Wellesley Village Church

Transcription

1 Wellesley Village Church Congregational United Church of Christ First Sunday of Advent November 27, :00am Therefore you also must be ready, for the Holy One is coming at an unexpected hour. Matthew 24 v.44

2 Welcome to Worship at Wellesley Village Church! An Open & Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ Whoever you are, wherever you are on the journey of life and faith, we are delighted you are here! We Welcome All! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of God, who calls us together to pray, sing, and rejoice in God s glorious presence. From the tallest to the smallest we worship best as the whole people of God. We welcome children to participate fully in Worship. During 10am Worship, childcare for under 5 is available in the Family Worship Room, located just outside of the sanctuary. Children 1st grade and older begin in worship before transitioning to Village Children s Church We Value Community! Visitors, we want to help you connect with our community. Please fill out a Connection Card found in the blue folders or sign the welcome book in First Worship or the pew pads in Second Worship. Questions about our life together are always welcome, or find information on our website. Keep up to date with Village Church happenings through our weekly Enews. To subscribe contact Chris Toppin at: christine@wellesleyvillagechurch.org or at: , x17. God Calls You By Name, and So Do We! Please wear a nametag; temporary stickers are available and you may request a permanent nametag anytime. We like to linger We hope you will join us for fellowship and refreshments. After First Worship and Second Worship we gather in Village Common.

3 ORDER OF WORSHIP November 27, 2016 Hymns can be found in the New Century Hymnal (Black) *Please stand as you are able. PRELUDE 10:00 AM RINGING OF THE BELL The bell is rung three times to attune us to the presence of the Triune God. WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP Megan Snell ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING The Candle of Hope Libby Cornelssen One: Today, around the world Christians await the advent of Christ. We join with a joyous and hopeful throng in lighting the Advent candles, symbols of our faith and signs of God s love. All: We gather as a people of Hope. One: Christian people around the world stand today in breathless anticipation of a miracle that has been repeated for hundreds of years, yet that astounds us anew each year. All: Our hope springs anew, from an ancient vision. One: As we light the first Advent candle, let it stand for hope based not on wishful thinking, but on deep conviction. In the midst of darkness and imperfection, we once again eagerly wait with hope for all good things. All: We gather expectantly, joyfully, and with deep commitment, for we have heard that a special Child is to come, that God is to be among us, and that soon we will see a new creation on earth. We are a people of hope. PRAYER OF INVOCATION *OPENING HYMN No. 116 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel VENI EMMANUEL CALL TO CONFESSION AND PRAYER OF CONFESSION Pamela Emslie Come, Jesus, come. Come into our lives and into our world with your transforming light. We need your light that shines brighter than those thoughts, words, and deeds that seek to hide it. Come, Jesus, come. Come and guide us to be bearers of your light. Help us to bask in your radiance and cherish your presence in our lives. Come, Jesus, come. Come and hear our silent prayers of confession in the stillness of this moment

4 ASSURANCE OF GOD S GRACE *PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST One: The peace of Christ be with you all, All: And also with you. ANTHEM Comfort Ye G.F Handel Ethan Rowe, soloist SCRIPTURE Matthew 24:36-44 p.806 Pew Bible SERMON Are You Ready? Megan Snell MUSICAL MEDITATION Siciliano J.S. Bach Laura Wilkins, flute OUR COMMON LIFE AND OFFERING Offertory Haste Thee, O God Adrian Batten *Doxology and Presentation Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit One. Amen. *Prayer of Dedication HYMN No. 101 Comfort, Comfort O My People PSALM 42 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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 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, for ever. Amen Libby Foley *CLOSING HYMN No. 103 Watcher, Tell Us of the Night ABERYSTWYTH *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Allegro (Sonata in Eb) J.S. Bach Laura Wilkins, flute

5 TODAY AT VILLAGE CHURCH The Communion Table Banner - created by the Village Children s Church, welcomes Family Promise as they move in later today! New Nametags Are alphabetical by last name in index boxes on a table in the Village Common Lobby. Please insert it into a nametag holder and after worship place it on one of the nametag locations at a door that s most convenient for you. Fellowship Hour is hosted today by Wednesday Morning Bible Study. Thank you! 9:00 AM First Worship, Village Hall, lower level Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly preaching, Rev. Josh Fitterling liturgist 10:00 AM Second Worship, Sanctuary Rev. Megan Snell preaching, Rev. Pam Emslie, Libby Cornelssen, liturgists Village Children s Church Infant Through Threes, Family Worship Room (9:50am arrival) Pre-K / Kindergarten Students, Upper Floor (9:50am arrival) Grades 1-8, Begin in worship then proceed to Upper Floor classes NO 6th & 7th Gr Youth Group 5:00 PM Christian Meditation, Parlor 6:00 PM Advent Workshop, Village Common NO High School Youth (10-12th Gr) Family Promise Host Week, Lower Level Advent Wreath Workshop in Village Common TODAY! 6-7:30pm. Folks of all ages are welcome to join Liz and Michaela for this workshop that will help us prepare for the Advent season. Come for pizza and fellowship and stay to make an Advent wreath and learn how you can celebrate Advent at home. Please RSVP by 11/23 to Michaela@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. Family Promise Week - November 27 - December 4 This year, Village Church has taken on a fourth week of hosting Family Promise families. We strongly felt that in keeping with our Thanksgiving and Advent season practices that we should offer our church to these families at this time. We currently have 4 parents and 10 children ranging in age from 1 to 14. We need sleepover volunteers. Please see the Wellesley Village Church website for more info. and to sign up.

6 UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES Details at: Share the Spirit! December 4 (sign up by December 1) Volunteer to open Village Church during the Wellesley Holiday Stroll on next Sunday, December 4. Join Village Church Sharing Ministry members to provide hospitality in many forms to the community during the bustling Holiday Stroll event in Wellesley Square. Host cookie decorating, sell HOME store goods, provide much-needed bathrooms, and more! Last year was incredibly fun for whole families -- let's repeat the sounding joy! Sign up by Thursday, December 1, on the signup link on the church website. Questions? Contact Leslie Newell, lgerhat@gmail.com, call/text (610) Rev. June Cooper and Coat Drive, December 4 We welcome Rev. June Cooper, Director of City Mission who will be preaching both Services Sunday December 4th and we ll also kick off our Coat Drive. We re inviting the congregation to bring in coats through the week which will be delivered on December 11th. Poinsettia Plant Donation Forms are available on the table in the Central Street Lobby and are due back by Monday, December 5, at 9am. Plants are $20 each, payable to Wellesley Village Church. Please note Poinsettia on your check. Church Moms' Group December 8th at 7:30pm. This casual, come when you can kind of group welcomes moms of children of all ages for monthly gatherings. It is a great way to meet moms of our church. Join us at the home of Sarah Butter for wine, cheese and dessert with the theme, Making Christmas Count. If you would like to be on our list, please Kerry Evans at kegevans@gmail.com or Kim Reohr at reohr@me.com. Be on the look out for a Sign-Up Genius soon! Alternative Christmas Gift Fair, Sunday, December 11 after 10am worship. visit and shop at our annual Alternative Gift Fair. The Service Ministry has invited 10 organizations to come and present information about their groups, including Friends of Fumbelo, Chaplains on the Way and Roxbury Youthworks. Come learn about and support the important work these groups do by donating to them through the purchase of alternative gifts for friends and family this holiday season. PLEASE NOTE that this year your donations will go directly to the organization. This differs from years past when you only needed to write one check to the church for all your giving. Please plan accordingly and bring your checkbooks (or at least several checks!), in order to give generously to multiple causes.

7 Christmas Tea Tuesday, December 13 th, 1:00 pm - Burtt Chapel and Village Common. Come be mesmerized by the beautiful voices of the Voci Angelica Trio, which includes our very own Jodi Hitzhusen, Music Director of First Worship. Please RSVP to sallykellogg@verizon.net by Tuesday, Dec. 6th by or by signing up on the sheet in the Central Street lobby. Syrian Refugee Resettlement Benefit Concert December 18, 7pm, Save a life, save a world! Come see Noah Aronson and his band presented by the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Team at Temple Beth Elohlm, 10 Bethel Road in Wellesley. Tickets: adults $36, students $18. Christmas with Village Churchwomen's Giving Tree of Presents As a way to give life to our pastor's goal of radical generosity and extravagant hospitality, Check out the Giving Tree in Village Common and select a tag! On the tag will be the name of a child along with a gift idea. Bring the unwrapped gift to the church, along with wrapping paper or a gift bag, and WITH THE ORIGINAL TAG. Place it in the decorated box by the tree by DECEMBER 18. UCC Advent Devotional Wolves and Lambs: Advent Devotional 2016 from the Stillspeaking Writers' Group is not a typical or tame Advent devotional. Copies of this Advent Devotional booklet are available in the Central Street & Church Street Lobbies. Devotionals are free of charge thanks to a generous gift from a Village Church member. Please join us as we journey through Advent together, waiting to celebrate the Light of the World!

8 Wellesley Village Church An Open and Affirming Congregation of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA Office: Urgent Pastoral Care Cell: Our Church Covenant We are banded together as a Christian Church to maintain the worship of God, to proclaim the gospel of Christ, to develop in all people a consciousness of their relations and duties to God and to each other, and to inspire them with love for truth, passion for righteousness, and enthusiasm for service. To this end we pledge our loyalty to Christ and covenant with each other to express God s spirit in our individual and corporate life; to live together as Christians and to submit ourselves to the government of this Church, working, giving, praying for its increase, its purity, its peace, and seeking in every way to make it a power for the building up of the kingdom of God. Ken Sipe ~ Moderator Susan Sullivan ~ Vice Moderator Vicky Lazzell ~ Immediate Past Moderator The Rev. Dr. Sarah Sarchet Butter ~ Senior Pastor Associate Pastors The Rev. Pam Emslie The Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly Pastoral Residents The Rev. Megan Snell The Rev. Joshua Fitterling Ministry Directors Michaela McDonald Children s Ministry David R. Carrier Music Jodi Hitzhusen First Worship Music Dr. Kevin McDonald Youth Music Erin Donato Administration All music and words in this bulletin are reprinted by permission under OneLicense.net, License #A and by CCLI, License #