Quote for Reflection: -We Listen for God’s Word- -We Respond to God’s Word-

Change begins from deep inside a system, when a few GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 14:13-33 REFLECTION Brown Bag Miracles
people notice something they will no longer tolerate, or
when they respond to a dream of what's possible.    When Jesus heard it, he went away from there in a boat to a HYMN Here I Am, Lord UMH 593
— John Winn deserted spot by himself. The crowds heard it, and followed him
on foot from the towns. When he came out and saw the large
crowd, he was sorry for them. He healed their sick. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER

-We Gather as God’s People- When it was evening, the disciples came to him.
‘This is a deserted spot,’ they said, ‘and it’s already getting late.
SHARING OF GIFTS & DOXOLOGY

HYMN Come Away with Me FWS 2202 Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and
buy food for themselves.’
-We Are Sent Into God’s World-
CALL TO WORSHIP ‘They don’t need to go away,’ said Jesus. ‘You give them ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our task in worship is no less than to dream
 something to eat.’ ‘All we have here’, they said, ‘is five loaves
of bread and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me,’ he said. BENEDICTION
an impossible future-
 We are sent out as Christ’s people –

shaped by glimpses of a Kingdom of justice and life. He told the crowds to sit down on the grass. Then he took the
five loaves and the two fish and looked up to heaven. He blessed with all that we are.

We are called here to boldly imagine
 With our mistakes and our solutions.

the loaves, broke them, and gave them to the disciples, and the
an impossible world-
 disciples gave them to the crowds. Everybody ate and was With all that we are.

where what is broken is restored to wholeness
 satisfied, and they picked up twelve baskets full of broken With our doubts and our hopes.

where the dead is brought to life. pieces. There were about five thousand men who had eaten, Our dreams and our nightmares.

In worship we bring the world’s most damaged realities besides women and children.
We are sent, just as we gathered, as Christ’s people –

and hold them with faith they will be changed
 Jesus at once made the disciples get into the boat and go on with all that we are.

in the presence of hope and love. ahead of him to the opposite shore, while he dismissed the
To sing our praise,

Can you imagine a space more holy than this? crowds.
to dance our love,

Welcome to worship. After he had sent the crowds away, Jesus went up the mountain to worship our God…

by himself to pray. When evening came he was there by
himself. The boat had already gone some distance from the shore with all that we are! Alleluia! Amen!
PRAISE I Will Call Upon the Lord FWS 2002
and was being smashed around by the waves, since the wind was
against it.
AFRICANA Jesus, We Are Here FWS 2273

PASSING THE PEACE
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE
TAIZÉ In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful
OPENING TO GOD based on Psalm 138
I give You thanks, O Blessed One,
with my whole heart;
for You are the Holy One,
the Breath of our breath.
You are the very Presence as I face
my fears and doubts;
Your strength upholds me.
j
At the very dead of night he came towards them, walking on the
water. The disciples saw him walking on the sea and panicked.
‘It’s a ghost!’ they said, and they screamed in terror. But Jesus at
once spoke to them.
‘Courage,’ he said, ‘it’s me! Don’t be frightened!’
‘If it’s really you, Master,’ said Peter in reply, ‘give me the word
FWS 2195 to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come along, then,’ said Jesus.
Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came Birthdays & Anniversaries
towards Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind he was afraid, Feb 11: Joanne Hennesy Feb 17: Ashley Heffernan
and began to sink.
‘Master,’ he yelled, ‘rescue me!’
Jesus at once reached out his hand and caught him. Essex Eats Out Schedule
‘A fine lot of faith you’ve got!’ he said. ‘Why did you doubt?’ Feb 15 - St James Feb 22 - EUMC
They got into the boat, and the wind died down. The people in
the boat worshipped him.
‘You really are God’s son!’ they said. NTE
 Announcements We take prayer seriously at Essex United Methodist Church.
We don’t pray because we think God is absent and needs cajoling.
Altar Coverings: We hope to begin displaying your crafted altar 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.
coverings by early summer! Dimensions are 47” wide and 31” or
We pray because prayer changes us; prayer opens us up
more for length. We can’t wait to see your talented works! more and more to God’s grace and the movement
COTS request from Mission Committee: Biggest need is new
of God’s Spirit in our hearts, our community, our world.
Below are people, places, & concerns that folk have lifted up.
Brown Bag Miracles
linens, necessary toiletries, baby wipes and warm mittens (they
have enough hats). Red Tub in Fellowship Hall is open-- full list Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.
is beside it.
Ongoing Prayers Ongoing Prayers, cont
August Garage Sale! Be collecting good stuff for the sale!
Arlitha Gordon Mitchinson
Callie Susan
Calendar Anne Kennison Tim
Gloria McKeen Lenore
Tuesdays: Pastor Is In @ Nest Coffee Shop 10 am - 11 am Mary Willard Michael Parker
Jericho Clergy Group 11:30-12:30 Norma Strickland Keenan
Church Office 1 pm- 2 pm Judy & Diezela
Mt Mansfield Bible Study 2 pm
Matthew C.
Thursdays: Church Office 10:00 am- noon
Elissa & Leif Lifted Up Last Sunday
j Greg Pat M- MaryAnn, son passed away 1 yr
Paula DeMichele ago, husband passed last week
Sun, 10 Feb: Quick Usher Training after worship!
Don Strickland Dawn- Jill, aunt passed away
Mon, 11 Feb: Monday Companions at Eve’s home, 7 pm. Read Ellie Uckele Barb- Cole and family
chapters 4 -6 of Everything Happens for a Reason Cole
and Other Lies I have Loved by Kate Bowler. Harley

Tue, 12 Feb: Clergy Pre-Lenten Gathering in Lake Sunapee

No Nest, Office, or Mansfield Study j
Fri, 15 Feb: WOWW Luncheon at McGillicuddy’s in Five Essex Center United Methodist Church
Corners, 11:30 am essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com

Sat, 16 Feb: U2Charist at St Pauls in St Albans @ 6 pm Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox Eularia Clark, Feeding the Five Thousand
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
Tue, 19 Feb: Trustees 7 pm
Office Manager: Elissa Johnsen
Sunday School Coordinator: Krista Rochefort
Mon, 18 Feb: Living the Questions 7 pm Subject: Trinity Organ: Kathryn Parker Piano: June Packard
Song Leader: Dana LaClair Projection: Sam Evans
26-28 Feb: Mitch @“Gateways to God” in North Andover,
No Nest, Office, or Mansfield Study Greeter: David & Liz R Next Week: Marilyn A, Bella R Essex Center
Ushers: Judy M, Craig & Next Week: J
Heidi E United Methodist Church
Wed, 6 Mar: Ash Wednesday Taizé & Meditation, 7 pm Nursery Helper: Claire N Next Week: Barb Lemmel
Sun. Sch. Helper: Emily F Next Week: Elissa J Epiphany 5 10 February 2019
Shoveling: Kevin H Next Week: Art B