Worship for the 3rd Sunday of Easter

April 25, 2020April 25, 2020
by Administrator

First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for the Third Sunday of Easter

April 26, 2020

“A Fern Growing Out of Volcanic Lava” by Jan Huston
Photo Show: Stone Rolled Away

Getting Centered

It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship.

Breath Prayer

“One who sees all, grant us insight.”
Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.
You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.

Prelude

“Simple Gifts” Improvisation by Richard Elliott

Call to Worship

based on Psalm 116
If you are with another person, you may wish to read this out-loud. Otherwise, you can read it as a reminder that this is communal worship done in a large geographical area.
One: We lift our voices to God in prayer.
Many: God hears our voices, and our requests.
One: Our God is a God who listens.
Many: When we cry for help, God responds.
One: We offer our gratitude to God, for all that God does.
Many: We offer our gratitude, for how God responds.
One: Holy One, you are our God,
Many: And we are your people.

Hymn #92: For the Beauty of the Earth

If you wish to sing along, the sheet music is here: For the Beauty of the Earth

Connecting in Prayer

Shared Prayer

Adapted from 21st Century Worship Resources for Native American Ministries Sunday by The Rev. Jeff Ramsland, who serves as pastor of the Cherokee United Methodist Church in Cherokee, NC.

Creator who made all that is, and proclaimed that ‘it is good.’
Creator, help us to discover in all You have made in Nature,
the good wisdom about the interconnectedness of all things,
about balance and about living in harmony.
Remind us that we are not above nature, we are part of Creation;
we live by the same laws as all of nature
and need to learn from what You have made.
Creator, help us discover the power that lies
in the wisdom and understanding of our role in the
Great Mystery, and in honoring every living thing as a teacher.
Creator God, may our spirits be in harmony with Yours
as we worship.
Amen

We will share joys and concerns during the Second Hour Zoom conversation.
If you have joys or concerns to add, please send them to the office.

Silent Prayer

“Nature Rolls Away the Stone” by Jane Baker
Photo Show Theme: Stone Rolled away
(Image taken at FUMC parking lot)

Pastoral Prayer

You are welcome to read this out-loud or silently.
Normally the pastoral prayer is in response to the prayers of the body,
this one is written hoping to respond to the prayers of the body
without hearing them first.
The first stanza is adapted from a prayer by Nadia Boltz Weber, shared by the General Commission on the Status and
Role of Women on April 23, 2020.

Creator,
God who made us all,
Our healers are exhausted, God. Give rest to those who care for the sick.
Our children are bored, God. Grant extra creativity to their caregivers.
Our friends are lonely, God. Help us to reach out.
Our pastors and therapists are doing the best they can, God. Help them to know it is enough.
Our workers are jobless, God. Grant us the collective will to take care of them.
Our parents are losing their minds, God. Bring unexpected play and joy and
dance parties to all in need.
Our grocery workers are absorbing everyone’s anxiety, God. Protect them from us.
Our elderly are even more isolated, God. Comfort them.
Our dear ones are recovering from natural disasters, living in migration camps,
and struggling with illness and injury, all during this frightening time. Be with them.
Our dear ones are grieving. Be with them.
We haven’t done this before and we are scared, God.
Yet, in creation, we see and find hope.
When the sun shines, it illuminates possibilities.
When the rain falls, it makes possible new growth.
When our children play, we hear joy.
When we see neighbors and friends, we remember who we are caring for and
why!
The masks that have been made, and the prayer shawls that cradle shoulders,
remind us what love looks like in physical form.
There are many who have healed and recovered, and they get a renewed
chance at life.
New opportunities are arising, bringing fuller life to some who have struggled, and we are grateful.
We feel You, working towards wholeness and peace within us. May we find the
ways to work with you. And may we find compassion for all who ache and struggle, including ourselves.
Amen

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, for ever. Amen.

Word and Reflection

Choir Anthem

For the Beauty of the Earth – John Rutter
If you are not familiar with John Rutter, let this be an assurance that this isn’t a repeat of the opening hymn, and is worth hearing on its own merit. In fact, it is even better having heard the opening hymn as a starting point. – Sara, who loves Rutter

Scripture – Psalm 116:1-4; 12-19

Mission Moment: Native American Ministries Sunday – Jan Huston

One of the Special Sundays in the United Methodist Church is Native American Ministries Sunday. This year it is celebrated on April 26. Native Americans with many unique languages and cultures honor their heritage and live as Jesus-followers. They are led primarily by Native American pastors. Special offerings on this day equip and empower Native American pastors, congregations, and seminary students to worship God and follow Jesus while maintaining and celebrating cultural traditions.
The Upper NY Committee on Native American Ministries has created the following video about the Native American ministries within our conference.
Gifts designated for this special Sunday can be made by sending a check to
FUMC with a notation indicating the gift is for Native American Sunday, or online through our electronic giving. Scroll down to “Ministries that We Support” and you’ll see “Native American Ministries” as the first option.

Children’s Time

Passing the Peace

If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.
Whether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God’s peace within, and then to share it with the world. This may take several breaths or moments. Sometimes sharing works best this way: to think of a dearly beloved with whom to share the peace, then to think of other beloveds, then of friends, then acquaintances, then those who frustrate you, then those you don’t really know, then those you don’t known at all.
God’s peace is spread to all.

“Pot Holes” by Amanda Taylor
Photo Show Theme: Stone Rolled Away

Hymn #307: Christ is Risen

If you wish to sing along, the sheet music is here: Christ is Risen

Scripture Reading: Luke 24:13-35

Sermon: “Emmaus”

Responding

Offering

If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?

Offertory Anthem

“Alleluya! Christo Resucitó” (“Alleluia! Christ is Risen”) – Luis Bojos (Arranged by Nathan Zullinger)

Prayer of Presentation

Creator,
As we pay attention to what you have given to us,
we find gratitude.
As we pay attention to the suffering around us,
we find compassion.
As we gift the gifts of our time, our talents, our gifts, and our service,
we hope that they are useful
in the building of your kindom.
May we give with open hearts,
that we may also be able
to receive with open hearts.
Amen

Hymn #707: Hymn of Promise

If you wish to sing along, the sheet music is here: Hymn of Promise

Benediction

As God breaks into the the world, with insight, hope, and grace, may your life be transformed. Amen

Postlude

“Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 – Allegro” – Johann Sebastian Bach
The Raleigh Ringers

“The Way Ahead” by Larry McArthur
Photo Show Theme: Stone Rolled Away

Stone Rolled Away

March 21, 2020April 25, 2020
by Administrator

Worship Moves online starting March 15th, and other COVID-19…

March 13, 2020March 13, 2020
by Sara Baron

Dear Siblings in Christ,

This is going to be a LOOOOOOOOONG post, so I’ve outlined the points below and you can keep scrolling for all the details. I’ve also highlighted the requests I have for responses, in hopes of drawing your attention to them.

We will NOT be gathering for worship in person for now, starting this Sunday, March 15. More details below

We are going to have an after worship “worship and sermon talk back” via ZOOM. More details below.

Online Giving and Donations More details below

Breakfast will be moving to takeout style. More details below.

Small groups and committees have the option of meeting online or in person for now. More details below

Please, please, please be careful with yourself and with the vulnerable populations around you. More details below
COVID-19 Fact Sheet
Protect Yourself

The outbreak of racism against Asian Americans is antithetical to our faith and to our humanity, please do all that you can to counteract it. More details below

The Intersectional Justice book discussion on “Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny” is postponed for now, we will let you now about the rescheduling when we know. More details below

Connecting with the pastor and staff. More details below

Connecting with each other. More details below

We will NOT be gathering for worship in person for now, starting this Sunday, March 15.

You will be getting an email with a worship liturgy, scriptures, hymn links, and a sermon link. You’ll get it either Saturday or very early Sunday morning. If you reside with others who can worship with you, great! If not, it will work for one person as well.

In person worship will resume when we are able to be sure it is safe and wise.

What we send this week will likely be imperfect – but the talk back will give us a chance to get feedback and perfect it along the way.

We are going to have an after worship “worship and sermon talk back” via ZOOM.

At 11AM on Sunday, we are going to start a “2nd hour” for worship and sermon talk back. This is going to be done via Zoom. (https://zoom.us) Zoom is a platform for video conferencing, which is also usable for people who simply call in.

If you have a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can download zoom now and test it. I’ll be on starting at 10:30 on Sunday, so that those who are nervous about the connection can get more comfortable with it.

Zoom will likely be the way we do small group and committee meetings for a while, so it is worth investing in figuring out.

In the worship email, the information on how to access Zoom will also be shared. Again, you can simply call into the meeting and be connected by voice, OR you can use the link to access it online. The more of us show our faces, the more fun it will be.

Requests: If you expect to need help accessing Zoom, please respond to the office email fumcschenectady@yahoo.com and let us know.

If you think you can walk someone through accessing Zoom, please respond to the office email fumcschenectady@yahoo.com and let us know.

Online Giving and Donations

During this time of change and uncertainty, we know that there are disruptions in many people’s incomes as well as the rest of their lives. If you are unable to give because of your own financial situation, we understand. If you are able to give, but haven’t yet set up online giving, this would be an ideal time to do so. Our secure giving site is: online giving.

We will, of course, still deposit checks, and you are welcome to mail them in.

The church’s expenses used in kin-dom building exist even as we change our mode of operation. Your tithes and gifts remain imperative to the work we do. After passing the budget last week, I know we are committed to maintaining it! Thank you for the many ways you give!

Breakfast will be moving to takeout style.

One of the challenges we face right now is to maintain the safety of our community while holding in tension the needs of the vulnerable in our midst. Given that tension, we are going to stop offering a full-serve breakfast in the Fellowship Hall, to minimize contamination concerns. However, we will prepare brown bags with breakfast food in them so that we can feed people who need access to food. Sylvester is working out a plan to get food prepared and distributed, and will need a small team to support him. Please respond to the office email fumcschenectady@yahoo.com or to Sylvester if you want to help.

Small groups and committees have the option of meeting online or in person for now.

At this point, large group gatherings seem unwise. It is less clear whether or not there is a risk to small group gatherings if all involved feel healthy. So, for now, small group and committee chairs have the option of continuing to gather in person. If there is a desire to move online instead, Zoom will be made available (see zoom). It is reasonable to assume that even small groups may need to stop meeting in person in the near future.

Please, please, please be careful with yourself and with the vulnerable populations around you.

The decision to change what we are doing this weekend and in the near future was not taken lightly. It was based on information from the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, and in consultation with church leaders. Our primary concern is slowing down the spread of COVID-19 so that our health care system is not overwhelmed. If we are able to do that, we will significantly decrease mortality rates.

Attached to this post are two information sheets about COVID-19.
COVID-19 Fact Sheet
Protect Yourself

In addition, I have been asked by a professional to remind you all:

Social distancing really, really matters. Please keep a bubble of 6 feet between you and others when you are public.
In case you haven’t heard, please wash your hands frequently, with soap, for 20 seconds or more.
No hugging or kissing people outside your immediate family. (If you were in church this past Sunday you saw that even Mary Ann did her best on this one, thanks Mary Ann!)
If you have symptoms and need to see a doctor, please call the office first.<
This is a good time to consider rescheduling any routine medical appointments, to minimize potential exposure. That is, this isn’t a good time to go for a dental cleaning — but obviously someone with a tooth ache should go get that taken care of.

The outbreak of racism against Asian Americans is antithetical to our faith and to our humanity, please do all that you can to counteract it.

Many sources tell me that racism against Asian Americans is rising in our country, which is an atrocity. This virus does not know the boundaries of race that we use to sort people, and there is no racial or ethnic group in the USA more (or less) likely to be infected than any other. If you choose to go out to eat or get take out, you may want to intentionally consider Chinese food, to counteract the ridiculous actions of those who are not well informed. Similarly, if you are able to support other Asian owned businesses, and/or appropriately reach out to Asian Americans with kindness and support, please do so.

The Intersectional Justice book discussion on “Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny” is postponed for now, we will let you now about the rescheduling when we know.

This gathering was scheduled for 10AM on Saturday, it happen work via Zoom or in person in coming weeks. If you have a preference, please let Kevin Nelson, or tell the office fumcschenectady@yahoo.com

Connecting with the pastor and staff.

Feel free to contact Sara directly via phone, or email. She texts as well as receives phone calls. Please reach out freely.

For now, the office is open and you should be able to reach the staff in normal ways, if that changes we will let you know.

Connecting with each other.

Social distancing is one of the most important ways we can keep each other safe right now. (see social distancing) Yet, one of the hardest parts of social distancing is… well, being apart from others and feeling isolated.

Keeping people connected to each other is one of the PRIMARY roles of the church, so we are working on a plan to keep church members and attenders connected to each other, and in conversation. Information about this will be available early next week. If this particularly excites or interests you, please talk to Pastor Sara, who would be delighted to have conversation partners on this topic, or email the office, fumcschenectady@yahoo.com and let us know.

Lenten Photo Show 2019 – Empty

April 3, 2019April 19, 2019
by Administrator

Pastoral Response to #GC2019

March 2, 2019March 3, 2019
by Sara Baron

Dear Siblings in Christ,

The past few days have not gone as hoped. To be very succinct: in seeking for justice and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in The United Methodist Church, we failed.

That said, no legislative body has the power to limit God’s grace. God is God and the church is not. God is love, and the church can’t stop God’s love.

In this case, the church does not speak for God. Not only that, but the church is standing in God’s way.

First United Methodist Church of Schenectady will continue to welcome, include, celebrate, love, and empower people who are LGBTQIA+ as God’s beloved people, because it is true. We have noticed that God loves diversity, and that’s why people and creation are so diverse. We stand on the side of love, and we will ALWAYS stand on the side of love.

You are a beloved child of God, beautiful and precious in God’s sight.

This church will keep workings towards justice for all of God’s people, including LGBTQIA+ people, and we will not stop until justice is found. We are coming home with some new ideas about that… but planning is for another day. Today is a day to grieve for the blindness and harm done by the denomination, and to care for each other in our pain.

May God be with us, and may the Spirit guide us.

In God’s Love,
Sara