PRELUDE Magnificat Primi Toni, BuxWV 203 DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE Jonathan W. Moyer, organ

Transcription

1 The CHURCH of the COVENANT THE WORSHIP OF GOD FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, :00 AM ORDER OF WORSHIP *All who are able are invited to stand. THE MCGAFFIN CARILLON GEORGE LEGGIERO PRELUDE Magnificat Primi Toni, BuxWV 203 DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE Jonathan W. Moyer, organ WELCOME THE REV. AMY STARR REDWINE * CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY ` INTROIT Creator of the Stars of Night ARR. JONATHAN W. MOYER The Covenant Choir At thy great name, exalted now, all knees in lowly homage bow; all things in heaven and earth adore, and own thee king for evermore. Amen. * LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE MARIE, CRAIG, RAYMOND, AND KEASIA JONES * HYMN 2 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus HYFRYDOL

2 * CALL TO CONFESSION JIM MATE * CORPORATE PRAYER OF CONFESSION Prophets of time past lamented, "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down. God did this in the birth of Jesus Christ. In Christ, God is revealed. It is the work of God that we believe in Christ whom God has sent. It is the will of God that everyone who believes in Christ may have eternal life. Hear us, O Lord, as in the silence of these moments we pray that you will fill us with all joy and peace in believing, and that we may be full of hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. * PRIVATE CONFESSION OF SIN (in silence) * DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS One: Hear the good news! Jesus Christ is the brightness of God's glory, the express image of God's person. The words of Christ are spirit and they are life. God sent Christ into the world so that the world through Christ might be saved. Friends, believe the good news. All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. * GLORIA HYMN 23, REFRAIN Gloria in excelsis Deo; Gloria in excelsis Deo. PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION FIRST LESSON LUKE 1:26 38 SECOND LESSON One: This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. MATTHEW 2:1 15A The Rev. Melanie Marsh Baum * HYMN 16 The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came GABRIEL S MESSAGE JOYS AND CONCERNS IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY AMY STARR REDWINE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING, INTERCESSION, AND PETITION 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.

3 CONGREGATIONAL AMEN All are invited to sing. AMEN VENI EMMANUEL INVITATION TO THE OFFERING THE ANNUNCIATION THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT 2015 The Little Dove OFFERTORY O Come O Come Emanuel (Chimes) VENI EMMANUEL AND PAGEANT PROCESSION Hymn 9 Verse 1: Women Verse 2: Men Verse 3: All THE INN SOLO I Wonder as I Wander JOHN JACOB NILES Brooke Still, soprano THE SHEPHERDS AND ANGELS ANTHEM Ohoshiga Hikaru Pika Pika (Japanese) GERMAN FOLKSONG The stars are sparkling, pika-pika, in a mysterious red light, pika-pika. What is going to happen tonight? The stars are sparkling, pika-pika. ANTHEM Glory to God in the Highest GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL from Messiah THE WISEMEN ANTHEM Oh, Come, Little Children CHRISTOPH VON SCHMID Arr. Lynn Shaw Beiley, Becki Slagle Mayo HEROD AND THE WISE MEN THE STABLE ANTHEM Here's a Pretty Little Baby ARR. ANDRÉ THOMAS

4 CAROL Silent Night, Holy Night FRANZ XAVER GRUBER Following the solos, all are invited to sing the first verse in English. Hymn 60 Solo: Joshua Delk (German) Solo: Nanette Canfield (French) Solo: Kaori Hongo (Japanese) CHARGE AND BENEDICTION THE MCGAFFIN CARILLON GEORGE LEGGIERO TODAY WORSHIP/PAGEANT, 10:00 * FESTIVE PAGEANT RECEPTION, Reception Room/Library, 11:00 SNACKS FOR STUDENTS, Narthex, 11:00 CONVERSATION WITH PERSONNEL COMMITTEE, Herrick Room, 11:15 SCIENCE OF SPIRITUALITY, Sonia Golden Room, 12:30 GUITAR SOCIETY, Choir Room, 1:00 * Prepared by the Reach-out and Children, Youth, and Families Committees WELCOME WE WELCOME ALL WHO HAVE COME TO WORSHIP at the Church of the Covenant. If you are interested in exploring additional opportunities or inquiring about church membership, please contact Amy Starr Redwine at ASRedwine@CovenantWeb.org or Melanie Marsh Baum at MBaum@CovenantWeb.org. MUSIC NOTES: Today we are celebrating the birth of Christ through the children s presentation of the Christmas pageant, The Little Dove. This year s pageant focuses on peace and the meaning of the word and the true meaning of Peace and good will towards all people. Many thanks go to the children who have worked very hard for the past month to put this pageant together. We thank Ann Williams and Mindy Stewart for preparing lunches for our Saturday afternoon rehearsals; Sybil Marsh and Jennifer Lewis for organizing costumes; Jennifer McPherson for helping in musical rehearsals; Marie Jones, Keith Kallay, Anna Raske, Trina Tomaszewski, and Lyn and Jim Tomaszewski for helping with the pageant this year. OUR LAY WORSHIP LEADER TODAY IS Jim Mate. Jim joined the Covenant in 1984 and was married here in He has served on Session, and has moderated the Board of Deacons, and the Budget and Nominating Committees. He serves now on the Board of Trustees. Jim has two daughters, Jessica and Michelle. If you would like to become a lay worship leader, please contact Gale Bromelmeier at or at galebrom@aol.com. USHERS TODAY are Tracy Blake, Martha Goble, Clint Fowler, Patty Fowler, Dan Garland, and Keith Kallay. Greeters are Emily Blake and Helen Kunsman.

5 SCHEDULED THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 21 OPPORTUNITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Tuesday Cache closed; Choir Rehearsal, 5:30; Choir Dinner, 7:30 (off site) Wednesday 12 Steps to Freedom AA, 5: 30 Thursday Christmas Eve Service at Judson Park, 11:00; Church Office closed; Family Candlelight Service, 5:00; Carillon prelude, 7:30; Choral/Instrumental Prelude, 8:00; Christmas Eve Service, 8:30 Friday Church Office closed All committee meetings except Personnel are open. See Covenant s interactive calendar at CovenantWeb.org for details. (Call Willie Howard at [whoward@covenantweb.org] to schedule or change a meeting.) THE LONGEST NIGHT--AN INTERFAITH HEALING SERVICE: Join parish associate Nancy Lynch and Amy Starr Redwine at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Amphitheater on Monday, Dec. 21 at 12pm for a candlelight service of remembrance for those who have experienced a loss this year (or in past years), and/or for whom the holidays are a difficult time. The spiritual healing therapies of prayer, anointing, Healing Touch, yoga, and pet therapy will be available. DECEMBER 27, 2015 WORSHIP/FOOD COLLECTION, 10:00 (Children remain in worship.) COFFEE AND FELLOWSHIP, Reception Room, 11:00 SNACKS FOR STUDENTS, Narthex, 11:00 GUITAR SOCIETY, Choir Room, 1:00 THE DEADLINE FOR NEXT WEEK S BULLETIN is Monday at noon. To recycle your bulletins, place them in the baskets in the Narthex and at the sanctuary door. THE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE is collecting donations for Homeless Stand Down, now through January 17th. They are asking for the following items: winter hats, men's athletic socks, and weatherproof winter gloves. A donation box will be in the church office to collect items for the next several weeks. IN THE COVENANT FAMILY WE KEEP IN OUR PRAYERS Akeya Clark (Marie Jones s niece), Dan Clint, Lise Genson (Loren Genson s mother), Hal Gober, Mia James, Joseph Knoth, Marilyn and Rolf Krotseng, Virginia Langmack, Glenn Anderson, Sr., Susan Nyberg, Ed Pembroke, Deborah Shoup, Jonyrma Singleton, Frank Svoboda, Barbara Thatcher Williams, and Bill and Jean Wittrock. We also pray for Covenant members and friends who are struggling with illness, convalescing, or are homebound; the patients, family, and staff in our surrounding hospitals; those who have placed prayer requests in our Carpenter's Box; and all who are impacted by gun violence.

6 REMEMBER OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS who completed final exams last week and are traveling. We welcome them back when classes resume on January 11. See next page for more student news. SCC: Student Community at Covenant From first year to "post doc," and alums, this is for YOU! Check SCC on Facebook and SCC e-news online. Don t receive it? Sign up at Brunch today, or Eileen: efviz@yahoo.com TODAY Meet in the narthex to chat and snack. Make plans for Christmas Eve - Will you be here? Let Eileen know if you could share Supper at Six here. Thrilled to see 15 of you here last Sunday, even in the middle of finals! Congratulations to Anushka and Shirley on December graduation! UPCOMING EVENTS Got left over finals nerves? Things at home not all rosy? Rev. Eileen can help: 216- Post a See ya on our Facebook page: SCC Student Community at Covenant. Let s keep in touch over break. CONVINCED OF GOD S GRACE, the Church of the Covenant seeks to: Be a welcoming spiritual home, Live God's inclusive love, Express Christ's compassion, Do justice in the world.

7 Pageant Cast Kaori Hongo, Director Narrator Mary Joseph Baby Jesus Gabriel Little Dove Wisemen Pages Herod Innkeepers Angels Shepherds Donkey Cow Sheep Naomi Marsh Victoria Hagen Justin Mitchell Grace Bromelmeier Katherine Hagen Alex Tomaszewski Keasia Jones Kaileigh Mitchell Quinn Redwine Violet Marsh Baum Lee Stewart Camron Mitchell Trinity Barnes Veronica Bromelmeier Christopher Moyer Sarah Redwine Asha James-Stewart Laila James-Stewart Kathryn Tracanna Greer Miller Raymond Jones Immanuel Poindexter Graham Miller Samuel Moyer George Redwine Autumn Bromelmeier Lily Moore Maren Shriver

8 MINISTERS All the Members of the Church STAFF PASTORAL STAFF The Rev. Amy Starr Redwine, Pastor, The Rev. Melanie Marsh Baum, Associate Pastor, The Rev. Eileen F. Vizcaíno, Chaplain to Students, The Rev. Nancy Lynch, Parish Associate The Rev. James F. Dowd, Pastor Emeritus WORSHIP AND MUSIC Dr. Jonathan W. Moyer, Organist & Director of Music, Dr. Matthew Garrett, Associate Director of Music, Dr. Kaori Hongo, Director of Music for Children and Youth, Mr. George Leggiero, Carillonneur, CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES Ms. Mindy Stewart, Director of Family Ministries, Ms. Dara Elliott, Crèche Teacher, ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS Mr. Willie Howard, Administrative Services Manager, Mrs. Mildred Russin, Volunteer Coordinator, Ms. Lyn Cooper Tomaszewski, Communications Manager, Mr. Willie Parker, Custodian, COVENANT UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY MINISTRIES (CUCM) CUCM is a non-profit organization founded in 2010 by the Church of the Covenant to provide a home for programs that reach out and engage both the university and Greater Cleveland community. Six programs currently are under the CUCM umbrella. Learn more at CovenantUCM.weebly.com; CUCM@CovenantWeb.org. Ms. Linda Wilson, Saturday Tutoring Program; Ms. Anne Pillot, Community Meals The Reverend Eileen F. Vizcaíno, Student Ministries; Mr. David Eggert, God Before Guns Ms. Denise Horstman, Friends of the McGaffin Carillon in University Circle Euclid Avenue c Cleveland, Ohio P: c CovenantWeb.org c F: c E: Covenant@CovenantWeb.org