Just as the trees let go their final leaves this season in the church year marks the ritual of letting go of grievances, of forgiveness and of reconciliation. Guilford Community Church joins other churches in reflecting on the lectionary gospel reading found in Luke 18:9-14 in which Jesus looks with compassion on both the Pharisee and tax collector, holding up humility as the essential balm for healing. The liturgy and contemporary reading are based on meditations by Dr James Finley, a modern contemplative teacer and author.
Rev Lise Sparrow will lead worship and share the story with the children and reflections in the sermon focused on “Humility”. The choir, under the direction of Peter Amidon, will sing two anthems: “Let It Be” by the Beatles and “Beatitudes”, an original composition by Amidon himself. Hymns for the day include “God Beyond All Names”,
“Wherever I May Wander”, and “I Sing of Love”.
After the children’s story, the middle schoolers will meet to discuss last week’s field trip to the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New Your City and the Sunday school will prepare “love” notes for people using the Drop In Center for the Homeless.
Guilford Community Church, an Open and Affirming/Just Peace Congregation of the United Church of Christ, is fully handicapped accessible and committed to providing hearing assistance and ASL interpretation, if given notice ahead. The church is located one mile south of exit 1 on Route 5 just in back of the Guilford Country Store. For more information call 257-2776, check the website at www.guilfordchurch.org or friend us on Facebook at “Guilford Community Church”. Services are also filmed and can be found on BCTV Wednesday morning at 7am and Sunday mornings at 8am or anytime online at www.brattleborotv.org