Palm Sunday Worship at Ellsworth United Methodist ChurchPlease plan on joining us on Sunday, April 1st for our Palm Sunday Worship Service at 11:00AM.
Ruth Torrey will be filling the sanctuary with the majestic sounds of the organ for us on an EUMC favorite, Faure’s “The Palms” – you don’t want to miss it!
Dear God, another Lenten Season
Will soon begin
Making memories swirl
Circling years
At this moment
The end of Jesus’ life
Is anticipated
As only a few months ago, during Advent,
His birth was also impatiently longed for
Dear God, my mind, my heart, my spirit
Fill as days inch longer,
Dark nights become shorter
Dear God, You are all kindness,
You are all love.
This light that grows brighter and brighter
Will startle us awake;
Startle us into the new beginning
As we begin our journey toward Easter.
Dear Friends,
Happy February!
February: a month of surprises. A month filled with the unexpected. A month, when we celebrate birthdays of famous Presidents and love on St. Valentine’s Day. February, the shortest month in our calendar year, which this year “a Leap Year” we add on an extra day as we do every four years. February a month when we can be buried by our biggest snow storms or we can enjoy the music of birds and joyfully watch as the tiniest, heartiest flowers (crocus and snow drops) begin to sprout up and even bloom. So, welcome in February and enjoy seeing what this February, 2012 will surprise you with. For me personally, it is a “Big” birthday, 60, which I will celebrate with my husband, adult children, some old friends and other family members down in the state of my birth, Maryland, on February 18th. So, I have only 3 worship services to include here. On February 19, be surprised by what one of our amazing Lay Leaders has to offer.
In February Ellsworth United Methodist Church is planning two great times for fellowship fun: February 4: 3:30 BOWL-A-Thon (Ellsworth Bowling Center) followed by dinner at Pat’s Pizza (also in Ellsworth). February 12, immediately following worship enjoy delicious Maine and New Orleans favorites as we celebrate Mardi Gras fun with great food, music and games. All are welcome (but let us know ahead so we have enough food).
“GPYes” on February 6, (6:30-7:30) we will be singing hymns and favorite songs with the staff and residents at Courtland Rehabilitation and Living Center. Come and join us in our music ministry.
2/5: Introit: “Guide My Feet”, Psalm #147, Opening Hymn “Praise To The Lord, The Almighty”, “Time for the Young at Heart: “Jesus healing”, Hymn of Preparation: “Precious Lord”, Scriptures: Isaiah 40:21-31, Mark 1:29-39, Anthem: “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart”, Sermon: “After healing, the desire to serve others”, Holy Communion, Closing Hymn: “And God Will Raise You Up on Eagle’s Wings”
2/12: Boy Scout Sunday, Introit: “O Lord, You’re Beautiful”, Psalm # 30, Opening Hymn: “Tis That Old Ship of Zion”, Time for the Young at Heart “What is a Boy Scout?”, Hymn of Preparation: “Blessed Assurance”, Scriptures: 2Kings 5:1-14, 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45, Anthem: “Guide My Feet” , Sermon: “Two Leapers, Two Different Stories”, Closing Hymn: “Marching to Zion”
2/26 Introit: “We Are Standing on Holy Ground”, Psalm # 25, Opening Hymn: “Lord, Who Through These Forty days”, Time for the Young at Heart: “Finding the Right Path”, Hymn of Preparation: “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”, Scriptures: Gen. 9:8-17, Mark 1:9-15, Anthem: “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley”, Sermon: “A Journey Through Lent, Which Path To Take?” Closing Hymn: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”.
May February be a wonderful month for all of you. May you be blessed with much love, God’s wondrous grace, and many joys.
See you in March? I hope so! Stop by I’d love to meet you face to face, but if that’s impossible, see us on Face Book!
May God Bless You All,
Yours,
Pastor Susan Yaruta-Young (Pastor Susan 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)
Photo taken from http://www.turntogod.com
All are invited to celebrate Easter with us at Ellsworth United Methodist Church on Sunday, April 24th at 11:00AM.
To allow the children to remain in the sanctuary throughout the entire service on this very special Sunday, there will be no Sunday School that morning.
Please join us in the fellowship hall behind the sanctuary for coffee and refreshments before or after the service.
Picture taken from The African American Lectionary website.
Ellsworth United Methodist Church will hold a time of worship on Friday, April 22nd at 7:00PM in observance of Good Friday. Here’s the order of worship for that night:
Worship for Good Friday Service (All hymns and prayers from Red Hymnal)
Gathering Music
Greeting
— Opening Hymn # 292 “What Wondrous Love is This?” —
Psalm # 22 pages 752-753
Prayer # 284 “Good Friday”
— Hymn of Preparation: # 286 “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” —
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (with breaks for silence)
~Instrumental Music~
New Testament # 1: John 18:1-40
— Hymn # 288 “Were You There” —
New Testament Reading # 2: John 19:1-42
# 70 The Gloria
— Closing Hymn # 298 “When I Survey the Cross” —
Exit in Silence
(In silence: as you are leaving the sanctuary, please pause/reflect/pray in passing as you look at the photographs of recent situations and people that are in need of our prayers.)
We hope you can join us for this time of solemnity and reflection.
Worship for Good Friday Service
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