Quote for Reflection:

I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere

can have three meals a day for their bodies, education
and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and
freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered
men have torn down, men other-centered can build up.
I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the
altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and
bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will
proclaim the rule of the land ... I still believe that we shall
overcome.
Martin Luther King, jr.

-We Gather as Gods PeopleHYMN

Come, Let Us Dream

tune of 408

CALL TO WORSHIP
Sisters and brothers, rejoice!
We live sustained by God's presence!
Thanks be to God!
As we mourn the wounds of God's children,
God weeps with us.
As we struggle for justice,
God struggles with us.
As we strive for peace,
God strives with us.
As we work to build the beloved community,
God works with us.
As we offer our gifts to all,
God blesses us.
Sisters and brothers, rejoice.
Sustained by God's presence and love we worship God.
PASSING THE PEACE
SPIRITUAL

Its Me, Its Me, O Lord

352

YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE

SPIRITUAL

Precious Lord ,Take My Hand,

474

OPENING TO GOD
Psalm 40
God, I have yearned for you, and you leaned toward me.
You listened to my cry for help.
You lifted me up from a pit of roaring waters,

from the slippery slime of mud.

You raised my legs upon a rock,
planting my footsteps firm,
placing in my mouth a new song,
a song of praise to our Beholder.
Many see and are overcome with wonder.
They put their trust in the Source of Awe.
Happy are they who make God their Source of Trust.
HYMN

Just As I Am, Without One Plea

They came and saw where he was staying, and they

remained with him that day. It was about four oclock in the
afternoon.

357

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Most holy and merciful God: we acknowledge and confess
our slowness to do good, our blindness to injustice, and our
complicity in deferring the dreams and hopes of the
oppressed. We have refused to heed your call to do justly, to
love mercy, and to walk humbly with you, our God.
(silence)
We condemn racial injustice in our pronouncements, yet we
cling to the privileges derived from inequity. When we ought
to be ashamed of our failures, we prefer to cling to private,
selfish, imprisoning desires. We participate in our own
oppression.
(silence)
Help us to name our sin, to claim responsibility for our
actions, and to change our behavior. In accordance with the
commands of Jesus Christ our savior, shake us from our sleep
with you imperative to do justice; move us to action with the
compassion of your grace; and give us courage to pay the
price, however painful or costly, that the peace, justice, and
mercy you desire may be done, on earth as in heaven. Amen.
HYMN

We Shall Overcome

533

-We Listen for Gods WordGOSPEL LESSON

John 1:35-46
The next day John again was standing with two of his
disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed,
Look, here is the Lamb of God! The two disciples heard him
say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw
them following, he said to them, What are you looking for?
They said to him, Rabbi (which translated means Teacher),
where are you staying?
He said to them, Come and see.

One of the two who heard John speak and followed him
was Andrew, Simon Peters brother. He first found his brother
Simon and said to him, We have found the Messiah (which
is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who
looked at him and said, You are Simon son of John. You are
to be called Cephas (which is translated Peter).
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found
Philip and said to him, Follow me. Now Philip was from
Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found
Nathanael and said to him, We have found him about whom
Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of
Joseph from Nazareth. Nathanael said to him, Can anything
good come out of Nazareth?
Philip said to him, Come and see.

-We Respond to Gods WordREFLECTION

Poured Out for Many

Here I Am, Lord

HYMN

593

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORDS PRAYER

SHARING OF GIFTS & DOXOLOGY

-We Scatter to ServeANNOUNCEMENTS

BENEDICTION
RESPONSE

Here I Am, Lord

refrain

Birthdays & Anniversaries

January 15 - Paula DeMichele

January 16 - Ruth Bristol
January 20 - Sarah Kepchar

January 16 - Wally Skolochenko

January 18 - Kristine Ericksen

Essex Eats Out Schedule

Jan 20 - St. James

Feb 10 - Holy Family

Jan 27 - EUMC
Feb 17 - St. James

Feb 3 - 1st Congreg.

Feb 24 - EUMC

We take prayer seriously at Essex United Methodist Church.

We dont pray because we think God is absent and needs cajoling.

We dont pray because we think God is a celestial Santa Claus.
We pray because that is how humans begin to discern Gods will.
We pray because prayer changes us; prayer opens us up
more and more to Gods grace and the movement
of Gods Spirit in our hearts, our community, our world.

Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up.
Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.

Announcements

The Essex/Jericho/Underhill Food Shelf is in need of Vegetables (no

green beans please though!), Soup, Peanut Butter, Tuna, Mac &
Cheese, Baked Beans. Essex Center UMC is responsible for
workers! Please sign up to volunteer!

Calendar

Tue, 17 Jan: Office Hours

Phoenix Books: 10:40-noon
Church: noon-1:30 pm
Mansfield Bible Study 2:00 pm
Trustees 7:00 pm
Thu, 19 Jan: Food Shelf Set Up, 6:30 pm GSLC
Fri, 20 Jan: Interfaith Taco & Game Night, UMC Burlington, 6 pm
Sat, 21 Jan: Food Shelf Distribution 9:30 am GSLC
Mon, 23 Jan: Companions at Eves 7:00 pm. Discuss ch. 1-13 of
Confessions of X by Suzanne Wolfe.
Tue, 24 Jan: Phoenix Books: 10:40-noon
Church: noon-1:30 pm
Mansfield Bible Study 2:00 pm
Fri, 27 Jan: WOWW luncheon - 11:30 AM at Erica's in Fairfax.
If you wish to carpool, call Vickie at 879-7515.

Ongoing Prayers
Brooks Family
Michael Parker
Jill & Doug Griffin
Stan Komecki
Jenna Roy
Paul
Robin
Jaylene
D.J.
Chris
Anne
John Bartlett
Judy & Diezela
Matthew C.
Brenda
Tim
Lenore
Ralph & LeeAnn
Arlitha
Donna Douglas
Callie
Keenan

Martin Luther
King Sunday

Lifted Up Last Sunday

Kathy - grateful for the sound of
children
Mary - surgeons for David
Mary - recovery of friend, Donna
Eve - Judy Steward
Mitch - those in the South, dealing
with snow.
Healing for Judy McD, Wendy W.
Donna, surgery next week.

Essex Eats Out at EUMC 5:30 pm

Sat, 28 Jan: Cabin Fever Potluck & Game Night, 6 pm
1 Feb-3 Feb: Mitchell will be at Board of Ordained Ministry interviews
Sat, 4 Feb: Coptic Orthodox Worship at Dormition Church, 8:30 am
Memorial Service for Helen Downey. Details to follow.
Mon, 6 Feb: Companions at Eves 7:00 pm. Discuss ch. 14-26
Confessions of X by Suzanne Wolfe.
Wed, 8 Feb: Green Mountain Nursing Home Service 2:30

Essex Center United Methodist Church

essex_umc@comcast.net
tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Ministers: the entire congregation
Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call)
mitchellhay@comcast.net
Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Organ: Kathryn Parker
Piano: June Packard
Guitar: Richard Randazzo
Song Leader: Dana Thomas
Projection: Sam Evans
Greeters - Barbara Audet
Ushers - John & Patty Mitchell, Marilyn Almeida

Essex Center
United Methodist Church

Second Sunday after Epiphany 2017