Ellsworth United Methodist Church

Happy September 2010!

After an amazing grace-filled summer, our nights are a bit cooler, though days still warm, and now it’s back to school for many and for others time for harvesting home grown goodies. This year our patio tomatoes began “blushing” in July and since the beginning of August we have been enjoying them nearly every meal! I have heard that pumpkins were for sale on Route # 3 near Belfast in mid-August. Imagine Halloween Jack-o-lanterns in August. Hmm, no, I don’t think so.

Everywhere I travel I’ve been hearing three comments: “What a wonderful long, sunny summer.”, “Everything is ahead of schedule.” and “Have you gotten your wood for winter yet?” I’m hoping for a lovely September, a long gradual slide into autumn, but we must see what God has planned.

Here’s a taste of some of the hymns we’ll be singing (from both the “red UM hymnal and the black: Faith We Sing), as well the themes for a couple of “Times for the Young at Heart” and the titles of my sermons. I hope maybe this wee “taste” might “whet” your “appetite” to stop in and enjoy the “fruits of the spirit” with us, as well as an always-great Coffee Hour.  And should you have children, they will be invited to join our “One Room School House” Sunday School beginning each Sunday immediately after “Time for the Young at Heart” with children invited up for Holy Communion (second Sunday each month except for Oct 3, World Communion Sunday). Children also often help with the “Offering” and enjoy helping sing the closing hymn.

So here’s the “sampling”:
If you stop by on September 5, Labor Day Sunday, we will be singing: # 2051 “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry,” # 600 “Wonderful Words of Life,” and # 399 “Take My Life.” The sermon title: “Allowing Our Beloved Ones to Go Where God Leads Them.”

September 12, “Grandparents Sunday” # 378 “Amazing Grace”, # 377 “It is Well With My Soul,” # 405 “Seek Ye First” and # 2281 “May You Run and Not Be Weary.” Sermon: “Discovering the Lost Ones.”

September 19, “Time for the Young at Heart” we’ll chat about “The Gift of Giving”  and sing: # 2065 “More Precious than Silver,” # 375 “There is a Balm in Gilead” and # 2149 “Living for Jesus.” My sermon is titled: “Worshipping Daily”

September 26 is Sunday School Sunday! “Time for the Young at Heart” I will ask them “What $ Can’t Buy?” and we will be singing # 2008 “Let All Things Now Living,” # 131 “We Gather Together” (wonder what folks will notice?), # 399 “Take My Life and Let it Be,” # 143 “On Eagle’s Wings,” and sermon connects tightly to what the children and I discussed earlier in the service: “The Trouble with Money”

It is my wish that we will enjoy worship and/or fellowship time in our lovely outside sanctuary. It is my hope that people are taking a few moments to sit on the bench there, look at our simple birch wood cross, and to take deep healing breaths, spend a few moments in quiet reflection and prayer. Our young children, 8 at last count, have enjoyed playing in that most special place and also watering the beautiful flowers planted there by members of the congregation.

I must also let you know, this summer we have been blessed by visitors from CA, DC, PA, SC, TX, MA, NJ, Southern Maine, and I know I’m leaving out others.  We have also been blessed by people coming by to “check us out” and staying to join us week after week! Yes!!!

May you all enjoy a lovely September “and try to remember. . . ..” May you feel the living presence of God in your life as you follow the path Jesus made for us, and may the Holy Spirit fill you with much Joy! the desire to visit us some Sunday a.m. at 11:00 or for “GPYes!” (the first and third Mondays of each month — unless that Monday falls on a holiday).

Ellsworth United Methodist Church IS a welcoming church, that opens doors, arms, hearts to all. Come as you are and we’ll say, “Glad to met you!”

For now, I pray God will bless all of you. See you in October!

Yours,
Pastor Susan Yaruta-Young