Quotes for Reflection:

when
the box that i've built
to define the things of god
breaks
it feels like
i've lost god
but i haven't lost god-just the box

Jane Upchurch

CALL TO WORSHIP
Lighter of lights illumine us
Fire of fires thaw us
Power of powers strengthen us
Lover of lovers warm us
Teller of tales encourage us
Destroyer of darkness save us
Touchstone of truth examine us
Summoner of stars amaze us
Wellspring of wisdom weather us
Water of life refresh us
Dancer of days delight in us
Breath of the universe bless us, as we gather to worship.
Music Down in My Soul

AMERICANA PRAISE

Ill Fly Away

O Living God

PASSING THE PEACE

2282
3089
(tune: Shenandoah)

YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE

OPENING TO GOD
John Donne 1572-1631
Salute the last, and everlasting day,
Joy at the uprising of this Sunne, and Sonne,
Ye whose just tears, or tribulation
Have purely washed, or burnt your drossy clay;
Behold the Highest, parting hence away,
Lightens the dark clouds, which he treads upon,

HYMN

-We Listen for Gods Word-

TEHILLIM

Psalm 93

813

ACTS LESSON
Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and
taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to
heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the
apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented
himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them
during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem,
but to wait there for the promise of the Father. This, he said, is
what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you
will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, is this the
time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? He replied, It is
not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by
his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and
a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they
were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes
stood by them. They said, Galileans, why do you stand looking up
toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into
heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.

-We Respond to Gods Word-

REFLECTION

How Then Shall We Live?

Can I Get a Witness?

Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain

315

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

Prayer Song from Ghana
Journeying god,
pitch your tent with mine
so that I may not become deterred
by hardship, strangeness, doubt.
Show me the movement I must make
toward a wealth not dependent on possessions,
toward a wisdom not based on books,
toward a strength not bolstered by might,
toward a god not confined to heaven.
Help me to find myself as I walk in other's shoes.

Live a-Humble

CHOIR

-We Gather as Gods People-

CHOIR

Nor doth he by ascending, show alone,

But first he, and he first enters the way.
O strong Ram which hast battered heaven for me,
Mild lamb, which with thy blood, hast marked the path;
Bright Torch, which shin'st, that I the way may see,
Oh, with thy own blood quench thy own just wrath.
And if the holy Spirit, my Muse did raise,
Deign at my hands this crown of prayer and praise.

Part 6 of 6

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORDS PRAYER

OFFERING & DOXOLOGY

-We Are Sent Into Gods World-

ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENEDICTION
RESPONSE

Halle, Halle, Halleluja

2026a

Announcements

Imagine No Malaria Bike-a-thon Barb and Mitch are making plans

to bicycle the 180 or so miles to New England Annual Conference in
Manchester, NH in mid-June, to raise funds for the Imagine No
Malaria campaign. Checks made out to Essex UMC with Imagine no
Malaria in the subject line by Sunday June 14.
The Essex/Jericho/Underhill Food Shelf has seen an increase in the
number of families using its services. The number always increase even
more over the summer months. Canned or dried goods may be donated
for the food shelf in the box in our entrance way. They are especially in
need of large cans of baked beans and jars of spaghetti sauce.
Covenant Hills listening session about proposal to close the camp
will be held at Barre UMC on Sunday May 17 - email address for
comment johnhschuyler@aol.com, Board Chairman CHCC.
On Friday, May 22, a memorial celebration for John Uckele will be
held at the house of his daughter Carla Cyr, at 18 Sunset Drive, Essex
Jct. Please visit any time between 2 - 8 p.m. Ask Ellie for directions to
the house.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

May 17 - Christopher Fleury

May 18 - Melissa Norton
May 18 - Nancy Nye
May 18 - Jody Heffernan
May 23 - Malissa Erickson
May 20 - June & Sandy Packard Anniversary
May 21 - Laura & Rodney Santaw Anniversary

Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up.
Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.

May 29 - St Pius

Calendar

Mon, 18 May: Monday Companions 7:00 pm Eves House.

Please read ch. 5 of If It Werent for Buddha, I
Couldnt Be Christian by Paul Knitter
Tue, 19 May: Office Hours
Church: 9-10:30am
Phoenix Books 10:35 am-noon
Bible Study 1:30-2:30 pm at Mansfield Place.
Trustees 7:00 pm
Mitch will be away Wednesday and Thursday. He is available on cell.
Fri, 22 May: Essex Eats Out 5:30 pm
Sun, 24 May: Pentecost Sunday
Mon, 25 May: Crafters & Conversation
Tue, 26 May: Office Hours
Church: 9-10:30am
Phoenix Books 10:35 am-noon

Ongoing Prayers, cont.

Ongoing Prayers
Judy & Diezela
Zachary Roy
John Bartlett
Carol Johnson
Bob Brooks (Hirst)
Michael Parker
Jill & Doug Griffin
Stan Komecki
Jenna Roy
Paul
Dick Shepard
Robin
Jaylene
Mary
Jake Greg
DJ
Chris
Gloria

May Essex Eats Out Schedule

May 22 - EUMC



Ascension Sunday

Anne
Michael Paradee
John Young IV
Brenda
Lenore
Lifted Up Last Sunday
Nancy - friend, Joanne, hurt in
traffic accident & the man who
was also injured
Donna - thankful that Vickie is in
remission
Linda - prayers for all those
struggling with stress
David - Tracies brother, Ken,
treatment for cancer
Elissa - Koris recovery from burns
Messier Family - lost home this
week in a fire


Bible Study 1:30-2:30 pm at Mansfield Place.

Pastor Parish Relations 7:00 pm
Wed, 27 May: Wednesday Prayer Services Begin 8:00 pm
Thu, 28 May: Mens Breakfast 8:00 am
Sun, 31 May: Church Has Left the Building!
Wed, 3 June: Green Mountain Nursing Home Service 2:30 pm
Sun, 7 June:

Last Day of Sunday School followed by Pot Luck

Barbecue Lunch

Sun, 14 June: Bring a Friend to Sunday School, details to follow

Sun, 21 June: Summer Schedule Begins. Worship 9:00 am

essex_umc@comcast.net
tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Ministers: the entire congregation
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
home tel. 878-3778 (feel free to call)
mitchellhay@comcast.net
Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Organist: Kathryn Parker Pianists: June Packard, Ellie Uckele
Djembe: Barbara Lemmel
Guitar: Richard Randazzo
Song Leader: Dana Thomas Projection: Sam Evans
Greeter - Bob McLane
Ushers - Joshua Knox & Melanie Brown
Cover: Lee Hodges, I AM Ladder

Essex Center United Methodist Church

17 May 2015

Seventh Sunday of Easter