Pastor Kim in her children’s time listed qualities that they valued most in their dad.  That list is repeated here, understanding that no parent ever lives up to these 100% of the time:

• “He takes time for me.”
• “He listens to me.”
• “He plays with me.”
• “He invites me to go places with him.”
• “He lets me help him.”
• “He treats my mother well.”
• “He lets me say what I think.”
• “He is nice to my friends.”
• “He only punishes me when I deserve it.”
• He is not afraid to admit when he is wrong.”

Her sermon was based on Matthew 10:24-39  In the sermon, she recommended a book that both of us have read to educate ourselves about racism, “How to Be an Anti-racist” by Ibram X. Kendi.  We encourage you to read it.

This is Kim’s last Sunday service.  Clare Conner will lead worship next week, Sunday June 28th. Stay tuned.  Rev. Sunjae Lee and his wife begin their quarantine in the parsonage on June 22^nd with the hope that by day 7 they can get tested and will be negative.  If no symptoms and the tests are negative they  can end their quarantine.  Regardless, he will lead your worship on Sunday, July 5^th.

Copyrights:  The words to the threshold moment song, Come and Find the Quiet Center, were written by Shirley Erena Murray © 1992 Hope Publishing Co.  It is used and recorded under our CCLI licenses #20424928 and 20424911.

Pastor Kim’s  message on June 14^th was based on selections from Matthew 9:35 – 10:8 at the point where Jesus sends out the disciples in pairs to “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons”.

You can view this video at a worship time that works best for you and your family by clicking on the arrow by the image above. You can then make it full screen by clicking on the icon next to “vimeo” with four arrows pointing out.

Copyrights:  The words to the threshold moment song, Come and Find the Quiet Center, were written by Shirley Erena Murray © 1992 Hope Publishing Co.  The words to The Summons were written by John Bell © 1987 WGRG The Iona Commuunity admin by GIA Publications. The words to Sent Forth by God’s Blessing were written by Omer Westendorf © 1964 World Library Publications, Inc.  All three are used and recorded under our CCLI licenses #20424928 and 20424911.

Our Bishop for the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, has now allowed pastors to offer online communion. Pastor Kim did so on the first Sunday of June.  If you missed this service, you can do communion at home while listening to the service and having bread and juice as described below.

Bread: have some bread to share with whomever you are doing worship with. Crackers and regular sandwich bread work. The bread at the Last Supper, being a Passover meal, was probably unleavened bread like matzah.

Juice: Don’t stress over the juice. If you want it to symbolize Christ’s blood use a red juice you will enjoy drinking the rest of the week. Otherwise water or another beverage is fine. First century people drank wine at most meals because the alcohol was a natural antiseptic. Water was often contaminated and made people sick. United Methodists moved to using grape juice, not wine, a long time ago so that those who have given up alcohol for whatever reason would be welcome.

The real point: Jesus asked us to gather and share bread and cup to remember him. We remember all he has done for us in his life, death and resurrection. We remember he is the Bread of Life and pours his life into us. Empowered by celebrating that Jesus ‘s life now lives in us and forms us into a community of believers, we go forward to live our faith as part of his body—the church.  Though we cannot physically gather, we can gather online. COVID 19 does not cancel us being the church. Surely Christ is powerful enough to honor us with his presence as we sincerely seek to worship in this new way in a difficult time.

Copyrights: For the threshold moment Hymn # 3086, Day of Arising, the words are © 1996 Susan Palo Cherwien, administered by Augsburg Fortress. Used with NFUMC’s One License A-609294. For Fill My Cup Lord the words are by Richard Blanchard, 1959 Music by Richard Blanchard, 1959; arr by Eugene Clark 1979. Used with NFUMC’s CCLI licenses #20424928 and 20424911.

This is the video worship service that we posted for Sunday, May 24th. May 24th was the seventh Sunday of Easter season, which runs for 50 days and ends on Pentecost. Jesus has been reminding his disciples since the resurrection that this is now the beginning of how we will carry his heart within ours. This is how we get to the heart of the matter and today we are invited to Open our Hearts to see and share Jesus.  In worship, we remember Christ is still with us.  We get to share Christ.

Copyrights: Pastor Kim’s worship series for Easter Season is adapted from www.worshipdesignstudio.com/series by Dr. Marcia McFee with permission.  The words & music to the song Lord, Be Glorified were written by Bob Gilpatrick ©1978, 1986 by Prism Tree Music, assigned 1998 to The Lorenz group. The words & music to Open the Eyes of My Heart were written by Paul Baloche ©1997, 2010 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music.  Both songs are used under NFUMC’s CCLI licenses #20424928 & 20424911.

Each week while we practice social distancing, we post a video worship service. For Sunday, May 10th, Pastor Kim’s message reflected on John 14: 1-10 that starts with “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Within the message, she talks about UM ARMY, which stands for United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth, the summer week-long mission project our church has done the previous ten summers.

Copyrights: Pastor Kim’s worship series for Easter Season is adapted from www.worshipdesignstudio.com/series by Dr. Marcia McFee.  The song, Nothing Can Trouble,  is © 1986, 1991 by Les Presses de Taizé (France), admin. by GIA Publications, Inc.  We are using it under our One License Account #A-609294.  The words and music to the song, You Are My Hiding Place, were written by Michael Lender ©1981 Maranatha! Music.  We are using it under our CCLI account  20424928 and 20424911.