When we live according to our fears and our hates, you come giving bread in the wilderness For

wilderness For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts


our lives become small and defensive, you come giving homes to exiles is the house of Israel,

lacking the deep, joyous generosity of God. you come giving futures to the shut down and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting;

If you find some part of your life where your daily round you come giving Easter joy to the dead he expected justice, but saw bloodshed;
you come – fleshed in Jesus. righteousness, but heard a cry!

has grown thin and controlling and resentful,
life with God is much, much larger,
shattering our little categories of control,
permitting us to say that God’s purposes
led us well beyond ourselves to live and to forgive,
to create life we would not have imagined
Walter Brueggemann
We Gather as God’s People
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It dawns on us – late rather than soon-
that you “give food in due season; you open your hand
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

By your giving, break our cycles of imagined scarcity The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,

override our presumed deficits the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

quiet our anxieties of lack the spirit of counsel and might,

transform our perceptual field to see the abundance— the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

mercy upon mercy, blessing upon blessing.
Sink your generosity deep into our lives
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

HYMN Love Divine, All Loves Excelling UMH 384 that your muchness may expose our false lack He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

that endlessly receiving we may endlessly give or decide by what his ears hear;

CALL TO WORSHIP so that the world may be made Easter new, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

without greedy lack, but only wonder, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth . . .

From seed to shoot, Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,

without coercive need, but only love,
God’s kingdom is coming. without destructive greed, but only praise and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
From shoot to branch, without aggression and invasiveness….
God’s kingdom draws near. all things Easter new, Advent new…..
Rooted and growing,
God’s kingdom is coming.
all around us, toward us, and by us
We Respond to God’s Word
all things Easter new, Advent new.
Flourishing, blossoming, REFLECTION Reverse Wine Snob
God’s kingdom draws near. Finish your creation, in wonder, love and praise. Amen.
With wisdom and might, HYMN How Shall I Come Before the Lord W&S 3124
God’s kingdom is coming.
With justice and mercy, We Listen for God’s Word PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
God’s kingdom draws near.
With righteousness and faithfulness, HEBREW SCRIPTURES Isaiah 5:1-4, 7; Isaiah 11:1-5 2019 PLEDGES & DOXOLOGY
God’s kingdom is coming; God’s kingdom draws near. PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Let me sing for my beloved May we, for the sake of ordinary people everywhere
my love-song concerning his vineyard:
resolve to act justly, to love kindness

HYMN There’s a Spirit of Love in This Place W&S 3148 and to walk humbly with God in paths of peace.
My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

He dug it and cleared it of stones,
 May we, with all our heart, soul and strength,
PASSING THE PEACE resolve to be your witness in all we do and say,

and planted it with choice vines;

he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
 in all we give and offer, in all we think and believe.
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE May these gifts and pledges be used
and hewed out a wine vat in it;

he expected it to yield grapes,
 for the healing and transformation of the world
TAIZÉ In God Alone W&S 3135
but it yielded wild grapes. in Jesus’ name. Amen
OPENING TO GOD Brueggemann And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,

On our own, we conclude: there is not enough to go around— judge between me and my vineyard.

we are going to run short— What more was there to do for my vineyard
 We Are Sent Into God’s World
of money, of love, of grades, of publications, that I have not done in it?

of sex, of beer, of members, of years, of life When I expected it to yield sweet grapes,
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
why did it yield bitter wild grapes?
and in the midst of our perceived deficit, you come BENEDICTION
 Birthdays and Anniversaries Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up.
Please keep them in your prayers at home.
20 Nov: Kathy Wutkiewicz 23 Nov: Barbara Audet Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.

Office Hours
Ongoing Prayers
Arlitha
Ongoing Prayers, cont.
Michael Parker Isaiah’s Vineyard:
Callie Joyce Moore

Reverse Wine-Snob
Tuesdays: Pastor Is In @ Nest Coffee Shop 10 am - 11:30 am
Anne Kennison Dorothy & Alex
Thursdays: Church Office 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Mary Willard
Norma Strickland Lifted Up Last Sunday
Judy & Diezel June: Safety for the youth hunters and
Calendar Matthew C. that they learn respect for the sport

Sun, 17 Nov: Stewardship Sunday & After-worship Potluck Elissa & Leif Bill W: Prayers for Bonnie dealing with
Greg health issues and possible homelessness
Open Spirit Task Force Focus Groups for lay Paula DeMichele Kathryn: Prayers for friend Kelly and her
people, 2:00 pm, Faith UMC, South Burlington Don Strickland new born baby
Ellie Uckele Barb L.: Victoria, Bonnie and Kate for
Mon, 18 Nov: Monday Companions at Eve’s, 7 pm Final
Cole finding balance, love and in dealing
discussion of Dear Church
Gordon Mitchinson with integrity issues
Tue, 19 Nov: Nominations Team 6:30 pm Susan Barb A: Prayers of healing for Jan Jordan
Tim who broke her ankle
Thu, 21 Nov: District Committee on Ministry, Barre, 9-3 Don Canady Lisa: prayers of strength for her inability
Harley to do the things she should and prayers
Sun, 1 Dec: Advent Begins; Ponsettia Orders due to Kathy D.
of strength to follow God's plan
Mon, 2 Dec: Annual Church Conference, 7pm (PPR, 6:30 pm)
Please come ands your voice and vision.

Wed, 4 Dec: The Bible Project We continue the Luke-Acts

miniseries. 7 pm.
j
Thu, 5 Dec: Advent Taizé Meditation Service 7 pm Essex Center United Methodist Church
essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Sat, 7 Dec: Christmas Caroling at Memory Care & Hospice.
Contact Marilyn or Sally for details & carpooling. Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
Sun, 8 Dec: New Member Sunday Please let Mitch know cell/text: 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net

Conclude Heifer Project Office Manager: Elissa Johnsen

Sunday School Coordinator: Krista Rochefort
Reconciling Congregations Vote Organ: Kathryn Parker
Song Leader: Dana LaClair
Sat, 14 Dec: Bishop’s Day on the District
Nursery Helper Barb L
Decorate for Christmas
Parent Helper: Liz R
Greeters: Laurie & Mark K
Ushers: Donna P, Claire N
Piano: June Packard
Projection: Bob McLane
next week: Jody H
Essex Center
next week: Dorothy B
next week: Eve, Janet, Owen Un-Tied Methodist Church
next week: Paula P and Claire N
17 November 2019 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
 From the Missions Team
Many exciting things happening over the next
couple of months that you may want to be part of:

1. Christmas Caroling at Memory Care and

Respite House: we are asking anyone
interested to contact Marilyn at
marilyn_almeida@comcast.net or Sally at
sallyjablonski317@gmail.com. Be part of
making a joyful noise and perhaps lifting up
some spirits at the same time!

2. CASAN (Chittenden Asylum Seekers

Assistance Network) is trying to help a mother
and child seeking asylum in Burlington with
long-term housing and gift cards for Price
Chopper or Walmart. They are from an African
country, identities are being kept confidential for
their safety. Contributions/gift cards can be given
to Mark or Paula.

3. Prison fellowship ministries has given our

church seven children for our Angel Tree. This
ministry allows incarcerated parents to send a
message with a gift that we purchase and deliver
for their child. We are in the process of
contacting the caregivers and will be placing an
Angel Tree in fellowship hall in a couple of
weeks with name tags for each child with their
ages and gifts requested.

Wishing you all a blessed week,

Paula Pickering