GOSPEL LESSON Luke 21:25-36 ANTHEM(10:00 am only) SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION Prepare The Way of The Lord Advent Series: How we encounter God A Cloud of Glory and Power OFFERTORY (10:00 am only) - Natalie Hershman Mary Did You Know? *DOXOLOGY (unison) (10:00 am only) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen *PRAYER OF BLESSING SHARING THE MEAL Hope PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING *HYMN OF SENDING FORTH A Communion Hymn #287 *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE *Indicates people shall rise First Congregational Church United Church of Christ Rev. Chris Buckingham-Taylor, Pastor 8:00am The Breeze Sunday Worship Service 10:00am Sunday Worship Radio AM 940 WFAW or Kool FM 106.5 on Packer noon game days Hearing devices, large print hymns and bulletins are available from the ushers. Senior Choir Director: Marvin Olsen Sunday School Director: Tammy Green Church Office: (920)563-4802; Fax: (920)563-9958 Email : officefortucc@gmail.com Moderator (Carol Maasz) maaszc235@yahoo.com Our 10 am service is live streamed on YouTube! Website: www.fortfcc.org Like us on Facebook! A Cloud of Glory and Power
Order of Worship First Sunday of Advent December 2, 2018 GATHERING MUSIC GREETING, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP [Visitors: Please print your name, address and/or phone number.] INTROIT Martha Firari, Sandi Hankowitz, Ann Olsen Lori Hedenreich Go Where I Send Thee *CALL TO WORSHIP Pastor: The days are surely coming, says our God, when justice and righteousness will appear. People: God s promises will be made known to us, and we will declare God s goodness and salvation. Pastor: Lift up your souls in trust and praise; open your hearts and minds to God s teaching. People: God s ways will be demonstrated to us, and we will seek to walk in them all our days. Pastor: Render thanksgiving to God for all life s benefits. Watch and pray, in holiness and abiding faith. All: God s mercy and steadfast love will surround us, and we will abound in love for one another. *HYMN OF PRAISE O Come, O Come, Emmanuel #245 *MORNING PRAYER (unison) (10:00 am only) In obedience and trust, we approach you, God of the covenant. Day by day, your promises are fulfilled among us. Our redemption is drawing near. Help us to prepare ourselves and our communities for Christ s coming. Equip us now to worship you with all the saints, past and present, nearby and far away. Amen. *GLORIA PATRI (unison) (10:00 am only) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen. HEBREW LESSON Jeremiah 33:14-16 LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE Candle of Hope Leader: In this season of Advent, we long for God s presence. People: Christ is our light and the source of our hope. Leader: In this season of Advent, we search for God s truth. People: Christ is our light and the source of our hope. Leader: In this season of Advent, we seek God s guidance. People: Christ is our light and the source of our hope. Leader: In this season of Advent, we remember God s Promise. All: Christ is our light and the source of our hope. Leader: This morning we light the first candle, the candle of hope. This candle reminds us that God s promises give us reason to be filled with hope hope for unity in a world of division, hope for healing in a world of pain, and hope for peace in a world filled with anger and strife. We remember that Christ is our light and the source of our hope. PRAYER(unison) Gracious God, as we begin our Advent journey we thank you for the gift of your Son, and for sending hope into a world filled with dread. Help us remember that we are your people, and because of your promises we have every reason to be hopeful. Take away our doubt and fear, and remind us that Christ is our light, and the true source of hope. Amen. HYMN OF PREPARATION (10:00 am only) Of The Father s Love Begotten #240 PASTORAL PRAYER THE LORD S PRAYER (unison) 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.
Weekly Prayer Discipline Wendell & Michelle Harman Mark, Karen, Monica & Perry Haubenschild and Haley Krebs Brian, Alyssa & Kelsey Haukom Steve, Patti, Stephanie & Malcolm Heitz Steve, Carmen, Emma & Trey Hendricks Ron & Sharyl Hendricksen A joyous greeting to all who have come to worship. It is our hope that each of you may find encouragement, inspiration and direction for living. Above all, we pray that you may sense the loving presence of God. Prayer Concerns of our Church Family of Faith Tony Ehrike, Mark Miller, Izayah Wirth, Abigail Ehlers, Emily Klatt, Marjorie Fenn Bill Ratzburg, Mary Wendlandt, Clarice Fernelius, Jennifer Woods, Lucile Lasher, Jackie Sanders Marsha Anderson, Jessica Wallace, Carmen Hendricks Prayer Concerns of our Extended Family & Friends of Faith Gwen Strassburger (Sarah Brietzke s Sister-In-Law) Eric Jung (Harley & Pat Jung s Son) Dorothy Schademann (Ann Olsen s Mother) Carolyn Taylor (Rev. Chris s Mother) Carl (Skip) Armstrong (Carol Maasz s Brother) Those Serving in the Military and the families they have waiting at home. Activity kits are available in the back of the Church for your children to use during Worship time. An Usher would be happy to get one or two for you at any time. Please check out our Welcome Table in the Narthex! You will find name tags for all, Welcome packets for visitors and some general information about current happenings at our church. Please help us by wearing your name tag and direct visitors to take a Welcome packet. We welcome you all, may you may feel the Love of Christ in your life today. Schedule of Events Sunday, December 2nd -Communion First Sunday of Advent 8 am Breeze Early Worship 8:30 am Sunday School 8:45 am Children s Choir 8:45 am Confirmation Class 8:45 am Adult CE Class 10 am Worship Service 11 am Fellowship Hour Monday, December 3rd 8 am Peanuts 5:15 pm Facilities Mtg. 6:30 pm Bridge Club Tuesday, December 4th 9:30 am Preschool Singing with Pastor Chris 6:30 pm Dartball Ft. Methodist Wednesday, December 5th 7 pm Choir Rehearsal Thursday, December 6th 9 am Bulletin Article Deadline 9:15 am Circle of Faith 10:30 am Dycora Ministry 1:30 pm Lend-a-Hand Cookie Exchange 6 pm Chapel Bells Rehearsal Sunday, December 9th Second Sunday of Advent 8 am Breeze Early Worship 8:30 am Sunday School 8:45 am Children s Choir 8:45 am Confirmation Class 10 am Worship Service Kids Sing 11 am Fellowship Hour Monday, December 10th 8 am Peanuts 9 am Broadcaster Article Deadline 6:30 pm Bridge Club Tuesday, December 11th 9:30 am Pastor Chris Preschool Singing 11 am Worship Ministy Mtg. 4 pm Holiday Dance Recital 6 pm Evangelism Ministry Mtg. 6:30 pm Dartball Home Game Wednesday, December 12th 10 am Mail Broadcaster 6 pm Chapel Bells 7 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal 7 pm Outreach Ministry Mtg. Thursday, December 13th 9 am Bulletin Article Deadline 7 pm Chapel Bells Milton Concert Scripture Readings: December 2 Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:1-10; 1 Thess 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36 December 9 Mal 3:1-4 or Bar 5:1-96; Luke 1:68-79; Phil 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6 December 16 Zeph 3:14-20; Isa 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 December 23 Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:46b-55 or Ps 80:1-7; Heb 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45, 46-55
Our Bell Concert Rings in Milton Concert Our bell choir will be performing their Christmas music on Thursday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Milton United Methodist Church, 241 Northside Drive, Milton. All are welcome to celebrate the joy and community of the Christmas season with a little handbell music. In addition to our choir, this free program will include the bell choirs of Milton UMC Janesville s Faith Lutheran Church and the Rock County Community Handbell Choir. Our Worship Service radio broadcast will be on KOOL 106.5 on the following dates due to Packer Noon Games. December 9, 16, 23, 30 A link for KOOL 106.5 is provided on our website under the Worship heading. www.fortfcc.org First Congregational United Church of Christ 31 W. Milwaukee Ave., Ft. Atkinson, WI 53538 Phone: (920)563-4802; Fax: (920)563-9958; Email: officefortucc@gmail.com Poinsettia Order Form Name (given by): You may purchase a poinsettia for the altar in memory of, or to honor a loved one. The plants will be on the altar for our Christmas Eve Service. You may take your plant home following the 5 pm Candlelight Service on Sunday, December 24th. Plants cost is $14.00. Please sign below and place in an offering plate (along with payment) on Sundays, or order through the church office NO LATER THAN Wednesday, December 5th. Thank you! Bob & JoAnn Rose for our colored Bulletins during Advent & Christmas Eve. Judy Brown for the Wreaths at the front of the Sanctuary and Linda Fromader for helping to decorate them. Red Poinsettia White Poinsettia In memory of: LEND A HAND CHRISTMAS MEETING Lend a Hand will have their Christmas Meeting in the Werthman Room on Dec 6 at 1:30 pm. Members are reminded to bring two dozen cookies (they need not be Christmas) to share at the meeting and to pack for the Annual Christmas Vesper Service at Fairhaven on Sunday, Dec 9. Members of the Congregation are invited to the Vesper Service which begins at 6:00 pm at Fairhaven in Whitewater. Come and join Rev Chris, our Bell Choir, Confirmands, and Fairhaven residents in welcoming Christmas. Cookies and punch will follow the Service. In honor of: Administration Office Use Only Date Received Amount Paid Check # or Cash Initial
FAIRHAVEN VESPERS Adult Bible Study Sundays - 8:45-9:30 am Werthmann Room September 9 - December 16, 2018 Unshakeable Hope What is your life built on the circumstances of life or the promises of God? For every problem in life, God has given you a promise. Join Max as he takes a closer look at Scripture s unbreakable promises and shows you how to live with an Unshakable Hope. Overcome challenging circumstances, Live through sadness and renew hope, Experience lasting security, Make wise decisions * No Class: December 23 & December 30(Christmas Break) January 6 - February 3, 2019 Embracing An Adult Faith Author and Bible scholar Marcus Borg invites us to join him in revisiting Christianity s most fundamental questions: Who is God? What does salvation mean? What place does Jesus hold in contemporary Christian faith? In this five-session, faith-formation resource, participants enjoy the rare privilege of witnessing Marcus in dialogue with a small, diverse group of adults as they honestly and sometimes painfully confront the big questions and work together toward authentic answers. Peanuts Tomorrow There is a Peanuts Session tomorrow starting at 8:00 am in Plymouth Hall. Come when you can. We always appreciate everyone s help. Thank you. On December 9th, members of our congregation will be providing a Christmas Vesper Service at Fairhaven, the UCC senior care facility in Whitewater. We are looking for any of our youth members that would like to help with the service by doing readings and/or carols. Our Bell Choir will provide music. The service will start at 6:00 pm. All participants need to be there by 5:30 pm. Members of the Bell Choir should be at the church by 4:30 pm to load equipment. There will be an opportunity for adults to arrange for the postservice refreshments. All members of our Congregation are invited to attend. All attending are encouraged to bring two-dozen cookies for the holiday table. Contact Marv Olsen (563-4761) or Rev. Chris if you have questions. Announcements Ushers Greeters Audio Operator Communion Lay Reader Coffee Clean-up Mary Ann Ehrike Cora Wahl, Jeff & Susan Woods, Gloria Janke Joe & Eunice Ann Slaney Bob Buell Connie Czech, Charlie Knapp, Mary Narkis, Lesley Paske Bob Ehrike Joe & Eunice Ann Slaney IT S A WRAP Peanuts will be processed on November 5 and 26, and December 3, 10, and 17. Please put these dates on your calendar, and plan to join us in the Peanut Project. It is a great Fundraiser in support of our church and its ministries. A Wrap Up/Evaluation of the recent Country Fair will be held on Tuesday, Dec 11, at 4:15 pm in the Werthman Room. If you worked at, brought for, attended the Fair, or just have ideas regarding the Fair, your comments and suggestions are encouraged. You could attend the Wrap Up Meeting or you could email your input to our Office Manager Tammy Green (officefortucc@gmail.com) or Judy Knapp (judy.knapp.43@gmail.com). Your comments will be shared at the meeting. Besides peeling Peanuts you will also enjoy great fellowship, coffee, and some wonderful treats with the coffee. We hope you can join us. Thank you for your input to help make our Country Fair better and better. Come when you can, leave when you must! The last bucket to be peeled comes out of the kitchen before 11:00.
Advent Sermon Series Sunday, December 2nd - 8 am & 10 am Hope: Luke 21:25-36 A Cloud of Glory and Power Sunday, December 9th - 8 am & 10 am Peace: Luke 3:1-6 A Voice in the Wilderness Sunday, December 16th - 8 am & 10 am The Birth of Jesus - A Christmas Experience Sunday, December 16th 8:30 am 9:45 am Station 1: An Angel Visits Mary Station 2: Journey to Bethlehem Station 3: Shepherds Visit Jesus Station 4: Wise Men Visit Jesus Station 5: Journey to Egypt Youth will have activities at each station to help them experience the joy of the Birth of Christ. Activities will be held in Plymouth Hall. Youth are encouraged to bring their friends and parents or other family members are also encouraged to attend. Joy: Luke 3:7-18 In the Waters of Life Sunday, December 23rd - 8 am & 10 am Love: Luke 1:39-45, (46-55) In the Womb Christmas Eve December 24th Christ Candle: Luke 2:1-20 In the Fields 5pm Candlelight Service Family Friendly Traditional Service, Adult Choir Please join us for our Christmas Eve Worship Service. The service will be a traditional Candlelight service with our Adult Choir and Adult Bell Choir. The service will begin at 5 pm on Monday, December 24th. If you are unable to join us, the service will be broadcast on the radio (WFAW). Food Pantry Helpers Needed in January January is our month to work at the Pantry. Watch for Sign-Up sheets in December. Help is needed on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:45-5:30. Please check your schedules and sign-up for the days that will work for you. Many Thanks. Your Food Pantry Representatives and the Outreach Board.