The First Congregational Church United Church of Christ

Transcription

1 The First Congregational Church United Church of Christ Pastor Rev. Raymond Dekker (home & cell phone) ( ) Organist Jackson Brooks Creative Ministries Mat Emerick Facilitator ( ) Music Facilitator Deb Emerick Secretary Lorene Witte Website: Church: Hillcrest Drive Fax: Fremont, MI CCLI:

2 First Sunday after Christmas December 27, :00 a.m. * those who are able, please stand As you enter the sanctuary, please be mindful of those already seated who want a quiet place to pray. The Order of Worship Prelude David Vandenbelt Chimes Call to Worship Gospel Singers Sing We Now of Christmas (selection #275 Celebration Hymnal) Welcome Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn Blue Hymnal #259 Angels from the Realms of Glory Prayers of the People and Silent Prayers The 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. Offertory Gospel Singers Go Tell It on the Mountain (selection #258 Celebration Hymnal) *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Invitation to Prayer What a Friend We Have in Jesus (selection #630 Celebration Hymnal) Prayer of Confession *Response Glo...ri-a in excel-sis De-o, Glo...ri-a in excel-sis De-o. Story Bell Mat Emerick (Following the Story Bell children are invited to go to Sunday School) *Prayer of Dedication *Closing Song Joy to the World (verse 1) Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav n and nature sing, And heav n and nature sing, And heav n, and heav n and nature sing. *Benediction #270 Blue Hymnal Scripture Reading John 1 Message Life After Christmas 91 N.T. Pastor Ray Dekker *Hymn Blue Hymnal #265 The First Noel (verse 1 & 6) *Pastor: The Peace of Christ be with you. Congregation: And also with you. *Postlude David Vandenbelt

3 Welcome to our last worship service of God is Lord of all time and eternity, so walk with him - and one another - into all that the new year brings. *Visitors ~ Welcome! There is a Welcome Packet in the pew rack for you. Please fill out the Guest Information insert, place it in the offering plate and take the packet home for review of the other information. We are thankful you are here and hope that your time here is a special blessing to you and your family. Please let us know how we can best serve you. *Large print Bibles, bulletins, and Children s bulletins are available from the ushers. Quiet bags for children to use while they are in the worship service are available on the table in the narthex. *Families with young nursery age children are welcome to use the Family Room in the balcony located on the 2 nd floor. *Our sanctuary is equipped with a T-Coil Hearing Loop. Please turn your hearing aid to the T-Coil position to access this feature. Other hearing devices are available at the sound booth upon request. Following the worship service you are invited to join us in Fellowship Hall. Come meet new friends and have some refreshments. We look forward to meeting you. Serving Us: Altar Rep: Jim Rynberg Altar Flowers: Marian Schulte(today) Jack and Mary Butterick(next week) Greeter: Jon Clapp(today) (next week) Ushers: Bob & Bonnie Erber(today) Bob & Anne Vandekieft(next week) Compassion: Michelle Sweet & Pat Krehn Organist: Jack Brooks Sound System: Coffee Hosts: Rick St. Peter Marjorie Salata(today) (next week) The flowers on the altar today are given by Marian Schulte to honor the memory of Mike Ward. Celebrating this week: Happy Birthday to ~ Brieann Reddinger (29), Deb Emerick (30) Happy Anniversary to ~ Jim & Jean Morse (27), Van & Judy Nadeau, Bob & Anne Vandekieft (2) In Our Prayers (Prayer requests will be printed for two weeks. The person or family requesting prayer must call the church office or Pastor Ray in order to have the request printed). Jeannie Caris - currently at Spectrum Rehab, 4118 Kalamazoo Avenue SE - Grand Rapids This Week s Schedule Sunday, December 27 9:00 a.m. Gospel SingersRehearsal - sanctuary 10:00 a.m. Worship & Sunday School 11:15 a.m. Fellowship Time - Fellowship Hall 11:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School - Library Monday, December 28 Tuesday, December 29 Fellowship Hall Reserved - Prevention of Child Abuse Wednesday, December 30 6:30 p.m. Praise Group Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal Thursday, December 31 - New Year s Eve Friday, January 1 - New Year s Day Saturday, January 2 Sunday, January 3 10:00 a.m. Worship with Communion& Sunday School 11:15 a.m. Fellowship Time - Fellowship Hall 11:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School - Library Lorene will be switching Wednesday and Thursday for the next week. I will in the office Thursday, December 31 and not in on Wednesday, December 30.

4 Our Church News Altar Flowers - Coffee Hosts - Ushers is just around the corner and new calendars have been made for your convenience to sign up for Altar Flowers, Coffee Hosts, Ushers and Greeters. If you are able and willing to help in any of these capacities please sign up or call the church office and Lorene will sign up for you. Today the calendars are located in the church office window. After December the calendars will be on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. Thank you! Christmas is Coming, and the SCRIP committee hopes that you have approached your families to get ideas of cards that you can purchase from us that will be just what they want waiting for them under the tree. Thanks for helping us earn the $2,500 that we pledge to the church budget! Ruth & Becky Gary Hooker will be going to Guatemala again with the Reeman CRC mission group this winter and would appreciate your donations toward the last $600 that he needs for his travel expenses. Please write checks to Reeman CRC with Gary Hooker in the memo line and give your check to Gary or mail it to Reeman CRC, 6121 S. Fitzgerald, Fremont, MI Men - you are invited to join us at the Men's Interfaith Breakfast for a delicious breakfast followed by our guest speaker Cal Van Single on Wednesday, January 6 at 8:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall of the First Congregational Church, 714 Hillcrest Drive. Cal Van Single is a partner in VanSingel Farms in Grant and radio sports broadcaster for high school football and basketball games in the west Michigan area. He started and chairs the Grant Men's Ministry and has ministered to high school sports teams in west Michigan and one in Iowa. Cal was born with a speech impediment and had therapy through junior high school. He attended Grant High School and has been married to Lesa for twenty-eight years. Cal and Lesa have two daughters, Ashton, a teacher at Orchard View and Arriel works at Fellowship of Christian Athletes in GR. Cal is truly a man serving his God every day all day. Announcing ConGo Enjoy-Meant Events We are ConGo (Christians on the Go) and meant to go and enjoy good food and fun activities together! Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Neh. 8:10 Go and enjoy : Sunday, Jan. 17- Snow On The Mountain and Michigan Trivia Game! 6:00-8:00pm- Very Fun Food!"Snow On The Mountain" is a very odd combination of foods that add up to wonderful flavors! Sunday, Feb. 14- Valentines and Presidents Day Party! 6:00-8:00pm- Presidents' Favorite Foods! Presidential and Valentines Trivia! Sunday, Mar. 13- After Worship Potluck and Concert by "Pryer Times!"- Pot Luck first followed by the concert. Sisters Mary and Faith Pryer, from Newaygo, bring their own unique style (on guitar and standup bass) to gospel, bluegrass, country, and contemporary Christian music. A love offering will be taken. Deb's seen them and they're good! Requested Announcements Wellspring is a new ministry in Newaygo County starting in April, The mission of Wellspring is to provide safe, Christian, supportive and stimulating care for senior adults who need supervision. This will provide respite for their caregivers during daytime hours. You are invited to attend an informative lunch at Reeman CRC on January 13 at 12 noon. Please RSVP to by January 4, The January Series lectures will be video streamed live at the Dogwood Center from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, January The lectures are free and open to the public. Both the black Box and Main Stage areas will be available for seating. Attendees may bring their lunch or order a lunch for $5 by calling at least 24 hours prior to the date.

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