Ellsworth United Methodist Church

Editor’s Note: Pastor Susan had June’s letter done and sent in May (WAY before she left on vacation), and it should have been published on the first of the month. However, the Webmistress forgot! Sorry, folks (and Pastor Sue). Please enjoy June’s letter NOW and stay tuned for July’s soon. – Amy B. (aka “the forgetful webmistress”)
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Dear Friends, Happy June!

June, the month of long, beautiful days, green lush trees, lawns and warm breezes. High school gradations and summer vacations, camps opening up, bonfires (with s’mores), grilled goodies, laughter and story telling.

On warm June days (July and August, too), when I close my eyes, and sniff the scent of suntan lotion, many memories of summers past pop into my mind. My own childhood on our farm, yearly visits to Ocean City, Maryland, and to my Uncle and Aunt’s club for weeklong trips of catching blue fin crabs and watching my cousin water ski.

Or my mind goes to those summers in Maine, which seem not that far away, when my own four children (now ages 35, 32, 26, 24) were enjoying vacations in Lincolnville, Colonial Gables (near Belfast), and four years in a wonderful log cabin on a blueberry barren on Deer Isle. Then, beginning summer 1996, we made Maine our year-round home. Wonderful memories, and God’s good blessings, and I pray, many more wonderful summer memories to come.

During part of this June, I will be in Maryland enjoying family time and applauding the high school graduation of our granddaughter, Zoila. We will enjoy seeing beloved family and old friends, and visit the farm I grew up on (still a few acres belong in our family).

In June I will also attend The Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church held at Gordon College. At “A.C.” I will attend meetings, be involved in discussions, enjoy amazing worship with hymn sings and inspirational preaching. I will have a chance to meet with minister friends and make new friends among ministers and lay folk from Northern New England churches. The theme of this year’s conference is “Strangely Warmed: Formed by God.”

If the phrase “strangely warmed” sounds a bit familiar, it should. Check out Luke 24:13-35, particularly verse 32. You may also remember how John Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed” one night in late May.

Feeling an amazing strangely warm feeling is when we are aware of God entering our lives in a powerful way. For many, this experience may happen once, or only a few times; for others it is more often. After you have felt God’s presence in your heart, you are left feeling empty, and you are left searching ways to have that wonderful feeling return. C.S. Lewis called these warm times “Joy Moments”. When we attend powerful worship, hear beautiful songs/hymns, are moved by powerful preaching, or the innocent wisdom of little children, and when we witness great faith lived by individuals who are living with very tough situations — AND when we share our God given gifts — joy re-enters our lives, maybe not as powerful as some God Moments, but certainly as flaming Holy Spirit power and the beauty of God’s love.

I hope all of you will enjoy June 2013, making new memories and delighting in treasured old ones, retelling the stories, and seeing the beauty of God in all our lives.

And should you arrive at Ellsworth United Methodist Church at 11:00 on a Sunday in June, here’s what you will see and hear:

June 2 — (I will be on vacation, so our wonderful Lay Leaders will be in change).

June 9 — Introit (by choir): “He is Exalted,” Psalm 146, Opening Hymn: “Praise to the Lord, The Almighty,” Hymn of Preparation: “Lord Divine, All Loves Excelling,” Scriptures: Gal. 1:11-24, Luke 7:11-17, Anthem (by choir): “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High,” Sermon: “Compassion, Love, Speaking with Authority,” The Great Thanksgiving, Closing Hymn: “Take My Life and Let it Be”.

June 16 — Father’s Day. Introit (by choir): “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry,” Psalm 32, Opening Hymn: “This is My Father’s World,” Hymn of Preparation: “God of Grace and God of Glory”, Scriptures: Gal. 3:15-21, Luke 7:36-8:3, Anthem (by choir): “Give Me The Faith Which Can Remove”, Sermon: “Memories of Father Figures in Our Lives,” Closing Hymn: “God Be With You Until We Meet Again”.

June 23 — Introit (by choir): “As the Deer”, Psalm 42, Opening Hymn: “Lord, Speak to Me”, Hymn of Preparation: “Here I Am, Lord,” Anthem (by choir): “To Know You,” Sermon: “Jesus, Filled with Ways To Surprise Us…”, Closing Hymn: “Through It All.”

June 30 — Introit (by choir): “Together We Serve,” Psalm 16, Opening Hymn: “God of Grace and God of Glory,” Hymn of Preparation: “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” Scriptures Gal. 5:1, 13-25, Luke 9:51-62, Anthem (by choir): “Wounded World that Cries for Healing,” Sermon: “Practicing Social Holiness,” Closing Hymn: “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

Each week we begin our worship with a Prelude played usually by Bruce Clark. Each week our children “wow!” us with their wisdom during “Time for the Young at Heart.”

We are a small, warm, family size church. We invite all to “come as you are”, dressed as you feel most comfortable. We enjoy being “the church from away”, meeting many new faces of visiting summer folk (and actually we have vacationers stopping by all through the year). We love hearing your story, where you live, and we do our best to make your visit to EUMC be a happy experience.

Enjoy June. See you again in July right here on the web? I hope so.

May God Bless you,
Yours,
Pastor Susan Yaruta-Young (Pastor Susan Y-Y)