The Ward Hill Church Bell Ringer – July 12, 2020

Service Outdoors This Evening

In addition to the morning online service, we will have a short outdoor service at 6 pm on the church lawn. We want to begin the process of in-person services, but we will do so cautiously, in accordance with state guidelines, and with the highest regard for everyone’s safety. Of course, we completely understand if you are not comfortable attending in-person services at this time.

If you’re able to attend, please keep these things in mind:

1. Keep a minimum 6-ft social distance with everyone who is not of our household.
2. Masks are optional because the service is outdoors, but this makes the social distance requirement of 6-ft all the more important.
3. Bring your own chair — we will, however, provide you with a chair if you are unable or forget to do so.
4. Bring your own hymnal — we will, however, give you a hymnal to use if needed.
5. When we sing, spread out from others more than 10-ft and try not to sing in the direction of anyone.
6. We will have the church bathroom open for emergencies but try not to use it if at all possible (the service will be relatively short).

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. Email:  alex.burgess.4@gmail.com   Call or text:  978-489-9941

 

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER at 7 pm via Zoom:  Paul’s Letter to the Philippians – Come join us! Check Facebook, phone or email for more information.

Church Calendar & Lectionary

Season:            Ordinary Time after Pentecost – from the day after Pentecost

until Advent (June 1 – November 28, 2020)

Color:              Green – for Christian growth and expansion of God’s Kingdom

This Sunday:   6^th Sunday after Pentecost

 Sun, Jul 19:     7^th Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary:     Isaiah 44:6-8; Ps 86:11-17; Rom. 8:12-25; Matt. 13:24-30,36-43

Hymns:           30–O God, Our Help in Ages Past; 562–All to Jesus I Surrender

 

Monthly Prayer Focus for July

Local Church Focus:  First Congregational Church, Boxford – Andrew James, pastor

Missions Focus:  Partners in Development, Haiti and Guatemala

Community Resources – Food, Clothing, Shelter, & Other Help www.communityactioninc.org/phocadownload/resource_guide_english_october_2017.pdf          National Suicide Hotline:  1-800-273-8255

Refugee Ministries: Interserve USA (interserveusa.com); Emmanuel Gospel Center’s Greater Boston Refugee Ministry (http://www.egc.org/refugee)

Global Crisis Help:  World Relief – worldrelief.org

Information on Persecuted Christians: Open Doors USA – opendoorsusa.org

 

Monthly Scripture Memory for July

Matthew 7:12 (ESV) – “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

 Luke 10:27 (ESV) – And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

 

Catechism: An Outline of the Faith

What is our duty to our neighbors?  Our duty to our neighbors is to love them as ourselves, and to do to other people as we wish them to do to us;

V – To love, honor, and help our parents and family; to honor those in authority, and to meet their just demands;

VI – To show respect for the life God has given us; to work and pray for peace; to bear no malice, prejudice, or hatred in our hearts; and to be kind to all the creatures of God;

VII – To use our bodily desires as God intended;

VIII – To be honest and fair in our dealings; to seek justice, freedom, and the necessities of life for all people; and to use our talents and possessions as ones who must answer for them to God;

IX – To speak the truth, and not to mislead others by our silence;

X – To resist temptations to envy, greed, and jealousy; to rejoice in other people’s gifts and graces; and to do our duty for the love of God, who has called us into fellowship with him.

What is the purpose of the Ten Commandments?  The Ten Commandments were given to define our relationship with God and our neighbors.

Since we do not fully obey them, are they useful at all?  Since we do not fully obey them, we see more clearly our sin and our need for redemption.