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Dear Guests – WELCOME!
We are thankful for your presence with us this morning.
We pray that you will be blessed and strengthened
by the Holy Spirit in our time together and you will continue to join us for worship and ministry in the weeks to come.
After Worship we have light refreshments in the Fellowship Hall please come and be our guest!
The Church Gathers
WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS,
& PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
PRELUDE June Packard
*CALL TO WORSHIP adapted from Psalm 23
You, Lord, are my guide and protector; all my needs are met.
You let me rest in fields of green grass,
you lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my spirit.
You are true to your name
and you lead me along right paths.
Even when I walk through valleys as dark as death,
I am not afraid; for you walk with me
and your shepherd’s staff provides protection and safety.
You have prepared a feast for me while my enemies look on.
You honor me as your guest and fill my cup until it overflows.
Your mercy and love are with me
each and every day of my life;
and I live forever in your house, LORD.
*HYMN OF PRAISE No. 381, UMH
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
MORNING PRAYER (unison)
You are the Good Shepherd, Lord,
who lays down his life for the sheep.
You know me and call me by name.
You search and search
for just one missing sheep out of a hundred
and do not rest until it is back in the fold.
Thank you for providing for all my needs.
Thank you for green pastures and quiet waters.
Thank you for refreshing my soul and for walking with me
in the midst of my deepest fears.
You, Lord, are my shepherd. You have called me by name.
And you have searched, until you have found me.
Enfold us in your love forever. Amen.
The Sharing of God’s Holy Word
FIRST READING Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
(This is the Word of the Lord; THANKS BE TO GOD!)
*HYMN OF RESPONSE No. 128, UMH
He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought
YOUNG DISCIPLE’S TIME
All the children are invited to come to the Chancel for a time of discipling!
Following this time, Sunday School (grades 3-8)
and the nursery are available.
SECOND READING John 10: 11-18
“I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep,
sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away –
and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.
And I lay down my life for the sheep.
16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also,
and they will listen to my voice.
So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
17For this reason the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.
I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.
I have received this command from my Father.”
(This is the Word of the Lord; THANKS BE TO CHRIST!)
SERMON the Rev. Dr. Joel Daniel Hubbard, III
I shall not… WHAT?
OR
What do you mean OTHER sheep?
Responding With Faith
*HYMN OF RESPONSE No. 2214, TFWS
Lead Me, Guide Me
SHARING OUR JOYS, CONCERNS, & NEEDS
THE GIVING OF GOD’S TITHE AND OUR OFFERINGS
PRAYERS FOR GOD’S CHILDREN AND THE WORLD
THE DISCIPLE’S PRAYER
The Church Goes Out in Mission
*BLESSING
*SUNG BENEDICTION His Name is Wonderful
His name is wonderful, his name is wonderful,
his name is wonderful, Jesus my Lord. He is the mighty King, Master of everything, his name is wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
He’s the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages, almighty God is he; bow down before him, love and adore him,
his name is wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
POSTLUDE
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This Week at ECUMC:
April 21st – April 27th
TUESDAY: Staff Parish Relations Team Zoom at 6:30 PM.
The Zoom link is:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88172386911?pwd=Z1hWYzE1TUo1ZFhkWVBYWTlGSnJUdz09 Meeting ID: 881 7238 6911 Pass code: 609772
THURSDAY: Bible Study in person & Zoom at 1 PM.
The Gospel of John. The Zoom link is:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85998841570?pwd=cUU3aUVaRnlrSjdoU1MvOWJEa21mZz09 Meeting ID: 859 9884 1570 Pass code: 509462
SATURDAY: Saturday Breakfast Chat w/Joel, 9:30 AM.
COMING EVENTS
May 4: GREEN UP Day! Take an hour or two to care for the Creation that God has provided! Compostable bags provided by the Town.
May 5: COTS WALK, contact Paula Pickering to sign up as a walker or to sponsor someone else!
May 7: Mission Team at 6:30 PM.
May 8: Safer Sanctuaries Workshop, 6-9 PM at ECUMC
DID YOU KNOW?
- If you are visiting with us or you are worshiping remotely, you too can support the mission and ministry of Essex Center UMC! Just click or paste the link below and follow the instructions – https://www.essexumc.com/donate/
NEXT WEEK’S WORSHIP SCRIPTURE
Psalm 22; Acts 8; 1 John 4; John 15:1-8
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK
4/21: Noah Heffernan
4/23: Calvin Bennett
4/28: Melanie Brown
4/28: Bill Wiegner & Dakota Jones
ANNIVERSARIES
4/23: Dale and Mary Thompson
MISSION/OUTREACH: a way to love and serve
- C.O.T.S. WALK 2024
Throughout April we will be gathering sponsors and walkers
to participate in the walk to support the Committee on Temporary Shelter on May 5th.
EJU Food Shelf needs:
Canned Chicken, Ready to eat meals, Baked Beans,
1 lb. bags of rice
PRAYER REQUESTS: 3/24: Sarah; Sheila; Dawn; Maggie; Zachary; Dan & Marge. 3/31: United Methodist General Conference delegates. 4/7: Lillian P; Alison G.;
Family of Lincoln Rawson. 4/14: Middle East Crisis; Marjorie S.; Nancy B.; Priors Anniversary; the Rawson Family Nancy in Florida
SERVING GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY
Accompanist: June Packard
Coffee Hour: Paula Pickering, Claire Noble Counter: Fred Hodgdon
Greeter: Nancy Nye Liturgist: David Jones
Nursery: Claire Noble Sunday School:
Slide Preparation:
Ushers: Laurie Prior, & Mark Klinedinst
Church Musicians: Dana LaClair, June Packard,
Kathryn Ammel Parker, Grace Pugh-Hubbard
Sound & Video:
Jeremy LaClair, Yaw Baah, Eve Thorsen, Al Rodgers,
Bob McLane, Marlene Hodgdon, Mark Klinedinst
Essex Center United Methodist Church
Email: Office@essexumc.com tel. 802-878-8304
Ministers: the Family of Essex Center United Methodist Church
Office Manager: Dawn Hill-Fleury
Pastor: the Rev. Dr. Joel Daniel Hubbard, III
Email: jhubbard@essexumc.com Cell: 732-859-7022
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