all others become in insignificant ‘Yes,’ they answered.

Quotes for Reflection:
To be able to love God fully in this life
and to serve God completely,
would make me so fulfilled and happy
that it would be all I would need–
even if there were no paradise in heaven.
Jean-Marie Vianney
-We Gather as God’s People-
HYMN Immortal, Invisible
CALL TO WORSHIP
Our God of peace, of joy and delight,
We offer you all our hidden tears, all our pain.
O God of peace, of joy and delight,
We offer you all our buried fears and fractured promises.
You, O God, know all this, all this;
How small we can feel, how poor we can be;
You, O God, know all this, all this.
Yet what we have, O God, we give to you.
HYMN Lord of All Hopefulness
PASSING THE PEACE
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE
TAIZÉ With You, O Lord
when the largest, most beautiful pearl of all is found. ‘Well, then,’ he said to them, ‘every scribe who has been trained
We believe the love-kingdom of God is like a net full of fish;
where even insignificant sardines are saved
but toxic barracuda are thrown away.
We believe in the love-kingdom of God,
through Christ among us, within us, beyond us;
where the meek and the poor, the merciful and the hungry,
rejoice with the angels of God.
Loving God, we believe; scatter our unbelief.
UMH 103
Verlaine -We Listen for God’s Word-
EPISTLE Romans 8:26-28
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not
know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit
intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who
searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because
She intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We
know that all things work together for good for those who love
God, who are called according to God’s purpose.
FWS 2197
GOSPEL Matthew 13:44-58
‘The kingdom of heaven’, Jesus continued, ‘is like treasure
hidden in a field. Someone found it and hid it, and in great
delight went off and sold everything he possessed, and bought
W&S 3024 that field.
for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out
of his storeroom some new things and some old things.’
When Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from
there.
-We Respond to God’s Word-
REFLECTION Insufficient Memory
HYMN Christ Beside Me FWS 2166
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
PRAYER OF THE WEEK
Most wonderful God, we approach you with our small lives,
our finite minds and our often large ignorance,
but also with our purest longings and hopes.
We want to worship you with all that we have and are,
but unless you encourage and assist us,
we will fail in this our holiest intention.
Therefore let your Spirit move in our hearts and minds,
lifting us above things of secondary importance,
and concentrating our whole being on your love and beauty.
Through Christ Jesus who is the source of our confidence
and the joy of our hearts desiring.
OFFERING & DOXOLOGY

PRAYER OF CONFESSION ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who was looking
for fine pearls, and who found one that was spectacularly
-We Are Sent Into God’s World-
We believe in the love-kingdom of God,
valuable. He went off and sold everything he possessed, and ANNOUNCEMENTS
through Christ among us, within us, beyond us.
bought it.
We believe the love-kingdom is like a mustard seed; BENEDICTION
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into
sown in apparent insignificance,
the sea, and collected every type of fish. When it was full, the
growing into magnificence for the greening of the world. RESPONSE Let Our Earth Be Peaceful W&S 3159 v. 1
fishermen brought it to shore. They sat down and selected the

We believe the love-kingdom is like yeast;
inserted in humble insignificance into the dough of life,
expanding into enough bread for the world.
We believe the love-kingdom of God is like a treasure;
lost and rendered insignificant under the ground,
now found with joy and thanksgiving.
We believe the love-kingdom of God is like pearls;
j
good ones, which they put into a bucket; but they threw out the
bad ones. That’s what it will be like at the close of the age. The
angels will go off and separate the wicked from the
righteous, and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where Birthdays & Anniversaries
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Feb 24: Bob McLane Feb 26 Molly Parker
‘Have you understood all this?’ asked Jesus. Feb 28: Elissa Johnsen, Mary Drury
 Essex Eats Out Schedule We take prayer seriously at Essex United Methodist Church.
We don’t pray because we think God is absent and needs cajoling.
Mar 1 - 1st Congo Mar 8 - Holy Family We don’t pray because we think God is a celestial Santa Claus.
We pray because that is how humans begin to discern God’s will.
Mar 15 - St. James Mar 22 - EUMC Mar 29 - St. Pius X
We pray because prayer changes us; prayer opens us up
more and more to God’s grace and the movement
Announcements of God’s Spirit in our hearts, our community, our world.

Altar Coverings: We hope to begin displaying your crafted altar
coverings by early summer! Dimensions are 47” wide and 31” or
more for length. We can’t wait to see your talented works!
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.

Ongoing Prayers, cont

Insufficient
Memory
Ongoing Prayers
COTS request from Mission Committee: Biggest need is new
Arlitha Gordon Mitchinson
linens, necessary toiletries, baby wipes and warm mittens (they
Callie Susan
have enough hats). Red Tub in Fellowship Hall is open-- full list
Anne Kennison Tim
is beside it.
Gloria McKeen Lenore
August Garage Sale! Be collecting good stuff for the sale! Mary Willard Michael Parker
Norma Strickland Keenan
Calendar
Judy & Diezela
Tuesdays: Pastor Is In @ Nest Coffee Shop 10 am - 11 am Matthew C. Lifted Up Last Sunday
Jericho Clergy Group 11:30-12:30 Elissa & Leif Liz: Loss of family and friends/
Church Office 1 pm- 2 pm Greg embracing new people in our lives
Mt Mansfield Bible Study 2 pm Paula DeMichele Lisa: Peace and acceptance in the world
Don Strickland around us
Thursdays: Church Office 10:00 am- noon Ken: Strength in dealing with 2 boys,
Ellie Uckele
j Cole especially the youngest one
Harley

j
Mon, 18 Feb: Living the Questions 7:00 pm Subject: Trinity

Tue, 19 Feb: Trustees Mtg 7:00 pm

Mon, 25 Feb: Monday Companions at Eve’s home, 7 pm. Essex Center United Methodist Church
Finish Everything Happens for a Reason essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
and Other Lies I have Loved by Kate Bowler. www.essexumc.com

Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox

26-28 Feb: Mitch @“Gateways to God” in North Andover, Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay Pearl of Great Price by Cheryl Ward
No Nest, Office, or Mansfield Study cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
Office Manager: Elissa Johnsen
Wed, 6 Mar: Ash Wednesday Taizé & Meditation, 7 pm Sunday School Coordinator: Krista Rochefort
Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
Song Leader: Dana LaClair Projection: Sam Evans
Sat, 9 Mar: Memorial Service for Gloria McKeen 2:00 pm
Greeter: Bob McL, Vickie C Next Week: Dawn, Donna, Claire
Essex Center
Sun, 10 Mar: Time Change! Move clocks ahead one hour. Ushers: Kristine E, Fred H
Nursery Helper: Sally
Next Week: Barb & Gill M
Next Week: Jody United Methodist Church
Sun. Sch. Helper: Liz Next Week: Ashley
Adult Sunday School for Lent 8:45 am
Shoveling: Bob McL Next Week: Julia D Epiphany 7 24 February 2019