Do not abandon yourselves to despair.

it is Easter day the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in
We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. When weapons are beaten to plowshares all the scriptures.
Pope John Paul II and peace is a word to be shouted As they came near the village to which they were going, he
it is Easter day walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him
When the stranger is welcomed in community strongly, saying, Stay with us, because it is almost evening and
-We Gather as Gods People- and the lonely are restored to relationship the day is now nearly over. So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and
it is Easter day
HYMN Christ Is Risen 307 broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and
FOLK HYMN O Living God 3089 they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.
CALL TO WORSHIP They said to each other, Were not our hearts burning within
Come, People of God! Weve a story to tell to the nations! PASSING THE PEACE us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening
In life, in death, in life beyond death, the scriptures to us? That same hour they got up and returned
Jesus Christ is Lord! YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions
gathered together. They were saying, The Lord has risen
Over powers and authorities, over all who determine, control,
indeed, and he has appeared to Simon! Then they told what
govern or finance the affairs of mankind,
Jesus Christ is Lord!
-We Listen for Gods Word- had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to
them in the breaking of the bread.
Of the poor and the broken, of the sinned against and sinner, PSALTER Psalm 116 UMH 837 R#1
Jesus Christ is Lord!
Above the church, beyond our most excellent theologies, GOSPEL LESSON John 20:19-31 -We Respond to Gods Word-
and in the quiet corners of our hearts, Now on that same day two of them were going to a village
Jesus Christ is Lord! called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking REFLECTION Centered: The Story We Live Into
Let us worship the Crucified and Risen One. with each other about all these things that had happened. While
they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and HYMN On the Day of Resurrection 309
Amen!
went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. (to tune of Jesus Calls Us #398)
And he said to them, What are you discussing with each other
HYMN Day of Arising 3086
while you walk along? They stood still, looking sad. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORDS PRAYER
OPENING PRAYER Roddy Hamilton Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him,
Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the OFFERING & DOXOLOGY
When Thomas touched the wounds and set himself free
it was Easter day things that have taken place there in these days? He asked
When Peters three yess to Jesus them, What things? They replied, The things about Jesus of
Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before
-We Are Sent Into Gods World-
finished his three denials God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders BENEDICTION
it was Easter day handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.
When Mary, ready to embalm the dead, But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and RESPONSE Halle, Halle, Halleluja 2026a

ran in fear from the empty tomb
it was Easter day
When the disciples looked from afar
at a breakfast of fish on the beach
it was Easter day
When Emmaus became synonymous with welcome
and the breaking of bread with strangers
it was Easter day
When Paul was blinded by the light
and recognized the voice niggling in his head
it was Easter day
When the hungry are fed at the same table as the rich
j
besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took
place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They
were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find
his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed Birthdays & Anniversaries
seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of
May 2 - Mary Willard May 3 - Dale Thompson
those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as
May 5 - Ben Duff
the women had said; but they did not see him.
April 30 - Patty & John Mitchell Anniversary
Then he said to them, Oh, how foolish you are, and how May 1 - Linda & Ron Deming Anniversary
slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was
it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and Essex Eats Out Schedule
then enter into his glory? Then beginning with Moses and all
May 5 - 1st Congregational May 12 - Holy Family
May 19 - St. James May 26 - EUMC
 Calendar Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up.
Mon, 1 May: Companions at Eves, 7:00 pm Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.
Tuesdays: Office Hours: Ongoing Prayers Lifted Up Last Sunday
Phoenix Books 10:00 am Jody - Randy Whiting & his family, as he
Church Office noon Tim
Lenore nears end
Mansfield Place Bible Study 2:00pm

Emmaus Road
Michael Parker Roger - Holocaust memorial day, Yom
Wed, 3 May: Green Mountain Nursing Home 2:30 pm Hashoah
Ralph & LeeAnn
Keenan Kathy - friend, Jan illness
Thu, 4 May: Thursday Companions in Parlor, 2:30 pm Arlitha Bruce - 3 month old great grandson,
Callie heart surgery this week
Mon, 14 May: Companions at Eves, 7:00 pm
Grace Naylor Dana - 3rd grader at Jeremy's school who
Anne Kennison passed away unexpectedly
Tue, 16 May: Trustees, 7:00 PM
Gloria McKeen David F - neighbor recovering well in
Thu, 18 May: Thursday Companions in Parlor, 2:30 pm Mary Willard body and spirit
Food Shelf Set up 6:30 pm GSLC Norma Strickland Leif Johnsen - diagnosed with cancer
John & Nancy Bartlett
Sat, 20 May: Food Shelf Distribution, 9:00 am GSLC
Judy & Diezela
Tue, 23 May: Pastor Parish Relations, 7:00 pm Matthew C.
Brenda

Announcements
The Food Shelf needs Vegetables (no green beans!) Soup, Peanut
Butter, Tuna, Mac & Cheese, Baked Beans.

Jars Needed! A collection box for small, clean, label free baby jars
is downstairs for recycling. We will refill them with fresh jam for
our holiday baskets. Questions, call Vickie (879-7515).

Prayer Cards available on the narthex table- let someone know we

are thinking & praying for them.

Usher & Greeter Schedule for May & June is in the Narthex

Nursery Help Needed! Our church is blessed with toddlers and Essex Center United Methodist Church
preschoolers! Our gallant nursery crew aim to provide the parents of essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
these children with some spiritual time away from their little ones. www.essexumc.com
Sally Jablonski, our nursery coordinator, is looking for a couple Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
more volunteers to help staff the nursery. If you would like to help Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
please contact Sally at sallyjablonski317@gmail.com or cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
(319)321-2118 (volunteers will need to have a background check.) Office Manager: Heidi Evans

Cards & Calls: The following church members, who can no longer
Organ: Kathryn Parker
Guitar: Richard Randazzo
Piano: June Packard
Song Leader: Dana Thomas
Essex Center
get out, would appreciate a card or a call - Grace Naylor, Anne
Kennison (new address: sticky labels with her new address available
Projection: Sam Evans
Greeters - Bob McLane
United Methodist Church
on Heidis desk), Gloria McKeen, Mary Willard, Norma Strickland, Ushers - Judy Hatin, Vickie Casazza, Larry Holmes
Nancy Bartlett. The other addresses are in the church directory.
16 April 2017