The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Founded in First Sunday of Advent 2 December o clock in the morning

Transcription

1 The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Founded in 1665 First Sunday of Advent 2 December o clock in the morning

2 First Congregational Church of Greenwich declares itself to be open and affirming; open to all for participation, membership, leadership, and employment, and affirming of all who wish to join us as children of God. We continue to give thanks for God s guidance in our journey of faith. Welcome to this service of worship at The First Congregational Church of Greenwich on this Sunday morning. Please join us after worship for our Community Hour in the Auditorium. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP (Please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices.) PRELUDE Dr. Craig Scott Symons, organ Savior of the Nations, Come J. S. Bach ( ) CALL TO COMMUNITY Reverend Patrick Collins (Please sign and pass the red Fellowship Pad found at the end of your pew.) STEWARDSHIP MOMENT PRAISING GOD CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP Mary Had a Baby The Cherub Choir Traditional Spiritual Carol Woodman, director Andrea Osker, ukulele Debbie Berner, piano CALL TO WORSHIP Reverend Patrick Collins (Prepares us for the purpose of service and sets the tone, orienting us toward a worship mindset) Leader: We sing People: Of God s mercy and grace shown to all generations. Leader: We praise People: God s constant and never-ending love and faithfulness. Leader: We rejoice People: In God s promise of an anointed one, the Messiah, about to be fulfilled. All: O come, O come, Emmanuel, God is with us forever!

3 * HYMN O Come O Come Emmanuel Pilgrim (red) Hymnal 110 INVOCATION Reverend Avery C. Manchester (Or Opening Prayer. We call on God for help & presence. We call on the living God who has made a covenant with us through Jesus the Christ) The coming of our Lord is near and we wait in joyful expectation. Draw us near, Lord Jesus Christ, shed your light on all that is filled with darkness. The coming of our Lord is near and we wait with hope filled hearts. Draw us near, God s beloved son, teach us the wonder of your all-embracing love. The coming of our Lord is near and we wait for God s redeeming presence. Draw us near, Savior of all creation, our hearts ache for justice, our minds long for holiness, our spirits seek for unity. The coming of our Lord is near and we wait for the fulfillment of God s promises. LIGHTING OF THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE Cindy, David, Kelsey, Kody and Tyler Fong All: May this light serve as an invitation to draw near to God, for in the light of this candle we can feel God s warmth, we can see more clearly, and together, we can hope for a better day. MUSIC DURING CANDLE LIGHTING The Palmer Handbell Choir O Come, O Come Emmanuel Arr. Douglas Wagner (b. 1952) 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 forever. Amen. (All sing, as children exit) Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so;

4 Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong. (Refrain) Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give Light and love to all who live. (Refrain) (After the Lord s Prayer, children and teachers will all go to their classrooms in the Preschool, except the 6th graders who are in Rick s Room. Child Care is in the Red Door.) HEARING GOD S WORD FIRST LESSON HEBREW BIBLE Bill DeHaven Isaiah 7: Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. New Revised Standard Bible ANTHEM The Chancel Choir And I Saw a New Heaven Edgar Bainton ( ) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and first earth had passed away, and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying: Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people; and God himself shall be with them and be their God; and God shall wipe away all tears from their

5 eyes, and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. SECOND LESSON GOSPEL Luke 1: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? The angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. New Revised Standard Bible MESSAGE What s in a Name? Reverend Patrick Collins PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Reverend Avery C. Manchester (Praise for who God is, with thanksgiving for what God does and with requests for God to heal, transform, renew us and help us work out the complications of our lives.) * HYMN Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old New Century (black) hymnal 108 RESPONDING TO GOD CALL TO OFFERING Phil Bradford

6 OFFERTORY ANTHEM The Chancel Choir Draw Us in the Spirit s Tether Harold Friedell ( ) * DOXOLOGY Pilgrim (red) Hymnal 515 (Offering praise and thanksgiving for meeting our needs and for using us to bring God s mission to the world.) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. * DEDICATION OF THE OFFERING THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION We practice open Communion all who wish to know the presence of Christ and to participate in the community of God s people are welcome to receive Communion, including children of all ages, and regardless of church membership or denominational affiliation. All are welcome to the table of God. INVITATION PRAYER OF CONSECRATION WORDS OF INSTITUTION RECEIVING THE BREAD AND CUP In the tradition of our church, let us partake of the bread (note, gluten-free bread is available) as it is served, remembering our individual uniqueness in the eyes of God and our diversity within the Body of Christ. Let us hold the cup (grape juice) until all have been served, remembering our oneness with God and our unity in the Body of Christ. UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Bountiful God, we give you thanks that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in this power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. GOING FORTH TO SERVE GOD * HYMN Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Pilgrim (red) Hymnal 103

7 * BENEDICTION * CHORAL RESPONSE POSTLUDE Improvisation on Veni Emmanuel C. S. Symons * All who are able, please stand * * * Directly following the service, one of our pastors will remain in the Chapel to be available to anyone who has a pastoral care concern. The flowers in the Meetinghouse this morning are given in celebration of the Advent Season by a long time member and flower lover. A Note about Welcoming Children To our parents: relax! God put the wiggle in children, do not feel you have to suppress it during worship. The presence of children is a gift to the church, which offers hope for all. Jesus said, Let the children come to me. At First Church we believe that the way we welcome children in worship directly affects the way they respond to God, the church, and to one another. To the members of our congregation, please know that a smile of encouragement is always welcome to parents with small, active children. For those who are interested, we do have child care available for babies and toddlers every Sunday, for the entirety of the church service, in the preschool classrooms. For toddlers and preschoolers who stay in church, there is a PrayGround in the back of the chapel with a rug and a few quiet play things. Chairs and rocking chairs are reserved for parents to supervise their children if you do not need to be on the rug with them. There are also additional children s books on the bookshelves near the back of the chapel. Radio Ministry The 10:00 am Service is broadcast live each week on WGCH 1490 AM Radio. In addition, the service is available through the church s

8 website: A bulletin is there as well as a link to the live broadcast. Previous sermon recordings are also available. NEWS AND NOTICES TODAY Church School Today our children will begin to learn about Advent and the scriptures of Jesus birth story. During Community Hour we will have materials available to help families choose some special ways to Journey through Advent with Gratitude. Choir Rehearsals The following choirs will meet today: o Cherub Choir: Rainbow Room (Lower Level) 11:15-11:45 o Children s Choir: Music Room (3rd floor) 11:15-12:00 o Youth Choir: Choir Room (3rd floor) 11:15-12:15 Parish Nurse Sue Asselin, RN, is available for blood pressure screenings and health consultations following today s worship service, in her office to the right of the Auditorium stage. During the week, she is available by appointment, which can be made by calling extension 821. Advent Craft Workshop and Dinner Today from 4 to 6:30, come to the Daniels Center for one of the best Christmas time traditions of the Church School. There will be special handmade crafts for gift giving and decorating including the ever popular photo ornaments, evergreen centerpieces, pet gifts and much more. Dinner will include soup, mac & cheese, chicken nuggets, salad and more. Sign up at fccog.org. $5 per person, $20 max per family. Pay at the door. Zahra Sewn At Community Hour today, Zahra will be selling beautiful towels, pillows, and other hand-crafted items that she has made. Stop by to

9 say hello to our refugee from Afghanistan and pick up a gift for someone on your Christmas list. Christmas Tree & Wreath Sale November 24-December 8, While Supplies Last! Be part of our more than fifty-year tradition! Volunteers are key to the success of the sale, which raised $32,000 for local charities last year. Join the fun and volunteer! Sign up is easy using Sign-Up Genius on the fccog.org website. You can also sign up today on the posters in the Auditorium or contact Pat Mendelsohn ( ). Come find your perfect tree wreaths make wonderful gifts! Most importantly, all proceeds of the sale go to charity. UPCOMING Medicare Part D Counseling The Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance open enrollment period ends this week on December 7. The plan you had last year may not be the most cost effective plan this year. Call your Parish Nurse, Sue Asselin, at extension 821 if you would like to receive counseling including navigating the Medicare website to determine your options. 52 nd Annual Messiah Performance The 52nd annual Messiah performance will take place on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 4 pm. Admission is free will offering with a suggested donation of $20 per person. High school age youth and younger are free! Since 1966, First Church has presented Part I of Handel s Messiah, the Christmas portion. The First Church Festival Chorus, 75 singers strong, is accompanied by the First Church Chamber Orchestra, with professional soloists soprano Miran Robarts, mezzo soprano Helena Brown, tenor Charlie Baird, and bass Hernan Berisso. Join the First Church Festival Chorus: If you have choral experience, you are invited to join the chorus. There is only one choir rehearsal on Monday, December 3 from 7:30 10:00 pm in the sanctuary, plus a dress rehearsal with orchestra on Wednesday, December 5 from 7:30 9:30 pm. There is a refundable score deposit of $20. There are no auditions; everyone is welcome. The singers always have a great

10 time. Just ask one! Contact Dr. Craig Scott Symons, for more information. Christmas Tree Lighting and Carol Sing Please join us Saturday, December 8 from 5:30-6 pm as we light up the decorations on the front lawn. This event will be a fun night filled with a tree lighting and carol singing. Everyone is invited! Sign Up Now for the First Church Christmas Party Come celebrate the holidays with your First Church family! Please join us for fun and generous hors d oeuvres on Saturday, December 15 from 5 to 7:30 pm in the church auditorium. There will be a full bar. Please RSVP by Monday, December 10. For reservations contact Ginny Breismeister at ginnyb@fccog.org, register online at fccog.org or call the church office Babysitter recommendations available. Join us for this festive complementary Christmas celebration! First Church Cookie Walk The third annual First Church Cookie Walk is fast approaching! On Sunday, December 16 we will all have the opportunity to participate in a festive sale of delectable Christmas cookies and treats provided by all you wonderful bakers. Bakers will receive priority stickers to fill your box first and then non bakers may go through the line. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Boxes will be $5 each. Proceeds will go to the Pastor s discretionary fund for emergency relief. Fire up your ovens, get out the flour and sugar, and bake for a fun time and help those in need! Please sign up in coffee hour indicating that you will bring cookies. Now Casting for the Christmas Eve Nativity Pageants Do you know that on Christmas Eve we have THREE nativity pageants? We need Marys and Josephs, shepherds and angels, kings, little drummer boys, and even some farm animals. At the 10 am service, any children who arrive by 9:20 am can be in the pageant. For both the 3 pm and 6 pm services, we also need an angel who is willing to climb the ladder and spread your wings. For the 3 and 6 pm services, you will need to choose costumes and rehearse on Saturday, December 22, from 10 am to Noon. There are no speaking parts! How easy can this be! All you need to do is act the

11 part of the character you are portraying and smile. So as soon as your family knows which service you will be attending and if you want to be be part of the fun, just let Rosemary know. She will be so happy to hear from you. Welcome Wendy Spezzano, New Administrative Assistant First Church is pleased to announce that its office administrative position has been filled. Effective November 26, Wendy Spezzano is our new Administrative Assistant. She has had previous administrative experience with multiple real estate firms, and with the town of Greenwich. Stop by the church main office and say hello. News from the Rummage Room 191 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich The Best Little Shoppe in Town is bursting with Christmas items! Come in early for the best selection of gifts and decorations. Old Greenwich starts its annual First Light Christmas celebration on Saturday evening, December 1. Come join the Holiday Party at the Rummage Room, which includes shopping, cookies, and fellowship. Shopping Hours: Until the Shoppe closes for the holidays, shopping hours are: 10 am to 5 pm daily and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. Saturday, December 15: The Rummage Room closes for the holidays at 1 pm. After holiday closing, donations will not be accepted until Monday, January 3, Please do not leave donations while the Rummage Room is closed! Thought for the Holidays: It is the perfect season for all to remember the task the Lord has given us, which is to unwrap the gift of Human Kindness. All Rummage Room proceeds go to organizations that support women and children in need around the world.

12 The First Congregational Church of Greenwich 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut, Ministers: The Members of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Interim Senior Pastor: Rev. Carla Dietz Associate Pastor: Rev. Patrick Collins Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care: Rev. Avery C. Manchester Minister of Music: Dr. Craig Scott Symons Director of Family Ministries: Rosemary Lamie Director of Church Administration & Finance: Steve Summerton Director of Membership: Ginny Breismeister Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin, RN Director of Preschool: Darla Kohler Steiner Administrative Assistant: Wendy Spezzano Publications Coordinator: Vance Briceland Database Administrative Assistant: Sue Wilder Pastors Emeriti: Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Stiers & Rev. Sally Colegrove Cover Art: James B. Janknegt