CHOIR CANTATA SERVICE

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2 DECEMBER 9, 2018 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT PEACE CHOIR CANTATA SERVICE GATHERING MUSIC SILENT MEDITATION 9:50 AM Please rise in body and spirit, as you are able PRELUDE WELCOME AND PASSING OF THE PEACE CALL TO WORSHIP: One: Please rise in body and spirit as you are able as we lift our voices in song for our call to worship. Many: HYMN The Baptist Shouts on Jordan s Shore vss 1-4 BLACK 115 INVOCATION: (In Unison) Holy God, We long for your peace, and trust in your promise; we hear your call to turn toward you, to change our lives and welcome you in. Meet us here and fill our minds with your wisdom and our hearts with your peace, that our worship together may open us to the challenge of your dream of wholeness for all. In the Name of the One who is coming, we pray. Amen! GLORIA PATRI Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES Carol Cates, Shelly Boughner & Abby Cates One: "In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see--i am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people'" (Luke 2:8-10). One: Today we remember the shepherds, workers for the common good, steadfast watchmen isolated and alone, far from the warmth of home, doing the job no one wants. And yet God saw them, God valued them, and God declared the greatest news of all to them alone. 2

3 All: Today we give thanks for the shepherds among us, back-breaking laborers on whom our economy stands, those we overlook or rarely see, yet rely on for our very survival, the ones who have much to teach us about watching for God in the darkness. One: On this second Sunday in Advent, we light the candles of Hope and Peace as a symbol of the shepherds, agents of the gospel and redeemers of the world. Advent Litany adapted from UMC Discipleship Ministries HYMN We Light the Advent Candles vss. 1& 3 PAGE 5 GOSPEL READING Luke 3:1-6 Pew Bible Page 60, NT LECTOR: Here ends a reading from God s word. ALL: Thanks be to God, who is still speaking. CHILDREN S MESSAGE THE LORD S PRAYER (in unison) MISSION MOMENT Alternative Christmas Catalog Lynne Rice OFFERING DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, Ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison) With these gifts, dear God, accept the praise and thanksgiving of our hearts, which rejoice in your goodness and love. Let our gifts point to your presence in the world, and further your dream for the world through Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us. Amen 3

4 CHORAL CANTATA A Simple Christmas Lani Smith First Reading Bill Armstrong Jr. 1. A Simple Christmas Second Reading Judi Wiseman 2. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen Third Reading Doug Miller 3. Play for Me, Shepherd Fourth Reading Lisa Goldrick 4. O Little Town of Bethlehem Fifth Reading Kathleen Moreland 5. What Child Is This? Sixth Reading Clarence Chavers 6. Bright New Star Seventh Reading Bill Beutel 7. Angels from the Realm of Glory Eighth Reading Dolores Holliday 8. A Simple Christmas (reprise) Thank you to our Choir and Dr. Chris for all their hard work! JOYS AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION PASTORAL PRAYER HYMN Comfort, Comfort Ye My People BLUE 104 BENEDICTION POSTLUDE 4

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6 MINISTERS OF GOD S LOVE...Every Member of WPUCC SENIOR PASTOR...Rev. Jason Thompson ASSOCIATE PASTOR...James R. Furry PASTORS EMERITI...Rev. Don Norenberg, Rev. Larry Craig DIRECTOR OF MUSIC...Christopher Venesile, PhD CHURCH ADMINSTRATOR...Linda Ferro LECTOR...Bill Beutel COUNTERS...Larry & Marilyn Shank, Holly Sinnema WE WELCOME all who are here to worship with us today, especially our children and youth. Please sign the attendance pads and pass the pad to the side aisles, by the windows. PASTOR JASON S office hours are Monday and Wednesday, or by appointment. Pastor Jason can be reached at the church office (216) or WestParkUCCPastor@gmail.com. FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Attendance last Sunday was 63 adults and 6 children/youth. Thank you for your offerings of Operating $2,002, OCWM $75, Pink -Veterans of the Cross $45, Poinsettia $56, Memorial Fund $115, Children's Plate $8, Rent Bartter Hall $370, Mitten Tree $215, Bridge to the Future $95 3RD SUNDAYS- In January and February, our 3rd Sunday Adult Education classes will be hands-on. Our Friends from the Turkish American Society of Cleveland will be with us at 11:30 on Sunday, January 20 and Sunday February 17 to offer a demonstration on Turkish cooking and teach us how to prepare a traditional dish. These classes will take place in the kitchen. In order to get an accurate count for supplies, only those registered in advance will be allowed to cook, though others may observe. There is a sign-sheet in the church office. BRYAN HREHOCIK is able to receive mail (No cards.) You may send them to Bryan Hrehocik, A754338, 2075 Avon-Belden Road, Grafton, OH You must use an embossed stamped or printed metered mail envelope, available at the post office, and no labels or stickers are permitted. NEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, WORSHIP AND PAGEANT IN BARTTER HALL! (No Worship in Sanctuary) CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Once again, the Season of Advent is upon us. How we wait with anticipation for the birth of our Savior! Christmas poinsettias add color and beauty to our Sanctuary on Christmas Eve. Please consider honoring a friend or loved one with one. The price remains unchanged at $8.00. Order forms will be available until December 16. Thank you in advance for your order. Thank you, Board of Deacons 6

7 WE PRAY FOR: Bob & Margaret Owens, Janet Gorman, Grace Green, Pastor Larry & Christina Craig, Clara Strodtbeck, Jean Clark, Georgia Smith, Lakota Snow, Pat Bunnell, Wanda Paulin, John Ittu, Carol Hunt, Midge Karnatz, Elaine Barry, Geri Frimel, Bob Owens, Shirley and Jay Gardella, Bryan Hrehocik. Bonnie Carey, At Home Members, Joan Kelly, Noah, Tucciarelli family, Bryan, anna, Lyda, Mike, Rachel, Adam, Luke, incarcerated, Clara S., Bernadette D., Terry T., Geri S., WPUCC & families, Rashone, Diane, Gene, Morgen, Adra, Gianna, Keidra, Keith, Van, Aaron, Anson, Andrea, Alex, Wendy, Sandoval family, Tency, John, Shanterra, Dahfi, Sheila D., Becky K., Kim P., neighbors, friends, and enemies, jobs and jobless, Carla, Erica, Lanette, Cindy, Ron, Nevach, John, Shannon, Debbie & Steve, Sharell & Josh, Shana & grandkids, Marie, Lisa, Jose, Lynn, Kevin, Roz, Je, Isabel, Liz, Betty, Russ, Donna, Alan, Staci, Joe, Anna, Meli, Leo, Rosie, Eric, Ivonne, Dawn, David, Bryan, Wanda, Vivian, Larry, the Wade family, Diana & Tom, Terry, Munchie, LaDonna, John, Ann, Richard, Remi, Andy, Taylor, Pam Matt, Chrissy, Jeff, Angie, Rick, Amy, Shelly, Bridget, Ellen, Mary, Frank, Addicted, Derald, Dad, Debbie, Cathy, Charyll, Raymond Schliech, Debbie, Katherine, Ashley, those contemplating suicide, Amanda & Austin. PINK ENVELOPE FOR DECEMBER Since 1893, the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance has provided support to UCC clergy and lay church employees, bridging financial and leadership needs of retirees, of those serving new church starts, of younger pastors beginning their ministries, and of those facing circumstantial hardships. At the core of the ministries of Board for Ministerial Assistance is the Christmas Fund for Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund. The Christmas Fund is one of the four Special Mission Offerings of the UCC, and congregations have been generously giving to the offering for more than a century. Proceeds from the offering are used to provide direct financial assistance to UCC clergy and lay employees in several areas: (a) monthly pension supplementation, (b) quarterly health premium supplementation, (c) Christmas thank you checks for retirees; and (d) emergency grants to both active and retired clergy and lay employees. Congregations across the country contribute to the Christmas Fund each year, and it is our December Pink Envelope here at West Park United Church of Christ. At West Park UCC, we have the opportunity to be a part of this ministry that cares for the active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ through our gifts to this year's Christmas Fund Offering. Please consider giving to this worthwhile cause. 160 TH ANNIVERSARY! Next year we will celebrate 160 years since the founding of our church. To kick off our celebrations, we are inviting you to submit photos of you and your family and friends taken at the church. We hope to display these pictures in the narthex during January and February (perhaps a bit longer) to highlight the many memories we all share of our church home. Please submit all photos to the box in the narthex labeled "160th Anniversary Photos." If you wish to have your photo returned, put your name and number on the back. 7

8 Acts of Kindness for Christmas An Alternative Advent Calendar from the beginning of Advent Dec. 2nd to Epiphany to Jan. 6th. Advent is the perfect for focusing on the joy of the season, but it can also seem really commercial. We will be starting our Christmas acts of kindness, an alternative for us to try and refocus this time away from receiving to giving. We will be doing HOPE TOTES. each day you add an item to the tote/bag and say the prayer. We will donate our totes on Jan.8th To participate in Operation Hope Tote, pick up one of the shopping bags on the Caring and Sharing Table and fill it with items a homeless person may need. Here is an example list of some needed items: Toothpaste and Toothbrush Soap Shampoo and Conditioner Deodorant Shaving Cream Disposable Razors Feminine Products Comb and Brush Lotion Socks Tissues (Small travel packs) A great way to help homeless neighbors, Hope Totes are plastic bags filled with essential hygiene products used every day. You probably take them for granted, but to a homeless person toothpaste and a toothbrush, soap and a clean pair of socks can be a huge blessing. For some it can also be the first step off the streets. LECTOR LIST FOR 2019: Would you like to share your voice in worship? If you would like to read the scripture and call to worship in our Sunday service, please sign up on the sheet in the narthex or contact the church office (even if you have been a lector in the past, you will need to sign up again). The last date to sign up is December 23. 8

9 LIGHT THE STEEPLE If you re looking for a great way to honor a birthday, anniversary or just to say thank you, consider lighting the steeple of our church that everyone may see it. For a donation of $25, we will light the steeple for one week in honor of your special event. Sign-up sheets are located on the bulletin board in the narthex. 9

10 West Park UCC is proud to support Toys for Tots. We will be collecting new, unwrapped toys though Sunday, December 16. Please place your gift under the tree in the sanctuary. 10

11 THE LONGEST NIGHT CHRISTMAS SERVICE Joint service held at Christ United Methodist Church, at Lorain Ave. and West 138th St., Cleveland, Dec. 17 at 7:00 p.m. The holidays are traditionally a family time filled with joy, celebration and worshipping the great gift of God. Sadly, not all people experience this holiday spirit. There are many who struggle during this season. This service provides an opportunity to acknowledge what the world seems to ignore at this time of year. 11

12 THIS WEEK AT WEST PARK SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9: 9:00 a.m. Pastoral Advisory 10:00 a.m. Cantata Worship & L.I.G.H.T. 11:15 a.m. Christian Ed, Growth & Outreach, Trustees 3:00 pm Bowling MONDAY, 12/10: 7:00 p.m. Mood Disorder Support Group, Parlor TUESDAY, 12/11: 6:30 p.m. MOPS 7:30 p.m. Recovery, International, Youth Room WEDNESDAY, 12/12: 6:00 p.m. Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Choir, Music Room THURSDAY, 12/13: 9:00 p.m. AA Bartter Hall FRIDAY, 12/14: 7:30 p.m. Al- Anon, Parlor SATURDAY, 12/15: 10:15 p.m. Alpha-Omega AA Bartter Hall 12:00 a.m. Westside Midnight AA Bartter Hall NEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16: 10:00 a.m. Worship & Pageant in Bartter Hall 11:15 a.m. Christmas Coffee Hour and Bake Sale 3:00 pm Bowling West Park United Church of Christ 3909 Rocky River Dr Cleveland, Ohio