Third Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 Sunday, December 17, 2017 An open and affirming congregation Third Sunday of Advent OUR MISSION Responding to God s Call, our mission as The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, United Church of Christ, is to go out into the world proclaiming God s love for all creation, working for justice, bringing Christ s peace and growing in love and faith through service to others. We are a safe and sacred community that welcomes all people and supports each individual journey of faith.

2 T h e F i rst Congregationa l C h u r c h i n B l o o m f i e l d, UCC 1 0 W in t onbury Av e n u e, B l oomfield, CT G a thered a s Wintonbury Parish Februa r y 14, 1738 R e n e w ing our faith a s p e o p l e o f G o d 10 a. m. Sunday, December 17, 2017 T hird Sunday of Advent PAG E ANT SUNDAY WE GATHER TOGETHER PRELUDE Improvisation on Once in Royal David s City WELCOME LIFE OF OUR CHURCH WELCOME GUESTS Please fill out the Ritual of Friendship pads PASSING OF THE PEACE CENTERING MOMENT You are invited to be at Peace and One with GOD s Spirit. Let us prepare ourselves to worship our God. Let us prepare ourselves to be renewed and inspired by God. In silence be at peace! WE WORSHIP GOD (+ Whether in body or spirit, please stand) INTROIT PRELUDE IN C J.S. Bach Beatrice Dang CALL TO WORSHIP (Unison) Children, Youth and Adults of all ages Hear the good news! Above all things GOD IS JOY! Let us worship a loving and compassionate GOD Let us shout that GOD is HOPE, PEACE and JOY Let us celebrate that GOD is also LOVE GOD s JOY is among us, Glory be to GOD! Come, let us be one let us worship our Creator +HYMN OF JOY What Child is This, Who, Laid to Rest # 153 PRAYER OF CELEBRATION AND CONFESSION (UNISON) Compassionate Creator, we celebrate your presence among us. Your Spirit is in us, also with us and truly beyond us! In a spirit of gratitude we are gathered as one community. In this Advent season our hearts are opened to being touched. Touched by your Spirit of HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE! Touched by our children s simplicity and hopeful expectations.

3 We are also touched by the darkness in our world. Touched by the light of this Christmas season. Touched by the message of Baby Jesus. Touched by your Spirit and the human Angels around us that share their love with sacrifice and passion. Loving GOD forgive us when our attention is only on us, and when we miss opportunities to bless others with a caring touch. Give us the strength and wisdom to be a blessing to all! We pray as Jesus taught us 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever, Amen. ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING: THE CANDLE OF JOY Leader: Children of GOD, People of GOD, let us continue our journey during this Advent Season a journey bringing us closer to the celebration of Jesus birth, who is our inspirational savior! Cong: Today we continue a journey toward the light that will set us free light that is among us, in Christ our center! Leader: HOPE, our first light is of inspiration; PEACE and JUSTICE our second light is our inspiration put in action and today we light our third candle, the candle of JOY a reflection of living with HOPE and PEACE even in midst of difficult times! Cong: Yes, we will shine GOD s light in all our surroundings; we shall have a JOYFUL HOPE and be of blessing by touching others with JOYFUL hearts that stand for PEACE and JUSTICE! May GOD, renew us always! CANDLES OF HOPE, PEACE and JOY are lit as we sing the ADVENT SONG Candle lighters today are Kelly, AJ & Allison Correa and Leslie Mills. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Vs. 1-3) # 114 CHRISTMAS PAGEANT a story to inspire, a story to challenge us to be a blessing to ALL!

4 Christmas Pageant Congregation: Please remain seated while singing Christmas carols. SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38 The Birth of Jesus Foretold CHRISTMAS CAROL ~ It Came Upon A Midnight Clear # 149 vs 1, 2, 5 SCRIPTURE: Luke 2: 1-7 The Birth of Jesus CHRISTMAS CAROL ~ AWAY in a Manger # 150 SCRIPTURE: Luke 2: 8-14 The Angels Appear CHRISTMAS CAROL ~ HARK the Herald Angels Sing # 137 SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:15-20 The Shepherds go to Bethlehem CHRISTMAS CAROL ~ GO Tell It On The Mountain # 160 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1-2, 7-12 The Visit of the Magi CHRISTMAS CAROL ~ WE Three Kings of Orient Are # 162 THE DRUMMER BOY The Little Drummer Boy LITURGICAL DANCE ~ THE Little Drummer Boy David Bowie & Bing Crosby (Peace On Earth) SCRIPTURE: John 1:14 The Word Became Flesh CHRISTMAS CAROL ~ JOY to the World # 134

5 The Holy Family Emily Owens Katie Owens Eloise Owens as Baby Jesus Star Susan Haberlandt Angel Gabriel Allison Correa Scripture Reader Jaiden Alba The Drummer Boy Joshua Clarke Camel Ian Boland Angels & Shepherds Scarlett Boland Janiah Davis Jaziah Davis Janea Douglas Breanna Johns Kyara O Connor Suhmer O Connor Aylivia Pienkowski Ahviel Rodriguez Isaiah Rodriguez Adele Russell Charlotte Russell Kaedean Stewart Kamryn Stewart Andrew Vernale Anthony Vernale Joshua Vernale Sheep Liam Walker Maxwell Walker Liturgical Dancer Amber McKenzie Queen Jennah Rose Delgado The Magi AJ Correa Isaiah Clarke Andrew Johnson Liturgical Dance Choreography: Amber McKenzie & Jeanna McKenzie Dorine DeCarli, Director of Faith Formation

6 WE RESPOND TO GOD S LOVE OFFERTORY Oh Little Town of Bethlehem Phillips Brooks Susan Haberlandt, Sarah Morgan, accompanists DOXOLOGY & PRESENTATION OF OFFERING # 44 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow, Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly hosts; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION (UNISON) GOD of eternal light and eternal hope, peace, justice, joy and love you have touched our lives with many blessings. Your presence even in our darkest nights has been a blessing. We have shared by grace what we have received by grace. May this offering be used to bring new light to many inside and outside this Church! We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ. AMEN JOYS AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION PRAYER CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, Send us love, send us pow r, send us grace. WE GO FORTH TO SERVE +HYMN Angels We Have Heard on High #135 Dorine DeCarli People of GOD ArDievu Vayan con Dios Shalom Go with God s Blessing! +BENEDICTION MAY GOD S LIGHT ILLUMINATE OUR LIVES AND OUR WORLD MAY THE CANDLES OF HOPE AND PEACE/JUSTICE AND JOY BE OUR INSPIRATION. CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE GO WITH THE BLESSING OF GOD THE CREATOR, JESUS OUR INSPIRING SAVIOR AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Amen, Amen, Amen POSTLUDE All Glory be to God on High J. S. Bach

7 THOSE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS (AMONG MANY): *Prayers for Elizabeth Von Eisengrein struggling with health issues. *Prayers for Melinda, Carol and family on the recent passing of Faye Smith. *Prayers for Erie Pinney. Cards and calls are welcome. No visits at this time. *Michael Edwards, praying for release. *Prayers that God will speak to us and through us as we seek God's leadership and vision for our Church. *Family & Friends of All Soldiers Who Have Fallen In service to our country. *Our friends at Community Solutions, Inc., that God will support them as they find new opportunities and hope for the future. *Our nation, that it may continue its difficult work to end the practices of racism and misogyny and prayers for those serving or living in war or conflict zones around the world, or where terrorists have struck. Trudy Barnard David Berg Sue Davis Gladys Dunbar Carol Johnson Bonnie King Charles Miles Charlotte Babcock Jane Doble Madge Edwards Elaine Nelson Al Forster Julie Cato Estelle Cole Carol Wolcott Adelle Wright Betty Willis Please Remember These Connecticut Conference Churches in Your Prayers Bethany Bethel First Church of Christ Congregational, UCC First Congregational Church of Bethel Bethlehem Bloomfield First Church of Bethlehem, UCC First Congregational Church in Bloomfield Bolton Bolton Congregational Church of the UCC ANNOUNCEMENTS Welcome Guests! We are so glad you are here and invite you to join us after Worship for Coffee Hour. The Coffee Hour Host this morning is Mary Laiuppa. Today s Head Ushers: Oz Gibbs and Priscilla McCatty. Our Nursery is open every Sunday during the 10 a.m. Worship. Please see one of our ushers and they will be happy to direct you.

8 This Week at a Glance Looking Ahead: Lectionary possibilities for next week include: Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126 or Luke 1: 47-55; 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24; John 1: 6-8, Sunday, Dec 17 10:00am Worship Third Sunday in Advent Pageant Sunday Meeting Room 12:30 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel 2:00 pm Piano Recital Meeting Room Monday, Dec 18 6:00 pm Search Team Living Room 7:00 pm Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall Tuesday, Dec 19 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall 1:30 pm Wounded Healers Living Room Wednesday, Dec 20 9:30 am Jump Bunch Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room 7:00 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel Thursday, Dec 21 10:00 am Bible Study Living Room Friday, Dec 22 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall 7:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room Saturday, Dec 23 11:00 am Memorial Service for Faye Smith Meeting Room ANNUAL TOY COLLECTION: Please take an ornament or two from the tree in front of the chapel, attach it to the UNWRAPPED gift, and return it no later than Dec 17 so that we have time to distribute them. Please no battery toys. Judi Bunker can shop for you. Thank you. Judi We are looking for boxes of Macaroni and Cheese. Please leave them in the bin located in Fellowship Hall. Thank you for your generosity. Mission Ministry Team.

9 Friends of the Conference Thank you for attending one of my workshops. In a little more than a year, over 200 people have attended a workshop. All of these workshops were offered free of charge - funding was provided by the Connecticut Conference. And where did the Conference get the funds? Primarily from gifts from congregations and individuals. Please consider becoming a Friend of the Conference. The workshops I offer are only one of the ways we do the RITE thing for congregations: Resource, Inspire, Train and Empower. One of our goals is to promote congregational vitality and leadership development. If my workshops helped you in your role and helped your congregation, please consider a generous gift. Blessings, Charlie Kuchenbrod Executive Associate Conference Minister Deacon Contact Information Carolyn Delgado carolyndelgado02@gmail.com Deacons On Call Dec ~ Oz Dec ~ Dee Dec 31 Jan 6 ~ Carolyn Oz Gibbs ozgibbs@aol.com Dee Hart hrmdawn@yahoo.com Anne Weaver annerw1935@gmail.com

10 Christmas Offering As has been our tradition, the Christmas offering will be shared between the FCCB Pastor s Discretionary Fund and the Christmas Fund of the United Church of Christ (UCC). The Pastor s Discretionary Fund is utilized by our pastor to assist those in our church and community who may need assistance during a time of unanticipated hardship or emergency. The Christmas Fund, one of four Special Mission Offerings of the UCC, provides congregations with an opportunity to reach out to provide assistance to those who have faithfully served our Church and who now find themselves facing unexpected financial needs. The funds provide direct financial assistance to individual UCC clergy and lay church employees---the funds do not support programs or institutions. Funds are used for Pension Supplementation, Health Premium Supplementation, Emergency Grants, and Christmas Thank You Gift Checks for individuals and families in need. The theme of the 2017 Christmas Fund Offering is Shepherding the Light. In the spirit of that love we invite and encourage you to prayerfully consider and support the Christmas Eve Offering so that we may continue to provide assistance to those in need both near and far. Special Christmas Fund Offering envelopes are in the pews and also available on the table in front of the church office. Thank you for your consideration, generosity and love that brings light to the world.

11 Christmas Service Sunday, December 24, am and Christmas Eve at 4:00 pm We look forward to seeing you there

12 The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield U N I T E D C H U R C H O F C H R I ST Welcome to the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield We hope that you find comfort, joy & inspiration in this time of worship; and renewed energy for your journey of faith. You are invited to remain after the service this morning for refreshments and informal conversation. SCHEDULE Worship is held at 8 am & 10 am each Sunday STAFF Andrea Davey-Mercer, Office Manager Dorine DeCarli, Director of Faith Formation Eustace Straker, Minister of Music Shantel Bremmer, Director of Child Development Center Building Management is provided by Michelle Alves and JEM Services. CHURCH OFFICE Monday Friday 8:30 am 4:30 pm Phone: Fax: office@firstchurchbloomfield.org All Staff can be reached by contacting the Church Office. The Child Development Center can be reached at or preschool@firstchurchbloomfield.org. Visit our church's website: