Welcome to the 142nd Session of the Eastern Shore District Conference Embracing Diversity

ATTENDANCE All those present, please complete the Green Attendance Form provided in your packet. Hold these until the D.S. instructs you to turn in your Ballots for District Members to Annual Conference.

WELCOME Rev. Alex Joyner Host Pastor

RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: (Stand as you are able) One: O Host of the Banquet, you know no bounds of language or color, of capacity or suffering. WHO IS AT THE TABLE?

Many:Give us courage to dismantle the barriers that separate us; and grace to create real space for the other.

One: Give us courage to welcome the stranger in our midst; and grace to value the “all”, “everyone” and “anyone” of your embrace;

Many: Give us courage to risk the unknowns of genuine relationship; and grace to stay fluid in the dance of connection and distance;

One: Give us courage to trust that harm does not come from the outside; and grace to hear the stories of all our sisters and brothers around the world.

Many: Stir our spirits to reach out in welcome, curiosity, and embrace; and explore the constantly unfolding possibilities of community.

One: Your hospitality is as expansive as the crisp blue sky, the joy of your church is as at a wedding feast,

Many: We sing the magnificence of your church, the warmth of your welcome.

All: All Glory, Praise, Delight, and Honor is yours, O Host of the Banquet.

Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (Tú Has Venido a la Orilla) 344 Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (1) WORDS: Cesareo Gabaraín; trans. by Gertrude C. Suppe, George Lockwood, and Raquel Gutiérrez-Achon, 1987 (Mt. 4:18-22; Mk. 1:16-20; Lk. 5:1-11) © 1979 Ediciones Paulinas; trans. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House 1. Lord, you have come to the lakeshore looking neither

for wealthy nor wise ones; you only asked me to follow humbly.

Refrain O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me, and while smiling have spoken my name; Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (Refrain)

now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me; by your side I will seek other seas.

Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (2) 2. You know so well my possessions; my boat carries no gold and no weapons; you will find there my nets and labor.

Refrain O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me, and while smiling have spoken my name; Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (Refrain)

now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me; by your side I will seek other seas.

Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (3) 3. You need my hands, full of caring through my labors to give others rest, and constant love that keeps on loving.

Refrain O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me, and while smiling have spoken my name; Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (Refrain)

now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me; by your side I will seek other seas.

4. You, who have fished other oceans, ever longed for by souls who are waiting, my loving friend, as thus you call me. Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (4)

Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (Refrain) Refrain 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.

PRAYER OF INVOCATION All: Steadfast Lover of humanity, we come to you as those who search for ways to love more wisely, more genuinely, more steadily.

We seek to base our lives on the love of Christ, that from day to day we may be passionate and patient, faithful and forgiving, in loving one another and this world of many peoples.

Through your Spirit, build your church into a living temple, a sign of your presence on earth; through Jesus Christ, our sure foundation. Amen

ANTHEM “ Sanctifying Grace” Franktown UMC

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION (IN UNISON) “ God ever good: as we open before you the pages of Scripture, open to us the bread of life, the cup of salvation, that we, who hunger and thirst

for your word, may be satisfied and may share with others what you have shared with us to overflowing; through the One who is our Host. Amen.” -This Day: A Wesleyan Way of Prayer, pg. 68; by Laurence Hull Stookey

NEW TESTAMENT READING John 6: 56-69

SERMON “You don’t want to leave too, do you?” Rev. Victor R. Rev. Victor R. Gómez Executive Director of Rural Family Development of the Virginia Council of Churches

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY Barbara Mason District Lay Leader

THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The offering received today will go to our district’s Hispanic Ministry

ANTHEM Snead Memorial UMC Adult Choir

For the Healing of the Nations For the healing of the nations, Lord, we pray with one accord; © 1968 Hope Publishing Co. 1. For the healing of the nations, Lord, we pray with one accord; © 1968 Hope Publishing Co. For the Healing of the Nations (1) WORDS: Fred Kaan, 1965 (Rev. 21:1–22:5)

for a just and equal sharing of the things that earth affords;

to a life of love in action help us rise and pledge our word, (pledge our word)

help us rise and pledge our word.

2. Lead us forward into freedom; from despair your world release, For the Healing of the Nations (2)

that, redeemed from war and hatred, all may come and go in peace.

Show us how through care and goodness fear will die and hope increase, (hope increase)

fear will die and hope increase.

3. All that kills abundant living, let it from the earth be banned; For the Healing of the Nations (3)

pride of status, race, or schooling, dogmas that obscure your plan.

In our common quest for justice may we hallow life’s brief span, (life’s brief span)

may we hallow life’s brief span.

4. You, Creator God, have written your great name on humankind; For the Healing of the Nations (4)

for our growing in your likeness bring the life of Christ to mind,

that by our response and service earth its destiny may find, (may find)

earth its destiny may find.

Convening of the Business Session of the E.S. District Conference Presiding: Rev. Tammy L. Estep District Superintendent

Election of Recording Secretary Nomination: Connie Owens Other nominations from the floor.

Election of Tellers Martha James, Lay Mbr., Franktown Brenda Laws, Clergy Mbr., Friendship Melvin Burton, Lay Mbr., New Mission Tom Durrance, Clergy Mbr., Painter-Quinby Chg. Nominations from the floor.

Nominations and Election of to the June 13-16, 2010 Annual Conference Session at the Scope, Norfolk Nominations and Election of 10 District At-Large Members to the June 13-16, 2010 Annual Conference Session at the Scope, Norfolk Nominations from the floor Using the provided in Using the YELLOW BALLOT SHEET provided in your packet, vote for 10 persons from the list including those nominated from the floor. Only lay members of district conference vote.

Nominations and Election of from our District to the June 14-17, 2009 Annual Conference Session at the Scope, Norfolk Nominations and Election of 2 Youth Members from our District to the June 14-17, 2009 Annual Conference Session at the Scope, Norfolk Nominations from the floor Using the YELLOW BALLOT SHEET (on the back of the sheet), provided in your packet, vote for 2 Youth (ages 12-17) from the list including those nominated from the floor. Only lay members of district conference vote.

Nominations and Election of from our District to the June 14-17, 2009 Annual Conference Session at the Scope, Norfolk Nominations and Election of 2 Young Adult Members from our District to the June 14-17, 2009 Annual Conference Session at the Scope, Norfolk Nominations from the floor Using the YELLOW BALLOT SHEET provided in your packet (on the back of the sheet), vote for 2 Young Adults (ages 18-30) from the list including those nominated from the floor. Only lay members of district conference vote.

Collection of Ballots and Attendance Ballots will be collected by tellers at this time. (Votes will be tallied by tellers today and nominees will be notified by mail the following week.) Results will be posted at next week. Also, please turn in your Attendance Forms at this time.

Nominations and Election of District Leadership Blue Sheets in your packet Laity and Clergy vote

Report of the District Committee on Ordained Ministry Rev. Alex Joyner, DCOM Chair

Next Regular Session of the Eastern Shore District Conference Sunday, November 14, 2010

ADJOURNMENT

BENEDICTION The Doxology

Everyone is invited for refreshments in the Fellowship Hall