Ellsworth United Methodist Church

Golden peace of light
I hold you in my hand,
a gift,
an angel of movement.

I know I cannot keep this light.
I cannot hide it inside my closet,
bury it in my jacket pocket,
nor should I lock it within my heart.
I must give it away.
But how?

I must become quiet.
The golden rays are whispering
and I must listen.
(from “Where the Bloodroot Heals, Poems 1974-1986” by Susan Yaruta-Young)

Dear Friends,

Happy October.

I began with a poem I wrote long before I answered the call to attend seminary, yet when I re-read these old poems I see that God already was nudging me into ministry. Is God also nudging you to do something you are fighting? I’ll just let that question stay a question for you to think on. October arrives still whispering September harvest songs and ends with orange glowing pumpkins, children costumed in story book (or movie, t.v. or DVD game) characters,  hefting bags of sweets, knocking on doors and calling out that traditional tongue twister: “Trick or treat!”

October tricks us with warm summer days followed by frost on the pumpkin nights. It is a bit like a middle school age student: not quite sure if he/she should be wearing clothes  off the high school “rack” or still stay comfy in footed jammies, sipping hot cocoa and nibbling on homemade cookies baked by Mommy or Daddy. October is a “tweenie”, an in between month. Not summer anymore, yet not cold, icy, nip your nose, leafless November. In our church year October is also still, “low church time,” when lay and clergy can be a bit playful in picking hymns or Scriptures.

At the end of November we step into Advent and selected Scriptures with traditional hymns. But for now, it is October. Bright changing leaves October. And every place we go we encounter special October light. I’ve heard it said that photography teachers tell their students landscapes taken in October is cheating, because October light is so beautiful every picture is a “keeper!” October light filling our lives is a keeper. It is a light we turn to, as sunflowers in summer turn their heads to follow the sun.

Since this is a letter from a pastor, I’ll say it: October light is God light, warm, surprising, clear, glowing, making magnificent the simplest tree, stone; golden are the wings of gulls flying  across the blue cloudless sky.

Now, what will you discover? What golden October surprises await you, should you step into Ellsworth United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. one Sunday in October? Here’s our schedule:

10/7: “World Communion Sunday”
Introit: “Lord, Speak to Me”
Psalm #25
Opening Hymn: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”
Prayer: “An Invitation to the Holy Spirit”
Hymn of Preparation: “Jesus Loves Me”
Scriptures: Hebrews 1:1-4; Mark 10:13-16;
Anthem: “Like a Child” Sermon: Children and World Communion Sunday”
The Great Thanksgiving (our Communion; all are welcome)
Closing Hymn: “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”

10/14: Introit: “He Came Down”
Psalm #22
Opening Hymn: “Take My Life and Let it Be”
Prayer: “Prayer for a New Heart”
Hymn of Preparation: “The Summons”
Scriptures: Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
Anthem: “Cry of My Heart”
Sermon: “Committing Ourselves to Following the Path that Jesus Made”
Closing Hymn:”Sanctuary”

10/21 Introit: “Make Me a Servant”
Psalm #104
Hymn of Preparation:”The Servant Song”
Scriptures: Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45
Anthem: “Together We Serve”
Sermon:”God’s Wisdom, Jesus’ Wisdom, The Holy Spirit’s Wisdom, But Not Our Own”
Closing Hymn: “Standing on the Promises”

10/28: “Disability Sunday”
Introit: “Open Our Eyes”
Psalm #34,
Opening Hymn:”Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”
Prayer: “The Serenity Prayer”
Hymn of Preparation: “My Hope is Built”
Scripture Mark 10:46-52
Anthem: “Wounded World that Cries for Healing”
Sermon:”Beyond All Expectations”
Closing Hymn: “Dona Nobis Pacem”

Every Sunday we enjoy a Prelude played on the piano by Bruce, “Time for the Young at Heart,” when our children always surprise us with their wise questions/answers or if no child is in the sanctuary all (as we are all children of God) are invited to respond, our Offering includes a “loose change bowl” to collect money for “The Penny Challenge” and our Mission Shares. And every Sunday all are invited to offer up prayers of Joy and Concern.

Come and visit us, you know you will always be welcomed in as a long lost friend  to our family size worship. No special dress is required. Come as you are. And at Ellsworth United Methodist, I promise you will not be “tricked” only “treated’ with love and respect.

See you here come November? I hope so.

May God bless you all. Yours, Pastor Susan Yaruta-Young

Dear Friends, Happy August!

Let me begin with a short prayer poem:

God of compassion and love,
You are the bond between us.
Your hand unites us:
it is the tingle we feel,
when we join palm to palm,
standing in a circle of prayer,
or when we are alone,
left and right palms pressed together,
that wondrous
energy we feel, dear God,
is You. Amen

Once again, happy August, dear friends old and new and may we all be blessed as we enter the last offical month of summer. Even on the first day, first week, it seems as if when we say: “August” we can’t help but add, “Where has the summer gone?” Too fast, always too fast.

During our beautiful Maine summers we delight in the warmth: ponds, lakes, bays and ocean are places to enjoy splashing, swimming, boating and all sorts of water play.

August: we gush over lush fresh orchard and garden grown veggies, berries, fruits, while, something inside whispers: “Prepare! Prepare!” So, we freeze and/or can our overflow of goodies.

August is the month of fairs with ferris wheels and fireworks, challenging toss the hoop, throw darts, break balloons, “Shoot those basketballs”, “Show off your highest speed fast ball.” Sticky carmel apples and/or spun sugar cotton candy must be eaten! So many choices: lobster or crab rolls, grilled sausages with onions and peppers, hamburger, hot dogs, bar-be-q chicken, “walking” sandwiches, stuffed baked potatoes;  or vinegar sprinkled, hand cut French fries. Recipes from India, Italy, Japan, China, Mexico . . . and wonderful Maine whoopie pies or waffle cones filled with locally churned ice cream.

In late August the Folk Festival arrives on Bangor’s Water Front, a combination of players from worlds away with local talent performing music and dance under sunny skies into late nights with starry constellations. Next month I’ll describe Labor Day Weekend — this year it is late but a tidbit: on that great end of summer weekend I’ll be listening to The George Stevens Academy Jazz Band as they play at 12:00 noon between the sulkie races. And I will be visiting stalls where 4 H young people display ribbons won by their soaped clean and perfectly freshly sheared sheep, scrubbed lop eared goats, their litters of piglets, flocks of chickens and ducks, bunnies, puppies, ponies and baby calves.

As I do every year, I’ll duck in to see  who won a “blue” for the best beans or biggest squash.  It would not be the Blue Hill Fair without freshly made short cake soggy in either blueberry or strawberry juices topped by home made whipped cream.

Why do I write about end of summer festivals and fairs in my Pastor’s Letter? Because, I feel the pulse beat and energy of the Holy Spirit, when I step back (maybe sit down at a picnic table),  making new friends with some folks I’ve never met. Here, I see all ages, shapes, sizes, kinds of people gathered to have a good time, to share the thrills and joys of music, rides and games, to laugh and, dare, I say it, to love the day, love each other, as God so loves us.

Most of this August I will be away from Ellsworth UMC. Two Sundays my husband and I will be traveling through France (our first time in Europe). We’ll be guests of Frank, an old friend,
who lives there, so he’s our host, travel guide, and interpreter. The last Sunday in August we will be back in New England, but busy settling our son into his apartment close to the graduate school he will be attending, I know EUMC will be in wonderful hands, while I’m away. And my intention is to return to the sanctuary/pulpit,  renewed, refreshed, and ready to see where God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit  will lead us next.

Here is the worship for August 5:
“Friendship Sunday”
Introit: “Change My Heart, O God”, Psalm # 51, Opening Hymn “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
Prayer: “Canticle of Love”, Time for the Young at Heart: “A true friend is someone who. . . .”
Hymn of Preparation “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”, Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35,
The Gloria, Anthem: “Lord, Speak to Me”, Sermon: “We  are to Love”, The Great Thanksgiving, Closing Hymn: “The Gift of Love”.

So, until September, may God bless and “happy trails to you, until we meet again!”

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

Happy June!

I look over my laptop and out my window and everything is green, green, green: hardwoods are nearly all leafed out, fiddleheads have become full floppy ferns, and the grass is lush. Another place in our yard I find yellow dandelions and forget-me-nots, while along roadsides and at the base of Blue Hill mountain, blue, purple and rose-colored lupines tower on their slim stalks. Cool nights, sun burning through morning fog, warm early afternnons, here along the Maine coast each day brings many changes. Change is good — all kinds. We may wonder at some of God’s plans. We may question God. But as time goes by, we begin to understand all that God has planned for us — times of sun, fog, cold, rain and then rainbows. God blesses us with grace in a variety of ways.

Let us open our hearts, minds and arms to embrace our spiritual journey through these fresh green lovely June days.

Now, should you pop into Ellsworth United Methodist Church some Sunday (11:00) in June, this is a smapling of what you might experience in worship:

June 3: Trinity Sunday, Peace with Justice Sunday, Introit: “What Does the Lord Require of You?”, Psalm #29, Opening Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty”, Prayer: “Trinity Sunday”, Hymn of Preparation: “Here I am”, Scripturess: Is. 6:1-8, Romans 8:13-14, John 3:1-17; Anthem: “Song of Hope”, Sermon: “God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, We Need All Three”, Holy Communion, Closing Hymn: “Sent Out in Jesus’ Name”.

June 10: Worship will be led by Mahlon Kennedy — Pastor Susan Y-Y off after attending Annual Conference.

June 17: Introit: “The Kingdom of God”, Psalm 92, Opening Hymn: “The Church is One Foundation”, Prayer: “An Invitation to the Holy Spirit”, Hymn of Preparation: “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”, Scripture: 1 Sam. 16:1-13, Mark 4:26-34; Anthem: “We Walk by Faith”, Sermon: “God’s Surprising Ways”, Closing Hymn: “Pass It On”.

June 24: Introit: “Awesome God”, Psalm 9, Opening Hymn: “Nobody Knows the Trouble I See”, Prayer: “Prayer for a New Heart”, Hymn of Preparation: “It is Well with My Soul”, Scriptures: 2 Cor. 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41, Anthem: “Blessed Quietness”, Sermon: “When We Fail in Our Faith”, Closing Hymn: “Dona Nobis Pacem”.

Every Sunday enjoy Bruce Clark playing our Prelude, Time for the Young at Heart when our Sunday School children WOW us with their wonderful, pure God thoughts, and the powerful moments when joys and concerns are shared as we enter a time of deep prayer. Enjoy music sung by our choir under the direction of Amy Briggs, who truly has a voice like a nightingale.

As black fly season ends and warm sunny days take over, we will be using our outside sanctuary for special gathering times. Know this lovely space is open 24/7 for anyone who wishes to sit on the bench and have some blessed quietness. It is also the spot our children love to play in and sometimes where we picnic.

I hope to meet you at EUMC some June morning. Until then, may God Bless you all.

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

P.S. See you in July? I hope so!

Palm Sunday Worship at Ellsworth United Methodist Church

Please 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!

February Prayer Poem

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 18^th. 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.

Worship for Sundays in February

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)