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Sunday, February 28, 2021 || 2nd Sunday of Lent Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 9:30 AM and join us in prayer ONLINE or over the PHONE Audio worship is also available at (978) 990-5000, access code 719365#. Just dial in, enter the access code on your keypad, and you will hear the service begin with music. This Lenten Series is adapted from Marcia McFee’s Holy Vessels curriculum. Prelude Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us/He Leadeth Me Melissa Quilitzsch Announcements Opening Hymn For the Healing of the Nations UMH 428 1. For the healing of the nations, 3. All that kills abundant living, Lord, we pray with one accord; Let it from the earth be banned; For a just and equal sharing Pride of status, race, and schooling, Of the things that earth affords; Dogmas that obscure your plan. To a life of love in action In our common quest for justice, Help us rise and pledge our word, May we hallow life’s brief span, Help us rise and pledge our word. May we hallow life’s brief span. 2. Lead us forward into freedom; 4. You, Creator God, have written From despair your world release, Your great name on humankind; That, redeemed from war and hatred, For our growing in your likeness All may come and go in peace. Bring the life of Christ to mind, Show us through care and goodness That by our response and service Fear will die and hope increase, Earth its destiny may find, Fear will die and hope increase. Earth its destiny may find. Introduction - Marcia McFee God gathers us as a Beachcomber gathers and marvels at every precious surviving piece of beach glass God finds. We are never alone, we are never lost to the One who seeks humanity’s wholeness. We affirm our commitment to be the Body of Christ that knows we cannot be personally healed until we see the interconnected community as part of the process of healing. Jesus has the power to re-vision the family of God in which false boundaries are overcome. In a year of devastating loss of livelihood, we consider the economic health that reimagines status quo. Let us acknowledge our need to restore, repair, renew our Holy Vessels, which include the communities of which we are a part. Let us pray: God of All, You created us for each other. You set in us a yearning for companionship and an empathy that binds us together, protecting each other and delighting in one another. Yet too often we have broken down our relationships instead of building them up. We have been set against one another with the lie of scarcity. We have built systems and economies that widen the gap of resources rather than safeguarding equitable practices. Too many, and growing numbers, are suffering hardship, food insecurity, joblessness. We cannot fathom the proportions of loss and so we look away, sometimes even from the need in our own community. Help us, Healer. Show us our empathy. Forgive our complacence. Move us to move one step at a time toward greater care for one another. In this silence, we sense and acknowledge our yearning for wholeness. Know this: This love and security is meant for all people. No. Matter. What. We are capable of sharing our light and not running out of “enough.” Christ’s hospitality that broke through false boundaries points the way. For you, for me, for all. Take a deep breath in to let this truth fill you…and breathe out with the relief of assurance. Vessels, holy and whole. Broken, needing the One. Open, body and soul. Healer, come. Scripture Reading - Matthew 8:5-13 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour. Sermon - Pastor Christy Wright During my senior year of high school, my grandmother on my mom’s side became very sick. She had had several “mini” strokes and potentially heart attacks over the course of many months, but at some point in October of that year, she had a massive stroke, and the prognosis didn’t look promising. She lived in Virginia with the majority of my extended family, while our smaller nuclear family of my parents and brother were living in Connecticut. My parents asked my brother and I if we would like to go down to Virginia, as this would probably be the last time we’d see Grandma. I was too scared, and too emotional, so I decided I’d stay home. Our family friends just down the road hosted me for the week, so that I wouldn’t be alone, and I recall one night not being able to sleep. I remember sitting up in bed and praying in their guestroom: “God, heal Grandma. Please, if you heal her, if you make her better, I promise I’ll do better in school. I promise I’ll pay attention in church. I promise I’ll be more grateful for what I have. I promise I’ll be a better person. Please God, I’ll do anything.” The next day, I got word that she had passed away. Over the next several months, I recall dreaming of Grandma frequently, and the most striking detail was just how beautiful she was. Her skin was glowing, and even her wrinkles, as I remembered her, disappeared into the light. And all she did was smile at me, beaming and proud. In her own way, she was healed. She was free as she had never been before. This was my first encounter of many when I realized that God does answer our prayers, but sometimes in ways we could never imagine, and sometimes not without pain. I realized that as much as we try to bargain with God, as bold as we are with our assumptions and grand questions, as much as we admit our faults and promise to do better, God answers prayers not based on our effort, but rather through grace. In this morning’s scripture passage, we hear of a Roman soldier who pleads for the healing of his servant, which can also be translated to “companion.” This dear loved one of the soldier is paralyzed and in terrible distress. The soldier knows that Jesus can heal the companion, and asks boldly, assuming Jesus’ immediate agreement. And Jesus does agree, immediately! But then the soldier opens up his life to Jesus in honesty and vulnerability. He begins listing all of the reasons why he doesn’t deserve the healing; you see, Roman soldiers stood in direct opposition of Jesus’ ministry because it was a political threat to the powers that be. For centuries, the name Son of God was actually used to refer to the emperor, and when Jesus began taking on that same name, it threw the empire off-kilter, and Jesus quickly became an enemy of the state. And yet, here’s this Roman soldier, faithfully believing that Jesus not only has the ability to heal his companion, but in fact will heal the situation. All barriers are broken down, and labels fall away; Jesus will heal out of grace, rather than out of effort. Ultimately, this is a story about having the confidence to know that Jesus will heal, no matter what form it will take; because I believe that God healed not only the companion, but also the soldier, whose life was forever changed by his encounter with Jesus. You see, God is in the business of healing, of reconciliation, of renewal. But sometimes we won’t recognize it for what it is until we step back. As we reflect on this past year, we have prayed desperately for healing in so many ways. I remember when Covid-19 was first brought up as a prayer request in church in late January or early February last year. I remember every single phone call hearing the words that our loved ones are in the hospital, or entering into hospice care. I remember praying over the phone and through letters and in our summer outdoor gatherings for God’s healing. I remember the tearful phone calls that brought news of loved ones’ passings. We have lost so many. We have suffered greatly. And we must grieve. But as time passes, I wonder if something else is going on under the surface. I wonder if God did answer our prayers, but healing came in a different way: a way based in grace above all else. As we mourn, may we recognize the beauty that is before us, even in the midst of pain. May we notice the way light fills the cracks of grief, knowing that healing is happening, even if we can’t see it. And may we be free as we have never been before, through Jesus Christ our ultimate Healer and our Peace beyond understanding. Amen. Hymn of Meditation The Voice of God is Calling UMH 436 1. The voice of God is calling its summons in our day; 3. We heed, O Lord, your summons, & answer: Here are we! Isaiah heard in Zion, and we now hear God say: Send us upon your errand, let us your servants be. “Whom shall I send to succor my people in their need? Our strength is dust and ashes, our years a passing hour; Whom shall I send to loosen the bonds of shame & greed?” But you can use our weakness to magnify your power. 2. “I hear my people crying in slum and mine and mill; 4. From ease and plenty save us; from pride of place absolve; No field or mart is silent, no city street is still. Purge us of low desire; lift us to high resolve; I see my people falling in darkness and despair. Take us, and make us holy; teach us your will and way. Whom shall I send to shatter the fetters which they bear?” Speak, and behold! We answer; command, and we obey! Prayer of Meditation - Marcia McFee Healer of our every ill, especially our malady of separation and fear, we come before you to make our petitions known. Hear our cries for healing of body, mind, and spirit. We know that already you are at work among us, showing us the way to recovery from the toxicities and grief of our time. As broken pieces scattered and separated, we trust that you are seeking us, gathering us into wholeness, and calling us to join you in the quest. We pray especially for those who have experienced the loss of livelihoods and economic security and are feeling helpless to care for their families. We pray for those whose businesses have gone under or are on the precipice between survival or closure. People who were healed by Jesus were not afraid to ask. And so we come before the Holy One, making our petitions and desires known, trusting the work of the Spirit. We pray for those whose disparity of resources has been made even more pronounced during this pandemic. We pray grateful thanks for the efforts of all who have been searching for solutions and have given generously for months of their time and resources to alleviate the suffering of those they know and do not know. We ask for encouragement and passion to re-evaluate how we as a church can help now and into the future. We pray this day for… Commissioning and Benediction - Marcia McFee Jesus’ healing actions often get “buzz” from onlookers. In this week’s story we do not know how his followers reacted to his words, but we can assume that it was hard to hear for some. Jesus makes sure to point out that the belief of this “outsider” and his care for his servant was something he didn’t always see from the “insiders”–from the ones who profess to be “faithful.” His words no doubt affirmed some and offended others. That’s what happens when we get “called out,” as we say. Perhaps we are in need of being “called out.” Not in a way that shames but in a way that energizes. How could our faith call us out more and more until we cannot stand by as some are suffering? As I said last week, we are working on healing for ourselves in this season, but we are also working toward something communal. How can we as a church community become a “health hub” through our ministry and mission? The needs are so great, especially now. Throughout this time, I invite you to explore with us the possibilities for a new or renewed commitment to a contribution we can make at George Whitefield United Methodist Church to our larger community’s effort to recover from this past year. Now go with confidence that the Holy Beachcomber is gathering us all for “Safe Keeping,” recovering our depth of love for all and our joy of living in this world. May the words of Jesus ring in your ears: “I will come.” And may the Spirit hover, move, and deliver salve to your soul and a spring in your step. Amen. Postlude Fading Melissa Quilitzsch
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Sunday, February 21, 2021 || 1st Sunday of Lent Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 9:30 AM and join us in prayer ONLINE or over the PHONE Audio worship is also available at (978) 990-5000, access code 719365#. Just dial in, enter the access code on your keypad, and you will hear the service begin with music. This Lenten Series is adapted from Marcia McFee’s Holy Vessels curriculum. Prelude My Life is in You, Lord Melissa Quilitzsch Announcements Opening Hymn Sacred the Body FWS 2228 1. Sacred the body God has created, 3. Love respects persons, bodies and boundaries. Temple of Spirit that dwells deep inside. Love does not batter, neglect, or abuse. Cherish each person; nurture creation. Love touches gently, never coercing. Treat flesh as holy, that love may abide. Love leaves the other with power to choose. 2. Bodies are varied, made in all sizes, 4. Holy of holies, God ever loving, Pale, full of color, both fragile and strong. Make us your temples indwell all we do. Holy the difference, gift of the Maker, May we be careful, tender and caring, So let us honor each story and song. So may our bodies give honor to you. Introduction - Marcia McFee Each of us is created a precious and holy vessel of embodied love. We have been through a harrowing time since last Lent that has shattered our sense of wholeness–body, mind, and spirit–like a glass vessel fractured into pieces. Let us enter a Lenten “season of recovery” as we focus on Jesus, the Healer of our every ill. Beach glass begins as something whole and yet discarded. As it is tumbled by the sea, it is broken and polished until it becomes a treasured “mineral gem.” We do not embrace that suffering is necessary or God-given, but that suffering is a part of life. When pain comes and brokenness enters our lives, Jesus reaches out to touch and remind us of the Treasure that we all are–worthy of new life in the midst of hopelessness. In a year when pandemic has wreaked havoc on our world, we begin by affirming our journey to physical health. Lent developed into a season of intense inward reflection and confession centuries after the life of Jesus. Yet, as we will see, Jesus encouraged people to open up about their lives–to speak truth–no matter how broken. This is the beginning of compassion for ourselves and others. It is the beginning of healing. The Latin origins of the word “confess” is to “study and acknowledge.” This will be a season of studying how we can be a healing presence in our community. To do this, we acknowledge our need to restore our own Holy Vessels. Let us pray: Creator God, we are bodies fashioned by your hand in your own image, shapes and colors of diverse and immense beauty. And yet too often we have ignored the sacred nature of our physical lives. The Holy Vessels you have fashioned are tired and suffering, ravaged by months of disrupted rhythms and ailment. Our fragility has come into full view and we are frightened. We cannot fathom the proportions of loss and so we look away, sometimes even from our own needs. Help us, Healer. Show us our strength. Forgive our inertia. Move us to move one step at a time toward greater care. In this silence, we sense and acknowledge our yearning for wholeness. Know this: God’s love and grace surround you… No. Matter. What. You are a precious and holy vessel right now. Christ’s light is a treasure given freely. For you, for me, for all. Take a deep breath in to let this truth fill you…and breathe out with the relief of assurance. Vessels, holy and whole. Broken, needing the One. Open, body and soul. Healer, come. Scripture Reading Matthew 8:1-4, 16-17 When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Sermon - Pastor Christy Wright Shortly after I graduated from college, I moved back home and realized that most of my friends from high school had relocated. I wanted to be more proactive in making new friends, but my church didn’t have many folks my age, so I joined another church’s young adult group. This group immediately welcomed me in, and we got right down to business: they asked how long I had been attending church, if I liked the newest Hillsong worship album, if I followed any influential megachurch pastors on social media. Over the next few months, as I shared more about my life, they began to ask more questions: “You’re working in youth ministry? But you’re an unmarried woman.” Or “You want to go to seminary? But why? Only men go to seminary.” “Wait, you want to be a pastor? Women can’t be pastors; it says so in the Bible.” Over the course of just weeks, I had gone from the newest kid on the block to the ostracized radical liberal who “needed to get right with God.” I felt so alienated, simply because I was being myself and exploring my call. I was an outcast, and I quickly realized that this wasn’t the right place for me. Instead, I found myself treasuring my relationship with my home church, a church that accepted me for who I was, and I adapted to intergenerational friendships instead, which upheld me in love and peace. I knew I was a child of God, called to ministry in love and faith. It felt like I was coming home. And I’m so glad I did, because I wouldn’t have been able to serve you otherwise. This morning’s scripture reading tells us of another individual who was ostracized from the larger community. Those who suffered from leprosy were thrown outside of town limits so they didn’t mix with the general population; they often lived in rough terrain, in mountains and caves. And, much like today, they could not get within six feet of other people - we know that figure well. For folks in this time period, they were concerned with cleanliness and purity, and their customs are a testament to this. If someone was diagnosed with leprosy, the town priest was called, and funeral rights were administered; for all intents and purposes, this person was no longer considered to be alive. This is ostracization beyond anything we have ever known. What’s so radical about this morning’s passage is that Jesus was already walking the paths of the outcasts; he was in the mountains, near the caves. He was around people with whom he wasn’t supposed to interact. But there were other rule breakers in the crowd, too. We hear that this person suffering from leprosy defied all of the rules to be close to Jesus and to walk with this crowd; he knew that Jesus held the key to his well being. Boldly and without hesitation, he asked Jesus for healing. And Jesus, a rabbi who was well aware of purity rules and guidelines - that he could not touch someone suffering with leprosy without he himself being defiled - did the unthinkable and placed his hand on this man’s shoulder and healed him of his disease. Jesus’ willingness to heal this man wasn’t just another miracle, though. Jesus was declaring him to be a beloved treasure and child of God, regardless of disease or status. The crowd around them surely would have seen this happen, but Jesus wanted to protect the man and sent him straight away to the priest, who would examine him and declare him cleansed, ready to be reintegrated back into society. As we close today, I’m wondering how God is calling us to go where the outcasts are located. Rather than waiting for folks to come to us, how can we ourselves be moved with compassion? How are we called to cross boundaries for the sake of others? And I’m curious, too: How can we ourselves be bold in asking for healing? What is something we’ve held onto for too long that requires Jesus’ healing? And lastly, how has God redeemed us from being the outcasts? Can we think of moments in our lives when we’ve felt like beloved treasures, beloved children of God? Because, friends, we are so beloved. We are treasured by God, regardless of disease, or status, or anything else. For we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God through Jesus Christ. Amen. Hymn of Meditation Healer of Our Every Ill FWS 2213 Refrain: Healer of our every ill, light of each tomorrow, give us peace beyond fear, and hope beyond our sorrow. 1. You who know our fears and sadness, 3. Give us strength to love each other Grace us with your peace and gladness; Every sister, every brother; Spirit of comfort, fill our hearts. Spirit of all kindness, be our guide. 2. In the pain and joy beholding 4. You who know each thought and feeling, How your grace is still unfolding, Teach us all your way of healing; Give us all your vision, God of love. Spirit of compassion, fill each heart. Prayer of Meditation - Marcia McFee Healer of our every ill, especially our malady of separation and fear, we come before you to make our petitions known. Hear our cries for healing of body, mind, and spirit. We know that already you are at work among us, showing us the way to recovery from the toxicities and grief of our time. As demolished pieces that are treasured when found, we trust that beauty from brokenness is possible when we seek to bind together that which is wounded. We pray especially for those who have experienced the physical loss of family and friends in the pandemic and those who are still suffering the consequences of the illness. We pray for each person who suffers in body in other ways–weariness from inactivity or weariness from overactivity in this time. We pray for those whose treatment of maladies have been put on hold and those who suffered isolation in their illness, whatever the cause. We pray grateful thanks for the medical staff everywhere around the world who have shown unbelievable strength and stamina and we mourn the demise of too many caregivers who risked their lives for our sake. We pray this day for… Commissioning and Benediction - Marcia McFee Jesus’ healing actions often get “buzz” from onlookers. Some are amazed and in awe and sing praises. Some are bewildered and wonder at this teacher. Some are disgruntled and feel threatened by the boundaries he breaks and the change he invites. We are perhaps prone to all of these at one time or another. Our own work of recovery will sometimes feel immediately refreshing and sometimes it will demand uncomfortable effort. But the rewards are great. We are also working toward something communal in this season. How can we as a church community become a “health hub” through our ministry and mission? The needs are so great, especially now. Throughout this time, I invite you to explore with us the possibilities for a new or renewed commitment to a contribution we can make at George Whitefield United Methodist Church to our larger community’s effort to recover from this past year. Now go with confidence as “Treasures of God,” recovering your depth of love for all and our joy of living in this world. May the words of Jesus ring in your ears: “I do choose you.” And may the Spirit hover, move, and deliver salve to your soul and a spring in your step. Amen. Postlude Second Time Around Melissa Quilitzsch
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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 || Ash Wednesday Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 7:00 PM and join us in prayer ONLINE or over the PHONE Audio worship is also available at (978) 990-5000, access code 719365#. Just dial in, enter the access code on your keypad, and you will hear the service begin with music. This service is adapted from Marcia McFee’s Holy Vessels Lenten Series. Prelude Melissa Quilitzsch Welcome Ash Wednesday is a time of naming brokenness. As we enter the season of Lent, we commit to enter also into a season of healing and recovery that requires the naming of what has been shattered as a first step. We take “the yoke” of responsibility as disciples of Jesus to be the Body of Christ–a body of those who need healing and offer healing in the world. The promise of Jesus is that he is with us in our weariness and burdens. Opening Prayer One: As we gather tonight, in the darkness of the evening and in the weight of this past year, we meet with You, God, as vessels for Your will and purpose. All: Vessels, holy and whole. Broken, needing the One. Open, body and soul. Healer, come. One: In our weariness, we mourn all that we have lost, but we know that we are not alone. All: Vessels, holy and whole. Broken, needing the One. Open, body and soul. Healer, come. One: Give us hope and peace, knowing that You have brought us to a place of healing. You are our Healer. All: Vessels, holy and whole. Broken, needing the One. Open, body and soul. Healer, come. Amen. First Reflection Bless the Lord Taize Bless the Lord, my soul. And bless God’s holy name Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. Scripture Reading Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Second Reflection Wait for the Lord Taize Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart. Scripture Reading Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly God feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will God not much more clothe you - you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly God knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Prayer of Confession We will be living with stories of Jesus’ healing in the Gospel of Matthew in this Lent season. We will see how Jesus encouraged people to open up about their lives as part of the healing process–no matter how broken. Ash Wednesday developed as a doorway to speaking the truth of our lives, a time to lay the brokenness of life before God. Let us pray: Merciful God, we have lived a year of Lent. In the midst of it all we have seen love shine through at times but as we look back in this moment, it feels like a year of shattered dreams and shattered peace. We are discouraged. Even though so much feels out of our control, we also see the ways our own faults and failures to love each other fully, to care for the least, to honor your creation, to stand for what is right and good, have contributed to the shattering. And so we come to you in pieces. Fragments, broken shells of our past selves. As we walk along the shores of Uncertainty and Pain, we ask that you meet us here. Help us, Healer. Show us our strength. Forgive our inertia. Move us to move one step at a time toward greater care. In this silence, we sense and acknowledge our yearning for wholeness. Let us pray together: Vessels, holy and whole. Broken, needing the One. Open, body and soul. Healer, come. Prayer of Assurance Time and adversity… making something beautiful out of that which, once seen as ordinary and broken, is now considered a transformed and precious piece. This is the journey we undertake. Jesus attended to those considered ordinary, broken, even those deemed unworthy. No matter what, Jesus is the lover of our souls. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Glory to God. Amen. Scripture Reading John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Prayers of the People Lover of our souls, You who weeps, bleeds, cries, waits…for us and because of us, we come before you to make our petitions known. Hear our cries for healing of body, mind, and spirit. We know that already you are at work among us, showing us the way to recovery from the toxicities and grief of our time. We pray for those who are shattered by the violence of circumstances, tumbled by the forces of life, and washed up on shores, distant from all that feels whole. In your love, make us whole. May we rest in your compassion. Calm the lost, weary soul in the warmth of your love. May your peace fill our hearts. May we know the love of Jesus. By your grace, you console. Make us holy, make us whole. Amen. Third Reflection Hear Our Prayer Taize O Lord, hear our prayer. O Lord, hear our prayer. When we call, answer us. O Lord, hear our prayer. O Lord, hear our prayer. Come and listen to us. Meditation of the Ashes and Soil Ash Wednesday, as the beginning of Lent, developed in the 5th - 6th centuries, and was mandated in the 11th century. Although Protestants did not maintain this ritual for the most part, it has come back during the 20th century liturgical movement as an important time for reflection in which we reclaimed this symbol and ritual of our spiritual ancestors. It plays an important role in helping us make meaning in the brokenness of our lives. This year, indeed, we are aware of the fragility of life. Even though we cannot share ashes in the ways we have become accustomed, let us engage in a ritual that draws us close to the elements of creation. Let it remind us that we are a part of creation, in all its beauty and its brokenness. You are invited to hold your burlap cross as we pray together: Holy Creator God… as we feel this elemental part of who we are, we remember that we ourselves were made from the dust of the earth. To experience brokenness is the way of creation, it is not something to be ashamed of… it is the order of things. Transform us, O God. Help us recover the beauty of who we are and see the goodness in transformation. Amen. You are invited to hold your paper heart - which is in fact paper infused with wild flower seeds that you are invited to plant as you see fit - as we pray together: Holy Creator God… as we feel this elemental part of who we are, we remember that we ourselves are connected to the earth and found to be nourished in the darkness of soil. We remember that God does the best work in the dark - for it is here where we experience the resurrection of Christ in our everyday lives. Transform us, O God. Help us recover the beauty of who we are and see the goodness in transformation. Amen. Vessels, holy and whole. Broken, needing the One. Open, body and soul. Healer, come. Benediction Now go with confidence that, though shattered, we are held. Begin the journey of recovering your depth of love for all and your joy of living in this world. May the words of Jesus ring in your ears: “I will give you rest.” And may the Spirit hover, move, and deliver salve to your soul and a spring in your step. Amen. Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar intends to appoint Rev. Christy Wright to the First United Methodist Church of Stoughton, MA effective July 1, 2021 subject to fulfilling all the requirements needed for a successful transition by the pastor and the respective churches affected by the appointment.
The appointment will be finalized at the 2021 Annual Conference Session of the New England Conference. The Staff Parish Relations Committee will be working with our District Superintendent, Rev. Megan Stowe, on discerning our next pastor. Please be in prayer during this process.
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Stream Audio Worship Above - Be Sure to Tune Back in at 12 Noon for an Important AnnouncementCovered under ONE LICENSE: #400013-P With These Hands
Sunday, February 14, 2021 || Transfiguration Sunday Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 9:30 AM and join us in prayer ONLINE or over the PHONE Audio worship is also available at (978) 990-5000, access code 719365#. Just dial in, enter the access code on your keypad, and you will hear the service begin with music. Prelude Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine Melissa Quilitzsch Announcements Opening Hymn Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies UMH 173 1. Christ, whose glory fills the skies, 2. Dark and cheerless is the morn 3. Visit then this soul of mine; Christ, the true, the only light, Unaccompanied by thee; Pierce the gloom of sin and grief; Son of righteousness, arise, Joyless is the day’s return, Fill me, Radiancy Divine, Triumph o’er the shades of night; Till thy mercy’s beams I see; Scatter all my unbelief; Dayspring from on high, be near; Till they inward light impart, More and more thyself display, Daystar, in my heart appear. Cheer my eyes and warm my heart. Shining to the perfect day. Scripture Reading Matthew 17:1-8 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. Sermon Something strange happened as I was preparing for this Sunday’s service: when I first read this passage, I felt a rush of unexplained sorrow, and I couldn’t put my finger on why. This is such a mysterious, moving text, but it doesn’t really hint of anything foreboding. As I meditated on the words before me, sifting through my emotions, a small detail stood out: in a moment of fear, the disciples dropped to the ground, and Jesus laid his hand upon them in comfort and peace. And then I remembered. A year ago I preached from this very same text, and I focused on this tiny detail: Jesus’ touch. I talked about how much we need touch because it releases serotonin and dopamine, a cocktail of brain chemistry that helps us feel like we belong, like we have purpose, like we’re not alone. From a human perspective, this is all well and good - we know we need touch. And then, mere weeks after I had preached this sermon, we entered what many would consider to be the darkest season of our lives, when touch became an impossibility. Covid-19, an illness that was sweeping the globe, suddenly shuttered churches and businesses, and we were forced into our homes, distancing ourselves from loved ones, and learning how to quarantine. Over the course of a single year, we ourselves have been transfigured: we’ve had to put on masks, don gloves, bathe in hand sanitizer. Our glasses fog up, our sight dims, and sometimes we don’t even recognize our closest friends and family behind all of the safety gear. In the midst of uncertainty and the unknown, let’s return to our passage this morning, in which the disciples experienced something they had never experienced before: the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop. Filled with fear, the disciples fell to the ground and were calmed by the Divine touch, the touch we need more than anything else. This Divine touch was one that encouraged and empowered the disciples to “get up and not be afraid.” Not only was it a sign of compassion from Jesus, but it was also a call to action. And Jesus didn’t sugar-coat the situation; he didn’t say, “It’s okay,” or “Everything will be alright.” Instead, he acknowledged the current reality and implored the disciples, despite the circumstances, to arise, to awake, to lift themselves up through the power of the Holy Spirit, and move forward. Rather than be paralyzed by the situation, Jesus called them to a new reality, through his touch. With these hands, Jesus not only comforted the disciples and gave them peace, but his actions also catalyzed the beginning of the worldwide Church, the global movement of Christianity that is still growing and changing. And Jesus continues to empower us to rise, to create something new, to build the church and not be afraid. All this, in just a touch. Jesus’ tangible and heartfelt touch for the disciples has more to do with his Divinity than it does the molecular science of brain chemistry. It is in this human touch that the Divine takes over, providing us with peace that passes all scientific understanding. It is with these same hands that Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead; it is with these same hands that Jesus sowed the seeds of peace and harvested the wheat that satisfies hunger. With these hands, love encapsulates all that Jesus embodies while paying homage to the law and the prophets, the heritage of our Christian movement. In these moments of Divine touch, we begin to realize that where we stand, and where we encounter God is holy ground. It may be in the halls of the hospital after receiving difficult news. It may be in distanced gatherings outdoors, where only our eyes are visible through the heavy winter coats and medical masks. It may be around the dinner table, though surrounded by empty chairs, we know that we are not alone. It may be in the middle of the night when we can’t sleep, and so we pray instead. These ordinary places become holy ground, thin places where God is visible even in the most hopeless and in the most beautiful of moments. It is in the tangible, in the very molecular structure of our world that God’s love pours forth, like a hand on our shoulder, reassuring us that we are to rise, and not be afraid. So, here’s a creative exercise for us this week: I invite you to take some time to imagine the day when we ourselves will be transfigured again, in the light of Christ. What will it be like to take off our masks, to hug again, to sing, and to feast together? Can you imagine that day? Because I wonder, I wonder if in fact, Jesus had been shining the entire time - and maybe it’s our own eyes that have been transfigured. Maybe it’s us. Amen. Prayer of Meditation - Rev. Gwyneth Arrison, Pastor of Bath United Methodist Church in Bath, Maine Glorious God, Bright Morning Star, Light of the World, we ask you to shine your glorious light in all our darkness. Why, O Lord, do we so often try to hide from your healing light? We hide behind the veil of fear. We peak around the veil of doubt only to quickly move back out of sight. We put up curtains of protection to prevent anyone, even you, O Lord, from seeing us, really seeing us. We add thick linings to the veil of our sin to hide our shame, lest you see our pride or self-hatred, our addictions which are idolatry, our prejudices and hypocrisy, our judgment and unforgiveness or any other aspect of our brokenness. But God of Glory, you promise, “Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” We turn to you now, whether for the first time or the thousandth time. We bask in the glory of your Face transfigured before us. We will not turn away, we will no longer hide behind curtains. We will cast those veils aside, we will rip them to shreds. We will no longer cower in fear, but fall into your arms, trusting in you alone. Together, we will gaze into the glory of your love. For through Christ, your “new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.” Shine in our hearts, Lord, that we might know your glory seen in the face of our Lord, Jesus Christ. May we reflect your light to encourage one another as your church. And let us be mirrors to the world, shining your glorious love into the dark world, so that through us you might lead many others to know your hope, freedom and transformed life as we do. Shine, Jesus Shine. Amen. Closing Hymn He Touched Me UMH 367 1. Shackled by a heavy burden, Refrain 2. Since I met this blessed Savior Neath a load of guilt and shame, He touched me, O he touched me, Since he cleansed and made me whole The hand of Jesus touched me, And O the joy that floods my soul! I will never cease to praise him And now I am no longer the same. Something happened, and now I know, I’ll shout it while eternity rolls. He touched me and made me whole. Benediction And now, may the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever God may send you; may God guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm; may God bring you home rejoicing at the wonders God has shown you; may God bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors. Postlude God Will Take Care of You Melissa Quilitzsch
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Sunday, February 7, 2021 || 5th Sunday After Epiphany Pastor Christy Wright We invite you to light a candle at 9:30 AM and join us in prayer ONLINE or over the PHONE Audio worship is also available at (978) 990-5000, access code 719365#. Just dial in, enter the access code on your keypad, and you will hear the service begin with music. Prelude At the Cross Melissa & Brianna Quilitzsch Announcements Opening Hymn - In the Garden, UMH 314 1. I come to the garden alone 2. He speaks, and the sound of his voice 3. I’d stay in the garden with him While the dew is still on the roses, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, Though the night around me be falling And the voice I hear fling on my ear, And the melody that he gave to me But he bids me go; thru the voice of woe The Son of God discloses. Within my heart is ringing His voice to me is calling Refrain And he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known. First Scripture Reading Isaiah 40:21-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is God who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? God who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because God is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. God does not faint or grow weary; God’s understanding is unsearchable. God gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Song of Reflection Be Thou My Vision Melissa Quilitzsch Moment of Contemplation - Shelter in Place by Kim Stafford Long before the pandemic, the trees knew how to guard one place with roots and shade. Moss found how to hug a stone for life. Every stream works out how to move in place, staying home even as it flows generously outward, sending bounty far. Now is our time to practice - singing from balconies, sending words of comfort from any courier, kindling our lonesome generosity to shine in all directions like stars. Song of Reflection As the Deer Melissa Quilitzsch Second Scripture Reading Psalm 147:1-11, 20c Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for God is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; God gathers the outcasts of Israel. God heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. God determines the number of the stars; God gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; God’s understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; God casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. God covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. God gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. God’s delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor God’s pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear God, in those who hope in God’s steadfast love. Praise the Lord! Closing Hymn - Have Thine Own Way Lord, UMH 382 Refrain Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 1. Thou art the potter; I am the clay. 3. Wounded and weary, help me I pray Mold me and make me after thy will; Power, all power, surely is thine While I am waiting, yielded and still. Touch me and heal me, Savior divine 2. Search me and try me, Savior today 4. Hold o’er my being absolute sway Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now, Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see As in thy presence humbly I bow. Christ only, always, living in me Benediction And now, may the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever God may send you; may God guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm; may God bring you home rejoicing at the wonders God has shown you; may God bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors. Postlude Be Still My Soul Melissa Quilitzsch |
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