Hancock Covenant of Welcome We welcome all who seek to know God. We believe that, although we are many members, we are one body in Christ. We have been called as well as challenged by God to respect and reconcile our differences. We recognize and love each individual as a child of God. We welcome, respect, support, and lovingly encourage people of every race, ethnicity, creed, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical and mental ability to join us on our journey of faith. This faith journey indeed calls Hancock Members not to be silent in the face of prejudice, injustice, and exclusion, but to express our faith, in word and deed, for justice and inclusiveness for all humanity. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, In Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one. First Sunday of Advent Communion Sunday Paul Shupe, Senior Minister paul.shupe@hancockchurch.org Barbara Callaghan, Minister barbara.callaghan@hancockchurch.org Nancy Rottman, Congregational Care Coordinator nancy.rottman@hancockchurch.org Mark Morgan, Director of Music mark.morgan@hancockchurch.org Andrew Harris, Student Minister andrew.harris@hancockchurch.org David Clark, Student Minister david.clark@hancockchurch.org www.hancockchurch.org Marilyn Becker, Associate Director of Music marilyn.becker@hancockchurch.org David Price, Student Minister david.price@hancockchurch.org Church Office Phone: (781) 862-4220 Church Office Hours: M-Th 9:00-4:00, F 9:00-3:00 Hancock Community Prayer: (781) 862-6845 Emergency Pastoral Care Phone: (929) 500-1912 Hancock United Church of Christ, Congregational 1912 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA November 29, 2015 Morning Worship 10:00 am Evening Worship @the Well 6:15 pm For bulletin announcements, corrections, or suggestions, email office@hancockchurch.org To conserve trees and your pledge dollars, consider sharing your bulletin. Please recycle.
Service of Worship Gathering Together To Praise God MOMENT FOR REFLECTION Today, at the beginning of Advent, we con nue our cycle of exploring stories of God s response to injus ce and oppression by calling those willing to hear to ac on. Our final explora on for this year will be the call to Mary. Before we can understand the relevance of her call to carry, birth, raise, support, and eventually become a disciple of Jesus, we must first see the context in which she and all Jews were living under Roman rule. We will delve into the book of Romans for this purpose, which was wri en by the apostle Paul roughly 20 years a er Jesus lived on earth, and during the reign of Emperor Nero. Today is a Sunday of hope, as we light our first candle on the Advent wreath. We are reminded that the hope of God is real, as was made manifest in the trauma of 1st century Pales ne, and s ll today. We also celebrate November birthdays and anniversaries, as well as our open table of empowerment and connec on that we call communion. PRELUDE CALL TO WORSHIP One: November ends. December begins. All: We find our beginning and our ending in God. One: Month a er month, our God a ends us and supports us. All: For God s company, we offer thanks and praise. One: Let us worship the God who gives us Jesus Christ: All: God who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the Living One and our Redeemer, now and forever. *OPENING HYMN Of Eternal Love Begotten #129 WORDS OF WELCOME PRAYER OF INVOCATION David D. Price NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS Paul Shupe ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING RESPONSE People Look East verse 1, #116 GATHERING SONG Walk With Me 2 * Congregation standing some may wish to remain seated Sunday November 29th All Day Greens Storage in RM 205 8:30 am Pastor s Class in PEAR 8:30 am No Choir Rehearsal in SANC 9:00 am Discernment Conversa on in WILS 9:00 am Stewardship Commi ee in CONF 10:00 am Morning Worship Communion Sunday in SANC 10:20 am All Ages Program Wreath Making 10:20 am JYO Sandwich Making 11:00 am Fellowship Hour in DR 11:15 am CE Event: Advent Wreath making in CLAR 11:15 am Hanging of the Greens 6:15 pm Worship @the Well in CLAR 7:00 pm HYG in UR 7:00 pm No OWL in KS Monday November 30th 9:30 am Project Group in CONF 10:00 am Library Xmas Decora ng in LIB 10:00 am Monday Book Group in PEAR 1:30 pm Skyloom in KS 7:00 pm Personnel Task Force in CONF Tuesday December 1st 10:00 am Staff Mee ng in CONF 11:00 am Staff Worship Planning in CONF 6:30 pm Girl Scouts (S. Bo an) in PEAR Wednesday December 2nd 9:00 am Submission Deadline for Hancock Weekly 6:00 pm Advent Movies and Soup, Oh My! in UR 6:00 pm 22 Muzzey St. Group in WILS 7:00 pm Carillon Rehearsal in BELL Thursday December 3rd 6:30 pm Boy Scouts in CLAR, KS, RM 205 7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal in CHOR, SANC The Week Ahead Friday December 4th 9:30 am Morning Glory Bell Ringers 5:00 pm HYG Urban Outreach Retreat Saturday December 5th 9:00 am Pruden al Light Changing in SNAC 10:00 am AA Mee ng in DR 3:00 pm Plaster Posaunes Brass Group in CHOR 3:00 pm Holiday Fair Set up in CLAR and DR 4:00 pm End of HYG Urban Outreach Retreat 4:00 pm Hancock Concert Series Jameson Singers in SANC Sunday December 6th 8:30 am Pastor s Class in PEAR 8:30 am Choir Rehearsal in SANC 9:00 am Mar ng to Glory Ringers 9:00 am Stewardship Commi ee in RM 205 10:00 am Morning Worship Manger Sunday in SANC 10:20 am Children Stay in Worship 10:20 am JYO Stay in Worship 11:00 am Holiday Fair in CLAR 11:15 am Hancock Choristers in RM 212 5:30 pm Discernment Conversa on in PEAR 6:15 pm Worship @the Well in CLAR 7:00 pm No HYG in UR 7:00 pm OWL in KS LOCATION KEY BELL Bell Room CHAP Chapel CHOR Choir Room CLAR Clark Hall CONF Conference Room DR Dining Room RM205 Room 205 KS Kathie Stuart LIB Po er Library PEAR Pearson SANC Sanctuary WILS Wilson UR Upper Room To schedule an event or rent space, contact the Church Office at office@hancockchurch.org or call 781.862.4220. The complete Hancock calendar is available at www.hancockchurch.org/events/event calendar. 11
Manger Sunday and the Holiday Fair December 6th! Manger Sunday! On Manger Sunday (Dec. 6th), the congrega on will process to the manger with gi s for the City Mission Society (www.cmsboston.org). Gift List They can accept only NEW items. Please no food items. Winter coats, sweaters and sweatshirts Hats, mi ens, gloves and scarves Socks and underwear Toys, books, and games for all ages Gi cards from Target, Walgreen s, Marshall s, CVS, Kohl s or other merchants Gift Drivers Driverse are needed for drop off at First Church Winchester on Dec 6th, between 1 4pm. Need 1 2 addi onal drivers. Please contact Gretchen Tolson,gtolson14@gmail.com or (617) 932 9532, if interested. JYO Help Wanted! Quick reminders about upcoming requests for JYO (Junior Youth Organiza on) help on Manger Sunday, Dec. 6: During the procession: JYO students are requested to stand behind the manger during the procession to help keep the gi s flowing smoothly into the manger. A er the service: we are grateful for JYO help with either of the following: 1.)Immediately a er the service, stay in the sanctuary to help bag gi s and load them into the cars that will take them for sor ng. This job usually goes fast if we have lots of helpers. 2.) Work a 30 minute shi at the lunch table at the holiday fair (shi s begin at 11 and end at 1p). Contact CeCe Po er if you can sign up for this: hannah.po er@verizon.net. For more informa on, see the flyer JYOers received on 11/9. Holiday Fair Raffle to Benefit City Mission Society This year's Hancock Holiday Fair features a raffle for a uniquely cra ed wooden bowl designed and built by HUCC member Chris Groves. Chris has generously donated this item to be raffled off at the Holiday Fair on December 6, to benefit City Mission Society. But, you don't need to wait un l December 6 to purchase your raffle ckets! On Sundays in November during coffee hour, raffle ckets will be available for sale at the Chris an Service Commi ee's Holiday Fair table. All are welcome to stop by to see this beau ful piece of art, and to purchase raffle ckets: $5.00 for one chance, or $20.00 for five chances. Contact: Susan Foley s.foley.165@gmail.com Volunteer Please sign up to volunteer for the Holiday Fair during coffee hour. We need greeters, set up, clean up, and help with the vendor tables. Vendors For a list of vendors, visit h p://www.hancockchurch.org/holidayfair/ 10 ANNOUNCEMENTS Service of Worship CHILDREN S TIME David C. Clark A er the gathering, all are invited to Clark Hall for an all age event and sandwich making for the Outdoor Church of Cambridge. The Junior Youth Organiza on kids (JYO grades 6th, 7th, 8th) will return to worship for communion. Childcare is provided for children age three and younger in the Infant/Toddler Room. Parents may pick up children a er worship in Clark Hall or the Infant/Toddler Room. THE MORNING OFFERING Giving Thanks To God OFFERTORY The People That Walked in Darkness from Messiah G.F. Handel Mark Morgan, baritone Marilyn Becker, organ *THE DOXOLOGY S-23 (The words and music may also be found in the supplement at the beginning of the hymnal.) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heav nly host: Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION Paul Shupe The Prayers of the People PASTORAL PRAYER Nancy Rottman A TIME OF SILENT PRAYER 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 tempta on, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. 3
4 Service of Worship The Good News Is Proclaimed THE HEBREW BIBLE READING Romans 1:20-25 David D. Price Ever since the crea on of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became fu le in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four footed animals or rep les. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen. THE SERMON Life Under Rome: Pax According to Whom? Barbara Callaghan Communion Liturgy COMMUNION HYMN Come Down, O Love Divine vs. 1 and 3 #S-24 INVITATION ONE: God be with you. ALL: And also with you. ONE: Li up your hearts. ALL: We li them up to God. ONE: Let us give thanks to God: Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. ALL: It is right to give God thanks and praise. ONE: Luke, the evangelist, wrote of our risen Savior, who at the table with two of the disciples took bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread. ALL: In company with all believers in every me and beyond me, we come to this table to know the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. THE COMMUNION PRAYER BREAKING THE BREAD, BLESSING THE CUP ONE: Ready now to receive again the great gi s of communion, let us confess our Easter faith: Join Us for the Annual Hanging of the Greens! Hanging of the Greens will take place today a er the morning service. Feel free to come assist the church, alongside other volunteers, in ge ng Hancock decorated. The Women's Lunch Place Delicious Christmas cookies for sale to support The Women s Lunch Place. Last chance to place your order at coffee hour: Remember those scrump ous, beau ful homemade Christmas cookies sold last year? They re back. You can order plates of 15 lovely cookies for $15 to benefit the Women s Lunch Place today at our table at coffee hour. Or email Amy Swanson at swansmy5@gmail.com. Your order is complete when we receive the money. When we visited, as members of the Chris an Service Commi ee, the Director longed to create a birthday program to develop community and recognize each woman personally, but had no funds for it. Linda, Amy and CeCe backed by Bake Cookies for Women's Lunch Place We need many bakers to each bake 4 dozen Christmas cookies at home for the cookie plates assembled on Dec. 5th. Baking can be a great way to celebrate the holidays with children, grandchildren, or friends. It's a fun way to meet other Hancock members by assembling the plates with the other bakers. Plus, you get to take home one plate of assorted cookies for yourself! Please spread the word, and let Linda Kilner Olivier, CeCe Po er, or Amy Swanson (swanamy5@gmail.com) know you will join us. Thanks! ANNOUNCEMENTS 9
A Message from Minister Barbara Callaghan Dear Hancock family, Thank you to everyone who made the installa on service on Sunday as wonderful as it was. I'm thrilled and honored to officially be one of your ministers, and look forward to the years of good work that we will do together. Thank you to all who created the beau ful and though ul recep on, and many thanks to the church for the collec on of reference books you gave me. I have wanted the Feas ng on the Word commentaries for a while, and so thankful to have them as a gi from this special congrega on. And now we move forward together. Onward, Barbara Today at Coffee Hour: Buy a Wreath to Help the Boy Scouts! The Boy Scouts of Troop 119 will be taking orders for holiday wreaths during coffee hour. The wreaths are full, 20" to 22" in diameter, and are decorated with a red velvet bow. This is the Troop's only fundraiser of the year, providing funds to purchase equipment, help defray the cost of trips, and fund ac vi es. The wreaths are $15 and may be picked up in classroom 205 either today or next Sunday, December 6, during the Holiday Fair. Thank you for your support of Scou ng! 8 ANNOUNCEMENTS Service of Worship ALL: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. ONE: Come, Holy Spirit, come. Bless this bread, bless this cup, and bless all of us in our ea ng and drinking together, that our eyes may be opened to see the risen Christ among us, and that our hearts might be united with sisters and brothers in every me and beyond me. ALL: AMEN. THE BREAD AND THE CUP ARE SHARED This table belongs to Jesus Christ. Mindful of Christ, and in keeping with our Covenant of Welcome, this table is open to all, regardless of age, race, sex, class, creed, sexual orienta on or physical or mental ability. This is our Savior s table, and all are invited to come. As you are able, please come forward via one of the center aisles. Tear a bit of bread from the loaf, dip it into the cup, eat immediately and then return to your seat via the outside aisles. Those who would prefer may remain seated. When others have been served, please raise your hand, and we will gladly bring the bread and cup to your seat. A er we have shared together, our Junior Youth Organiza on will bring to the table the lunches that they have prepared for our homeless sisters and brothers who worship with the Outdoor Church in Cambridge. The lunches blessed will feed our friends this very day. COMMUNION ANTHEM Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen J. S. Bach Mark Morgan, Sierra Marcy, and Marilyn Becker from Christmas Oratorio, part III Lord, your compassion, your mercy console us and make us free THE PRAYERS OF BLESSING YOUTH: Bless, O God, the meal that we have prepared for our sisters and brothers of the Outdoor Church. Let their bodies be nourished, and their spirits li ed by this meal. And let each of us rededicate ourselves to work for a more just world in which all your children are safe and secure in homes, and are sustained by good food and sheltered by the love of community. ONE: Hear us, O God, as we extend our thanks for the boun ful feast that we have shared with others on this Communion Sunday. ALL: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by gran ng us the presence of Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and in peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our risen Savior, Amen. *CLOSING HYMN O Come, O Come Emmanuel #114 5
BENEDICTION *PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST POSTLUDE Welcome to Hancock! We are delighted that you chose to worship with us today and are strengthened by your par cipa on in our service! We warmly invite you to coffee and refreshments immediately following worship. Coffee can be found through either of the doors next to the Chancel. If you d like to learn more about our church community and ac vi es, please take the flier hanging in the pew. You may also fill out the Welcome slip in the pew holder, and hand it to one of the clergy or ushers today. We hope that you feel very much at home here and that you will make Hancock Church your church. If you have any ques ons, our Welcoming Commi ee would be happy to help: welcoming@hancockchurch.org. Child care is available each Sunday beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the nursery and toddler room. All children and youth are invited to worship with their families, to come forward for the Children s Gathering, and then recess to the Church School for K 5. Older children are invited to stay in worship or help with younger youth. Large print bulle ns, hearing assist aids, and an elevator are available at Hancock Church. Please ask an usher for assistance. Today s Flower Offering The Chancel flowers are given in loving memory of Kip Farris by his family. All services are recorded and cablecast locally by LexMedia Cable TV (RCN 3, Comcast 8 and Verizon 35) Sunday 10 AM and 7 PM, Tuesdays 10 PM. For more informa on, please visit the Hancock website at www.hancockchurch.org *** SERVICE DVDS AVAILABLE Just fill out the orange form just outside the television studio on the lower level. The cost is $10.00 which can be paid upon ordering or upon pickup at the church. All proceeds go to support the television ministry. HANCOCK CHURCH SERMON IN HD Online at www.youtube.com/user/hancockchurch WATCH SERVICE LIVE Online at www.lexmedia.org/lptv livestreaming.html from 10am 11am 6 ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS 7