Acts of Faith in Shadow & Light. Broadway United Methodist Church. Christmas Eve 2012

Transcription

1 Acts of Faith in Shadow & Light Broadway United Methodist Church Christmas Eve 2012

2 BROADWAY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 7:00 p.m. December 24, 2012 A SERVICE OF LIGHT Welcome! We are glad that you have joined us for worship today. Visitors: Please record your complete address, as well as your name, on the registers. We d like to send you a greeting! If you would like to take a short tour of the church building and grounds, meet one of our greeters at the Welcome Center after the service. Large print hymnals and large print bulletins are available from the ushers. Stewardship Cards: As you worship with the Broadway community today, you are invited to share in a personal way. The orange card that is in the pew pockets is for you to express how you are or might be in service to God and community this week. It is also a place for you to share prayer concerns. Use as much or as little of the card as you like. The cards will be viewed ONLY by the pastors. By placing this card in the offering plate you are symbolically acknowledging your gifts of time and talents to the glory of God. Song numbers with the designation FS refer to selections from The Faith We Sing books. All other selections are from the United Methodist Hymnal. A Note from the Pastors Welcome to Broadway on this Christmas Eve! Every time we gather in Worship, we celebrate that all of God s children are named and claimed by God as beloved embraced by that extravagant love of God that knows no bounds. Whether this is your first Christmas here or you ve been here many years we welcome you to this faith family that commits itself as an anti-racist, multi-cultural community as well as a reconciling one where people who are LGBTQ can live and love authentically. We invite you to join us again! On Sunday, December 30, we ll celebrate Kwanzaa at 11:00am (only one Worship Service that day), followed by a Kwanzaa potluck and hand-made gift exchange. Our regular Sunday schedule resumes with Epiphany on January 6, with Sunday morning Worship at 8:45 & 11am, Adult Education at 10am, and Children s Education during 11am Worship. Our Monday morning Bible Study and Wednesday Night Live! also resume in January, as well as several special events as we begin For more information, visit We welcome you to join our family of faith as we begin a new year here in Lakeview! Blessed Christmas, Vernice & Lois 2

3 Words of Centering Christmas is not so much about what Jesus became as it is about what humanity really is: a spark of the Divine. ~ Joan Chittister T HE COMMUNITY GATHERS Gathering Music [Tim Barnes, organ] A Word from the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 9:2-7 Opening Litany for Christmas Eve For the shadow of waiting, of not knowing what is to come, of staying ready and quiet and attentive, we praise you, O God: for shadow and light are both alike to you. For the shadow of hoping in a world which longs for you, for the wrestling and laboring of all creation for wholeness and justice and freedom, we praise you, O God: for shadow and light are both alike to you. Amen. *Singing Together Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus... # 196 Welcome * Please stand, in body or in spirit. Bold type within liturgy indicates congregational response. 3

4 Lighting of the Advent Wreath Christmas calls us to acts of faith faith in Jesus; God-with-us; the Promised One, the light of the world, the Holy One of God. On this holy night we light the Christ-candle and we wonder; Is Jesus really here? We light this Christ-candle and we declare; Jesus is really here! We light this Christ-candle And we respond with acts of faith, for we know that God is with us, the Promised One has come, the light of the world breaks through the shadows, and the Holy One of God brings hope, peace, joy and love. G OD S CALL Receiving Ancient Testimony From the Psalter Psalm 96 *Singing Together O Come, All Ye Faithful... # 234 vs. 1-3 Receiving Ancient Testimony The Gospel Scripture Luke 2:1-7 Receiving God in Song Somebody Build a Manger by Joel Rainey [The Broadway Choir] 4

5 Receiving Ancient Testimony The Gospel Scripture Luke 2:8-14 *Singing Together O Little Town of Bethlehem... # 230 vs. 1-3 Receiving Ancient Testimony The Gospel Scripture Luke 2:15-20 Receiving Contemporary Testimony Divine Sparks [Rev. Lois McCullen Parr] Receiving Ancient Testimony The Gospel Scripture John 1:1-14 Receiving God in Song Joyful, Joyful by Beethoven, arr. Mervyn Warren [The Broadway Choir] T HE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO GOD S CALL Receiving Ancient Testimony The Epistle Scripture Titus 2:

6 Singing Together It Came Upon a Midnight Clear... # 218 Call to Offering The Offering of Gifts [The Offering supports Broadway s mission and ministry.] The Offering of Music Come Children, See Him by Alfred Burt [Clayton Parr, tenor; Mark Slima, piano] The Presentation of Offerings *The Doxology... # 94 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! *A Christmas Eve Prayer Let us pray: Jesus, you became flesh so as to show forth the love of God among us, a love which is not merely an expression of good will, but the power of an energy which is the heart, core, and cohesive force of the universe. O Christ, you are the human expression of God to us, and thus we must try to understand what God meant in you. You show us how to live. You show us what human self-possession and self-giving are. You show us the link between the Divine and the human, the cosmos and its conscious inhabitants. Thank you. Amen. 6

7 Singing Together Silent Night... # 239 [During the singing of this hymn, you are invited to light a candle as the light is passed from the aisle; please pass the light to the person next to you as we sing.] G O FORTH IN ACTS OF FAITH *A Prayer of Call Let us pray: Welcome, welcome, Jesus Christ our infant savior, baby who makes every birth holy. May we, who like the shepherds have witnessed in the stable a new kind of love, return to our lives with joy. May we, for whom the heavens have opened to proclaim that God is with us, go out to be instruments of your peace and justice, day by day. Amen. *Singing Together Joy to the World... # 246 vs. 1, 4 *The Benediction The Postlude 7

8 Thank you for your commitment to God s purposes through our faith community! You can give online at (Scan QR code right for our donation page.) SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Opening Litany for Christmas Eve: from Janet Morley. Advent Wreath Liturgy written by Carol McPherson. A Christmas Eve Prayer from Patricia Wilson-Kastner. A Prayer of Call from The New Zealand Prayer Book. TODAY S PARTICIPANTS Ministers: All the People Pastors: Rev. Lois McCullen Parr, Rev. Vernice Thorn Media: Richard Holley Usher: Frank Sommerfield Readers: Connie Bryant, Chantal Hayes, Jonathon Janz, Nathan Jacobs, Megan Kelly 8

9 A NNOUNCEMENTS TODAY DECEMBER 24, 2012 Mitten Tree - Christmas If you have been wondering what s up with the tree in the Narthex that has all sorts of scarves and gloves decorating it: it s BUMC s Mitten Tree. Every Christmas season members of our congregation help decorate the tree with mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, and sometimes even sweaters. The Sowers harvest this tree twice during the season, and share our harvest between the Youth Lounge and Lakeview Pantry. We ll be collecting warm winter items from now until just after the New Year, so please, as you go about your holiday shopping, remember to help decorate our Mitten Tree. Thanks! **************************** THIS WEEK DECEMBER 25-29, 2012 Wednesday Night Live (WNL!) No WNL! this week. WNL! will resume on Wednesday, January 2, **************************** NEXT SUNDAY DECEMBER 30, 2012: ONE SERVICE AT 11 A.M. ONLY Acts of Faith in Shadow & Light Kwanzaa Sunday Lectionary: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52 Next Sunday: We will have ONE service of Worship at 11am, celebrating Kwanzaa! Wear black, red, or green in solidarity with the colors of the kinara. **************************** COMING SOON Safe Sanctuary for children and youth policies and procedures If you are involved in children or youth ministry, as a teacher, volunteer, staff or parent, we invite you to this training. It is imperative that we keep our young people safe. Learn the state s requirement, review a sample Abuse prevention policy, learn basic safety procedures and much more. Part one of the training will be held on January 5, 2013, from 10am-2pm. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to reserve your space or contact Pastor Thorn if you have questions. Save the Dates Winter Warming at First UMC of Elmhurst on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, ( and MLK Day CommUNITY Dinner here at Broadway on Monday, Jan. 21,

10 2012 ADVENT Celebrations from the BUMC Family In Celebration of... Our beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ... Given by Robert M. Gorman In Celebration of... Bob Moses and Leska Clusen... Given by Katy Clausen, Laurie Lee Moses & Augusta In Celebration of... Faithful Friends... Given by Charolette Lill In Celebration of... Life... Given by Fran Markwardt In Celebration of... Broadway Choir... Given by Helen M. Nagel In Celebration of... The Lord s unconditional love and guidance... Given by Cathy Semran In Celebration of... Z Williams & Youth Lounge... Given by Anonymous In Honor of... Jacqueline Boyd, the Broadway Choir, and the Music Ministry of BUMC... Given by Tim Barnes In Honor of... Samuel and Ann Cintron... Given by Sam Cintron In Honor of... My Life Partner... Given by Robert M. Gorman In Honor of... Our brothers and sisters who are LGBT people... Given by Helen M. Nagel In Honor of... Howard Parr... Given by Lois & Clayton Parr In Honor of... Ron Semran: Father, Grandpa, supporter, encourager... Given by Cathy Semran In Honor of... Thomas & Donna Van Hyning, Brother and Sister-in-law... Given by Mark W. Van Hyning In Memory of... James M. Rose Jr.... Given by Brian Arsenault In Memory of... Doris I. Arsenault... Given by Brian Arsenault In Memory of... Kenneth R. Arsenault... Given by Brian Arsenault In Memory of... George Edward Harvey, Sylvia Hamilton, George Hamilton, and Rosemary Bivins... Given by Tim Barnes In Memory of... Bill Richardson... Given by Judy DeAcetis In Memory of... Aida Guss... Given by Judy DeAcetis In Memory of... Maggie Lee Henson... Given by Judy DeAcetis In Memory of... Lacey Gorman, Mother... Given by Robert M. Gorman In Memory of... Ethyl Love, Grandmother... Given by Robert M. Gorman In Memory of... Jean Johnson & Rosialla Borkowska... Given by James J. Johnson In Memory of... Mr. & Mrs. Reedy & Mavis G. Melton... Given by Reed Melton In Memory of... Ian Mendoza... Given by Richard Mendoza In Memory of... Daniel Mendoza... Given by Richard Mendoza In Memory of... Henry Mendoza... Given by Richard Mendoza In Memory of... Max and Fred and Mom Nagel... Given by Helen M. Nagel In Memory of... Dolores Rothenberger & James Lihduska... Given by David Pavlik In Memory of... Mama Flo Floretha Reid... Given by Shelia Ashby Schultz In Memory of... Gerry Semran: Mother, Grandma, Wife, Daughter... Given by Cathy Semran In Memory of... Rose Gary... Given by Vincent Wiggins In Memory of... Helen Henderson... Given by Vincent Wiggins In Memory of... J. Herbert Williams Sr., Viola S. Williams, and Maggie Sanders... Given by Matthew Williams 10

11 Broadway UMC Calendar: Week of December 23, 2012 Sunday 8:45 a.m. Service of Prayer & Preaching [Sanctuary] December 23 10:00 a.m. Coffee Hour [Friendship Hall] 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Meditation [Pillow Room] 10:15 a.m. Kaleidoscope Children s Choir [Wesley Room] 11:00 a.m. Festival Service [Sanctuary] 11:15 p.m. Children s Education Time [Wesley Room] 5:00 p.m. Dignity Mass* [Sanctuary and Friendship Hall] 6:00 p.m. CMA Group* [Area C] 7:00 p.m. 12 Step Meditation Meeting* [Room B] Monday The Office will be closed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week. December 24 10:30 a.m. [No Weekday Bible Study this week +] Christmas Eve 4:30 p.m. Family Service: Lessons and Carols [Sanctuary] 7:00 p.m. A Service of Light [Sanctuary] 7:30 p.m. AA Group* [Area C] 11:00 p.m. A Service of Meditation and Candlelight [Sanctuary] Tuesday 9:00 a.m. Dignity Mass* [Sanctuary and Friendship Hall] December 25 3:00 p.m. Youth Lounge Christmas Party [Friendship Hall] Christmas Day 7:00 p.m. AA Group* [Area C] 7:00 p.m. NA Group* [Room B] Wednesday 12:15 p.m. AA Group* [Wesley Room] December 26 5:30 p.m. [No WNL! this week +] 7:00 p.m. Alanon Group* [Room B] 8:00 p.m. Candlelight AA Group* [Wesley Room] Thursday 12:00 p.m. Broadway Youth Center [Wesley Room, Nursery, Friendship Hall] December 27 Friday 12:00 p.m. Broadway Youth Center [entire church except Sanctuary] December 28 6:00 p.m. AA Group* [Area C] 7:30 p.m. Alanon Group* [Area C] Saturday 12:00 p.m. Broadway Youth Center [entire church except Sanctuary] December 29 Bold face indicates BUMC sponsored activities *Community Group + see announcements 11

12 BROADWAY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BROADWAY S MISSION STATEMENT God calls Broadway United Methodist Church to be a faith community embracing the diversity of our Chicago neighborhood and larger community. We welcome all persons celebrating the human family s God-given diversity of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and physical or mental capacity. We also welcome persons of all social and economic classes and faith backgrounds. At Broadway, we are accepted into God s nurturing family, which invites us into spiritual growth through worship, study, mission, and social action. We are grateful for the opportunities God gives us to experience and share the love of Christ. Broadway United Methodist Church 3338 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL Phone: Fax: Rev. Lois McCullen Parr, Pastor Rev. Vernice Thorn, Pastor Benjamin Bower, Student Pastor Jacqueline H. Boyd, Interim Praise & Worship Leader Church Office 12 gizhilois@yahoo.com akatinyt@hotmail.com Benjamin.Bower@garrett.edu jacquelineh.boyd1@gmail.com broadwayc@ameritech.net