THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Transcription

1 THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2013

2 THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER The Reverend Doctor Rochelle A. Stackhouse, Senior Minister Sunday, December 1, 2013 First Sunday of Advent PRELUDE François Couperin Offertoire sur les grands jeux INTROIT Tim Olsen O Antiphons Julia Blue Raspe, soprano CALL TO WORSHIP please stand Leader: As we enter the season of Advent, we prepare to welcome the Christ child into this world. All: Come, Lord Jesus, come. Leader: We pray that in the busyness of the season we will stay vigilant for your unexpected arrival. All: Come, Lord Jesus, come. Leader: Lord Jesus, come and reveal to us the moments that you are being reborn in the world. All: Come, Lord Jesus, come. PROCESSIONAL HYMN please stand Hark, a thrilling voice is sounding see insert WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CENTERING PRAYER Emily Dickinson once wrote that Hope is a thing with feathers, and today as we light the first candle on our Advent Wreath, the Hope Candle, take some silent time to meditate on where Hope needs to wing its way through your life, or anywhere in the world. Julia Blue Raspe, recorder

3 ANTHEM Orlando Gibbons O thou, the central orb PASSING OF THE PEACE Let us welcome one another with the traditional Christian greeting: Peace be with you. And also with you. CHILDREN S MESSAGE Pastor Shelly HYMN OF PREPARATION please stand Keep awake #112, New Century Hymnal INTRODUCTION TO THE SCRIPTURE Elliott Munn SCRIPTURE Matthew 24:36-44 SCRIPTURE RESPONSE Leader: God is still speaking. People: Thanks be to God. SERMON Staying Vigilant for God Elliott Munn MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION OFFERTORY OFFERTORY ANTHEM Charles Wood O thou the central orb

4 THE CONGREGATIONAL DOXOLOGY please stand (Tune: Lasst uns erfreuen) Let all things their Creator bless, And worship God in humbleness: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God and Jesus Christ the Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One: O Praise God, O Praise God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! PRAYER OF DEDICATION COMMUNION HYMN Come, O long-expected Jesus #122, New Century Hymnal SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION At Redeemer, we welcome all people to our table for Holy Communion, including children. If your children have not been in the practice of receiving the Sacrament, we leave to your discretion whether or not to invite them to receive. By way of explanation, we encourage you to tell your children that we do this because Jesus asked us to remember him when we eat and drink, and that Jesus promised to be present with us in a special way when we eat and drink together as the church. It is a quiet time, for praying and remembering all we know about Jesus. It is a joyous time, for we celebrate that the risen Christ is with us always! Leader: People: Leader: We have been sitting around here waiting for this meal to begin, and waiting for so much more besides. We wait for hope in our world, for peace in our homes, for joy in our churches, for love in our hearts. Struggling to be patient, we wait. Jesus, too, waited for these things, and in this meal, he gives us hope and courage we need to live into what is already present and weave our spirits into God s Spirit to see a new heaven and earth as it is born all around us. Whether you wait in patience, with fear, with doubt or with excitement, let us remember the story of the day Jesus, waiting for death and resurrection, sat with his disciples and shared a meal: WORDS OF INSTITUTION

5 Leader: Let us pray: As we wait to taste this simple food, O God, we give you thanks for the gifts we have already received from you: for life, for nourishment of bodies, souls and sprits, for love, for hope. With the angels who waited patiently to sing the good news of Jesus birth, we tune our spirits and sing, SANCTUS Leader: Now, O God, we bring you our prayers of thanks and joy. This season we thank you for the promise of Jesus Christ, the once and future Savior of us and all the world. We thank you for his birth to our courageous sister, Mary. We thank you that he spoke freely of the need for justice, and that his hands moved freely to bring healing to the sick and welcome to the outcast. Our world still needs these gifts, and we lift to you now our prayers for those in need today. As we remember Jesus, we also remember that his bold proclamation of your barrier-breaking love brought his arrest, torture and death. As Jesus forgave those who harmed him, we ask your forgiveness for any small or great ways we have contributed to hurt and brokenness in any part of our family, our workplace, our school, our neighborhood, or our world. Hear our silent confessions.

6 Leader: Sometimes we are so eager for the future, O God, that we forget to be present in the present. In this moment, send your Spirit to us that we might know that you are present now in this bread and cup, and that you are present in the people with whom we gather this day. In Jesus name, we pray this, and in Jesus words we sing, LORD S PRAYER Mark Miller

7 SHARING THE ELEMENTS Please partake of the bread as served; as the bread is broken, so we too are often broken in body, mind, and spirit. Please wait until we all have been served the cup that we might partake together, for while we are many, yet we are one in Christ. (On each tray of bread, there are small, single-serving containers of gluten-free bread for those with gluten allergies. The grape juice is low in sugar. The center ring of the cup tray contains WINE, while the two outer rings have grape juice. The darker liquid is the wine and the lighter is the juice.) Brian Samuel Robinson Agnus Dei PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING All: Loving God, we give you thanks for feeding us, body and spirit, with this bread and cup, with your word, with the companionship of this community. Send us forth this Advent, full of both comfort and challenge, bursting with anticipation and hope as we wait in the presence of our Savior. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. RECESSIONAL HYMN please stand Comfort, comfort ye my people see insert BENEDICTION please stand CHORAL AMEN Taizé Prepare the way of the Lord POSTLUDE François Couperin Deo gratias Please be seated during the postlude and use this time for silent reflection. Please join us for our intergenerational Sunday School in the Sterling Room following worship this morning. You can get to the Sterling Room by exiting the side door at the front of the church.

8 THANK YOU TO THOSE PARTICIPATING THIS MORNING IN OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP Reader: Tony Forman Ushers: Alan Kendrix, Kathy Taylor Hospitality servers: Intergenerational Ministry Team Nursery Assistant: Grace Halsey Today s flowers are given to honor the ministers and congregation of the Church of the Redeemer in appreciation for their prayers, and thoughtfulness in support of the Sykes family. Next week s lectionary readings : Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7, Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12 Next week s ushers: Peter and Grace Halsey, Geoff Johnson Next week s hospitality servers: Christmas Cookie Potluck!

9 REDEEMER S VISION STATEMENT We are the Church of the Redeemer, United Church of Christ, an inclusive community committed to the worship of God, the work of justice, and the recognition of our common humanity in the struggles of life. We follow Jesus Christ who welcomes all people to his table. We celebrate the rich diversity of God s people: in race, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, marital and economic status and culture. Join us on a journey of the Holy Spirit, where faith and intellect meet, learning never ends and music and the arts draw us closer to our Creator.

10 ANNOUNCEMENTS INTERGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL! Join us for our first-ever Intergenerational Sunday School following worship today. Adults and children will discuss, over a simple meal, ways of bringing PEACE to our homes, schools, jobs and lives. In our continuing effort to be a relational church, our hope is that children will sit with adults, not their parents and that parents will sit with children, not their own. Come and share food and wisdom across generations. ADVENT ADULT FORUM SERIES The advent series of adult forums began last Sunday, allowing us to think about the next Sunday s advent theme in advance. We will follow the themes of the Advent Candles we light during worship each Sunday: HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE. On December 8, we will talk about JOY. During worship, we have begun using the BREW model of Centering Prayer, a practice suggested by Dr. Kirk Jones of Andover Newton Theological Seminary. Learn how a regular practice of BREW can bring JOY to your prayer life. On December 15, we will work on our representations of Christian love in art rather than words. What does LOVE look like as art? Working in small groups, we will join with others in creating a group project your own collective understanding of LOVE in art form on paper or on computer. CHRISTMAS COOKIE POTLUCK! You are cordially invited to a Christmas cookie potluck following worship on December 8. Plan to bring some of your favorite cookies and we will sample the baking bounty! GATHERING TO DISCUSS 12 YEARS A SLAVE Join Redeemer friends to discuss the movie 12 Years a Slave on Monday, December 9 at 7:00 pm in the Phillips Room. MONTHLY HEALING SERVICE, DECEMBER 15 The Christmas season can be difficult for those who are grieving, those struggling emotionally, physically or financially, those who are infertile, those who are in the midst of broken or troubled relationships, those struggling with addictions. Our monthly healing service in December will be a service just for you if you see yourself in any of those places. Come for a time of prayer, singing, candle lighting and quiet. Come and discover that God came to earth especially for you. December 15 at 6:30 p.m. If you know someone who might benefit from this service, please bring them along.

11 REDEEMER HOSPITALITY 2014 It s time to sign up to host coffee hour for 2014! We are trying something new this year that will hopefully appeal to all, from the proactively organized to the busy and overwhelmed... You should have received an invitation from Redeemer hospitality via signupgenius.com to choose your own date to host Coffee Hour. The contained a link to a sign up page. Each available date has two open spaces and instructions for hosting are posted on the sign up page. We ask that you volunteer for two Sundays over the course of the year. We will have an open sign up period until December 2, at which point we will assign you to open slots and notify you. If you do not wish to serve in the coming year, please notify Holly Berry or Debra in the church office so we make sure to take you off the list. The new sign up will make it easier for you to check your assigned dates, view the instructions, swap Sundays with others, and receive automated reminders. We hope you find it simple to navigate; please let Holly know if you have feedback or problems. COVENANT TO CARE Our Christmas tree will once again be decorated with paper mitten ornaments bearing the name and age of a child on it. You can play Santa, for a child in need, by taking a paper mitten and buying an age-appropriate gift for them. Your gift, which may be the only one this child receives, will surely help to make this Christmas a happy one. Please place the wrapped gift, with the attached paper mitten tag bearing the child s name, under the tree by Sunday, December 15. ALTERNATIVE GIFT FAIR, DECEMBER 8 Get a head start on your holiday gift giving! Check out all of the items available at the eighth annual Church of the Redeemer Alternative Gift Fair to be held following worship on December 8. Find gifts for all those hard to please on your giving list or for those who have just about everything. SISTER CITIES AT REDEEMER, DECEMBER 15 Beautiful handcrafted fair trade products from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Thailand, India, Palestine and elsewhere will be available for sale following worship next Sunday. Calendars, puzzles, beautiful scarves, coffee, art cards, painted wooden ornaments, boxes, local honey, CT produced soaps and more. Your gift buying supports fair wages, dignified working conditions, local small producers and the New Haven/Leon Sister City Project.

12 CHURCH MEETINGS AND EVENTS Sunday, December 1, 2013 Tuesday, December 3, 2013 Thursday, December 5, 2013 Saturday, December 7, 2013 Sunday, December 8, :55 a.m. Senior Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. Worship 11:15 a.m. Children s Choirs Rehearse 11:30 a.m. Intergenerational Sunday School, Sterling Room 7:00 p.m. Leadership Council, Phillips Room Meetings Open to Members 2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting, Phillips Room 7:45 p.m. Senior Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. Deacons decorate Sanctuary 8:55 a.m. Senior Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. Worship and Church School, followed by Christmas cookie potluck 11:15 a.m. Children s Choirs Rehearse 11:30 a.m. Adult Forum 11:30 a.m. Alternative Gift Fair, Phillips Room 7:00 p.m. Youth Group, Youth Room Please contact the church office by Wednesday to have your announcement placed in the Sunday bulletin.

13 WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER WELCOME If you are new to this church, we are delighted to have you worshipping with us. Please sign our red guest book and introduce yourself to our minister and ushers following the service. They will be happy to answer questions and offer directions. We hold newcomer orientation sessions periodically so that you may learn more about our church, but we are happy to answer your questions at any time. We hope you experience a warm welcome and the love of Christ at the Church of the Redeemer this morning. INFORMATION Information about the church can be found on the table in the Tower Lobby as you exit through the doors at the right front of the church. This is where you can sign up for all church events. CHILDCARE DURING AND AFTER CHURCH Children are always welcome in church. Activity bags for older children and rocking chairs for adults with babies are available at the rear of the sanctuary. We have a wonderful nursery downstairs staffed by a volunteer and one staff person. If your little one would be happier in the nursery, please take your child there any time before or during the service (follow the Nursery signs in the Tower Lobby). Please sign your child in, and if the volunteer is not yet present, please stay until he/she arrives. Parents may also take children with them into the Chapel, where they can listen to the service in privacy. The Chapel is located through the front right door of the sanctuary down the hall to the left. After-church childcare is also offered during meetings, newcomers orientation, and adult education classes. SAFE CHURCH POLICY The Church of the Redeemer aspires to provide a safe environment for people of all ages; physical and sexual abuse and harassment will not be tolerated in any way. The full text of our Safe Church policy is available on our website and in the Tower Lobby. REDEEMER OFFICE HOURS The Redeemer office is open Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. You may also contact the office by sending an to redeemer@snet.net. CONTACT REVEREND STACKHOUSE Shelly is in the Redeemer office Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ( ). You may also reach her via at rastackhouse@gmail.com.

14 The Church of the Redeemer United Church of Christ 185 Cold Spring Street New Haven, CT Phone: Join us on Facebook at Church of the Redeemer New Haven The Rev. Dr. Rochelle A. Stackhouse, Senior Minister The Rev. Marilyn Kendrix, Associate Pastor for Faith Formation Jonathan Weber, Moderator of the Church Henry Sykes, Treasurer Charles McEnally, Clerk Marguerite Brooks, Director of Music Julia Blue Raspe, Chancel Choir Director Paul Berry, Men and Boys Choir Director Larry Bishop, Organist Elliott Munn, Youth Ministry Intern Debra Tangarone, Office Administrator and Financial Secretary Geoffrey Johnson, Security Loretta King, Sexton Margaret Fraser, Nursery Attendant Rebecca Houde, Nursery Attendant