”While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.”
Luke 24:51 NRSV
Sudbury United Methodist Church
Seventh Sunday of Easter May 24, 2020
Welcome
Prelude
*Call to Worship: (The United Methodist Book of Worship)
Liturgist: Christ is risen! People: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
*Hymn of Praise: UMH # 154 – “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” (vss. 1, 4, 6)
*Opening Prayer: (Gail Ramshaw, USA, 20th cent.)
O God, our Holy One, our altar, our cloud: In the resurrection of your Son
you have brought us into your temple. Accept the sacrifices we offer,
and draw us into the fire of your Spirit; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Alleluia.
A Reading from the Scriptures: Acts 1:1-11 (N.R.S.V.)
1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Children's Time: “Passing the Baton”
Musical Interlude
*A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 24:44-53 (N.R.S.V.)
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on
the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Sermon: “Two Minutes till Joy” Pastor Joel Guillemette
*Hymn of Response: UMH # 89 – “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” (omit verse 2)
A Time of Fellowship
Greeting Our Guests Concerns and Celebrations Pastoral Prayer The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Presentation of Tithes and Offerings
Stewardship Moment Offertory Music *Doxology: UMH # 315 - “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain” (verse 5, alt.)
“Alleluia!” now we cry to our Christ immortal, who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal; “Alleluia!” with the Son, God our Sovereign praising; “Alleluia!” yet again to the Spirit raising.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving
*Hymn of Commitment: UMH # 168 – “At the Name of Jesus”
*Dismissal with Blessing
Postlude
This morning’s liturgist is Heather Josselyn Cranson.
Reconciling & Welcoming Statement: The United Methodist Church is a community of believers and seekers, with differences in age, class, nationality, race, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, abilities, and limitations. We at SUMC recognize that there are attitudes, concerning these diverse characteristics, which violate the integrity of individuals and deny the richness of God’s creation. Therefore, we affirm our welcome to all people into our community of faith. We are committed to be a fellowship in which all persons feel a part of our family, enabling them to grow in their faith, to be fed by our fellowship, and to contribute their talents to the life of the church in its worship, programs, and outreach. We call the church and society to be sensitive to all persons and to advocate programs which attempt to ensure justice for all.
Sudbury United Methodist Church 251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury, MA 01776 Phones: (978) 443-4351 or (978) 443-6785 Fax: (978) 443-3052 Church Office: [email protected] Website: http://www.sudbury-umc.org
Church Staff Lead Pastor: The Rev. Joel Guillemette [email protected] Adult Formation Director: The Rev. Dr. H. Cho-Kim [email protected] Youth & Children’s Ministries Director: Zachary Moser [email protected] Music Director/Organist: Kevin Murphy, AAGO [email protected] Sanctuary Choir Director: Rob Hammerton [email protected] Business Manager: Michael Greb [email protected] Office Administrator: Shetal Kaye [email protected] Sexton: Joe Picorelli [email protected]
We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation
We are a Reconciling and Welcoming Congregation
Sudbury United Methodist Church May 24, 2020
Welcome, Guests!
Are you visiting Sudbury UMC via our live-streamed or video-recorded service for the first time? We are grateful to Sudbury TV for hosting us! Enjoy your visit! Please join us when our church re-opens!
Where Is the Risen Christ Most at Home?
Charles Wesley, who with his brother John co-founded Method-ism in 18th century England, wrote at least seven hymns for Ascension Day. But only one appears in The United Methodist Hymnal. “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise,” #312, celebrates the “homecoming” of the Lord Jesus: Hail the day that sees him rise/To his throne above the skies./Christ, awhile to mortals given,/Reascends his native heaven. Naïve depictions of Jesus’ return to glory, like the 5th century image to the left, sometimes trouble or amuse modern minds. But Wesley’s hymn raises an interesting question: If Christ is God in human flesh, where will the eternal “home” of our Risen Savior be? Following the writer of Luke and Acts, Wesley be-lieves that Jesus’ ministry of love for humankind continues most appropriately at God’s right hand. See! The
heaven its Lord recives,/Yet he loves the earth he leaves,/Though returning to his throne/Still he calls the world his own. Jesus loves the world by interceding for the world as someone who understands the world from head to toe, in his bones, and in his heart.
Remembering Lives Lost in War
Memorial Day was first observed in 1866, in Waterloo, NY, to honor the war dead of the United States. A prayer recommended for this solemn occasion comes from The Presbyterian Worshipbook:
Righteous God, you rule the nations. Guard brave men and women in military service. Give them compassion for those who confront them as enemies. Keep our children from hate that hardens, or from scorekeeping with human lives. Though for a season they must be people of war, let them live for peace, as eager for agreement as for victory. Encourage them as they encourage one another, and never let hard duty separate them from loyalty to your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Message from Pastor Joel and the Re-Opening Task Force
A gradual and careful return to in-person worship was announced last Thursday in The Chronicle by Pastor Joel and the Re-Opening Task Force. Following a combination of guidelines issued by the State of Massachusetts and the New England Conference, public worship will resume in June. Services will take place outdoors on the playground behind the church building. Participants are urged to bring lawn chairs and will be required to wear face masks at all times. Elders who are 65 or older are reminded to heed Gov. Baker’s advice that they are safer at home. Live-streaming worship will continue and recorded services will also be posted online. Appropriate social distancing, maintaining at least six feet of space between clusters of worshipers who live in the same household, will be monitored. The use of bug spray is also advisable. Thanks in advance for your cooperation and consideration for others.
How to Connect to Worship by Live-Stream at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday
We are grateful to Sudbury TV for live-streaming our worship services on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. To see and hear Sunday services live, use your computer or smartphone to visit www.YouTube.com/user/SudburyTV.
How to Watch Recordings of Worship Services on TV
Sudbury residents may also watch recorded services on TV. These recordings are aired throughout the week on Comcast channel 8 or Verizon channel 31. Check listings for the times of these broadcasts.
How to Watch Recordings of Worship Services by Computer
Worship videos may be viewed online at https://www.sudburytv.org/. Scroll down and click “Watch Now.” Newly recorded Sunday services will appear by mid-afternoon on Sundays early in Sudbury TV’s line-up of recent programs. Other recordings, going back to mid-March, can also be seen and enjoyed.
Church Members Support Loan During Special Church Conference
A special Church Conference, authorized by the Rev. Megan Stowe, super-intendent of the Central Massachusetts District, voted unanimously on May 18 to support a resolution from the Church Council. Written by members of the Stewardship and Finance Committee and the Sunny Hill Committee, the resolution proposed formally accepting a Payroll Protection Plan Loan, underwritten by the federally funded Cares Act, for $173,000. These funds will support wages, salaries, and benefits for Sunny Hill Preschool’s eighteen staff members and for our church’s nine-member ministry team. When the time comes, our church’s financial leaders will apply for the loan’s forgiveness. They anticipate that all, or nearly all, expenditures will qualify.
The Upper Room – “Where the World Meets to Pray”
Upper Room booklets are available while the church is closed in a rack at the O’Reilly Room entrance. Daily devotional aids are also available online by clicking: https://www.upperroom.org/. As we wrestle with COVID 19, it helps to know that God is with us. Start each day in the Upper Room.
Confirmation to Be Celebrated on Pentecost
Next Sunday, May 31, teens who have been preparing for Confirmation in 2020 will receive our prayers and blessings during an outdoor celebration of Pentecost. Only these teens, members of their families, and their mentors are invited to join worship leaders and other helpers for this much-anticipated occasion. Live-streaming and video-recording will continue, allowing the rest of our church’s members and friends may pray
and participate from home. Live participants are urged to bring lawn chairs and all are expected to wear face masks.
If Our Shopping Cart Could Talk
Donations to our church’s shopping cart may be left at the O’Reilly Room entrance Monday through Friday by 10:00 a.m. If our shopping cart could talk, it would thank you for supporting food pantries at this challenging time. It might also say, “I always need solid white tuna in cans, spaghetti sauce in jars, pineapple and other fruits in cans, mixed vegetables in cans, raisins in boxes, dried beans, condensed milk, rice pilaf, pancake mix, syrup, macaroni and cheese, instant coffee, laundry detergent, shampoo, soap, feminine care products, and wipes.” When you shop please remember the food cart!
Thursday Morning Bible Study via Zoom
The Thursday Morning Bible Study that gathered at Stephen Anthony’s is now meeting on Zoom from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Anyone interested in participating is invited to contact John McKinney at 845-705-6911 or Richard Smith at 508-981-4248 for information and help accessing Zoom. Richard Smith sends study materials before each session. The focus is the next preaching text. Participants share beliefs and accept differences ...seeing Christ in each one ...and understanding that we’re all God’s children.
“Lean on Me”
The year was 1972. A young man from a coal mining town in West Virginia was feeling homesick as he pursued his dream of becoming a singer and songwriter in Los Angeles, CA. Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” soared to #1 on the charts – his only song to rise that high. Wither’s lyric could have been written for Sudbury UMC’s Stephen Ministers – lay volunteers with 50 hours of training in supportive listening. “Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend. I’ll help you carry on. For it won’t be long, ‘til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.” Do you know someone coping with a crisis, a setback, or a disorienting change? Consider calling on Sudbury UMC’s Stephen Ministers for “somebody to lean on.”
Contact: John Fraize - 415-601-4691, [email protected]; Richard Smith - 508-981-4248, [email protected], or Pastor Joel about getting started with a Stephen Minister.
Ecumenical Youth Meeting on Zoom Next Sunday
Teens from four churches – Sudbury UMC, St. John Lutheran, Memorial Congregational, and St. Eliza-beth’s – will hang out on May 31 at 6:00 p.m. Watch your email for access info to “Be the Light”!
Interactive Children’s Church Today with Zack
Sudbury UMC’s second live and interactive Children’s Church session will take place today on Zoom. For access info, please email Zack Moser at [email protected]. Last time, eight children attended on Zoom and had lots of fun learning about how Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Today, we will talk about Christ’s ascension. Zack will continue to alternate week-to-week between Zoom and pre-recorded Children’s Church sessions that segue from Pastor Joel’s message for children during worship. See you on Zoom!
Unafraid – Sudbury UMC’s Bible Study for Spring 2020 – Concludes This Week
Many Sudbury UMC members and friends have been reading Unafraid – Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times by Adam Hamilton – New York: Convergent Books, 2018. Church staff members have led weekly conversation groups by Zoom or telephone conference call at the times listed below. To join the final session – Aging, Illness, Dying, and the Fear of the Lord – please phone or email the group leader for access information.
Pastor Joel – [email protected]; 978-443-2566 Pastor Cho Kim – [email protected]; 978-340-8034 Kevin Murphy – [email protected]; 978-897-7738 Rob Hammerton – [email protected]; 508-795-7169 Zack Moser – [email protected]; 919-618-9005
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Sunday School Class (Pastor Cho Kim); 11:00 a.m. Men’s Chorus (Kevin); 5:30 p.m. Senior High (Zack); 6:30 p.m. Middle High (Zack)
Monday: 7:00 p.m. Monday Night Bible Study open to all (Pastor Joel) Wednesday: 2:00 p.m. Daytime Group for all (Pastor Joel by Phone Call); 7:00 p.m. A Capella (Rob) Thursdays: 6:45 p.m. Gospel Group (Kevin); 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir (Rob)
Coming Soon! “Acts – Catching Up with the Spirit”
A new Monday evening and Wednesday afternoon book study led by Pastor Joel is coming in June. Published by Abington Press in March 2020, Matthew Skinner’s “Acts - Catching Up with the Spirit,” invites readers and other participants to talk about how and where the Holy Spirit leads the church in times of crisis into the future. Interested? Skinner's book is available from most online book-sellers.
Staff Parish Relations Committee Has Declared May as Staff Appreciation Month
Sherry Stonebraker, Chairperson of the SPRC, reminds us that May is a great time to send cards and notes to Sudbury UMC’s staff members. Thanks to their creativity and hard work, our church has continued to function during difficult times as a Christian presence in the community. We are blessed by the faithfulness of our pastors, program leaders, administrators, and custodial team.
