Sudbury United Methodist Church
Second Sunday of Advent December 9, 2018 Before worship, please feel free to greet those around you. Concerns or celebrations to be included in today s prayers may be recorded on cards in the pew pockets and passed to the ushers during the second hymn. During the prelude, let us prepare silently to worship God. Prelude: Improvisation *indicates worshipers may stand, as they are able Welcome to Week Two of the 2018 Advent Conspiracy Christy Kirk *An Advent Call to Worship Fully: (Dawn Léger, Canada, 21 st cent., alt.) Liturgist: Why do I have so many things? People: Where did it all come from? Liturgist: And who knows where to put it all? (Here the second Advent candle is lighted.) Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11 Liturgist: I have so much more than things. People: I have talents and time to share with others. Liturgist: We can give so much more by spending less. *Opening Hymn: FWS # 2095 Star Child *Opening Prayer: (Dawn Léger, Canada, 21 st cent., alt.) Prince of peace, we fill our lives with so much anxiety we are almost always in turmoil with others or with ourselves. Come among us as we worship you today. Remind us of what is necessary and give us grateful hearts. Amen. Children s Time: The Givers of Bethlehem God s Word Proclaimed through Music: Four Advent Characters The Census Worker The Shepherd The Baker The Innkeeper Kevin Murphy Kevin Murphy Kevin Murphy Kevin Murphy *Hymn of Response: UMH # 209 Blessed Be the God of Israel
A Time of Fellowship Greeting Our Guests Concerns and Celebrations Pastoral 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Presentation of Tithes and Offerings Stewardship Moment: More Than Solidarity Jamie Solak and Scott Pickens Offertory: The Work of Christmas Howard Thurman/Rob Hammerton *Doxology: UMH # 94 - Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Tannenbaum) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow in every generation! Praise God, all creatures here below, who gives to us salvation! Praise God above, ye heavenly host! Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Let all creation praise the Lord with love and adoration! *Prayer of Thanksgiving *Hymn of Commitment: UMH # 202 People, Look East *Announcements *Dismissal with Blessing Postlude: Noël X L. C. Daquin
Reconciling & Welcoming Statement: The United Methodist Church is a community of believers and seekers, with differences in age, class, nationality, race, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, abilities, and limitations. We at SUMC recognize that there are attitudes, concerning these diverse characteristics, which violate the integrity of individuals and deny the richness of God s creation. Therefore, we affirm our welcome to all people into our community of faith. We are committed to be a fellowship in which all persons feel a part of our family, enabling them to grow in their faith, to be fed by our fellowship, and to contribute their talents to the life of the church in its worship, programs, and outreach. We call the church and society to be sensitive to all persons and to advocate programs which attempt to ensure justice for all. Sudbury United Methodist Church 251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury, MA 01776 Phones: (978) 443-4351 or (978) 443-6785 Fax: (978) 443-3052 Church Office: sumc@sudbury-umc.org Website: http://www.sudbury-umc.org Church Staff Lead Pastor: The Rev. Joel Guillemette Dir. of Adult Formation: The Rev. Dr. H. Cho-Kim Christian Education Director: Eric Magnuson Youth Ministries Director: Zachary Moser Music Director/Organist: Kevin Murphy, AAGO Sanctuary Choir Director: Rob Hammerton Business Manager: Michael Greb Office Administrator: Shetal Kaye Sexton: Joe Picorelli pastorjoel@sudbury-umc.org pastorchokim@sudbury-umc.org eric@sudbury-umc.org zack@sudbury-umc.org kevin@sudbury-umc.org rob@sudbury-umc.org michael@sudbury-umc.org sumc@sudbury-umc.org joe@sudbury-umc.org We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation We are a Reconciling and Welcoming Congregation
2018 Christmas Cantata
The Census Worker Like a specimen pinned to a card I struggle, but cannot get free My pin is this poverty, so hard! This job is the way out for me The neighbors despise what I do Colluding with Romans, the masters The Romans, they care not for you They press for more numbers, faster While walking from work, late last night I passed by the small village inn A newborn's cry met the starlight It came from a room deep within O, another specimen is born Pinned to another used tree O Yahweh, bless Him this morn Allow Him to live, truly free Able to move and to save Removing this nail straight through me The Shepherd Under the night sky The vast, cold, hard night sky We follow the sheep in the darkness Over hills that undulate Snakes and scorpions lie in wait Thieves in the caves Mosquitos in waves We are always embattled, alone For a few crumbs of bread We gather the flock Like mercury on a rock They shatter and scatter Our work is never done Who can shine a light on our shadows? Who can warm our bones in winter? Do we just drift, under the vast, cold, hard sky, Until the wolf or the brigand Cuts us apart in an instant And we are forever lost? Who will light our way Filling the sky till it's bright as day? Who is the shepherd who will save these sheep? The Baker When you bake bread for the town You know every soul around You may be rich, you may be poor But you will pass through my door Needing bread to feed your child, Staving off hunger for a while It's nothing fancy that I make Just flour and salt I bake But it ties a town together Regardless of age, regardless of weather. I have seen the rich try to swindle their bread, in the beggar's disguise I have given, many days, the odd loaf to the child with the ravenous eyes See how bread ties us together See how this is a need we all share I unite this town with a breadcrumb You all need me, just like the air. Break bread and call all neighbors Serve with wine, cool from the cave With nourishment, rest from labors And connect to what we crave And connect to what we crave.
The Innkeeper There was a knock on the door. Heavens, not another soul tonight! This town, our little town is such a sight Strangers roaming, mystified Fearful they might sleep outside Yes, a knock upon our outer door I crossed the courtyard to the darkened gate All prepared to equivocate There was no space we had to offer Guests took every chair and coffer Such a pointless knock upon our door... Silently, I cursed to hell the census Caesar knew we Jews were all defenseless When it came to Roman greed Finding ways to fill their needs They never failed to pound upon our doors Then I looked into the darkened yard What I saw disarmed my harried guard A teen, so close to giving birth, in pain, clutching her great girth. Her husband gave the knock upon our door. I pitched my weak excuse and lightly eased Her gently to the ground; we quickly seized Her arms and moved her to the shed The only spot, our only bed. We didn t need to knock upon that door... I don t know how they worked the labor out I spent the evening, hurrying about Attending needs of guests and chores Until the inn was full of snores I didn t dare to try the stable door. But, somehow, way out back, they found a way A newborn Infant wailed at break of day A refugee s Son, born in dirt Into a world of pain and hurt Someday He will knock upon our door They say He grew into a man Who fit the Torah s Messiah plan He crossed the Romans and powers that be And, in His way, found victory Who will come tomorrow to your door? The Work of Christmas (text: Howard Thurman) When the song of angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among brothers, to make music in the heart.
Program Notes: Four Advent Characters People often say that history is written by the victors. Any history student can give you examples of this phenomenon; it makes complete logical sense. It is only in our present age that some marginalized groups have found second chances to tell more of their story after being pushed aside or even to the verge of extinction indigenous peoples, colonized populations, women and children. Christians won the battle to write the narrative about Christmas once Christianity became the state religion of both Roman empires and, ultimately, the European lands from which many North Americans came. So we have the Wise Men, the baby in the manger, the ox and the ass, the journey to Bethlehem. At the distance of two millennia, it is now very difficult to know what is fact and what is fiction about these accounts. All we know is that someone who absolutely changed the course of history and offered all the people of the world redemption arrived sometime, somewhere in this timeframe. I, therefore, am intrigued by what the actual experience might have been for these citizens of Palestine in the first century of the Common Era. When Pastor Joel settled on these four Bethlehem personalities as the 2018 Advent focus, I started to imagine what life might well have been like for each one and what their hopes and aspirations might have been. Pastor Joel invites you to consider this foursome as an entrée to good stewardship and as a child-friendly aspect of this Christmas story. I would like to draw a different picture, one that is darker and more complex, but still touching on the deepest desires of these four imagined voices. As I said above, I have no idea what actually happened to the residents of Bethlehem at the time of this Roman census. Exegetes, historians and archeologists can only tell us so much. But I can guess what the people of Israel wanted more than anything else: a person who would liberate them from political oppression, dire poverty, rigid religious prescriptions and destructive social norms. I can never read the New Testament and not consider how all its lessons apply to the world today; sadly, for many around the world, some of these oppressive systems have not changed in the least. Death still abounds. Jesus life and teachings still struggle to have an impact on human nature. Perhaps you can imagine the words of some of these poems in the mouths of acquaintances in your neighborhood or at work or school. There are four themes in these four poems: crucifixion, salvation, communion and charity. I don t need to tell you where they are, I am not a sufficiently good poet to hide them for only the most skilled readers. They are, however, four critical tools in Jesus toolbox, available universally at all times. My expectation is that SUMC members who read these poems and hear these anthems today will have a range of reactions some might be unhappy because there are no cherubic angels and fluffy animals in a warm, rustic stable. Some of you also, I hope, will try to imagine just how important this way out of desperation may have been for the common people of Jesus day and what they might have said about Jesus arrival. Please weigh the lyrics and decide for yourself whether I am on the mark or way off. Either way, I am proud, as always, about how seriously our musicians have taken Rob s anthem and mine and prepared them to their best ability. No matter what you think about the message, never fail to praise the messengers who work so hard! Kevin Murphy, AAGO
Welcome, Guests! Sudbury United Methodist Church December 9, 2018 Are you visiting Sudbury UMC today? Welcome! If you have time after worship, please pause in the narthex to meet our pastor and a few of our church s leaders. If you have time for a longer visit, enjoy coffee and conversation in Hawes Hall, just past The Columns, on the south end of our facility. We hope you enjoy your visit and invite you to come back as soon as you can! Be a Bethlehem Giver - It s Time to Pledge Your Support! Pledge materials can be found in the baskets at the center aisle end of each pew. The Stewardship and Finance Committee urges a generous pledge to fully support Sudbury UMC in 2019. exciting worship and music that challenge us to live the Reign of God Jesus preached a talented and dedicated staff doing so much we sometimes forget most are part-time. outreach to those in need, Habitat for Humanity, prison miniseries, Dominica, food pantries, social justice to inspire us, and connectional mission shares 49% for New England Conference administration and 51% to global and local missions. Giving to participate in what God is doing through Sudbury UMC is exciting and inspirational! It s a lot more than plowing snow and paying gas bills although it s nice to be safe and warm! PLEASE PLEDGE BEFORE CHRISTMAS WITH A GENEROUS HEART Christmas Services at Sudbury UMC Sunday, December 23 at 9:30 a.m. Fourth Sunday of Advent Davison Chapel After lighting the Advent wreath s fourth candle and meeting the baker, Rev. Cho-Kim will preach Welcoming the Upside-Down Kingdom of God. 10:30 a.m. - Children s Pageant - Sanctuary This annual tradition is beloved by young, old, and in-between. The story of Jesus birth blends carols, dance, and surprises intentional and whimsical! Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve at 6:00 p.m. Moravian Lovefeast Sanctuary Since New Testament times, Christians have shared agape meals. Moravian Christians revived the 1 st century Lovefeast 300 years ago. Our gathering will include cookies and cider, carols, and beeswax candles trimmed with frills. 8:00 p.m. - Service of Carols and Candles, Word and Table - Sanctuary Sing beloved carols, enjoy special choral and instrumental music, hear Pastor Joel s Christmas Eve sermon, It s Jesus Birthday but the Gift Is for You, celebrate Holy Communion, and take part in this year s traditional candlelight rendition of Silent Night. No wonder everybody calls it, O Holy Night!
Where Is the Rest Room? A unisex rest room is located in the southeast corner of the narthex, behind the back row of pews on the pulpit side of the sanctuary. The next closest rest room is located just past the side door of the sanctuary near the pulpit and three steps up. Is There a Room for Children during Sunday Worship Services? Infants and toddlers are welcome in worship. Parents with young children may also visit our Family Room with visual and aural access to the sanctuary. Stairs in the northwest corner of the narthex lead up to a cozy room furnished with sofas, toys, and children s books. If Our Shopping Cart Could Talk Sudbury UMC Is a Nut Free Zone! Donations made to the shopping cart in the narthex are delivered to Open Table, our partner in Maynard. If our shopping cart could talk, it would give a polite Thank You! to all who visit. Or, it might drop hints like, I always need solid white tuna in cans, spaghetti sauce in jars, mixed vegetables in cans, pineapple in cans, raisins, dried beans in bags, bread crumbs, condensed milk, rice pilaf, and instant coffee. Several Sunny Hill preschoolers and staff members have dangerous allergies to nut products and coconut oil. Do not bring food products or soaps containing tree nuts into the church and remember that coconut oil in kitchen cleaners and lotions can be lethal. Thank you! Stephen Ministers Offer a Listening Ear Loneliness, sadness, and anxiety sometimes increase as the holidays approach. Do you know someone who could benefit from a listening ear? Sudbury UMC s Stephen Ministers are available to offer support. To ask about starting a relationship, speak to Pastor Joel or Lori Granger. To pray with a Stephen Minister today, knock on the O Reilly Room door after worship. Thursday Bible Study Welcomes Newcomers Sudbury UMC s Thursday Bible study welcomes new participants. Meetings take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays at Panera Bread located at 21 Andrew Avenue in Wayland s Town Center, two miles from Sudbury UMC! Each week s focus text is next Sunday s sermon passage. Remember to bring your Bible and a few dollars for something warm to sip. Show Your Thanks Donate to the Staff Christmas Gift We at Sudbury UMC have so much to be thankful for this holiday season...especially our staff! What are you most thankful for? Our music program; the youth program; Sunday school; Magic Years; building maintenance; office management; financial planning; pastoral leadership and care? The Staff Parish Relations Committee invites you to show your thankfulness to the staff at this time of year. Checks may be made out to Sudbury UMC, with Staff Gift in the memo line, and included with your Sunday morning offering or mailed to the church office.
All Aboard the SUMC Express! Today s Church School lesson for kids from age three through Grade 5 will begin after Children s Time in worship. This morning s class will focus on the meaning of Jesus name and his role as Savior and Emmanuel. Would you like to help? Email Eric Magnuson at eric@sudbury-umc.org. Join the Conspiracy Let s Take back Christmas. Advent Conspiracy Opportunities for 2018: Sunday, Dec.9: Christmas Party at Pathways Family Shelter (4:00-5:30 p.m.) Celebrate the season at Pathways, 248 Edgell Road in Framingham, with 14 families. Christmas cards, crafts, glue, stickers, and glitter plus cookie decorating and food! Contact Libby Hampton at 617-893-0090. Saturday, Dec. 15: Christmas Party at Musketaquid Village (3:00-4:30 p.m.) Let s meet at 55 Hudson Road, just down the street from church, to share tasty treats, play Christmas trivia, and visit with friends. Choir members will lead festive songs. Contact: Brad Stayton 617-460-3816. Sunday, Dec. 16: Christmas Party at Home Suites Family Shelter (1:00-3:00 p.m.) Let s share Christmas cheer at 455 Totten Pond Road in Waltham) where 90 families - and 100+ kids are living temporarily. Christmas card crafts, cookie decorating, and seasonal tattoos plus lots of cider and treats add to the fun. Contact Jeannette D Alessandro at 617-462-4343. Tuesday, Dec. 18: Caroling at Open Table (5:30-6:30 p.m.) Join the carol sing at Open Table, 33 Main Street in Maynard, while guests share a meal. Contact Brad Stayton at 617-460-3816. Saturday, Dec. 22: Christmas Caroling Flash Mob at Sudbury Farms (4:00-5:00 p.m.) Dress festively to surprise unsuspecting shoppers at Sudbury Farms, 439 Boston Post Road in Sudbury. Contact Brad Stayton at 617-460-3816. Sunday, Dec. 23: Caroling at Deaconess Abundant Life Center (12:00-1:15 p.m.) Carols at Deaconess Abundant Life, 80 Deaconess Road in Concord. Contact: Brad Stayton 617-460-3816. Wanted: Interim Director of Christian Education Are you a teacher, retired or active? Can you help Sudbury UMC bridge the gap from the beginning of 2019 till the end of the school year? If your answer to either of those questions is Yes, the Staff- Parish Relations Committee would like to talk with you! Due to the resignation of Eric Magnuson, the SPRC, working with the Christian Education Commission, is searching for an interim director. This half-time position includes organizing the curriculum for Church School classes, recruiting volunteers, and keeping weekly records. If you have five months to give to Sudbury UMC, please contact Sherry Stonebraker at sstoneb@aol.com or 978-568-1596 no later than December 14. Readings for Daily Prayer The newest Upper Room booklets are available in the narthex. Help yourself to a free copy for your daily devotional readings. Or access it online by clicking: https://www.upperroom.org/
Magic Years on December 13, 2018 My Soul Magnifies the Lord On Thursday, December 13, the Rev. Cindy Maybeck will present a storytelling program for Magic Years in Hawes Hall. Lunch will begin at 12:00 p.m. followed by "My Soul Magnifies the Lord." Rev. Maybeck blends Bible stories about Jesus' birth with Christmas stories and carols to awaken the Christmas spirit. To RSVP email Rev. Cho-Kim at pastorchokim@sudbury-umc.org or 978-443-4351. Two More Advent Soup Suppers and Programs On Wednesdays in Advent December 12 and 19 come to Hawes Hall at 6:00 p.m. for a simple meal of soup, bread, and veggies hosted by the Membership and Community Life Commission. After supper, Advent worship will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Davison Chapel. Also available will be classes for children, teens, and adults. Programming ends at 7:15 p.m. Here are the choices: Advent Conspiracy led by Pastor Cho-Kim in the O Reilly Room, this class will dig into the weekly themes of the Advent Conspiracy: December 12 - Spend Less and Give More; December 19 - Generous Giving for Mission. The Advent Conspiracy redirects the time and effort we put into Christmas on Jesus. Advent Contemplation Pastor Joel, Kevin Murphy, and Rob Hammerton will lead worship in Davison Chapel that includes lighting the Advent candles and singing Advent chants and hymns from monastic traditions in Salisbury, England, and Taizé, France. After each week s scripture readings, participants may reflect while seated in silence or while walking the labyrinth. Davison Chapel in candlelight is a special place! Give it a try! Advent Candle Themes Zack Moser will lead teens in the Youth Room. Videos from The Bible Project will explore key words in biblical Greek and Hebrew to find layers of meaning often lost by Bible translations. Videos correspond to the prior Sunday s Advent candle: December 12 - Joy (Chara); and December 19: Love and Hope (Agape and Yakhal). After each class, teens will compete in an Advent Carpetball Tournament. Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam for kids in grades five and younger, Wendy Guillemette will introduce some of the givers who lived in Bethlehem when Jesus was born: December 12 - The Shepherd; December 19: The Baker. The Christmas story comes alive as children learn about the job each giver did in the village of Bethlehem and how that job gave back to the wider community. Advent Soup Supper Sign-Up to Help in Hawes Hall The Membership and Community Life Commission invites you to volunteer for one or both of this year s remaining Advent Soup Suppers: December 12 and 19. Homemade soup, bread, fruit, vegetables, juice, coffee and tea are needed. Set-up and clean-up, too. Sign-up after worship today in Hawes Hall. Questions? Contact Oscar Harrell at 978-443-3821 or owhtwo@msn.com.