Forest Hill United Church 'open doors, open hearts, open minds'

Transcription

1 Forest Hill United Church 'open doors, open hearts, open minds' Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2013 "You keep us waiting. You, the God of all time, want us to wait for the right time in which to discover who we are, where we are to go, who will be with us, and what we must do. So thank you for the waiting time." John Bell in The Westminster Collection of Christian Prayers Welcome to worship. We are so pleased that you have joined us as we continue our journey toward Bethlehem. Throughout the Season of Advent, we have been focusing on different characters in the Christmas story. Today, we wait with Mary for the birth of her baby. We will think about what that might feel like as we celebrate the baptism of a baby this day. We hope that you will be filled with anticipation today, waiting for new things to be birthed into your life. After our service, we invite you to join us for coffee, tea, juice, and conversation. Our greeters this morning are Brian and Libby Cassidy, our tellers are Diane Robinson and Joan Mitchell, our hospitality host is Jennifer Abbott,, our Sunday School teacher is May Houston, and our music is led by Deborah Park and the FHUC Choir. Gathering At the **, you are asked to rise in body or in spirit. Prelude: Shepherds Music from Christmas Oratorio by J. S. Bach Lighting of the Advent Wreath The Flinn Family Gathering Prayer: Let us pray:

2 Loving God, we open ourselves to you this Christmas season. As these candles are lit, light our lives with your imagination. Show us the creative power of hope. Teach us the peace that comes from justice. Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared. Magnify your love within us. Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you, that we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen. **Introit: (Sung by All) Murray/Klusmeier Sweet little Ma-ry soon is the day, read-y the donkey, start on your way: You are the cho-sen, wil-ling to trust, joy-ful your bur-den car-ry-ing Christ. Sing, sing al-le-lu-ia! Sing, sing, al-le-lu-ia! Sing, sing out the Story. Sing about jo-oy and love! Welcome & Church News Call to Worship: Into our world, as into Mary's womb: Come, Jesus, come. Into the forgotten places, as into the stable: Come and make your presence known. We invite you in: into the lives of the powerful, bringing caution, into the lives of the weary, bringing rest, into the lives of the weary, bringing rest, into the lives of the wise, bringing restlessness. Come into our lives and longings, whatever our estate.

3 This is the good news; Christ is always being reborn in the world. And blessed are those who wait on the birth. **Opening Carol: #36 VU Angels, from the Realms of Glory Celebrating First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-17 The Sign of A Child Special Music: "The Angels Are Singing a New Lullaby" Junior S. S. Class accompanied by Marie Hughes (violin) & Brian Cassidy (guitar) Story Time Carol of Praise: #47 VU Still, Still, Still As the children and teachers leave for Sunday School, and as the congregation is seated, we sing: Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in your tender care, and fit us for heaven, to live with you there. (#69 VU, v. 1) The Nursery is available for younger children. Listening Traditional Readings: Bob Fisher Luke 1:26-38 The Angel Visits Mary Song of Mary Page 898 VU (with Refain 1) Contemporary Reading: Excerpt from Barack Obama's Eulogy for Nelson Mandela Anthem: Prepare Thyself, Zion from Christmas Oratorio by J. S. Bach arranged by Deborah Park Message: "When Are You Due?"

4 **Hymn of Reflection: #12 VU She Walked in the Summer Responding Presentation of Our Gifts **Offering Verse: (Sung by All) #7 VU, v. 3 Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that the Saviour is born. When God is a child, there's joy in our song. The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid. **Prayer over the Gifts Prayers of the People The Prayer of Jesus: (Said by All) Loving God, within and around us, we revere you. We seek to live life as you would want us to do: with love and respect for all people and all things in the universe. May we find each day sufficient for our needs, and find forgiveness when we do wrong, just as we forgive those who do wrong to us. In times of trouble, may we centre our lives in you. For your being is love, which comes with strength and with beauty, throughout eternity. Amen. **Closing Hymn: #48 VU Hark! The Herald Angels Sing **Sharing the Light & Blessing: Depart in love, and take with you the certain knowledge that God is always coming into the world. We will seek God,

5 not in a long ago stable or ancient manger, but in the people we meet and the depths of our own hearts. May the light of Christmas shine in you. The candles are extinguished. May the blessing of Christmas make you a blessing to others. We will welcome the challenge of discipleship. We will offer ourselves as God s ministers. Go forth now in hope, peace, joy, and love. **Choral Response: #45 VU, v. 1 Joy is now in every place, Christmas lightens every face; now be with us, in your grace, O hear us, bless us, ho-o-o-ly Jesus. Postlude: Christmas Song by Cesar Frank Our Minister, Rev. Ali Smith, is usually in her office Mondays to Thursdays from 9 am 12 pm and by chance or appointment. Phone her at (O) or (C) or foresth.minister@bellaliant.com. Our Office Administrator, Don Grant, is in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am 1 pm. Phone him at (O) or (Hall) or foresth.office@bellaliant.com. Liturgy for Lighting of the Advent Wreath, and Blessing adapted from Jeanyne Slettom from Call to Worship from the Presbyterian Church of the USA's Presbytery of Western North Carolina. Prayer of Jesus was paraphrased by Margaret Rolfe. Church News COMING UP AT FHUC Choir Practice Sunday, at 11:20 am in the Parlor Quilt Group Monday morning 10am in the upper room

6 Advent Hour: Come and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the season in a quieter, more contemplative atmosphere. All are invited to join us for Advent Hour on Monday nights (December 23) from 7 pm to 8 pm in the Church Parlour. We will be using the readings of Isaiah to prepare us for Christmas. Christmas Eve: Join us Tuesday, December 24 at 7 pm for our Christmas Eve Service. (Come early at 6:45 pm to warm up with some carol singing.) This year, as we focus on the theme of "Shepherds", we will enjoy a special lullaby from our junior Sunday School class, a short play from our senior Sunday School class, a reflection, and familiar readings and carols. Worship for Wee Ones: If you have a little one 5 and under, please join us on Saturday, January 25 from 10 to 11 am in the Upper Room for Worship for Wee Ones. This is a worship experience specifically for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners and those who love them. Join us for songs, stories, crafts, snacks, and free play. We will meet this year on the last Saturday of every month. Craft Group:The next craft night will be held at 7Pm on Saturday, Dec 28 h. Join us for crafts and conversation. We hope you will join us for the Advent and Christmas seasons. Through the perspective of different characters in the Christmas story, we will see how the story is still relevant to us today. December 22 - Last Sunday in Advent (Angels) December 24 - Christmas Eve at 7 pm, with carol sing at 6:45 pm (Shepherds) December 29 - Christmas 1 (Time) Book Club Notice the Forest Hill U C Book Club will meet on Tues Jan 7at 1200 noon in the church parlor. The book is A Thousand Farewells by Nahlah Ayed Caroling: On Sunday, December 22, we will be going Christmas caroling! If you are interested in bringing Christmas cheer to some in our church community with song, please meet at the church at 6:30 pm. Afterward, we will come back for hot chocolate. Church Collection Envelopes will be available at the back of the church every Sunday from now until the end of December. Please note that if your envelope number was greater than 50, you have been assigned a new number. This will allow us to reduce the envelope order for Should you want to designate part of your givings to a charity not listed on the envelope, check off the other category and note where you would like the money sent. Thank you for your generous support of the church. Mary Grant, Treasurer Please help the Finance Committee prepare the budget for 2014 by returning your givings estimate to the box at the back of the church. Please return them to William Hughes, Diane Robinson or Mary Grant, or put them in the Finance Committee Mail Box in the Choir Room. Also, if you are a committee chairperson, your budgets are now due. Scissors gone Walk About The Quilters are missing two pairs of scissors from a small red plastic box in the quilting supplies. one is a good pair of snipers used for rag quilts. The other is a pink handled pair. If you know their current location please return to May Houston Mary Grant or the office.

7 Scripture Readers are needed and regular readers are asked to speak to Patricia Powell to offer for a Sunday when they expect to be available. New readers are also welcome. Greeters are needed please sign up. Want to chat? Rev. Ali is in her office Mondays to Thursdays from 9 am 12 pm and you can often catch her in the afternoons too. She would love to have you drop in or call! Cancelled Stamps: The church collects cancelled stamps for the Canadian Bible Society. To be used, each stamp must have 1/8 to 1/4 envelope/paper around it. There is no need to save the entire cancellation mark. Please place stamps in the drawer at the back of the sanctuary. 1 pound of stamps 1 Bible Please have all Announcements in by to the office by 10am Thursday of the week you want them to appear. A Reminder if you change your , mailing address, phone number or other contact info please let the office administrator know so the church list can be kept up to date. Just Us! Table: Be sure to check out our Just! Us table after church. Along with our regular tea, coffee, sugar, and chocolate. Fair trade coffee, tea, sugar, and chocolate are available every Sunday here at Forest Hill. Make your selection and support the outreach efforts of our congregation! Just a friendly reminder that Forest Hill United Church is a scent-free environment. Strong scents, aftershave lotions and perfumes have an effect upon others with allergies and asthmatic problems. No scents make good sense. Storm Cancellation Protocol: On a stormy Sunday, please check the church website, church voice mail, your , church Facebook group, or CBC Radio to see if worship has been cancelled. This information will be communicated by 8:30 am on the affected Sunday. Just a reminder that you can dedicate a bulletin to celebrate an occasion or in memory of someone special. Envelopes for this purpose are located in the bulletin rack at the entrance to the church. Two weeks notice is required. Listen to Sunday Sermons, check the Calendar to see what's happening,

8 Minute for Mission December 22 There and Back Again Mission and service gifts support many church programs. The Youth and Young Adult Vision Fund was established by General Council in Listen to how a grant from the fund helped to enrich many lives. On June 24, 2012, to the sounds of Good People by Great Big Sea, the congregation of the United Church in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, sent five youth and two adult leaders on their very first mission trip! For months before their departure, the youth shared their planning adventures with the congregation and collected summer jackets to take on their trip and give away in St. John s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Flight restrictions limited their luggage, so they allotted precious space to the jackets. Sleeping in United Churches and showering at local pools, they saw the sights of Newfoundland and Labrador. They made the rocky ferry ride to St. Pierre (the French island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence) and befriended the youth of St. James United Church in St. John s. Their greatest adventure took place July 4, when the five youth went to Gower Street United Church to help with the Wednesday Lunch Program for atrisk-youth, those who are homeless or poor, and people with mental health issues. Five hours later they had served 70 to 80 people. Tired, but happy, they piled into the van before their last night on a church floor. Every gift to the church s mission and service is used wisely and helps transform lives. Please continue to give generously. [available in French (online only)/disponible en français (en ligne seulement). Visit and search for minutes for mission Visitez le site et recherchez minutes for mission ]