Grant us the courage to face the reality of our world, The authorities did not believe that he had
believe that he had been blind and had
Quote for Reflection:
On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur;
l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux"
("One can see clearly only with the heart;
what really matters is invisible to the eyes.")
Antoine de Saint-Exupry
-We Gather as Gods People-
HYMN Be Thou My Vision 451
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come; gather in Christs presence, Christ, our savior & healer.
We have entered here, and in our worship together,
we yearn for hope and comfort.
Are any among us weary, heartsick with heavy burdens?
We have come to a place of rest.
Here we encounter Christs healing and grace.
Are any among us frantic and scattered,
breathless in our busyness?
We have come to a place of deep peace.
In our worship, we meet the unhurried God.
Are any among us feeling brittle and broken,
thirsty for the gospel?
We have come to encounter Jesus, the living water,
soothing and ever-present.
Are any among us feeling hollow and empty, hungry for truth?
We have come to encounter Christ, the bread of life,
sustaining and ever-filling.
Here we are welcome, loved, and cherished.
Here we encounter our Lord, who makes us whole.
Let us reach to the heart of Jesus, who is our life.
Here we are the people of God.
Let us rejoice, giving thanks & praise to God, who delivers us!
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
HYMN You Are Mine 2218
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Forgiving God, in a world filled with so much pain,
we would rather shut our eyes to the truth
than see things as they really are.
and give us the strength to bring your light
to those who walk in darkness.
Help us see others as you see them,
and forgive us when we do not trust you enough
to open our eyes to the possibilities before us.
Heal our self-inflicted blindness, O God,
and lead us in the footsteps of the Light of the World,
who reveals your glory in his life, his teachings, and his love.
In his holy name, we pray. Amen.
YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE
QUIETING Come and Find the Quiet Center 2128
PSALTER Psalm 23 754 R2
-We Listen for Gods Word-
GOSPEL LESSON John 9
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples
asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was
born blind? Jesus answered, Neither this man nor his parents
sinned; he was born blind so that Gods works might be revealed in
him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day;
night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world. When he had said this, he spat on the
ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the
mans eyes, saying to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which
means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar
began to ask, Is this not the man who used to sit and beg? Some
were saying, It is he. Others were saying, No, but it is someone
like him. He kept saying, I am the man. But they kept asking him,
Then how were your eyes opened? He answered, The man called
Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, Go to Siloam
and wash. Then I went and washed and received my sight. They
said to him, Where is he? He said, I do not know. REFLECTION
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been
blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and
opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he
had received his sight. He said to them, He put mud on my eyes.
Then I washed, and now I see. Some of the Pharisees said, This
man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath. But
others said, How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?
And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, What
do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened. He said, He is a
prophet.
received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had
received his sight and asked them, Is this your son, who you say
was born blind? How then does he now see? His parents answered,
We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do
not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his
eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself. His parents
said this because they were afraid of the authorities; for the they had
already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah
would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, He is
of age; ask him.
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind,
and they said to him, Give glory to God! We know that this man is a
sinner. He answered, I do not know whether he is a sinner. One
thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. They said to
him, What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? He
answered them, I have told you already, and you would not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his
disciples?
Then they reviled him, saying, You are his disciple, but we are
disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as
for this man, we do not know where he comes from. The man
answered, Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he
comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not
listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and
obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that
anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not
from God, he could do nothing. They answered him, You were
born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us? And they drove
him out.
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him,
he said, Do you believe in the Son of Man? He answered, And
who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him. Jesus said to
him, You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he. He
said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him.
-We Respond to Gods Word-
Eyes Wide Shut
HYMN As a Fire Is Meant for Burning 2237
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORDS PRAYER
SHARING OF GIFTS & DOXOLOGY
 -We Are Sent Into Gods World-
BENEDICTION
RESPONSE What Wondrous Love Is This?
And when from death Im free, Ill sing on, Ill sing on,
and when from death Im free, Ill sing on;
and when from death Im free, Ill sing and joyful be,
and through eternity Ill sing on, Ill sing on;
And through eternity Ill sing on.
Announcements
One Great Hour of Sharing. The are envelopes in the bulletin
today for the Special Offering, or you can put a check in the plate.
292
This offering supports the work of UMCOR disaster relief. Eyes Wide Shut:
Easter Flowers. If you would like to purchase & bring flowers to
decorate the altar for Easter, please have them here by 10 am on Sat, When We Dont Want to See
15 April. Please put your name on the pot so that you can take it
home after worship. There is a sign-up list for the names of loved
ones to be honored/remembered in the Easter bulletin.
The Essex/Jericho/Underhill Food Shelf is in need of Vegetables

j
(no green beans please though!), Soup, Peanut Butter, Tuna, Mac &
Cheese, Baked Beans.

We take prayer seriously at Essex United Methodist Church. Jars Needed! A collection box for small, clean, label free baby jars
We dont pray because we think God is absent and needs cajoling. is downstairs for recycling. We will refill them with fresh jam for
We dont pray because we think God is a celestial Santa Claus. our holiday baskets. Questions, call Vickie (879-7515).
We pray because that is how humans begin to discern Gods will.
We pray because prayer changes us; prayer opens us up Nursery Help Needed! Our church is blessed with toddlers and
more and more to Gods grace and the movement preschoolers! Our gallant nursery crew aim to provide the parents of
of Gods Spirit in our hearts, our community, our world. these children with some spiritual time away from their little ones.
Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up. Sally Jablonski, our nursery coordinator, is looking for a couple
Please keep them in your prayers at home. more volunteers to help staff the nursery. If you would like to help
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list. please contact Sally at sallyjablonski317@gmail.com or
(319)321-2118 (volunteers will need to have a background check.)
Ongoing Prayers Ongoing Prayers, cont.
Michael Parker Judy & Diezela Prayer Cards are available on the narthex table-if you know
Ralph & LeeAnn Matthew C. someone who you think would like to know we are thinking and
Keenan praying for them.
Brenda
Arlitha Tim Cards & Calls: The following church members, who can no longer
Callie Lenore get out, would appreciate a card or a call - Grace Naylor, Anne
Grace Naylor Kennison (new address: sticky labels with her new address available
Anne Kennison Lifted Up Last Sunday on Heidis desk), Gloria McKeen, Mary Willard, Norma Strickland,
Nancy Bartlett. The other addresses are in the church directory.
Gloria McKeen David - family, health issues
Mary Willard Mitch - continued healing for Chloe
Norma Strickland Prayers for Merry Watters and her Mom
John & Nancy Bartlett
Essex Center United Methodist Church
essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Birthdays & Anniversaries Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
March 26 - Judy Wright, Nick Duff
March 27 - Alexander Kepchar March 31 - Anne Kennison
cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
Essex Center
Essex Eats Out Schedule Guitar: Richard Randazzo Song Leader: Dana Thomas United Methodist Church
Projection: Sam Evans
Mar 31 - St. Pius Apr 7 - First Congreg. Greeters - Sherry Marcoux Fourth Sunday of Lent 2017
Apr 14 - Holy Family Apr 21 - St. James Apr 28 - EUMC Ushers - Art & Susan Bristol, Wes Bristol
 Calendar
Sun, 26 Mar: One Great Hour of Sharing Special Offering

Lenten Questions: Week Four

Tue, 28 Mar: Office Hours
Phoenix Books: 10:00 to noon
Church: noon-1:30 pm
Mansfield Bible Study 2:00 pm
Pastor-Parish Relations Team 7:00 pm
Mon, 3 Apr: Monday Companions at Eves 7:00 pm.
Finish The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis
Wed, 5 Apr: Green Mountain Nursing Home service 2:30 pm
Lenten Cinema: Documentary-13th
at Essex UMC, 6:30 pm.
Thu, 6 Apr: Food Shelf Set Up, GSLC 6:30 pm (note date)
Sat, 8 Apr: Food Shelf Distribution, GSLC 9:00 am
Fri, 28 Apr: WoWW Luncheon - at Pork & Pickle (behind
Karen's Kloset on Park Street) 11:30am
Holy Week
Sat, 8 Apr: Lenten Supper with Coptic Orthodox friends
Come, my Light, and illumine my darkness.
Come, my Life, and revive me from death.
Come, my Physician, and heal my wounds.
Come, O Flame of divine love,
and burn up the thorns of my sins,
kindling my heart with the flame of thy love.
Dimitrii of Rostov
Take time this week to think about the following challenge:
The Samaritan woman runs back to Sychar to tell everyone whom
she sees: Come and see a man who told me everything I have
ever done! To have someone know everything about you would
be a terrifying thing. But to have someone know everything
about you and yet still love you- well, that is grace; it is is
completely freeing and wholly liberating.
Spend some time this week thinking about grace. What does it
feel like to you to be loved and forgiven even though all of who
you are and all of what youve ever done is fully known by God?
Does having the light of Love shining in your darkest, most
shameful corners feel liberating or frightening (or both)? What
would you most want to lift up to the liberating light of Christ?
_____________________________________________________

Sun, 9 Apr: Palm Sunday Service

Mon, 10 Apr: Taiz Service Cathedral Church of St. Paul,

Cherry Street, Burlington 7:00 pm

Thur, 13 Apr: Maundy Thursday Service 7 pm

Fri, 14 Apr: Good Friday Tenebrae 7 pm

Sun, 16 Apr: Easter Sunday

Sunrise Service 6 am
Resurrection Celebration 10 am.