In this center, my fears are nourished, GOSPEL Mark 8:27-38

Quote for Reflection: and all my hates are nurtured. Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea
Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. Here my loves are cherished, and all the deep hungers of my Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people
L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. spirit are honored without quivering and without shock. say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and
In my heart, above all else, others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them,
It is very simple: only with the heart one can see rightly; let love and integrity envelop me “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the
what is essential is invisible to the eye. until my love is perfected and the last vestige of my desiring Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about
Le Petit Prince him.
is no longer in conflict with thy Spirit.
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart. Amen. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo
great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and
the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all
We Gather as God’s People PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Where we have turned away from connections with neighbors, this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said,
HYMN Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing UMH 269 Forgive us.
“Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine
Where our hope has been small and our convictions placid,
things but on human things.”
Forgive us.
CALL TO WORSHIP Cheryl Laurie Where we have allowed fear to diminish us. He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any
P: Why are we here? Forgive us. want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up
A: This is a holy space and a sacred time, (silence) their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will
P: but not because God is here in any unusual way -
 lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of
Hear these words of good news!
the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole
God is no different in this place
 God is the source of Love and Life. God’s grace overcomes
world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for
than anywhere else - our brokenness and sin, blessing us, reviving us, and inviting their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this
A: This is a holy space and a sacred time, us to choose life once again. adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be
P: because we are here in an unusual way: In the name of Christ, we are forgiven. ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy
In the name of Christ, we are forgiven. Amen! angels.”
in this space and time,

all of who we are is welcome
A: This is a holy space and a sacred time, We Listen for God’s Word We Respond to God’s Word
P: so bring the broken, darkest parts of you -

the parts which strive to be beautiful
 TORAH Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 REFLECTION “Danger Is My Middle Name”
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to
and those which are nothing but flawed -
Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and
put them next to mine be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, SPIRITUAL Must Jesus Bear This Cross Alone UMH 424
as together,
 and will make you exceedingly numerous.” Then Abram fell on his
in this holy space and sacred time,
 face; and God said to him, PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
we let them be shaped
 OFFERING & DOXOLOGY
“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the
by God. ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be
A: This is a holy space and a sacred time Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the
P: Welcome to Lent. Welcome to worship. ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly We Are Sent Into God’s World
fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from
you. ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN The God of Abraham Praise UMH 116
I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your BENEDICTION
offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. RESPONSE What Wondrous Love Is This? UMH 292
sGod said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

SPIRITUAL Lord, I Want to Be a Christian UMH 402 call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall What wondrous love is this

OPENING TO GOD Howard Thurman give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” that caused the Lord of bliss

Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart.
Here is the citadel of all my desiring, where my hopes are born to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

PSALTER Psalm 19 UMH 750 R1 to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
and all the deep resolutions of my spirit take wings.
 Calendar Prayer Cards on the narthex table; let someone know we are cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
thinking and praying for them. Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Mon, 26 Feb: Monday Companions: The Book of Joy Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
pp. 81-190, at Eve’s home, 7:00 pm. Cards & Calls: The following church members, who can no Guitar: Richard Randazzo Song Leader: Dana Thomas
longer get out, would appreciate a card or a call - Grace Naylor, Projection: Sam Evans
Tue, 27 Feb: Pastor is In- The Nest Coffee Shop 10am - noon Anne Kennison, Gloria McKeen, Mary Willard, Norma Greeter - Bob McLane
Church Office noon-2:00pm Strickland, Nancy Bartlett. Ushers - Marilyn Almeida, Barbara Audet, Larry Holmes
Mansfield Place Bible Study 2:00pm Essex Eats Out Schedule
Thu, 1 Mar: Church Office noon-2:00pm Mar 1- 1st Congreg. Mar 9 - Holy Family Mar 16 - St James
Thursday Companions, The Book of Joy March 23 - EUMC Mar 30 - St Pius
in Church Parlor, 2:00 pm

Sun, 4 Mar: Adult Class, Understanding the Bible, 8:45 am Birthdays & Anniversaries
Third Sunday in Lent, worship at 10:00 am
Feb 26 - Molly Duff Feb 28 - Mary Drury Mar 1 - Ron Deming
Mon, 5 Mar: Town Meeting; No Monday Companions

Tue, 6 Mar: Pastor is In- The Nest Coffee Shop 10am - noon

Church Office noon-2:00pm
Mansfield Place Bible Study 2:00pm
Wed, 7 Mar: Green Mountain Nursing Home, 2:30 pm
Who Do People
Here are people, places, & concerns folk have recently lifted
up. Please keep them in your prayers at home.

Say That I Am?

Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.
Sun, 11 Mar: Daylight Savings Time Begins. Spring forward!
Adult Class, Understanding the Bible, 8:45 am Ongoing Prayers Ongoing Prayers, cont.
Fourth Sunday in Lent, worship at 10:00 am Tim Elissa & Leif
Lenore Greg
Mon, 12 Mar: Monday Companions: The Book of Joy
pp. 81-190, at Eve’s home, 7:00 pm. Michael Parker Paula DeMichele
Keenan Don Strickland
Tue, 13 Mar: Pastor is In- The Nest Coffee Shop 10am - noon Arlitha
Church Office noon-2:00pm Ellie Uckele
Mansfield Place Bible Study 2:00pm Callie
Grace Naylor Lifted Up Last Sunday
Thu 15 Mar: Food Shelf Set Up, 6:0 pm GSLC Anne Kennison Dawn - Nancy Nye, Marjorie & Judy M
Sat, 17 Mar: Food Shelf Distribution, 9:00 am, GSLC Gloria McKeen Wes - son-in-law, David, cancer &

Essex Center
Mary Willard collapsed lung
Tue, 20 Mar: Trustees Meeting, 7:00 pm Norma Strickland Judy M - Bud & Joanne
United Methodist Church
Judy & Diezela
Tue, 27 Mar: Pastor-Parish Relations, 7:00 pm Judy H - Melissa, car accident, car
Matthew C. totaled but she is fine
Fri, 23 Mar: WOWW at Longhorn Restaurant, 11:30 am 25 February 2018 Second Sunday of Lent

Announcements
2018 Directories & New Usher Greeter Schedule for March &
April 2018 are in Narthex
Essex Center United Methodist Church
Food Shelf Needs: Spaghetti Sauce, Peanut Butter, Mac & essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Cheese, Canned Fruit Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay