, Shelly Lapadula, Callie Merva, Sarah O Brien, Laura Perregaux, Taylor Perry, and Allyson Tolles leave today to work with the United Methodist Action Reach-Out Mission by Youth (UM ARMY). As they prepare for this departure, we pray God s Blessings on them and those they serve. BLESSING (prayed by all) O God, we ask you to bestow on these ambassadors of this church in ministry with the people of Hicksville, New York, where this UM ARMY cohort will serve. As we dedicate them to service in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask that this prayer unites us with them in their work and that you richly bless their labor; in the name of the carpenter s son from Galilee, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION Leader: Lord, in Your mercy, People: Hear our prayer. *THE PEACE L: May the peace of the Lord be always with you. P: And also with you. (Greet one another with signs of Christ s peace.) PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS Offertory Duet: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Piano/Organ Duet *Presentation: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymnal #94 *Prayer of Dedication THE HOLY SCRIPTURE II Corinthians 4:5-12 Bible p.1053 (LP NT p.220) Reader: The Word of the Lord. (Read by Ethan Weed) People: Thanks be to God. *HYMN #402 Lord, I Want to Be a Christian I Want to Be a Christian SUNDAY SCHOOL SKETCH #2: We Love God (Grades 3 through 6) THE MESSAGE Clay Jars Dr. Bodt TEACHER TESTIMONY LITANY FOR TEACHER RECOGNITION Wendy Hoffmann Names Listed in the Grace Notes Pastor Brian Bodt, Pastor Dani Levine, and Cathy Cono, Sunday School Superintendent Pastor: The people here assembled stood before you last September and publicly committed their program year to Christian spiritual formation through teaching. Having successfully completed their mission, I ask you now to release them with blessing. Congregation: Having pledged last fall to pray for, enable, encourage and love you in this ministry, we now give thanks to God for your faithful service and pray God s blessing for your faithfulness. Your mission is completed for another year. Pastor: Knowing that Christian spiritual formation is a life-long journey, we recognize that many of these educators will continue next September; and by faith affirm that God will raise up others who will join them in this vital ministry. For these, let us pray:

2 All: Creating and Sustaining God, from Whom all learning and wisdom comes: bless these saints who have labored faithfully in the vineyard of spiritual formation. Grant them a sense of accomplishment in all they have undertaken; and peace in its completion. May the summer season be for them, as for us all, a time of renewal from the race well run. Bring your Spirit upon us all, that those with the gift of teaching may lead us when the new program year begins. And bring your Spirit upon those who have not yet awakened to the teaching gift within them, that you will help them know their gift is desired by you for the completion of Christ s body, the Church. In all these things guide our steps in a deepening relationship with Jesus, our Savior and Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen. *THE GREAT THANKSGIVING (Setting B) Hymnal p. 18 THE LORD S PRAYER Hymnal #895 *THE COMMUNION The United Methodist Church observes an open table: all are welcome to receive or refrain from receiving. We use gluten-free bread and grape juice. Please come forward at the direction of the ushers. During the distribution, we will sing hymns # 624, 618, 620, 629 (Assisting with Communion are Ryan Lapadula and Shannon Thompson) PRAYER FOR LAY COMMUNION DISTRIBUTORS (unison) Gracious God, we remember the apostolic Church which sent representatives from the Lord s table to those unable to be present. Bless and assist these lay visitors who continue this ministry. Nourish and strengthen those to whom this sacrament is brought, that they may know the comfort of your presence and the love of this community of faith. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen. UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *HYMN #593 Here I Am, Lord Here I Am, Lord SUNDAY SCHOOL SKETCH #3: We Love God s People (Grades 7 through High School) *THE BELL TOLLS Sending us to walk with and witness for Jesus *POSTLUDE Celebration J. Mansfield (During the postlude you may leave following the leader or remain seated). THE WORSHIP IS ENDED: THE SERVICE BEGINS. Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church First Methodist Church in Milford: 1836 Current building dedicated: 1893 Merged with Myrtle Beach Community Church: 1969 Nesting Ghana Emmanuel U.M. Church: 2016 Whoever you are, wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here. SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST June 3, 2018

3 FAREWELL / RETIREMENT EVENT FOR PASTOR BRIAN AND CAROL: Sunday, June 24, 2-4:30 p.m. Stacey Cronk (fri1013@aol.com; ) chairs the committee on behalf of Staff-Parish Relations. Please let Mary Lou in the office know if you will be attending at , ext. 110 or mtmumc@sbcglobal.net. MARY TAYLOR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Telephone: Fax: Website: mtmumc@sbcglobal.net Ministers All the People of God Bishop The Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Bickerton Lay Leaders Shelly Lapadula & Beth O Brien Superintendent The Rev. Dr. Alpher Sylvester Prayer Chain Stacy Meszaros Pastor The Rev. Dr. Brian R. Bodt Administrative Assistant Mary Lou Kampert Pastoral Assistant The Rev. Harold V.W. Vink Sexton Andy Thomas Outreach Pastor Danielle Levine Child Care Coordinator Laura A. Brennan Music Director Dr. Richard L. Riccardi Theologian-in-Residence The Rev. Dr. Judith F. Bennett Grace Notes June 3, 2018 Dear Mary Taylor Memorial Church community, I trust, writing on Wednesday, that we have enjoyed another great year at the Fair on the Green. One thing is for sure: many people worked very hard, and we especially laud Bob and Becky Virgalla, concluding chairs; and Paul Downing and Michelle Connor, 2019 chairs. We take pride today in our young people: as leaders of today s worship; as graduates; and as volunteers in mission through United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth (UMARMY). We applaud their efforts, to which the brief liturgies today give recognition. As the teaching year ends, we especially thank our teaching staff for their efforts with children, youth and adults. Please thank: Infant and Toddler: Laura Brennan Pre-K - Grade 2: Wendy Hoffmann, Susan Pitre, Paige Librandi Grades 3-6: Beth O Brien, Diana Titus Grades 7- High School: Pastor Dani Levine, Bev Downing, Shelly Lapadula Adult Class: Lorraine Carr Special Education: Amanda Pitre Curriculum: Lisa Gloates Superintendent: Cathy Cono Assistant Sup t: Holly Firmender We also acknowledge the supportive involvement of Dennis Brown and Dave Carr in the Sunday School program as well as single-sunday substitutes during the year. Confirmation Class: Pastor Brian Bodt and Pastor Dani Levine Adult studies teachers: Pastor Judy Bennett, Pastor Brian Bodt, and Don Hastings G.U.T.S Youth Group Advisors: Pastor Dani Levine, Dawn Bettencourt, Paul Downing, Shelly Lapadula, and with assistance from Dawn Fino. Sincerely yours in Christ, The Rev. Dr. Brian R. Bodt, Pastor

4 AT WORSHIP TODAY Head Usher: Nick Bettencourt Greeters: Phoebe Repetsky and Carol Sahutsky Liturgist: Ethan Weed Acolytes: Nancy Bennett and Dawn Bettencourt Cross Bearer: Susan O Shea Bible Bearer: Dennis Brown Guest Musician: Richard L. Riccardi Communion Stewards: Karen Keane and Donna Venditti Communion Celebrants: Pastor Brian Bodt and Co-Lay Leader Beth O Brien; Ryan Lapadula and Shannon Thompson. THE ALTAR FLOWERS are in celebration of our 35 th wedding anniversary today, given by Dolly and Frank Bonisch; in honor of all high school and college graduates, given by Ken and Elaine Hawkins; and in memory of my late mother, Jeanette DeVito, and my late father-in-law James Becker on their birthday, June 3 rd, given by Michelle Connor. TO ASSIST YOU IN WORSHIP, see our ushers for: Large print Bibles, hymnals and bulletins Hearing Assist Devices Children s bulletins for ages 3 6 and 7 12 WELCOME VISITORS! May you experience God s presence today. Please complete a red visitor s card (in the pew racks) and wear the Visitor peel-and-stick name tag to help us greet you. Our Ambassadors will look for you! CHURCH INFORMATION is in the Narthex. PLEASE OFFER PRAYER CONCERNS using the "Blue Sheets" in the attendance pads in each pew; or obtain one from an usher. Please return them completed to an usher or to the center aisle where the ushers will collect them on the opening hymn. Our Lay Leaders speak them during the Prayer of Intercession and Petition. You are also invited to speak your concerns when we pray. Please obtain others permission to share their concerns. Prayers are included in our on-line prayer chain and Monday night Healing Service. Please also consider joining our Yahoo e-communication group (which was created for prayer concerns) to offer immediate posting of intercessory prayer requests. To sign up, contact the church office. CHILD CARE for children five years old and younger is provided in the Wesley Center, the building to your left. Please note that children over five are expected to remain in the sanctuary since our child care is not staffed to provide for older children. IF YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE SANCTUARY DURING WORSHIP, please exit by the east (left) side aisle. RESTROOMS are in Dodd Hall (behind the altar). PARENTS are respectfully urged to accompany their children as required by our Safe Sanctuary policy. PLEASE RE-ENTER the sanctuary by the east side aisle. TODAY S LITURGY is based on Holy Scripture, The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992) and a variety of other sources, created by Pastor Dani Levine, Cathy Cono, Holly Firmender and members of the Sunday School staff. VITAL CONGREGATION WEEKLY REPORT FOR May 27th Total worship attendance all services: 187; May 27: 165; GEUMC:18; May 28th Healing and Wholeness: 4; Total Offerings for May 27: $4,853.50: Amount given to Charities and Benevolence: $2,698.84; Engaged in Small Groups: 44: NO Sunday School; Adult Choir: 20; Trash & Treasures: 6; GUTS: 15; Office Volunteers: 3; Total persons received on profession of faith: 7; Total Persons involved in local, national, and international missions: 0. *Small Groups please contact the church office mtmumc@sbcglobal.net or ) with your attendance TWO-WEEK CALENDAR AT MARY TAYLOR MEMORIAL Sunday, June 3 8:45 a.m. Sunday School Jamboree Time Chapel 9:00 a.m. LAST DAY of Sunday School Wesley Center 10:00 a.m. Worship- Sanctuary 11:00 a.m. Fellowship Time - Dodd Hall 3:30 p.m. GEUMC Worship Chapel NO GUTS Youth Group this evening Monday, June 4 5:30 p.m. Pastors-Lay Leaders meeting Pastor s study 7:00 p.m. Healing and Wholeness Worship- Chapel Wednesday, June 6 10:00 a.m. Memorial Service for Marilyn Thomas Sanctuary NO Adult Choir rehearsal Thursday, June 7 6:30 p.m. Missions Committee meeting Wesley Center 7:00 p.m. Board of Trustees meeting Wesley Center Friday, June 8 10:00 a.m. Office Volunteers-Gunn Library - Wesley Center Saturday, June 9 9:00 a.m. Men s Tres Dias reunion group Chapel Sunday, June10 10:00 a.m. Worship- Sanctuary Prayer and Healing Anointing today 11:00 a.m. Fellowship Time - Dodd Hall 11:00 a.m. Pirate Day Church front walk 3:30 p.m. GEUMC Worship Chapel 4:00 p.m. GUTS Youth Group meeting Youth Lounge Monday, June 11 6:00 p.m. Membership and Evangelism meeting Wesley Center 7:00 p.m. Healing and Wholeness Worship Chapel Tuesday, June 12 Noon United Methodist Women meeting Wesley Center 1 st floor Wednesday, June 13 6:45 p.m. Youth Leader s meeting Pastor Dani s office 7:30 p.m. Adult Choir rehearsal Dodd Hall Thursday, June 14 7:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry Joan Zauner s home: 14 Lucius Ct. Milford 7:00 p.m. Staff Parish Relations Committee meeting Wesley Center Friday, June 15 Beacon Information Due Today 10:00 a.m. Office Volunteers Gunn Library Saturday, June 16 9:00 a.m. Men s Tres Dias reunion group Chapel 11:00 a.m. Beverly Pierpont Memorial Service - Sanctuary

5 TODAY FELLOWSHIP TIME TODAY is hosted by Stacey Cronk and Holly Firmender. Next Sunday s hosts will be the Worship Committee. GUTS YOUTH No meetings are scheduled for today. Rest and recuperation from the fair. UMCOR HEALTH KITS FINAL REPORT: 500 kits will go this week to Annual Conference (June 7-10) and be used in places of need around the world. We have $1,280 toward the $1,560 project cost from the Missions Committee, the United Methodist Women, and individual donors. If you would like to help us reach our goal, please make your check payable to MTMUMC with the memo UMCOR kit. Thanks to all who have given generously to this project. SERMON COPIES are in the rear of the church or at SEE THE WEEKLY CALENDAR for regular meetings and activities. THIS WEEK PASTORS-LAY LEADERS meeting is tomorrow, June 4 th at 5:30 p.m. in Pastor Brian s study. THE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF GREATER BRIDGEPORT - COMMUNITY INTERFAITH IFTAR- Come Learn Together and Eat Together, will take place tomorrow, June 4 th from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center (BICC), 877 Park Avenue in Bridgeport. The Community Iftar will be a celebration and conversation about the beauty and strength of the calling within each of our faith traditions to be in fellowship with people of other faiths. Come and enjoy a wonderful evening of prayer, great food and dialogue. NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE meets this Thursday, June 7 th through Sunday, June 10 th at Hofstra University, Hempstead, Long Island. Lay members of Conference from MTMUMC are Kelly O Hara and Sandy Morgan. Clergy members are Pastor Brian Bodt, Pastor Hal Vink and others clergy who credentials are at MTMUMC. Pastor Dani Levine, now credentialed as a Local Lay Pastor but still technically a layperson, is a Lay Member of Conference from her home church, Faith UMC in North Haven. Carol Galloway will also attend as a guest to participate in the several events related to retiring clergy. Please pray for these representatives and for the work of the Annual Conference. CLERGY ON CALL JUNE 7-10 while Pastors Brian and Dani are at Annual Conference is the Rev. Hal Vink, Pastoral Assistant, at THE MISSIONS COMMITTEE meets this Thursday, June 7 th at 6:30 p.m. in Wesley Center. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES meets this Thursday, June 7 th at 7 p.m. in Wesley Center. NEXT SUNDAY, June 10th PENTECOST IV- Our Pastoral Assistant, the Rev. Hal Vink, will preach the sermon Your True Identity based on II Corinthians 4:13-5:1 and Mark 3: Additional worship leadership will be provided by Jeff Brockett and Co-Lay Leader Beth O Brien. Our Mission Moment will be presented by Paul and Lillia Downing. In a change from our usual practice, prayer and healing anointing will be offered this Sunday (rather than last Sunday) during the closing hymns. At Hofstra University, Annual Conference ends with the service of ordination. Pastors Brian Bodt and Dani Levine are there with our Lay Members of Conference, Kelly O Hara and Sandy Morgan and guest Carol Galloway. PIRATE DAY - is a community event hosted by the Downtown Milford Business Association (DMBA). We will again participate in Pirate Day, Sunday, June 10, 11:00 a.m. 5 p.m. This family-friendly event fills the Green with children and their parents: a perfect opportunity to welcome folks who may not have a church home. It includes a treasure map with a clue to each location where participants can get pirate booty. The clues are intended to provide easy identification of participating organizations. Please come experience this fun by volunteering an hour or two of your time to tattoo the little Buckaroos, as well as hand out pirate booty. Lunch will be provided by Membership and Evangelism. Please contact Susan Pitre, soupytrus@yahoo.com, (Cell, so calling and texting work for Sue!) OUR FAIR TRADE COFFEE (and chocolate!) will be on sale June 10th. The next order after June will be taken on September 9 th, so if you want to plan for the summer, better order in June! See Christine McGregor in Dodd Hall after service. GUTS YOUTH meeting regular meeting 4-5:30 p.m. in the youth lounge 1 st floor, Wesley Center. Topic for this week will be sent out via ! OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST SUMMER COTTAGE MEETINGS will provide informal conversation to get to know Pastor Kristina Hansen and Leslie Reyman. If you would consider hosting a group of people in July or August, please contact Staff-Parish Chair Edie Reichard at TRANSFORMATIVE COACHING, a client-centered approach to facilitate a client s own inner strength and potential, is being offered by Paul Downing as part of becoming a certified coach. His completion of a Transformative Coaching curriculum requires offering 100 hours of coaching. He is offering sessions gratis or for a free-will offering. Sessions are 20 or 50 minutes each, at the discretion of the recipient. If you are interested in learning more, receiving coaching or helping Paul reach his goal, please contact him at or paul.downing@snet.net.

6 NAME TAGS: we are revitalizing our use of name tags, anticipating the arrival of our new pastor. Please look at the name tags on the table in Dodd Hall to see if yours is there. If not, please let the office ( , ext. 110 or know you need one. MILFORD HOSPITAL is seeking morning, afternoon and evening volunteers. The greatest need for volunteers is in the Enchanted Window Gift Shop, the Information Desk, the Surgi Center and the Dietary Department. Most positions require the ability to commit to one 3 ½ hour shift per week. Orientation sessions will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 from 9:00 am to 12 pm at the hospital in Conference Room 1. For more information or to register for the orientation session, call OUR LIFE IN PRAYER, MINISTRY AND MISSION BULLETIN NOTICES are due by noon Wednesday for the weekly bulletin. DONATE ALTAR FLOWERS OR A MISSION CROSS. Beth O Brien ( or bgobrien11@optonline.net) is now taking orders for Flowers are $20. Donations, in lieu of flowers, to support missions are honored with a cross and miniature mission scarf on the altar. Checks for both are payable to MTMUMC, mailed to Beth O Brien, 7 Breakneck Court, Available dates are June 17 and 24, and July 8 and 15. FOOD BASKET: Please place non-perishable food items in the basket located in the back of the church and monetary donations in the Beth-El envelope. ANIMAL SHELTER DONATIONS: Wet and dry cat food is needed for seniors with pets and for the canine facility. Towels and blankets are needed. Animal Control will not take peoples' released pets but will spay and neuter feral cats. Please leave your donations in the designated basket in the back of the Sanctuary. The Youth Fellowship takes these items to Animal Control each week. Bless you for caring for God's children with fur. If you and your animals are in need, please help yourself to the available donations. CONTACT THE PASTORS directly or through the church office ( , mtmumc@sbcglobal.net) with pastoral care needs and hospitalizations: Pastor Brian Bodt: brian.bodt@yahoo.com; , ext. 111 or He is typically in office 10 am 1 p.m., Mon. Thurs. Pastor Hal Vink: or vinkhaljane@gmail.com. Pastor Dani Levine: or dani.m.levine@gmail.com. FIX IT BOX is in Dodd Hall. See a need? Drop a completed form in the box. WE HOST Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, and Recovery from Codependency (CODA) WEEKLY. Please call the church office for the schedule or see it posted on the bulletin boards. PLEASE NOTE: During a medical or other emergency the Head Usher or a designee will call #911. Please do not call on your cell phone as multiple calls may delay response.