Quote for Reflection: -We Listen for Gods Word- As you know, we once were told, You are

As you know, we once were told, You are not to commit

adultery. But I tell you: Those who leer at a woman and desire
When I see injustice, I cannot keep quiet . . . HEBREW SCRIPTURES Deuteronomy 30:15-20 her have already committed adultery with her in their hearts.
The most awful thing they can do is to kill me, Look at what is before you: Ive placed in front of you If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it
and death is not the worst thing Life and Good away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for
that could happen to a Christian. Death and Evil. your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your right
And I call on you today: Love YHWH, your God. hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better
Bishop Desmond Tutu Walk in Loves way.
for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body
Keep Gods commandments, precepts, and ways,
so that you will live really live, to go into Gehenna.
-We Gather as Gods People- live exuberantly, blessed by the Lord, your God, Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . 349
in the land you are about to enter and caretake. We were once told, Whoever divorces his wife should give
HYMN Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 139
But I tell you: If your hearts stray and you do not listen, her a bill of divorce. But I tell you: Everyone who divorces his
CALL TO WORSHIP if you let yourselves be drawn into the worship of other gods, wife (except in the case of infidelity) makes her the victim of
The Lord is here; Gods Spirit is with us! you will not survive. adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits
You will not live long in the land adultery.
We need not fear; Gods Spirit is with us! that you are now crossing the Jordan to inhabit and possess.
We abide in peace; Gods Spirit is with us! I call Heaven and Earth to witness before you today: Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . 349
We are immersed in love; Gods Spirit is with us! I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Again, as you know, our ancestors were told, You must not
We continue in hope; Gods Spirit is with us! Choose life so that you and your children will live. break an oath, and Oaths sworn in the name of God must be
We rejoice in faith; Gods Spirit is with us! And love YHWH, your God, obeying Gods voice, kept. But I tell you: Dont swear at all. Dont invoke heaven,
We worship in Spirit and in truth. Amen. firmly embracing the Lord. because it is Gods footstool, and dont invoke Jerusalem,
Oh yes, God is life itself, a long life settled on the soil because it is the city of the great king. And do not swear by
HYMN Lord, Speak to Me 463 that God, your God, promised to give your ancestors: your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let
Sarah and Abraham, Rebecca and Isaac, Rachel and Jacob. your word be Yes, Yes or No, No; anything more than this
PASSING THE PEACE comes from the evil one.
GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 5:21-24, 27-37 Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . 349
YOUNG PEOPLES MESSAGE
Turn your eyes upon Jesus 349
TAIZ Jesus, Remember Me (5x) 488 look full in his wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
OPENING TO GOD in the light of his glory & grace. -We Respond to Gods Word-
O God, we know your kingdom of love is coming because: As you know, our ancestors were told, You must not kill, and REFLECTION
somewhere someone is kind when others are unkind, Whoever kills will be subject to judgment. But I tell you:
somewhere someone shares with another in need, Those who are angry with a companion will be brought before a HYMN Without Seeing You 2206
somewhere someone refuses to hate, while others hate, tribunal. And those who say to the companion, You moron,
somewhere someone is patient - and waits in love, will be subject to the sentence of the court. And whoever says, PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORDS PRAYER
You idiot, deserves the fires of Gehenna.
somewhere someone returns good for evil,
Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . 349 PRAYER OF DEDICATION & DOXOLOGY UMH 94
somewhere someone serves another, in love,
somewhere someone is calm in a storm, So, even if you happen to be offering your gift at the altar and
somewhere someone is loving everybody. recall that your friend has some claim against you, leave your -We Scatter to Serve-
somewhere someone remembers that Jesus remembers us. gift there at the altar. First go and be reconciled with your
friend, and only then return and offer your gift ANNOUNCEMENTS
Then we remember your Kingdom is among us and within us.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . 349
BENEDICTION
 Birthdays & Anniversaries We take prayer seriously at Essex United Methodist Church.
Feb 17 - Ashley Heffernan & Grace Naylor We dont pray because we think God is absent and needs cajoling.
We dont pray because we think God is a celestial Santa Claus.
We pray because that is how humans begin to discern Gods will.
Essex Eats Out Schedule We pray because prayer changes us; prayer opens us up
Feb 17 - St. James Feb 24 - EUMC March 3 - 1st Cong. more and more to Gods grace and the movement
Mar 10 - Holy Family Mar 17 - St. James Mar 24- EUMC of Gods Spirit in our hearts, our community, our world.
Mar 31 - St. Pius Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up.
Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Announcements Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list. I Set Before You
The Essex/Jericho/Underhill Food Shelf is in need of Vegetables (no
Ongoing Prayers Lifted Up Last Sunday
green beans please though!), Soup, Peanut Butter, Tuna, Mac &
Cheese, Baked Beans. Brooks Family Judy M - thankful for care & concern of
Michael Parker this congregation
Jars Needed! A collection box for small, clean, label free baby jars is Jill & Doug Griffin Judy M - Joyce & John, travelling
downstairs for recycling. We will refill them with fresh jam for our
Stan Komecki Judy M - joy at engagement of her
holiday baskets. Questions, call Vickie (879-7515).
Jenna Roy grandson
Calendar Paul Claire - children who are troubled
Sun, 12 Feb: All-Church Meeting after worship Robin David J - Patrick & Stacy - loss of dad
Jaylene David J - passing of Claudette May
Tue, 14 Feb: Office Hours
D.J. Smith
Phoenix Books: 10:00 to noon
Church: noon-1:30 pm Chris David F - thankful for Brian's birthday
Mansfield Bible Study 2:00 pm Anne celebration
John Bartlett David F - thankful for Your blessings on
Thu, 16 Feb: Food Shelf Set Up, 6:30 pm GSLC Judy & Diezela his family over the last difficult 2
Church Life Team in the Parlor, 7:00 pm.
Matthew C. months
Fri, 17 Feb: WoWW Luncheon, 11:30 am at the Essex Grill Brenda Sally - thankful for courageous judges
on Main Street in Essex Junction. Tim Kathryn - calm for mother in law, Janice
Lenore Mary - PB, courage
Sat, 18 Feb: Food Shelf Distribution 9:30 am GSLC
Ralph & LeeAnn Mary - let her children know how much
Mon, 20 Feb: Monday Companions at Eves 7:00 pm. Arlitha they are loved
Finish Confessions of X by Suzanne Wolfe. Donna Douglas Emily - neighbor, Corrine, going to
Callie Korea, her daughter, Zoe without mom
Tue, 21 Feb: Trustees, 7:00 pm
Keenan
Thu, 23 Feb: Thursday Companions in Parlor, 2:00 pm. Discuss
chapters 4&5 of Paul Was Not a Christian by Pamela Eisenbaum
Essex Center United Methodist Church
Fri, 24 Feb: Essex Eats Out at EUMC 5:30 pm essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Tue, 28 Feb: Pastor-Staff Relations Committee,7:00 pm Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
Tue, 28 Feb: Pastor-Parish Relations Committee at Donnas house, cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
59 Weed Road, 7:00 pm Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
Essex Center
Wed, 1 Mar: Ash Wednesday Service, 7:00 pm Guitar: Richard Randazzo Song Leader: Dana Thomas
Projection: Sam Evans
United Methodist Church
Mon, 6 Mar: Monday Companions at Eves 7:00 pm. Greeters -Norm Thompson
Ushers - Bill & Maureen Wiegner, Marilyn Almeida
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany 2017
Begin The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis