Ellsworth United Methodist Church

 Ellsworth United Methodist Church is in search of a new Music Director for their worship services.

Duties include:

·         Providing music for weekly Sunday services and some special occasions (either by playing the organ, piano or running a portable music player)

·         Maintaining and operating basic sound equipment (2 mics, 4 speakers, 4-channel sound board and CD player)

·         Directing a small choir that leads the congregation in hymns and performs 3 “special music” pieces per week.

Desired qualifications:

– Strong singing voice desired to lead congregation in singing hymns.

– Experience with sound equipment is VERY helpful here (there isn’t anyone in the congregation who is technical enough to do so).

– Keyboard/piano/organ skills not required but desirable.

– Some light website updating/maintenance is included as well.

This is a great little congregation! All these folks are very supportive and open to new ideas and pretty much all musical styles. The chosen candidate will be asked to start services on June 8th or later (if necessary). You can find out more about the church at http://www.ellsworthumc.org/about  Please contact Amy Briggs for more details at nightingale70@gmail.com or 207-266-4347.

7:00PM at the Meadows

Please join us Saturday, May 10th beginning at 8:00AM til we’re all done, for a day of fellowship and clean-up as we get our church spiffied up, inside and out! Everyone’s help is needed!

Dear Friends, let me begin with a prayer poem:

Last night, O Glorious God,
the sky was black boot polish shiny
and filled with stars bright as stage lights.
Bitterly cold, sharply clear,
icy snow banks; shimmery powder crystals
swirled across black tar roads,
like muslin dresses,
when music makers inspire dancers to whirl into blurs.
O Glorious God,
to live here is a blessing.
Each season has its own shocker
to awaken dreaming, arrogant idlers
and sullen poets; we fall on our knees,
clasp our hands, drop our heads
and know
yes, know,
You are encouraging us,
Your children,
to enjoy Your lovely gifts.

February, our shortest month, often feels like the longest month in the year. Metaphorically, we paw at iron-hard ground, anxious for winter to end and for Spring, in all her wonder and beauty, to arrive.

Here in Maine, it is not likely that daffodils will begin blooming, a yellow celebration to warmer weather. “Daffys” may be an entrance call to February spring weather in southern states, but usually not here in Maine.

February IS the holiday month. Valentines Day and Presidents’ Day are part of February Break, when schools close, releasing K-12th graders. Some families head south: Florida is a big destination. For others, a ski trip is the way to go. And there are those who seek a trip to a big city, like Boston or Portland (ME), for museums, music, movies, and hotels with heated pools.

Many families, with school-age kiddies, head north, to Bangor, for it is the town of clock-stopping, heart-beating, hands-clapping BASKETBALL games. Bleachers are filled, jazz bands play rousing school songs, and all ages yell for their home teams.

February is sometimes the beginning of Lent, but not this year, as Ash Wednesday is not until March 5. February is also, as it has been for the last 62 years, my birthday month, and I say “God, bless!” to all my family and friends, those departed to wonderful spiritual lives, and those cheering by my side.

February is a month of watching for signs: “Is the ice out yet?” “I saw a smudge of yellow with a green blade under the snow, I think it’s a crocus trying to perk up.” And God signs: “I awoke knowing God is near.”

This February, as I often and most sincerely write, if you happen to find yourself some Sunday morning, at say 11ish, in Ellsworth, Maine, I invite you to stop in at EUMC. I know the folks would love to meet you. Me too. Come dressed in comfy clothes and be prepared to smile, laugh, fill up on tasty goodies, good cheer, and be sincerely made to feel like a long-lost friend or member of the family.

So, here’s a preview of our Sunday worships this February:

2/2/14: Introit, Psalm 15, Opening Hymn: “Blest Are They”, Prayer: “For Courage to Do Justice”, Hymn of Preparation: “Be Thou My Vision”, Scriptures: Micah 6:6-8, 1 Cor. 1:18-31, Mt. 5:1-12; Sermon: “To Know, Know, Know You, Is to Love, Love, Love You”, The Great Thanksgiving, Closing Hymn: “Sent Forth in Jesus’ Name”.

2/9/14: Boy Scout Sunday, Introit: “Woke Up this Morning with My Mind”, Psalm 112, Opening Hymn: “This LIttle Light of Mind”, Prayer: “Canticle of Light and Darkness”, Time for the Young at Heart: “Scout Prayer”, Hymn of Preparation: “Here I am, Lord”, Scriptures: Is. 8:1-9, 1 Cor. 2:1-13, Mt. 5:13-20; Sermon: “Waking to the Light”, Closing Hymn: “Pass it On”.

2/16/14: Introit: “God, How Can We Forgive?”, Psalm 119, verses 1-8; Opening Hymn: “Near to the Heart of God”, Prayer: “For God’s Gifts”, Time for the Young at Heart: “Reconciliation”; Hymn of Preparation: “Let There Be Peace on Earth”, Scriptures: Deut. 30:15-20, 1 Cor. 3:1-9, Mt. 5:21-33; Sermon: “How Can there Be Peace on Earth?”, Closing Hymn: “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”.

2/23/14: Introit: “Make Me A Channel of Your Peace”, Psalm 119, verses 3-40; Opening Hymn: “For Grace to Labor”, Hymn of Preparation: “Come Thy Font of Every Blessing”, Scriptures: Lev. 19:1-2, 9-18, 1 Cor. 3:10-11, 16-23, Mt. 5:38-48; Sermon: “God’s Love is Tough Love”, Closing Hymn: “We Are Marching to Zion”.

May you have a blessed and wonderful month. I hope to see you next month, March, right here on the web.

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