UNITED CHURCH of CHAPEL HILL

Transcription

1 UNITED CHURCH of CHAPEL HILL December 16, 2018 Third Sunday of Advent WELCOME & THANK YOU FOR JOINING US! No matter who you are, or where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here. WE INVITE PEOPLE of every age, race, marital status, sexual orientation, means, ability, and spiritual tradition to join with us in the love of God and neighbor: through worship, dedication to education, and commitment to service. ACCESSIBILITY Large print bulletins, children s bulletins, & hearing devices are available from ushers. ASL is available at the 11:00 service. All-gendered handicap accessible bathrooms are throughout building. The elevator is in the Narthex. There is a ramp at the West end of the building for access to the lower floor. NURSERY CARE Nursery care for infants through first grade is available from 8:30am to 12:30pm every Sunday in rooms 130, 127, and 126 (our crib room). We encourage children in 2nd grade to worship with their families. Children s bulletins and bibles are available in the Narthex. PRAYER BOOK A prayer book is placed in Narthex before worship services. You may write prayer requests to be read during the Prayers of the Church during worship service. Please get permission before using another person s name. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES We welcome families with babies and toddlers into worship. Rocking chairs are available at the back of the sanctuary for your comfort. If your child needs space to roam, privacy to nurse, or a bathroom with a changing table, you may go to the Family Parlor, directly across the Narthex. The service is broadcast and ushers will bring the sacrament to you. PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAME TAG AND TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE 1

2 WORSHIP AND THE WORD BELL OF INVITATION You are invited to use this as time to prepare for worship PRELUDE Bronze Voices ADVENT LIGHTING O Come, O Come Emmanuel; V. 3,4 VENI EMMANUEL We light the third candle of Advent to make room for the light of Jesus, for he is coming soon. We light this candle in hope. God of promise, renew us in hope as we wait for Jesus. Amen. 2 2 * As able, please stand Bold indicates congregational response

3 *HYMN 104 ELLACOMBE We Hail you God s Anointed *PRAYER OF CONFESSION Holy God, refine us with your mercy and love. Purify us with your compassion and grace. Guide us from our aimless wandering, that we might walk in your ways and live in your truth. Refine us, that we may again be people of mercy and love. Purify us, that we may again be people of compassion and grace. In your gracious love, we pray. Amen. *ASSURANCE OF GRACE The One who started this work in you will stay with you to complete it. God isn t finished with us yet, but grace is ours today and always, refining us, purifying us, forgiving us, and making us whole. *SUMMARY OF THE LAW Our Lord Jesus said: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. *PASSING OF THE PEACE The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. 3 3

4 *GLORIA GLORIA WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Please sign the friendship register in your row and share your contact information with us so that we can welcome you and help you to connect with the ministries of our congregation. Later in the service, the offering is our practice of expressing gratitude for the grace of God that has been revealed in our lives. Please consider including United Church of Chapel Hill in your household s plan of generosity by participating financially in the life of the church. CHILDREN S BLESSING Children are welcome to stay in the Sanctuary for the entire worship service. We encourage them to use the worship activity bags, bibles, and storybooks available in the Narthex. Children in first grade and younger may go downstairs to the nursery; infants through 2-yr olds are cared for in room 130; 3-7 year olds in room 127. The Family Room, just across the Narthex, is also available for families and you can hear the service from there. As the children leave the Sanctuary, we invite the congregation to sing a blessing: Go Now in Peace GO IN PEACE 4 4

5 TODAY S LESSON LESSON ZEPHANIAH 3:14-20 Pew Bible Pg. 767 LESSON LUKE 3:1-6 Pew Bible Pg. 834 This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. ANTHEM Laetentur coeli (Psalm 96:11-13) Hans Leo Hassler Laetentur coeli et exultet terra. Commoveatur mare, et plenitudo ejus: gaudebunt campi, et omnia quæ in eis sunt. Tunc exultabunt omnia ligna sylvarum a facie Domini, quia venit: Quoniam venit judicare terram. Judicabit orbem terrae in aequitate, et populos in veritate sua. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it; then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the earth with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth. TODAY S SERMON PREACHING: REVEREND DAVID MATEO *HYMN PAGE 7 BEREDEN VAG FOR HERRAN Prepare the Way, O Zion PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH God, by your grace, hear our prayer. VOICES FROM THE DESERT 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 5 5

6 TESTIMONY TIM GABEL OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD AND ONE ANOTHER OFFERTORY Oh, Holy Night A. Adams, arr. Michael Helman *OFFERING RESPONSE What Can I Give Him CRANHAM *PRAYER OF DEDICATION *HYMN 117 TRURO Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Praise the Lord with Drums and Cymbals Sigfried Karg-Elert 6 6 Please welcome visitors who are with us this morning and introduce them to one of the pastors who are waiting to greet you in the Narthex.

7 HYMN Prepare the Way, O Zion BEREDEN VAG FOR HERRAN 7

8 WHAT S HAPPENING UPDATE ON THE CONGREGATIONAL LISTENING SESSION We ve been unable to reschedule the congregational listening session originally planned for this past Sunday due to the dense calendar of Advent activities at the church. Please look for additional opportunities for engagement in early STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN Thank you to everyone who has pledged. We appreciate all the support from our congregation. If you have not pledged, remember all gifts to United Church make a transformational difference to our ministry, but we can maximize the impact of our giving by making a pledge. No gift is too small. Pledges can be made by mail or online on our website, THIRD SUNDAY POTLUCK We will have our third Sunday potluck today following the 11am services. Join us. LESSONS & CAROLS Today at 4:30pm in the Sanctuary. In this candlelight service the Christmas narrative is read from scripture, and the Children s, Youth and Chancel Choirs, along with organ, piano, wind instruments and drums, present carols old and new that illuminate the message. UNITED VOICES OF PRAISE CHRISTMAS CONCERT You are invited to Fisher Memorial United Holy Church (420 E Piedmont Ave, Durham, 27707) for the United Voices of Praise Christmas concert, Christmas Past and Present! UVoP and soloists will present Christmas gospel favorites and jazzy versions of familiar Christmas carols. HANDBELL CONCERT The Bronze Voices Handbell Choir will be performing a concert at The Forest at Duke retirement community, 2701 Pickett Road, Durham, on Monday, December 17th at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. This free concert is open to the public and will contain arrangements of favorite Christmas carols and informative demonstrations of the many special handbell techniques. Please join us for this concert of beautiful Christmas music. 8

9 WHAT S HAPPENING, CONT. TAIZE WORSHIP SERVICE RESCHEDULED Sunday, December 23 at 7pm in the Sanctuary. Taizé is a style of Christian worship that originated in Taizé, France, some 75 years ago. It is woven with Christian song and chants, interspersed with prayerful silence, scripture reading, more song, more prayer, and more silence. The effect is profound and takes one deeper, beyond intellect, into the very heart of worship. Be prepared to walk away from the experience refreshed, renewed, and at peace. You will find that Taizé worship will satisfy the longing of your heart to be filled with God s presence. LIGHT UP YOUR WINTER Wednesdays, January 16, 23, 30 & February 6 UCCH welcomes proposals from the congregation and community for short courses to deepen Christian faith and practice. The courses will run for four weeks for the Light Up Your Winter fellowship and fundraiser dinner at 5:45pm and program series at 6:30pm. Preference will be given to course proposals that draw on the wisdom of the Christian tradition for social action and public witness, stillness and prayer, and art and creative expression. Please submit proposals to Claudia Galvez at cgalvez@unitedchurch.org by Friday, December 21. CROP WALK NEEDS YOU! Team Captain needed for 2019 CROP Walk 5K. Help recruit walkers, collect funds and distribute t-shirts for walk on Sunday, March 24, Proceeds support the IFC and Church World Service. Available to attend Team Captains Rally at United Church on Tues., Jan. 8, 2019, 5:30pm. Please contact: Kitty Dalton, CROP Walk Planning Committee, mjdalton@ mindspring.com. UNITED CHURCH PRESCHOOL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS NOW FOR It is not too early to check into our fabulous preschool for your 2-4 year old for next school year. UCCH members do receive priority enrollment, but only if you apply by February 28th. Please check out the website: and/or contact the director, Mary Glish (director@unitedchurchpreschool.com) for more information. PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER If you would like to be included in the list to receive the prayers of the week, please Pastor David, dmateo@unitedchurch.org. 9

10 WHAT S HAPPENING, CONT. END OF YEAR GIFTS As we finish out this year we are very thankful for your many gifts to UCCH this year. Please consider an extra gift this Christmas as we are working to close a general fund shortfall. If you have not made your 2019 pledge, please make your gift now to help the Trustee s complete our 2019 budget. If you are considering a stock gift, it must be in the UCCH brokerage account by December 28th to be counted towards If you have questions about an IRA/RMD or QCD gift, call Matt or Duane in the office at You can also make a 2019 prepaid pledge gift by using the online giving tab on the UCCH website, thank You. FROM THE LIBRARY These readings, along with other similar readings, are available on the marked shelves in the UCCH Library: ~Ringe, S.H. The ministry of John the Baptist. In Luke, p Rin L ~Norris, K. Repentance. In Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith, p Nor A ~Lewis, C.S. Joy. In The Joyful Christian: 127 Readings, p Lew J ~Chittister, J. Joy. In The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully, p Chi G ~Bloomquist, L.G. Subverted by joy: Suffering and joy in Paul s letter to the Philippians. Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, 61(3), p , July Int ~Martin, J. Rejoice always! Introducing joy, humor, and laughter into your prayer. In Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life, p Mar B ~Craigie, P.C. A postscript of joy. In Twelve Prophets, Volume 2, p Cra T v.2 You might also be interested in some seasonal readings, such as: ~Borg, M.J., & Crossan, J.D. The The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus s Birth Bor F ~Chittister, J. Advent: The Human experience of waiting. In The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life, p Chi L ~Redding, M.L. While We Wait: Living the Questions of Advent Red W ~Hawkins, P.C. Simply Wait: Cultivating Stillness in the Season of Advent Haw S ~ Singing the Light: A Service of Lessons & Carols. Montreat 2008 Worship & Music Mon 2008b CD A volunteer, Barbara Wildemuth, will be in the library, 10:00-11:00, to help you find these and other materials that will be useful to you. 10

11 THIS WEEK S CALENDAR TODAY December 16 8:45am Festival Worship- Sanctuary 9:05am Children s Choir- Music Room 10am Carol Singing/ Las Posadas- Fellowship Hall 10am Spanish Conversation- Room am La Mesa Worship- Fellowship Hall 11am Worship & the Word- Sanctuary 11am Youth Group- Youth Lounge 12pm Third Sunday Potluck- Fellowship Hall 12:30pm Confirmation Class- Youth Lounge 2pm Ambassadors Rehearsal- Assembly Hall 4:30pm Lessons and Carols- Sanctuary MONDAY December 17 12pm Monday Book group- Library 5pm Sanctuary Committee- Library 6pm Spanish Conversations- Youth Lounge 7pm BJOS Meeting- Room 229 7:15pm Women s Group- Library TUESDAY December 18 6pm Deacons Meeting- Room 229 7pm Trustees Meeting- Room 235 WEDNESDAY December 19 7am Bible Study- Library 6pm Longest Night Service- Sanctuary 7:30pm Chamber Singers- Music Room THURSDAY December 20 6:55pm Chancel Choir- Music Room FRIDAY December 21 9:15am Yoga - Assembly Hall 11am Meditation - Library SUNDAY December 23 8:45am Festival Worship- Sanctuary 9:05am Children s Choir- Music Room 10am Spanish Conversation- Room am La Mesa Worship- Fellowship Hall 11am Worship & the Word- Sanctuary 12pm Youth Choir lunch & rehearsal- Music Room 7pm Taize Worship Service- Sanctuary A SPECIAL THANKS TO UNITED CHURCH STAFF SENIOR PASTOR: Cameron Barr ASSOCIATE PASTOR: David Mateo MINISTER OF YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT INITITATIVES: Ian McPherson DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN S MINISTRY: Anitra Grove DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Jennifer Anderson ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC/ ORGANIST: Robert Brewer ASSISTANT YOUTH CHOIR DIRECTOR: Gillian Fields DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY MINISTRIES: Rinnie Orr DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING: Claudia Galvez BUSINESS MANAGER: Duane Gilbert KITCHEN HOSTESSES: Mirna Rodriguez, Ana Martinez NURSERY DIRECTOR: Alison Robertson ASSISTANT NURSERY DIRECTOR: Lori Lay NURSERY ASSISTANTS: Mo Mo Than, Mo Mo Nan, Mo Mo San, Gabriela Hernandez, Mueh Pay CUSTODIANS: Claudia Galvez, Sandra Hernandez 11 11

12 A PLACE of BELONGING FOR ALL GOD S CHILDREN SERVICE NOTES STAY CONNECTED SOUND SYSTEM VOLUNTEER: Toby McCoy ASL INTERPRETER: Jen Ferraro CHOIR: Chamber Singers HANDBELL CHOIR: Bronze Voices; David Murphy, director DEACON: April Harrison USHERS: Debbie Carter WEBSITE FACEBOOK /unitedchurchofchapelhill CONTACT US SERVICE TIMES FESTIVAL WORSHIP: 8:45am THE WORD WORSHIP: 11:00am LA MESA SERVICE*: 11:00am *en español e ingles ALL ARE WELCOME HERE 12 Elements of this service taken from: An International Anthology, Prayers Encircling the World, Louisville: Westminister John Knox Press (1999). Book of Common Worship, Offi ce of Theology and Worship for the Presbyterian Church (USA), Louisville: Westminister John Knox Press (2018).