We welcome you to either virtual or in-person worship on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 10am! You are welcome to join us for in-person worship in the Essex Center UMC sanctuary (please wear a mask), you may participate on Facebook Live by clicking here, or you may watch below. After worship concludes, a recording will be posted on this page.
Dear Guests – WELCOME!
We are thankful for your presence with us this morning.
We pray that you will be blessed and strengthened
by the Holy Spirit in our time together and you will continue to
join us for worship and ministry in the weeks to come.
Welcome, Announcements & Passing of the Peace
ORGAN PRELUDE Kathryn Ammel Parker
WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS,
& PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
ORGAN PRELUDE Kathryn Ammel Parker
*CALL TO WORSHIP adapted from Psalm 26
O Lord, around your altar I will sing aloud songs of thanksgiving
and proclaim all your wondrous deeds.
O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell,
and the place where your glory abides.
But as for me, I seek to walk in faithfulness;
redeem me, LORD, and be gracious to me.
1My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
*HYMN OF PRAISE No. 437, UMH
This is My Song
O God, we join our sisters and brothers around the world
in remembering Christ’s sacrificial gift
of love and life for all.
For the opportunity to eat and drink together
and for the abundant life and gifts you provide to each of us,
we give you thanks and praise.
Grant us your grace to transform our lives
that we would treat all your children with love
and transform our daily bread into the bread of life
and the cup we drink into the cup of your forgiving salvation.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.YOUNG DISCIPLE’S TIME
All the children are invited to come to the Chancel for a time of discipling!
The Sharing of God’s Holy Word
The Sharing of God’s Holy Word
FIRST READING Mark 10:2-9
2Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked,
“Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”
4They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal
and to divorce her.”
5But Jesus said to them,
“Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you.
6But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’
7‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, 8and the two shall become one flesh.’
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to Christ!
*HYMNS OF RESPONSE No. 523, UMH
Saranam, Saramam (Refuge) Pakistani
SECOND READING Mark 10:13-16
13People were bringing little children to him
in order that he might touch them;
and the disciples spoke sternly to them.
14But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them,
“Let the little children come to me; do not stop them;
for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
15Truly I tell you, whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”
16And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to Christ!
SERMON the Rev. Dr. Joel Daniel Hubbard, III
Disposable People
Responding With Faith
*HYMN OF RESPONSE AND INVITATION No. 3149, W & S
For Everyone Born verses 1-4
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Today we will celebrate Holy Communion in three ways.
As you come down the center aisle
- IF you would like to receive by intinction please walk to the right.
- IF you would like to receive by an individual serving please walk to the left and take a piece of bread and cup provided on the table.
- IF you are worshiping with us from home
please have something to eat and drink available.
If you have a tithe or offering please place it in the offering plates
at each end of the chancel.
The Church Goes Out in Mission
*BLESSING
*SUNG BENEDICTION For Everyone Born
For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free.
And God will delight when we are creators of justice
and joy, compassion and peace.
Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
justice and joy.
ORGAN POSTLUDE