Join Us This Sunday for Worship! Our service begins at 11:00 am
East Rochester United Methodist Church
April 3, 2021 Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is the proper conclusion to Holy Week. On Holy Saturday the Church remembers that after his crucifixion, Jesus was placed in the tomb. It is a day of prayer and waiting. It is a day of rest as it can still be considered the Sabbath day. Below you will find prayers and readings for this day. Take some time this day, pray the prayers, read the psalms and scripture readings, pause, and continue reading. Let this day prepare you for the coming of Easter.
Lord, the dark Friday just past we know full well.
The trees of blood.
The forgiveness of thieves.
Your shrieks about work completed and broken croaks of forsakenness.
We have the stories and the songs of Friday, and we have the wisdom to call it “good.”
But Friday flows uninterrupted into Saturday,
And, good Lord, what do we know of Saturday?
Of its graveyard silences. Its entombed hopes. Its dull, guarded, locked nothingness.
Perhaps we know it deep in our guts better than we care to admit—even to you.
Deliver us, good Lord, through the blood—not only as it drips from the cross, but as it dries upon the slab.
Deliver us, good Lord, from both hot dying and cold death,
Deliver us, good Lord, from both tenebrae and rigor mortis.
Amen.
By Robert P. Fugarino. © 2015 Alive Now. Permission granted to use in corporate worship.
Psalm 16:5-11
Old Testament Reading Exodus 14:10-31
Psalm 130
Old Testament Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
The Gospel of John 19:31-42
A Poem
We have never preached Violence
except the violence of love,
which left Christ nailed to the cross,
the violence that we must each do to ourselves to overcome our selfishness
and such cruel inequalities among us.
The violence we preach
Is not the violence of the sword,
The violence of hatred
It is the violence of love, of brotherhood,
The violence that wills to beat weapons
Into sickles for work.
Oscar Romero, November 22, 1977
Concluding Psalm 126:6-7
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.
March 28, 2021 -
Palm Sunday
Pianist Beverly Smoker
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude “To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King” by Anthony Giamanco
Proclamation: Mark 11:1-11
People’s Response Gloria Patri
Hymn
Sermon “Looking Around”
Response:
Sermon Notes: Palm Sunday
Mark: 1:1-11
Sermon Text: Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple: and when he and looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Mark 3:34-35
And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 10:21-22
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Jesus and the Temple
When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for is was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
Mark 11:15
He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”? But you have made it a den of robbers.”
Mark 12:1-12 Parable of the Tenants'
Mark 12:14-44 The Widow’s Mite
Looking Around…. Today
Voting Rights
Immigration
Racism
Jesus Lent 2021
Mark 8:34
He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
John 3:16
“For God so (in this way) loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
John 12:32
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Response
Hymn
Psalm: 31:1-6
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn “Were you There” (v. 1, 2) No. 288
Benediction
Virtual Ash Wednesday Service February 17, 2021
Prelude Prelude in B-flat Minor, WTC I by J. S, Bach Beverly Smoker, piano
Welcome/ OPENING PRAYER* See Ash Wednesday (UMHI 353).
O God, maker of everything and judge of all that you have made, from the dust of the earth you have formed us and from the dust of death you would raise us up. By the redemptive power of the cross, create in us clean hearts and put within us a new spirit, that we may repent of our sins and lead lives worthy of your calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN *Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days (UMH 269)
1 Lord, who throughout these forty days
For us did fast and pray,
Teach us to overcome our sins,
And close by You to stay.
2 As You with Satan did contend
And did the vict'ry win,
O give us strength in You to fight,
In You to conquer sin.
3 As You did hunger and did thirst,
So teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and only live
By Your most holy word.
GOSPEL LESSON* Matthew 6:1 –6, 16–21 6‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
16 ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
INVITATION TO THE OBSERVANCE OF LENTEN DISCIPLINE
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: the early Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration there should be a forty–day season of spiritual preparation. During this season converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when persons who had committed serious sins and had separated themselves from the community of faith were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to participation in the life of the Church. In this way the whole congregation was reminded of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need we all have to renew our faith. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self–examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self–denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. To make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel (bow) before our Creator and Redeemer.
A brief silence is kept, the congregation kneeling or bowed.
THANKSGIVING OVER THE ASHES
Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth. Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, so that we may remember that only by your gracious gift are we given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
IMPOSITION OF ASHES *
Names will be read and ashes virtually imposed.
CONFESSION AND PARDON
The congregation prays Psalm 51:1–17 (UMH 785).
To the leader. A Psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgement.
5 Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6 You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt-offering, you would not be pleased.
17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Hymn/Music What Wondrous Love is This
Worship Service for Sunday, February 14, 2021
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat Major WTC I J. S. Bach
Greeting
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father
And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be
World without end, Amen, Amen
Gospel Reading: Mark I: 29-39
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sermon: Into the Dark Rev. Nowak
Sermon Notes Transfiguration Sunday
Mark 1:29-39
Sermon Text: In the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus went out to pray….
The Lenten Invitation
Self-examination, Prayer, Fasting, self
Denial
St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)
One dark night
Fired with love’s urgent longings
- Ah sheer grace -
I went out unseen
My house being now stilled
Rainer Maria Rilke The Dark hours of my being I love the dark hours of my being. My mind deepens into them. There I can find, as in old letters, the days of my life, already lived, and held like a legend, and understood. Then the knowing comes: I can open to another life that’s wide and timeless.
A Blessing for a Friend on the Arrival of Illness by John O'Donahue (1956-2008) Now is the time of dark invitation beyond a frontier that you did not expect. Abruptly your old life seems distant. You barely noticed how each day opened a path through fields never questioned yet expected deep down to hold treasure.
May you find the wisdom to listen to your illness, ask it why it came, why it chose your friendship, where it wants to take you, what it wants you to know, what quality of space it wants to create in you, what you need to learn to become more fully yourself, that your presence may shine in the world.
Howard Thurman (1899-1981) What Shall I Do with My Life?
Mark 1:38 ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’
Choral Anthem
349 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Patti Walter, voice
Prayers of the People
Concerns: Those who are quarantine, Korrine, Linda in Florida, Heinz family, the family to whom we are providing food, Lyman, our church, Amberger family, Tristan, those families who lost a home to a fire, families who lost loved ones in pandemic, frontline workers in the pandemic, Enter family, Karl Sterling, Kelly, Edwin & Puchy, Townsend family, Genevieve, President and President-elect, Nancy
Joys: Being able to attend church in person, Eddy & Jennifer who recently married, new baby in the Lanigan family, our church delivered 17 gift boxes for children to Samaritan Purse
The Lord’s Prayer
Announcements
Zoom Bible Study Feb. 16, 11am & 7pm
In-Person Bible Study Feb. 17
Virtual Ash Wednesday Service Feb. 17
Postlude: Steal Away to Jesus
Hymnal #704
Patti Walter, voice
February is Black History month.
African-British composer, Samuel Coleridge Taylor (1875-1912) was a highly successful classical composer, known throughout Europe and the United States. His Twenty-Four Negro Melodies are piano settings of African, West Indian, and African-American melodies and folksongs.
East Rochester United Methodist Church
Worship Service for Sunday, February 7, 2021
Kreisleriana, No. 4, Sehr langsam…………………………....…………... Robert Schumann
Greeting
Gospel Reading: Mark I: 21-28
Jesus, Name Above All Names; My Jesus I Love Thee………….....Arr. John F. Wilson
Jesus, name above all names.
Beautiful Saviour, Glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us.
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word,
Lord, I praise your name.
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
Sermon: The Masked Preacher Rev. Nowak
God will Make a Way……………………………………………………………………….....Don Moen
Donna Coleman, Jim Coleman, Karen O’Donnell, Patti Walter, voice
God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see;
He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide,
Hold me closely to his side.
With love & strength for each new day,
He will make a way, He will make a way.
By a roadway in the wilderness He'll lead me.
And rivers in the desert will I see.
Heaven & earth will fade, but his word will still remain,
He will do something new today.
Prayers of the People
Announcements
From Twenty-Four Negro Melodies, Op. 59………………Samuel Coleridge Taylor
Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel
Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel,
And why not a every man?
He deliver'd Daniel from the lion's den,
Jonah from the belly of the whale,
And the Hebrew children from the fiery furnace
And why not a every man.
I set my foot on the Gospel ship
And the ship it began to sail,
It landed me over on Canaan's shore
And I'll never come back any more.
Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel,
And why not a every man?
February is Black History month.
African-British composer, Samuel Coleridge Taylor (1875-1912) was a highly successful classical composer, known throughout Europe and the United States. His Twenty-Four Negro Melodies are piano settings of African, West Indian, and African-American melodies and folksongs.
East Rochester United Methodist Church
Worship Service for Sunday, January 31, 2021
Nocturne in G Minor…………………………....……….Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel
(1805-1847) Greeting
Gospel Reading: Mark I: 14-20
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus…………………………..……….....Arr. Mark Hayes Tune: Indian Folk Melody
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Sermon: “The Most Dangerous Man in the World”
Not so in haste my heart!
Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He linger long,
He never comes too late.
He never cometh late;
He knoweth what is best;
Vex not thyself in vain;
Until He cometh, rest.
Until He cometh, rest,
Nor grudge the hours that roll;
The feet that wait for God
Are soonest at the goal.
Are soonest at the goal
That is not gained with speed;
Then hold the still, my heart,
For I shall wait His lead.
Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore ……………..Monseñor Cesáreo Gabaráin
Neil Glassbrook, voice
Hymn 344
Lord, you have come to the lakeshore
looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;
you only asked me to follow humbly.
O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling have spoken my name;
now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.
4. Lord of the Dance (Hymn344)…………………………………….…Sydney Carter
Neil Glassbrook, voice
I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he.
I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance and they wouldn't follow me.
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
They came with me and the dance went on.
They cut me down and I leapt up high;
I am the life that'll never, never die;
I'll live in you if you'll live in me;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
January 10 Worship Service
Prelude: Bach Prelude in E-flat Major WTC II Beverly Smoker
Announcements
Tuesday, January 12, Bible Study via Zoom, 11am, & 7pm
Sunday, February 14, return to IN-Person Worship
Gospel Lesson Mark 1:4-11
Fairest Lord Jesus
Sermon ‘I Was Wrong, Will You Forgive Me?”
Anthem: 723, Shall We Gather at the River Patti Walter
Prayers
Postlude hymn: 3164 Down to the River to Pray Patti Walter
Thursday, December 24, 2020
The Rev. Jeffrey M. Nowak, Pastor
ERUMC Choir: Donna Coleman, Jim Coleman, Laura Garand, Keenan Garand, Neil Glassbrook, Judy Hunley, Angelina Mak, Karen O’Donnell, Patti Walter, Jody Watters Music Director: Beverly Smoker
Lighting the Advent candles
From the Christmas Tree Suite for Piano: Old Christmas Song…………….…...Franz Liszt
Luke 2: 1-7: And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes...
Christmas Tree Suite: O Holy Night……………………………… Jody Watters, soprano O holy night, with splendor bright!
From heaven above, the angel’s hosts are singing
Halleluja! Halleluja!
The Lord is born! The Lord is born!
Luke 2: 8-14: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace…
O Rejoice with O Holy Night………………………………………………….Luke Gambill Keenan Garrand, Judy Hunley, Karen O’Donnell, Patti Walter, vocalists ,
Come, come and behold the Son, Come, come and behold the Babe, Come see what the Lord has done, Heaven has made a way.
See, see in the eastern star, Come now as the angels sing.
O glory be unto God. Born is the saving King;
O Holy Night
The Stars are brightly shining; it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Luke 2:15-20 And the Shepherds returned praising God for all they had seen and heard...
Christmas Tree Suite: The Shepherds at the Manger (In Dulci jubilo); Slumber Song
(Christmas Time is Here)
Sermon: A Christmas Peace…………………………………………………………………Rev. Nowak
Joy to the World; Hark the Herald Angels Sing……………………………… arr. Luke Gambill Donna Coleman, Karen O’Donnell, Patti Walter, vocalists
Jim Coleman, drum set
Silent Night……………………………………………………………………...Neil Glassbrook, baritone
What is Worship? and Why do we do it?
The definition of Worship is “to give praise and thanksgiving to God.” This is what we do as faithful people of God; we gather weekly to return to God our praise and thanks.
Our choir, led by Beverly Smoker
We are thankful for all that God has given us- our lives, families, and friends; our gifts and talents; and for the privilege to serve as disciples of Jesus Christ. We praise God for the grace shown to us before we knew God, the grace that sustains us for the living of these days, for the grace that saves us from our sins, and for the grace that will one day welcome us home into the kingdom of heaven. We praise God with singing, praying, and proclaiming His word!
This is why we worship.
At East Rochester United Methodist Church, our worship is a balance of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the celebration of Holy Communion. Pastor Todd’s message is primarily focused on the Gospel lesson for the day, with a strong dose of “how we can apply it to our lives” sprinkled in. Our gifts of bread and wine, offering, and food for the local food pantry are collected each Sunday.
Reach UP! to God with PRAISE and THANKSGIVING!
Our modern, high tech sanctuary supports our worship. It is completely ADA compliant, hosts free WiFi (Password is FaithHopeLove), and is air conditioned. A privacy room makes it possible for all to participate.
Our worship music ministry is led by Beverly Smoker. We support a choir that is open to all. Music is often accompanied by instrumentalists from the congregation or region. Music includes a blend of more traditional hymns with modern Christian music led by our dynamic choir. Words are projected onto large screens for all to easily participate.
Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in worship and partake in Holy Communion. No exceptions. No one is excluded from taking part in the grace of God.
An additional word about worship in our tradition: In the United Methodist Church we recognize two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion.
Baptism is what makes a person a Christian- a follower, a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is God’s gracious acceptance of the person into the community. It is God’s acceptance; therefore, Baptism may take place at any age. Because it is the initiation into the community of faith, it is most appropriate to take place in the worship setting. Baptism can only be done once in life, is done using the symbolism of water sprinkled or poured over the head, and is recognized by most other mainline Christian denominations. If Baptism takes place at an early age, children have an opportunity to confirm what was done on their behalf by taking Confirmation classes and formally joining the membership. This is generally done when the child is in the 7th or 8th grade. Confirmation classes are held as needed.
Holy Communion, also known as Eucharist, is held every Sunday and on other special days. The liturgy is the same at all services. We celebrate the sacrament using a common loaf and cup (which necessitates Intinction- the dipping of the bread into the wine). All who desire to draw close to Jesus are welcome to receive communion in The United Methodist Church. The table is open to people of all ages, races, and conditions. All those physically unable to approach the table may be served in their seat- please make your needs known to an usher.
