Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the

words And never stops - at all Emily Dickenson

-We Gather as Gods People-

HYMN

Easter People, Raise Your Voices

Im So Glad Jesus Lifted Me

Send Me, Lord

2151
497

PASSING THE PEACE

YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE
OPENING TO GOD
Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here & see my hands.
Reach out your hand & put it in my side.
Do not doubt but believe."
Thomas answered him, "My Lord & my God!
John 20.27-28
I don't want proof.
I want You.
I don't need pious beliefs,
a palace of certainty.

REFLECTION

Not my feeling,
but your presence.
Let my reaching be my faith,
my hunger for you, my wisdom;

304

CALL TO WORSHIP
based on Psalm 150
Praise God with clapping hands;
Praise God with hands comforting a child.
Praise God with silent hearts;
Praise God with hearts broken for the world.
Praise God by candle light and stained glass;
Praise God with spray paint and video clips.
Praise God with guitar and drums;
Praise God with soft piano chords.
Praise God with be-bop and hip-hop;
Praise God with rhythms that don't stop.
Praise God with a Hallelujah Chorus;
Praise God with a Gregorian chant.
Praise God with dancing steps;
Praise God with feet marching for justice.
Let everything that breathes praise God!
SPIRITUAL

-We Respond to Gods Word-

I just want you,

whether or not I know it.

Quotes for Reflection:

How Then Shall We Live?

Hope: the Thing with Feathers

HYMN

Part 1 of 6

Christ Is Risen

307

my unknowing be my looking,
my doubt my journey.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORDS PRAYER

I would rather always wonder

than lose my longing for you,

OFFERING & OFFERTORY

DOXOLOGY

my Lord, and my God,

my Presence, my Beloved.

-We Are Sent Into Gods World-

YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

-We Listen for Gods WordTEHILLIM

GOSPEL LESSON

Psalm 133

BENEDICTION
850

John 20:19-29

In the evening that same day, the first day of the week, when the
[discipless/students/talmidim] were gathered together behind locked
doors out of fear of the religious authorities, Yeshua came, stood in the
middle and said, Shalom aleikhem!/Peace be with you! Having
greeted them, he showed them his hands and his side. The talmidim
were overjoyed to see the Lord. Shalom aleikhem! Yeshua repeated.
Just as [Abba/Father] sent me, I myself am also sending you. Having
said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive [the Holy
Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh!] If you forgive someones sins, their sins are
forgiven; if you hold them, they are held.
Now Toma (the name means twin), one of the Twelve, was not
with them when Yeshua came. When the other talmidim told him, We
have seen the Lord, he replied, Unless I see the nail marks in his
hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my
hand into his side, I refuse to believe it.
A week later his talmidim were once more in the room, and this time
Toma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came,
stood among them and said, Shalom aleikhem! Then he said to
Toma, Put your finger here, look at my hands, take your hand and
put it into my side. Dont be lacking in trust, but have trust! Toma
answered him, My Lord and my God! Yeshua said to him, Have
you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do
not see, but trust anyway!

RESPONSE

Halle, Halle, Halleluja

2026a

Announcements
Soap Time Again Were collecting 200 bars of soap for UMCOR
health kits to take to the Shelburne kit party in May. Please, no Ivory
or Jergens. Collection Box is downstairs on table at foot of stairs.
Crafting and Conversation: The Crafters meet every other week to
begin making things for the Holiday Bazaar in November. Please
contact Patty Mitchell or Maureen Wiegner.
Plant Swap- on Sunday May 3. Bring your perennials that you have
split and hopefully take home something different. Please label your
plants as to what they are. If the plants are not chosen you will need to
take them home afterward, too.
Scrapbooking Anyone? Mary & Joanne invite you to escape with your
crafts for the evening. Contact Joanne on 879-7423/
joanne.hennessey@harveybp.com or Mary on 878-0719/
wuufda@yahoo.com for information
District Resource Day: Sat April 25, 10-3pm. Registration is now
open for BOUNTY: Unlocking the Secrets of Bountiful Generosity.
All are invited to come to the Shelburne UMC from 10:00 3:30.
(Registration begins at 9:30) Rev. Dr. Scott McKenzie approaches
stewardship from a spiritual formation perspective. Come learn 10
practices to help you and your congregation grow in your stewardship
roles and generosity.

Calendar

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Mon, 13 Apr: Crafting & Conversation 1:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

to make crafts for our November Bazaar

April 15 - Laura McDonald

April 18 - Nancy Bartlett

Monday Companions 7:00 pm Eves House.

Please read ch. 1-2 of If It Werent for Buddha, I
Couldnt Be Christian by Paul Knitter
Tue, 14 Apr:

Office Hours
Church: 9-10:30am
Phoenix Books 10:35 am-noon
Bible Study
1:00-2:30 pm in the Parlor.
Choir, 6:30 pm
Trustees, 7:00 pm (this is a change!)

Essex Eats Out April

April 17 - St James

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.

Wed-Thurs, Apr. 15-16 Mitch at Board of Ordained Ministry

Thu, 16 Apr: Food Shelf Set-Up at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Fri, 17 Apr:

Mitch at Stewardship Workshop in Boxborough, MA

Sat, 18 Apr:

Shift Team Training, Concord NH

Food Shelf Distribution at 9 am.

Sun, 19 Apr: Worship How Then Shall We Live, part 2, 10 am.

Mon, 20 Apr: Monday Companions 7:00 pm Eves House.
Tue, 21 Apr: Office Hours
Church: 9-10:30am
Phoenix Books 10:35 am-noon
Bible Study
1:00-2:30 pm in the Parlor.
Choir, 6:30 pm
Administrative Board 7:00 pm
Thu, 23 Apr: Mens Breakfast 8:00 am
Fri, 24 Apr:

Essex Eats Out at Essex UMC, 5:30 pm.

Sat, 25 Apr:

Bounty: Stewardship Workshop at Shelburne UMC

Mon, 27 Apr: Mitch at Discipleship Training, Concord, NH, 9-4

Tue 28 Apr:

Pastor-Parish Relations Team 7:00 pm

Sun, 3 May

Plant Swap following Service

Worship Team meeting

April 24 - EUMC



Ongoing Prayers
Judy & Diezela
Zachary Roy
John Bartlett
Carol Johnson
Bob Brooks (Hirst)
Michael Parker
Jill & Doug Griffin
Stan Komecki
Jenna Roy
Paul
Dick Shepard
Robin
Jaylene
Mary
Jake Greg
DJ
Chris

Ongoing Prayers, cont.

Gloria
Anne
Michael Paradee
John Young IV
Brenda
Lenore
Lifted Up Last Sunday
Debbie Mantini - family of James
Milonas, who passed away
Dawn - thankful that Gloria can join
us today & thoughts for those who
can not be here
Donna - Vickie, last chemo
Ellie - John, hope he will be home
soon from rehab

sketch by Michael Miroewski,

after Caravaggio



Essex Center United Methodist Church

essex_umc@comcast.net
tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Ministers: the entire congregation
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
home tel. 878-3778 (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
Song Leader: Dana Thomas Projection: Sam Evans
Greeter - Gail Godfrey & Hannah
Ushers - Barbara Audet, Al & Peggy Rodgers

Essex Center United Methodist Church

12 April 2015

Second Sunday of Easter