*Opening Hymn Angels, from the Realms of Glory No. 136

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1 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, :00 A.M. Blue Prelude Prelude on Divinum mysterium Plainsong, arr. by David P. Dahl Cello Suite No. 6, Allemande by J.S. Bach David Sieracki, Cello Ringing of the Bell Lighting of the Advent Wreath Angie & Reagan Eddy Welcome and Informal Moments Choral Introit *Call to Worship L: As Christmas draws near, we gather in the light of God s love! P: A love which touched the world so gently and powerfully in the birth of the Christ Child. L: So come, let us worship our Loving God, let us rejoice in the Word which took on flesh and dwelt among us. P: In eager anticipation and in Christmas jubilation, we gather in the light of God s hope, peace, joy, and love. Come, let us worship. *Opening Hymn Angels, from the Realms of Glory No. 136 Unison Prayer of Confession and Lord s Prayer Holy God, as Advent draws to a close and Christmas is about to dawn, we pray for the spirit of this season to dwell within our hearts once more. Forgive us when we forget to share hope, peace, joy, and love in the world around us. When we wander from your ways, pardon us, and call us back to the manger once more to tell us again about the power of love. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray saying, 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

2 debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Words of Assurance Anthem An Advent Acclamation French Melody, arr. by Stacey Nordmeyer Scripture Luke 1:26-38 Becky Lenz, reader Time for Children (The children are dismissed to Church School until 11:00am) *Hymn What Child Is This, Who, Laid to Rest No. 153 Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and Silent Prayer Choral Prayer Response Offering Invitation Offertory Cello Suite No. 4, Sarabande J.S. Bach *Doxology No. 44 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. Amen (As our morning offerings are brought forward, so too are the non-perishable food offerings from the basket in the Narthex for St. Philip's Food Pantry.) *Unison Prayer of Dedication Good and Gracious God, bless the offerings that we place before you. May the gifts we share be transformed into tangible acts of love and care. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

3 Meditation Do Not Be Afraid Rev. Josh Fitterling *Closing Hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing No. 137 *Benediction *Congregational Benediction Go Now in Peace (in the back of the hymnal) *Postlude Intermezzo on Carol of the Bells by Mykola Leontovych, arr. by John S. Dixon *All who are able may stand. Visitors are invited to join us after worship for coffee in Fellowship Hall. If you have a prayer request, please enter it in the book at the rear of the sanctuary. The book will be brought forward during the first hymn. We would like to thank our guest musicians who have enriched our service this morning with the offering of their gifts! Thank you to Green Acre Christmas Tree Farm for the donation of our Sanctuary Christmas Tree! Thank you to Ron Sanchez & Tom Cramer for donating and decorating our Fellowship Hall Christmas Tree! Those Serving You Today Bell Ringer: Kent Wusterbarth Ushers: Steve Hatt & Brian Adams Flowers: Carol Bradford Coffee Hour Hosts: Trustees

4 Calendar Today: Fourth Sunday of Advent Dec. 24: Church Office Closed Special Music 6:30pm-7pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 7 pm Christmas Eve (Ringing in Christmas) 11:30pm Christmas Eve Offering for Special Needs Fund Dec. 25: Christmas Day Church Office Closed Dec. 26: No Organ Society Dec. 27: No Choir Rehearsal Dec. 30: Worship 10 am Lessons and Carols Noisy Offering No Church School Jan. 6: Epiphany White Gift Sunday, 10 am Announcements Please send announcements for the bulletin to the church office (fccw@myfairpoint.net) by the end of the day Tuesday to be included for the following Sunday. Thank you! Christmas Eve Special Music 6:30-7:00pm Following our recent tradition of special music prior to our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, this year we will be treated to a special offering of Christmas music from Jeff Grosser, Dewey Harris, and Sarah Whitfield. Come early and enjoy!

5 Christmas Eve Monday, Dec. 24 Traditional Candlelight Service 7pm Join us for this traditional Christmas Eve service as we sing carols, read the birth narrative once more, and give thanks for the gift of Jesus! The choir will be offering their gifts and there will be additional special music as well! Our service will end in candlelight with the singing of Silent Night. There will also be a special message for our children too so bring the whole family! Contemplative Christmas Eve 11:30pm We will welcome the celebration of Christmas at a gathering at 11:30pm. Join us for this simple service of carols, scripture, and a brief Christmas Meditation, ending with ringing of the church bell as midnight strikes. Lessons and Carols, Dec. 30, 10 am Coming up on Dec. 30 at 10 am worship is the traditional Lessons and Carols service. Through scripture readings and carols, we will pass through the Christmas season one last time. Please join us! White Gift Sunday, Jan. 6, 10 am On Sunday, January 6 th, we will hold our annual White Gift Service. White Gift Sunday began in a Methodist church in 1904 in Ohio. The pastor s wife knew the legend of the Chinese people who loved their king so much that they each brought him a gift on his birthday. The gifts were all wrapped in white paper in order to emphasize the love of the people and the intent of the gift, not the size or value of it. The minister s wife and children asked their congregation to bring a gift wrapped in white for their king, Jesus. These were often packages of food, the kind of thing that even the poorest in the congregation could bring. They were Christmas love gifts to be distributed to people in need in their community. Our gifts this year will be going to the Special Needs fund for fuel assistance, the Midcoast Humane, and St. Philips Food Pantry. Please wrap items for the food pantry and Animal Shelter in white paper. Financial contributions can be placed in white envelopes with checks payable to First Congregational Church with a memo indicating which organization you wish to receive your donation. New Office Hours Starting in January, office hours will be Monday through Thursday from 9am to 12pm. Stop by and say h

6 Poinsettias Emily & Brad Adler In honor of our daughters and their families Linda & Oscar Wallace In memory of our son Kelly Carol Blake In memory of my parents and in honor of my grandchildren Steve & Jan Whitfield In memory of Bernice & Bill Whitfield, and Barbara & John Kammerer George LaBar In memory of Joan LaBar Carol & Gardner Knight -- In memory of Mr. & Mrs. W. H. Potter and Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Knight Kent & Cheryl Wusterbarth Bob & Libby Mooney In memory of our parents Brian & Linda Adams In memory of our parents and grandparents, and in honor of our children and grandchildren Dan & Zoe Bigley In memory of Eileen Johnson, Leon & Violet Graves, and Stephen Graves Wally & Nancy Roby In memory of loved ones Susan Kubler In memory of Kelly Ann Karlinchak, Forever 6 Margot Stiassni In memory of Tina & Carl Sieracki, Margaret & Ernest, Christine, and Charles and Feffi Stiassni, and in honor of Nancy Roby John Crispin In memory of my son Christopher, my parents Jim & Jeane, and my father-in-law Lucien Doyon Ruth Gilbert In memory of Frances Hutchings Tom Cramer & Ron Sanchez In memory of Charles & Ethel Cramer, and Paul & Christine Sanchez Tammy & Don Doughty Carol & George Peck In loving memory of Duane Peck and Frank Donnell

7 Esther Leck In memory of my parents and grandparents Martha Speed In memory of family Becky & David Lenz In memory of Marjorie and Robert Minor, and John and Grace Lenz, and in honor of Sarah, Jack, Lilah, and Brandon Douglas Rev. Josh Fitterling In honor of Christ s birth Anne & Dewey Harris in honor of our son, Dan, currently deployed to Afghanistan with the USAF Cynthia Davis & Martha Demarest In memory of Jack Demarest and our parents Minister: Rev. Josh Fitterling Organist/Choir Director: Ms. Linda Adams Church School Teacher & Coordinator: Ms. Colleen Crowley Office Administrator: Ms. Janet Leonard Sexton: Ms. Mary McKinney Church fccw@myfairpoint.net Church Office: Find us on Facebook First Congregational Church United Church of Christ 28 High Street, P.O. Box 350 Wiscasset, ME 04578