Quotes for Reflection:

Faith is to believe what you do not see;

the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
St. Augustine

Olive Tree, Source, Wall,

Lamb, Victim, Lion,
Intercessor, Word, Man,
Net, Rock, House:
Christ Jesus is everything.

-We Gather as Gods PeopleHYMN

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

384

CALL TO WORSHIP
The seeds of the kingdom have been planted.
We eagerly look for the harvest, yet in our eagerness we wait.
Surprise us in our waiting.
With our eyes may we watch for the smallest changes around us.
With our ears may we listen for your voice.
Surprise us in our waiting.
With our minds may we ponder your stories.
With our lips may we whisper your praises.
Surprise us in our waiting.
With our hands may we touch those in need.
With our arms may we hold up the weak.
Surprise us in our waiting.
With our feet may we walk in your ways.
With our hearts may we adore you.
Surprise us in our waiting and use us in unexpected ways.
PRAISE

Bring Forth the Kingdom

2190

PASSING THE PEACE

YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE
CENTERING HYMN

In the Lord

OPENING TO GOD
Hope, Life, Way,
Salvation, Understanding, Wisdom,
Light, Judge, Door,
Most High, King, Precious Stone,
Prophet, Priest, Messiah,
Sabaoth, Teacher, Spouse,
Mediator, Scepter, Dove,
Hand, Stone, Son, and Emmanuel,
Vineyard, Shepherd, Sheep,
Peace, Root, Vine-stock,

2195
Damasus, 4th century

-We Listen for Gods Word-

TEHILLIM

Psalm 84

804

EPISTLE
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that
one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so
that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him
who died and was raised for them.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of
view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,
we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is
a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has
become new!
GOSPEL
Mark 4:26-34
He also said, The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter
seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the
seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth
produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in
the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his
sickle, because the harvest has come.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

Shane Alexander
We pray to you God with the faith of a mustard seed,
that all we do, all we say, all we think, and all we hope
will take root in this world
and be the source for new expressions
of your love, of your justice, of your character, of your mission,
and of your kingdom.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
through us, alongside us, despite us, and for us.
For yours is the kingdom,
yours is the power,
and yours is the glory
whenever our tiny expressions of faith
invite your healing reign to come.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORDS PRAYER
OFFERING
DOXOLOGY

-We Are Sent Into Gods World-

ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENEDICTION

He also said, With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or

what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when
sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet
when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs,
and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make
nests in its shade.
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were
able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he
explained everything in private to his disciples.

-We Respond to Gods WordREFLECTION

An Unexpected Kingdom of Weeds

HYMN

This Is a Day of New Beginnings

383

Birthdays & Anniversaries

June 18 - Barb Myers

June Essex Eats Out Schedule

June 19 - St James

June 26 - EUMC

Announcements

Imagine No Malaria Bike-a-thon Barb and Mitch are going to

bicycle the 180 or so miles to New England Annual Conference
in Manchester, NH in mid-June, to raise funds for the Imagine
No Malaria campaign. Checks can be made out to Essex UMC
with Imagine no Malaria in the subject line.

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.

The Essex/Jericho/Underhill Food Shelf is in need of large

cans of baked beans and jars of spaghetti sauce.
Ushers & Greeters: There is a new schedule out for ushering &
greeting and it is available in the narthex. Please check your
assigned date and make arrangements to switch if you need to.

Calendar

Sun, 14 June: Yard Sale Planning Meeting after worship.

Shift S.M.A.R.T. Goal Meeting after worship.
Tue, 16 June: Mitchell and Barb are bicycling to Annual
Conference and will be back Saturday, so
No Office Hours at Church or Phoenix Books
There IS Bible Study 1:45 pm, Mansfield Place.
Trustees 7:00 pm
Wed, 17 June: Book of Common Prayer Service 8:00 pm

Ongoing Prayers, cont.

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
Gloria


Anne
Michael Paradee
John Young IV
Brenda
Lenore
Lifted Up Last Sunday
Mike & Tina on death of their adult
son
Kathryn - end of school year
for all the children for whom school
is their safe haven
Judy - Bill & family, one year since
Sandys passing
Ken Yates - pneumonia
Ann - Marilyn Caters family, on
her passing



Wed, 17 June-Sat, 20 June: New England Annual Conference

Thu, 18 June: Food Pantry Setup at Good Shepherd, 6:30 pm
Sat, 20 June: Food Pantry Distribution, Good Shepherd, 9 am
Sun, 21 June: Summer Schedule Begins. Worship 9 am
Mon, 22 June: Monday Companions 7:00 pm Eves House.
Finish If It Werent for Buddha, I Couldnt Be
Christian by Paul Knitter
Tue, 23 June: Office Hours
Church: 9-10:30am
Phoenix Books 10:35 am-noon
Bible Study 1:30-2:30 pm at Mansfield Place.
Fri, 26 June: Essex Eats Out at EUMC 5:30 pm
Sun, 28 June: Shift Coaching in Office, 4:45 pm.
Wed, 1 July: Green Mountain Nursing Home, 2:30 pm.

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
Song Leader: Dana Thomas Projection: Sam Evans
Greeter - Don & Norma Strickland
Ushers - Fred & Marlene Hodgdon, Wes Bristol

Essex Center United Methodist Church

14 June 2015

Third Sunday after Pentecost