Ellsworth United Methodist Church

Dear Friends,

Happy June! And yes, “June is busting out all over” with flowers blooming, birds singing, “full out” leaves and grass lush green.  At Ellsworth United Methodist Church our ‘mustard seeds” are alive, bursting as they make old dreams become real happenings.

“GPYes!” is here. No longer is our Fellowship Hall a near empty.. Rugs, chairs, sofas, end, coffee tables walls decorated by maps (come and find out why) — make one end of our social space into a living room where, we hope, our new worship services will be a welcoming place for folks to gather Mondays from 6:30-7:30.

Why are we doing this? Isn’t Sunday a.m. enough? No!

In the mid-1700’s John Wesley, an Anglican minister, saw empty churches. Well, empty, except on Christmas, Easter, for a baptism, wedding or funeral, but most Sunday mornings mostly empty. People were busy doing other things.

Sound familiar?

Today many small and big churches are nearly empty most Sunday mornings. In some 11 people may be the norm and if more than 15 show up the Greeter has to hurry up and print out more bulletins. Where is everybody? Many are resting after a hard work week, maybe after enjoying their only free night with friends and family.

Or many have worked late on Saturday night and are resting before they are called in to work the late shift Sunday night.For many people Sunday morning is a time when they do need to sleep, rest, release some stress. Then there is the problem families face: sports, music lessons special events, that their children/teens are involved in, miles from home.

Yes, Sunday morning may work for some, but there are many it no longer works for. In the 1700’s John Wesley took the message and care of the needy TO them. Wherever some one was, who needed help or who had not heard of God’s love, Wesley was there.

So, it is in keeping with our church tradition, rooted in our faith, that we offer Monday evenings. We firmly believe there people who are physically hungry and for them, our third Monday of the month is “Manna Monday.” But we also believe many are spiritually starved, searching for some safe place to find support and we wish to open our doors and let those folks come in.

In a spiritual type hymn  “Ain’t Got Time to Die” the lyrics are:

“Lord, I keep so busy working for the kingdom, ain’t got time to die.
‘Cause when I’m feeding the poor, I’m working for the kingdom.
Lord, I keep so busy serving I ain’t got time to die.” (music by Hall Johnson)

In these lyrics I see life, new life, comes in serving the needs of others, which keeps us so filled with Divine energy, we truly are “Alive,” The “golden thread,” which will be woven through all “GPYes!” services is mission: local always, global as we are ready and able to fill those great needs.

“GPYes!” A new time, a new way, but rooted in the words of Jesus, from the Gospel of John 21:15-17 “Feed my lambs. . . . Tend my sheep . . . .Feed my sheep”  The members of Ellsworth United Methodist Church have opened the door, their hearts are warm and they hope to welcome you in!

So stop by.
Come as you are!
And know EVERYONE is truly welcome here!

Yours,

Pastor Susan Yaruta-Young (Pastor Y-Y)

"Crocus" by William Moise

Dear Friends,

It’s May!
It’s May! The joyous month of May!
The time when Maine’s beauty begins to pop out seemingly over night.
What was once a drab gray and yellow lawn
with a few snow patches still slowly disappearing,
now is bright green, of course also spotted yellow with those amazing “can’t get me down” “dandylions”.
Would that we all had such ability to leap back up once we were “cut” down.
The other day my husband hand mowed our 1 1/2 acre lawn..
The very next morning he discovered, more than before,
a whole new batch greeted him or waving yellow headed blooms greeted him!
One could say this is a lovely theology: great faith brings new life.

It’s May: black flies and humming birds have returned.
Many of our beloved children are returning home from college,
and after a “sound byt” crash to recover from final papers and exams,
they will be bored and ready for summer jobs.
But this summer jobs may be fewer.
What shall they do?
I guess this is when we must think creatively. We ask them:
“What gift has God blessed you with?”
And when they answer, we need to help guide them to use those gifts.
Maybe it means playing music and/or singing at a retirement home,
nursing home, in church, in a park.
Maybe it means drawing, painting , photography, sculpting
and then finding places for their visual art to be sold.
Maybe it will be in helping do heavy yard work or cleaning for those who can’t
and even if not paid in cash — they will feel an even greater joy
knowing they have helped someone else.

It’s May and soon June. Bright beautiful warm days.
Soak in the beauty and know that God is.
And God graces our mornings, our afternoons, our nights.
God is and God is always with us, in glad times and hard.
God is always waiting for our love greeting
and knows when we greet each other with love.

A very blessed and happy May and June!
Yours,
Pastor Susan Yaruta-Young

Here are the details for our service on March 8, 2009

Listen to songs & scriptures (click to download mp3 file)

Psalm #22 verses 25-31
Opening Hymn: #405 “Seek Ye First”
Time for the Young at Heart: “What is a Girl Scout? “– All welcome to share memories and songs
Hymn of Preparation: # 528 “Nearer My God to Thee”
Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38
Sermon: “Sarah, One of the First Girl Scouts?”
Doxology #94
Offering Prayer: Dear God, we offer our gifts to you today. We pray they may be used to help others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
Closing hymn #572 “Pass it On”

Happy spring, everyone!

Hopefully everyone has had a chance to soak in a little bit of the sunshine and warmer weather we’ve had lately.  Keep the faith – spring is coming soon!

On a somber note, our good friend and brother in Christ Henry Alley passed away on March 14th. Services were held at Ellsworth United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 22nd.

Henry had a fondness for big band and swing music, and his family had asked for some of his favorites to be played during the afternoon. Thanks to Laura Young for singing “I’ll Fly Away,”  to Ruth Torrey for playing the hymns on the piano and Victor Glass for running the music in my absence. I heard that Henry’s family actually asked Victor to “turn it up!” at one point – what a great spirit Henry had, and what a wonderful family. We’ll miss you, Henry.

Winter mission donations
Thanks to everyone who contributed items to our winter mission of collecting everything from paper goods, to personal items, to cleaning supplies!

The project was a HUGE success. Thanks to everyone’s generosity we are able to offer a great variety of essential items to those in need!

Easter Lily blossoms
If you would like to order blossoms in memory of or in honor of loved ones, please download an order form here or get one from Priscilla at church.

For those of you receiving the newsletter by mail – your order form is included in the mailing.

Orders must be sent to Priscilla by April 10th.  Price for each blossom is $2.50 each.

EASTER SERVICES
Good Friday Service – Ellsworth UMC 7:00PM
The focus of the service will be the reading of the passion of Jesus.
Participants are invited to bring non-perishable foods  and personal paper
needs such as, toilet paper,sanitary items and diapers.

A walkway of silence along a labyrinth of donated non-perishable food and paper goods will be formed. Items will be donated to local charities.

Easter Sunrise Service – 7:00AM Penobscot UMC
With muffin/fruit/juice/coffee  following.

Easter Praise Worship Services
9:00AM  Penobscot UMC
11:00AM Ellsworth UMC