-We Gather as Gods PeopleCALL TO WORSHIP

O God, we come stumbling into the desert wilderness of Lent.

We come lost, confused,
doubting, wondering, wandering.
But we come trusting the hand that made the world:
Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief.
We come trusting the Spirit that breathes life:
Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief.
We come trusting the love that will not let us go:
Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief.
We come trusting the promise of the Word made flesh.
Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief.
HYMN

Lord, Who Throughout These 40 Days

and our celebration of blessing is mindless of those displaced,

we need you, God.
We need you, God.
Because you came among us,
and breathed into our sinewy souls,
and healed our pain and let us wound you,
and loved us to the end,
and triumphed over all our hatred,
we need you, God.
We need you, God.
SPIRITUAL

YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE

Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley

FWS 2112

LITANY OF CONFESSION
Because temptation is woven into the fabric of our lives,
and we know the weariness of forty days in the desert,
and the beckoning power of sweet fruit,
and the vain promises of the world,
we need you, God.
We need you, God.
Because we see the broken before the whole,
and the half empty cup, and the unfinished task,
and the thirst in freedoms quest,
we need you, God.
We need you, God.
Because we trust in what we can see,
and we are blinded by our prejudices,
and we do not know what we do not know,
we need you, God.
We need you, God.
Because our need for correctness exceeds our need for truth,
and our excuses preempt the cry of the wounded,

UMH 521

Desert Prayer
Jan L. Richardson
I am not asking you
to take this wilderness from me,
to remove this place of starkness
where I come to know
the wildness within me,
where I learn to call the names
of the ravenous beasts
that pace inside me,
to finger the brambles
that snake through my veins,
to taste the thirst
that tugs at my tongue.
But send me
tough angels,
sweet wine,
strong bread:
just enough . . .

UMH 269

-We Listen for Gods WordPSALTER

GOSPEL LESSON

Psalm 91

Jesus answered him, It is written, One does not live by bread

alone.
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the
kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, To you I will give
their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me,
and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will
all be yours.

OPENING TO GOD

PASSING THE PEACE

SPIRITUAL

I Want Jesus to Walk with Me

The devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, command this
stone to become a loaf of bread.

Jesus answered him, It is written, Worship the Lord your God, and
serve only the Lord.
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the
pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, for it is written, He will command
his angels concerning you,to protect you, and On their hands they
will bear youup, so that you will not dash your foot against a
stone.
Jesus answered him, It is said, Do not put the Lord your God to the
test.
When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until a
more opportune time.

-We Respond to Gods WordREFLECTION:

HYMN

Dont Know Much About the Bible

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

UMH 117

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORDS PRAYER

OFFERING & DOXOLOGY

UMH 94

UMH 810
Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led
by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted
by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they
were over, he was famished.

-We Scatter to Serve the WorldANNOUNCEMENTS

BENEDICTION
RESPONSE

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

UMH 349

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Feb 15 - Tim Norton
Feb 18 - Norris LaClair

Feb17 - Ashley Heffernan, Grace Naylor

Feb 19 - Pam Hogan

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.

Essex Eats Out Schedule

Feb 19 - St James
Feb 26 - EUMC
March 11 -Holy Family March 18 - St. James

March 4 - 1st Congo

March 25 - EUMC

Announcements
A card shower is planned for Grace Naylor's birthday. Her birthday is
Feb 17th. Address is 7 Naylor Rd, Essex Junction, 05452.
Virginia Pierce also would appreciate cards. Her birthday was
February 9th. Address is Mansfield Place, Essex Junction, 05452.
Ecumenical Lenten Bible Study: Kingdom Dreams, Violent Realities:
Reflections on Gun Violence from Micah 4:1-4. Williston, Richmond,
Underhill, & Essex UMCs and UCCs are participating. All are invited
to engage the reality of gun violence in our country in conversation
with our Christian faith. Wednesdays March 2, 9, 16- 6 pm-7:30 at
Essex Center UMC. Free, with a simple Soup Supper included.
Health Kit Party at Shelburne UMC on Sat., April 2 at 9 a.m. Our
church is providing the soap for the kits. We will need 300 bars (no
Ivory or Jergens please as they are too soft; all other kinds fine) See
Marilyn Almeida or Ellie Uckele if you would like to participate on
April 2. Leave soap in box on the table at foot of stairs.

Calendar

Tue, 16 Feb: Office Hours 9:30 am

Phoenix Books 10:40 am
Mansfield Bible Study 1:45 pm
Choir Practice 6:30 pm
Trustees 7:00 pm


Ongoing Prayers
Judy & Diezela
Zachary Roy
John Bartlett
Brooks Family
Michael Parker
Jill & Doug Griffin
Stan Komecki
Jenna Roy
Paul
Dick Shepard
Robin
Jaylene
Jake Greg
D.J.
Chris
Gloria
Anne
John Young IV
Brenda
Lenore
T.J.
Maureen Evans

Lifted Up Last Sunday

Nancy - comfort & peace for mom,
hospice care
Gil - for the family of Frank Rover,
who died last week
Mary, who died last week after a
long battle with cancer
Ann - thankful for healing of
shoulder
-Noah Townshend, healing
Barb - Lynn, surgery on Tuesday
Kathryn - 15 years of raising a child
with hearing issues, thankful for
all those who have helped
Elissa - Samantha, miraculous
recovery
-sister, as she reached due date
for her stillborn child
Noah Thompson, hospice care
Amelia & other students of MMU
after death of classmate, Breena
For Charlie and Diana as they
prepare for his death.


Thu, 18 Feb: Food Shelf Set up 6:30 pm GSLC

Sat, 20 Feb:

Food Shelf Distribution 9:00 am GSLC

Sun, 21 Feb: All-Church Gathering after Worship

Ad Board after All-church gathering
Mon, 22 Feb: Companions At Eves 7:00 pm, Read stories 9-12
Tues, 23 Feb: Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, 7:00 pm
Crafting Group, Fellowship Hall, 8 pm
Fri, 26 Feb:

Essex Eats Out at EUMC

Sat, 27 Feb:

Shift Network Gathering Manchester, NH

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 - Mary Willard
Ushers - Jeremy LaClair, Chuck LaClair, Judy McDonald

Essex Center United Methodist Church

14 February 2016

First Sunday of Lent