-We Gather as God’s People-

HYMN Let There Be Peace on Earth UMH 431

CALL TO WORSHIP Hawker The first shall be last. We come to worship as we are. The last shall be first. We come with confidence. The first shall be last. We come with questions. The last shall be first. We come burdened by failure. The first shall be last. We come celebrating success. The last shall be first. We come fearful of the future. The first shall be last and the last shall be first and a little child shall lead them.

PRAISE El Shaddai UMH 123

PASSING THE PEACE

BLESSING THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

PRAISE Open Our Eyes FWS 2086

OPENING TO GOD Steve Garnaas-Holmes Heavenly Lover,your Word is neither command nor prediction,but love, given and received,Give me ears to hearbeneath the clutter of this world

and the chatter of my mindyour steady love,your quiet delight.Give me faith to embody your Word,to join your love,to do what increases your delight,for that alone increases mine.Amen.

-We Listen for God’s Word-

EPISTLE James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

PSALTER Psalm 1 UMH 738 #2

GOSPEL Mark 9:30-37 They went on from [Caesarea Philippi] and passed through Galilee. [Jesus] did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

-We Respond to God’s Word-

REFLECTION Love More; Judge Less

HYMN Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You FWS 2222

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER

OFFERING & DOXOLOGY UMH 94

-We Scatter to Serve the World-

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BENEDICTION

RESPONSE Shalom to You UMH 666

z Birthdays & Anniversaries

September 20 - Sean Hennessey September 24 - Barb Lemmel & Mitchell Hay Anniversary

Essex Eats Out Schedule Sept 25 - EUMC Oct 2 - 1st Congregational Oct 9 - Holy Family Oct 16 - St James Oct 23 - EUMC Oct 30 - St Pius

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.

Usher & Greeter Schedules are available in the Narthex for September & October

300 BARS of SOAP needed by Nov 1. These will be part of 300 health kits being put together by Shelburne UMC for UMCOR. (No Ivory or Jergens, please, as they are too soft.)

Noisy Offering! On Sunday, October 18 we will will have a “Noisy Offering” for church missions. Start saving your change to pour into some loud metal containers!

Quotes for Reflection: We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.

Brené Brown

Calendar Sun, 20 Sep: Worship Theme: Prayer, Love, and Vulnerability

The Totally Tubular Timothy Society 4:30 pm

Tue, 22 Sep: Office Hours Church: 9-10:30am Phoenix Books: 10:40-noon

Bible Study 1:45-3:15 pm at Mansfield Place

Choir Practice 6:30 pm

Staff-Parish Relations Committee, 7 pm

Sun, 27 Sep: Worship Theme: Prayer, Love, and Music

Bishop’s Day on the District for Laity South Burlington, Faith UMC, 2- 5pm.

The Totally Tubular Timothy Society 4:30 pm

Mon, 28 Sep: Monday Companions Group Begins (tentative)

Tue, 29 Sep: Office Hours Church: 9-10:30am Phoenix Books: 10:40-noon

Choir Practice 6:30 pm

Wed, 7 Oct: Green Mountain Nursing Home Service 2:30 pm.

Sun, 4 Oct: World Communion Sunday and Baptism

Worship Theme: Seeing God at Work in the World

Church Discussion after Coffee

Sun, 11 Oct: Worship Theme: Telling Stories of Transformation

Tue, 13 Oct: Administrative Council 7:00

Sun, 18 Oct: Worship Theme: Coloring Outside the Lines

21 Oct-23 Oct: Pastor Mitch will be in Mass. interviewing Candidates for Ministry.

Tue, 20 Oct: Trustees 7:00

Sun, 25 Oct: Theme: Love, Anxiety, and Fearlessness

Sun, 1 Nov: Theme: Love is More Than Saying You’re Sorry

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.

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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 Organist: Kathryn Parker Pianists: June Packard, Ellie Uckele

Djembe: Barbara Lemmel Guitar: Richard Randazzo & Mia Burnett Song Leader: Dana Thomas Projection: Sam Evans

Greeter - Gail & Hannah Godfrey Usher - Heidi & Charlotte Evans

Love More, Judge Less:

Vulnerability Part Two of

“Don’t Just Go to Church; Be the Church”

Essex Center United Methodist Church 20 September 2015 17th Sunday after Pentecost

Ongoing PrayersJudy & Diezela Zachary Roy John Bartlett Brooks Family Michael Parker Jill & Doug Griffin Stan Komecki Jenna Roy Paul Dick ShepardRobin Jaylene Mary Jake Greg DJ Chris Gloria Anne Michael Paradee John Young IV Brenda Lenore Scott

Lifted Up Last SundayJudy M - travelling mercies,class

reunion Donna - Marjorie’s grandson,

infection Donna - back, no surgery needed Kathy - Jewish friends, Rosh

Hashana Ron - brother & sister-in-law Bill W - sister, negative biopsy Mary D - healing for Don your constant vigil over children forgiveness for the unforgivable