Ellsworth United Methodist Church

Dear Friends,

Happy October!

Here’s a prayer poem to start us off, written Oct. 2007 by your truly.

Dusk light tops
oaks, birch, maple, fir.
Yellow slashes
as leaves mock brook trout scales
fashing.
above cloud thick sky
sun scratches
long scars of gold.
Tree trunks, roots
are nearly black
but across high branches
bright hyponizing.
Reversing falls
white water, crashing waves
crowned by round mist:
halos?
O, God, you stop our hurried ways.
We are stunned silent
by your most amazing October light.

I’ve been told photograpers feel taking pictures in October is cheating as the light is so lovely it is hard not to come away without an amazing picture. October is one of our especially beautiful months — a last glorious hurrrah before leaf fall,bare branches and twigs etch the sky. It is one of my favorite months, but then I have many favorites as God graces us with beauty all the whole year through.

If you stop by Ellsworth United Methodist Church in October you will discover the busy “mustard seeds” making Halloween Gift bags to be delivered to hospitals, ambulances and doctors offices for children too sick to “Trick or Treat”. These bags will be colorful and filled with non food goodies to keep little hands and minds busy while they recover from whatever illness keeps them from having fun.

Also you will notice our “Sock it to you!” sock collection — gathering socks for those who are most needy. On October 3 “GPYes!” will be singing at Courtland Nursing Home (6:30-7:45 p,m.) And on October 17 we will be busy working on Halloween Gift Bags in our fellowship hall — after a pot luck dinner (6:30-8:00) come and join in the fun of making smiles happen as we make goodie bags for children.

If you arrive on a Sunday morning during October you will enjoy worship led by lay leaders on October 6 and 16 as I will be taking a anniversary holiday with my beloved husband of nearly 26 years, Luther. We will be traveling South to PA and Maryland to visit family and friends.

But I can clue you into what you will find on the Sundays I am present:

October 2, World Communion Sunday: Introit: Awesome God, Psalm 19, Opening Hymn 368 “My Hope is Built”, Prayer “For Illumination!, Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46, Anthem “The Servant Song”, Sermon: “As Servants of God, In Unity Can We Make a Change?”, The Great Thanksgiving, Closing Hymn “God of Grace and God of Glory.”

October 23: Introit: “Love the Lord your God”, Psalm # 90, Opening Hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”, a prayer from Life Prayers, Hymn of Preparation “Spirit of God”, Scripture Deut. 34:1-12, 1Thess 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 Anthem “Without Seeing You”, Sermon” How To Live the Word”, Closing Hymn “God Be With You Until We Meet Again”

October 30 Introit “What Does the Lord Require of You”, Psalm #107, Opening Hymn “Make Me A Servant”, Prayer: “For a True Life” Hymn of Preparation “Trust and Obey”, Serrmon “Making Ourselves Into A Living Sanctuary” Closing Hymn Sanctuary”.

We met some wonderful vistors during the summer and I hope we will still meet more during “Leaf Peeper” Season. Our family size church offers Sunday School (during worship) and more — always open arms, open minds, open hearts — ready to get to know you! All are welcome to our easy going, come as you are church, where new friends are waiting to greet you.

See you in November? I hope so. Until then, may God bless and keep you!

Yours,
Pastor Susan Yaruta-Young (Pastor Y-Y)

Dear Friends, Happy September!

As I sit on my deck mild breezes are blowing and occasionally the humming bird hovers close by, trying to decide flowers? Or a sip of sweet water in our feeder. My husband Luther’s tomatoes are finally beginning to turn red! In my head I hear the melody and words “Try to remember the days of September” along with “Autumn Leaves.” Though I’m hoping, as I’m sure many of you are too, for a lovely autumn, forest vistas filled with leaves glittering like stain glass windows, after our most recent Hurricane, Irene, and with threats of others, my thoughts too quickly slide away from peaceful beauty to fierce winds, trees and branches blown into houses cars, people, downed elecrical wires, raging rivers and terrific flooding. My heart goes out to all who are dealing with hard times due to storms. Today, in my prayers particulartly, are for those living in North Carolina, New Jersey, Maine and Vermont.

This September, as we enjoy the quiet times between summer busy company and family gatherings and “leaf peeper” season, let us use these still moments to pray for so many who are hurting in our country, America, and all over the world. For the many families who were torn with grief on 9/11/01 and lives which will never be the same. And too, let us not forget the many heroes of 9/11,  and others who continue doing good works, helping to create wonderful changes in the lives of others.

What’s new at Ellsworth United Methodist Church? Well, in August “GPYes!” began “Caroling in August”, with choir members and non-singing pastor (me) visiting some elder members of our congregation.  On Labor Day Monday, no meal, but we will meet at 6:00 and a singing visit will be made at 6:15 at Courtland Nursing Home. On September 12 we will meet at 6:30 for a meal and to see where the spirit will move “GPYes!” next in its energy filled fellowship times, when we really ReThink church. In August members of the congrgation, as well as summer friends, collected many school supplies, donated to children, so they could begin school with the supplies they needed. This out-reach mission was a tremendous success and this pastor had tears when she saw the great out pouring of generous love freely given.

It is very exciting to see and hear the plans our children, youth and young adults groups are making and their energy spreads throughout the sanctuary touching the hearts of all ages from our 5 year old to our 80 + and all in between in this small but growing family size church. Stop by some Sunday and visit us! All are welcome and we can’t wait to meet you.

So what will you find some Sunday in September should you stop by? Here’s a sampling:

- Sept 4: Opening Hymn will be “All Creatrures of Our God and King” Time for Young at Herat: “Put on a Light Armor”, Hymn of Preparation: “Through it All”, Scfriptures: Romans 13:8-14 and Matthew 18:15-20, Anthem “Light of the World”,  Sermon: “Putting on an Armor of Light”, The Great Thanksgiving (all are welcome to come and feast at our meal remembering Jesus’ Last Supper), Closing hymn: “God Be With You Until We Meet Again”

- Sept. 11: Psalm 114, Opening Hymn “O, Mary, Don’t You Weep”, Unison Prayer: “Canticle of Moses and Miriam”, Hymn of Preparation: “Lord, Speak to Me”, Scriptures: Ex. 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35, Anthem “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”, Sermon: “Christ’s Death Gave Us a Fresh Start, Are We Ready To Make that Step?” Closing hymn: “Trust and Obey”

- Sept. 18: Introit: “My Life is in You Lord”, Psalm 105, Opening Hymn: “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, Hymn of Preparation: “He Leadth Me”, Scriptures Ex. 16:2-15, Matthew 20:1-6, Anthem “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”, Sermon: “God feeding us, an ancient tradition”, Closing Hymn: “El Shaddai”

- Sept.25: Introit “He is Exalted”, Psalm 78, Opening Hymn “Jesus is All The World To Me”, Time for the Young at Heart: “Sunday School, when does it end?”, Anthem “My Life is in You Lord”, Sermon:”Spiritual Journies”, Closing Hymn: ” Sanctuary.”

The above is only a taste of what happens. Each Sunday we do have: Gathering Music, an Introit, “Time for the Young at Heart”, many hymns always an Anthem (sometimes music to surprise in other places). Prayers of Joys and Prayers of Concern follows each sermon (Hmmmm) and our “loose change bowl” is a special part of our collection. Many of all ages are involved in some part of the service, and as pastor, I really enjoy seing the gifts God has blessed Ellsworth United Methodist church folk with.

So please know you are invited as someone we can’t wait to meet. May God bless you all and I’ll see you soon and will be writing to you again in October!

Yours,
Pastor Susan Yaruta-Young (sometimes known as Pastor Susan Y-Y)