Service Notes for Laity Sunday, October 15, 2017
Click here to read more about Celebrating the People in the Pews in News
Service Notes for Laity Sunday, October 15, 2017
Opening Comments by Jane TerLouw
Today is Laity Sunday. Ronnie has explained to the children, and possibly the rest of us, who the laity actually are. The following is a reading from The Upper Room, August 18, 2017.
This quote is from the Book of James, chapter 3, verse 13:
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
A few days a week I volunteer in our church library. Often I see a certain man walking down the hall with a screwdriver or a drill or a sander in his hand. When I ask him what he is doing, he says, “Oh, I noticed that this needed to be done, and I thought I’d just come in and take care of it in my spare time.” He doesn’t receive any pay for these important little jobs, and most of the congregation has no idea that he works there so often during the week. But it is disciples like this man who keep every church building repaired and usable.
Some think that to be a disciple means witnessing to hundreds or preaching to crowds, and many disciples do these things. But no less important is the disciple who cheer fully does the little things every day that make other people's lives more pleasant and productive. We all have some kind of talent that we can devote to further our Lord's kingdom. All we have to do is identify that skill or talent, decide to use it for the Lord - and then get up and actually do it.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to appreciate small acts of service done in your name by people who often go unrecognized. Amen.
After I read it, I started thinking about our congregation. As we look around and think of all the things that people continually contribute to our church, I'll bet a few names stand out above all the others. So as we celebrate "us, the laity," let’s also celebrate them.
Jane TerLouw speaking on behalf of KAREN EAST:
The Strength of the Church
There’s a little magic here about this person. Think maybe Mary Poppins or the Shoemaker’s elves. It seems whenever something needs to be done, it gets done, and Karen East is the one who did it. Come to a concert, and the refreshment tables are all set up, food is laid out, and the church is ready. Come to a meeting of the Methodist Women’s Organization and the agenda is organized and plans for the future are ready to be discussed. Christmas Wreaths, check. Christmas Bazaar, check. Lenten Palm fronds already twisted into crosses, check. Coffee hour, check. Sanctuary straightened up and lights turned on for the service, check. Piano covered, check. Oil in the candles, check. Communion ready, check. Do you want to know where something is located? Just ask Karen. She knows every inch of the church. Not only does she sing in our choir, but also with the Chrysalis Singers for High Peaks Hospice. Our church just couldn’t run this smoothly without her. She is constantly checking in on the building to see that all is well. And most of this is done without anyone ever really seeing her in action. Magic? Maybe, but we believe it is your special brand of magic, Karen, and we would like to let you know how much we appreciate you and all you do.
Ronnie Hollingsworth, on behalf of DON HOLLINGSWORTH and ALAN DYBAS:
The Builders of the Church
Ronnie: The furnace is a-coughin’
And it causes us to choke.
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: Winter winds, our pipes are frozen,
And the toilet flush is broke.
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: Kneeling down on kitchen floor,
’Cause the pilot’s hard to stoke…
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: The furnace isn’t coming on,
So we have to wear our coats.
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: Piling bales of hay to the old stone walls,
So our budget won’t go broke…
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: The old steps were crumbling,
And the risers were too high.
The stones sure needed fixing,
So new railings we will try.
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: Is your hearing getting weaker?
Do you need a little help?
There’s a person you can call on.
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: The belfry clock is ticking,
Telling time to us below.
Ronnie: Kneeling down on kitchen floor,
’Cause the pilot’s hard to stoke…
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: The furnace isn’t coming on,
So we have to wear our coats.
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: Piling bales of hay to the old stone walls,
So our budget won’t go broke…
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: The old steps were crumbling,
And the risers were too high.
The stones sure needed fixing,
So new railings we will try.
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: Is your hearing getting weaker?
Do you need a little help?
There’s a person you can call on.
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
Ronnie: The belfry clock is ticking,
Telling time to us below.
But when the hands stop turning,
There’s two guys that we all know.
Who you gonna call?
Congregation: Don and Al!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peggy Hunn, speaking on behalf of NORMA GOFF
The Heart of the Church
Everyone will wholeheartedly agree that our dear Norma Goff is the heart of our church. We once served a church where the Administrative Assistant received a rather large salary, and she didn't do half as much as Norma -- day and night -- all the time.
I hope that you are all aware of the last chapter of Proverbs that describes a virtuous woman. Norma is a Proverbs 31 woman, all the way! She is clothed with strength and dignity. She speaks with wisdom. She sets about her work vigorously. She sees that her trading is profitable - as the church treasurer. And her lamp does not go out at night. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hand to the needy- working with ReNew Thrift Store, High Peaks Hospice, and the Essex Community Fund.
She certainly does not eat "the bread of idleness." “Many women do noble things but you surpass them all."
Norma, we thank you for all that you do. For always checking (as does Karen) on what is needed for coffee hour, and so often you are right there in the kitchen. We thank you for ordering supplies for the church office, and getting the mail and distributing it. We thank you for your berry-picking, because all the money is given to help folks who need it. We thank you for your e-mails that keep us up to date with what is going on in the lives of so many -- the elderly -- those with failing health -- those in the hospital -- so we can pray for them and possibly offer help, just as the Proverb says.
Again, we thank you for serving as church treasurer all these years. We thank you that you also represent Christ and this church in the community of Essex and beyond. And most of all we thank you for your strong faith and for all your prayers for one and all -- so freely given.
Speaking on behalf of JANE TERLOUW
Now if Karen is the strength of the church, and if Don and Al are the builders of the church, and Norma the heart of the church, then Jane must be the pulse of the church to keep it moving. It was Jane who put this program together. Jane has for years been in charge of the church calendar. Jane is faithful in keeping the prayer list up to date in the church bulletin. Thank you, Jane.
Jane adds:
And these are a few more disciples that need to be mentioned:
Mary Ann Walls … brings flowers for the altar / prepares communion bread
Janice Moran … brings flowers for the altar / purchasing / cares for others and gives them rides
Dorothy Bliss … serves as church financial officer / records pledges
Billie Houghton …serves as choir director / accompanies choir on the piano during the service
Jim LaForest … gives sermons during “Kids’ Time” / serves as chair of the Pastor-Parish Committee
Doffy Voorhis … leads Methodist Women’s Organization / prepares strawberry shortcakes and deviled eggs
Shirley LaForest … teaches Sunday school / helps with strawberry shortcake sales / prepares calendars / serves as church historian
Ronnie Hollingsworth … leads Methodist Women’s Organization / teaches Sunday school / always helps others
Cathy Phillips … teaches Sunday school / organizes Shoebox project for Operation Christmas Child
Monica Rumsey … organizes and updates church website / sings in choir
Nick Rumsey … conducts woodworking classes / helps Don and Al with church maintenance / shares his vast knowledge of many skills
Tommy Gillilland … sings in choir / serves as chair of the church’s Administrative Board
Cory Gillilland … teaches Sunday school / prepares coffee hour / helps with strawberry shortcake sales / resident artist
Tracy Dolan … volunteers for Sega School in Tanzania / helps with strawberry shortcake sales / helps with aged visitors, especially those who attend services each Sunday from the Senior Center
Frank Walls … collects offering during service / serves on town EMS
Abe Staats … passes microphone to speakers from the congregation during Sunday service, to ensure that people’s comments are recorded
Jeanette Staats … teaches Sunday school
Joan MacDougal … sets up communion / sings in choir/ serves as secretary, Methodist Women’s Organization
Barbara Hoffman … prays for those on the prayer list
Torunn Aberle … teaches Sunday school / brings Senior Center residents to church
Richard Aberle … offers courses on literary topics / reads scripture during Sunday service
Peggy Hunn … helps organize Operation Christmas Child/ gives helping hand
John Hunn … serves as substitute pastor, as needed / offers guidance and support to the Pastor