The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, Connecticut (860) 434-8686 Website: www.fccol.org
SUNDAY WORSHIP Second Sunday In Advent Steven R. Jungkeit, Senior Minister Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager, Senior Associate Minister Carleen R. Gerber, Associate Minister Simon D. Holt, Director of Music December 9, 2018 Prelude Introit: The Angel Gabriel, Basque Carol *Processional Hymn: #129 Of Eternal Love Begotten *Call to Worship: We come together in these days of shortening light. We look to God to light our mornings and our evenings. We come seeking renewed joy. We must look now to each other for our spirits to be improved. We come carrying gifts along with the burdens of the year. We now look within to bring tidings of great joy. *Invocation *The Lord s Prayer Welcome and News of the Church Advent Wreath Lighting *Unison Reading: 11:00 AM arr. Malcolm Archer Ann Perry and Dana Dixon It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life; *Gloria Patri: (#36 in hymnal) Scripture: Luke 1:57-58, 67, 76-80 (NT pgs. 54-55) *Hymn: #119 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Pastoral Prayer ~Alan Boesak, Advent Credo
Pastoral Prayer Response: Spirit of the Living God Offertory Invitation Offertory Anthem: How Beautiful Upon the Mountains John Stainer *Doxology: 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 *Offertory Prayer Sermon: RESTLESS CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE, PART II MAPPING THE LANDSCAPE OF LOVE The Rev. Dr. Steven R. Jungkeit *Hymn: #115 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People Benediction Benediction Response: This Is the Truth Sent From Above Soloist, Lisa Feltes Postlude *Congregation Standing arr. R. Vaughan Williams
We thank you for worshipping with us. Following the life and teachings of Jesus, we are a church that strives to be a place of grace, welcoming all regardless of theological expression, age, race, gender, sexual identity, national origin or financial means. In our Church Constitution we recognize that each member shall have the undisturbed right to follow the word of God according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, established in 1665, cherishes this proud Pilgrim tradition. We are honored by your presence among us, and we invite you to help us become what we endeavor to be. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The flowers this morning are given by Tammy Algar and Family in loving memory of Joseph Brennan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The deacon on duty is Don Gonci. The hosts for fellowship hour this morning are Carolyn and Bill Fish. Childcare is available every Sunday morning in the nursery downstairs at the 9 AM service. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We were grateful this morning at our 9:00 am service for our Children s Choir: Julia Clark, Avi Hall, Bettina Kiakiza, Kelton Jarvis, Lillian Jarvis, Sabina Jungkeit, Elsa Jungkeit, Ella Kiem and Taylor Quintin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are visiting us for worship this morning, we welcome you, and invite you to join us in Fellowship Hall for fellowship and refreshments. We invite you to pick up a Welcome packet, which can be found in the vestibule. We hope this information will be helpful in acquainting you with our church and its activities and programs. Quiet Activity Bags for young children are in the vestibule. They are colorful bags with quiet projects for our youngest members. Please feel free to offer these bags to your children. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Rev. David W. Good serves as our Minister Emeritus. The Rev. Rebecca T. Crosby is our Minister for Haitian Outreach. Large print versions of the bulletin are available from the ushers
Adult Forums Today's Adult Forum: Write a Letter, Save a Life IN FELLOWSHIP HALL. All are invited to join our local high school Amnesty International group in observance of International Human Rights Week and sign letters of support in opposition to some of the world s worse human rights abuses. Our voices can join those of millions around the world in helping to end these abuses. Letters will be provided and refreshments will be served. It takes just a few minutes to make a big difference, so please make plans to join us. All are welcome! December 16: Carleen, Simon Holt and some choir members will conduct their always popular annual program on Handel s Messiah. Bible Study Becky Crosby will continue the study on Paul from last year and strive to answer the question, "What happened to Christianity after Paul's death? To guide our study, we will read the book by Bart Ehrman, "The Triumph of Christianity: How a Forbidden Religion Swept the World." All are welcome (no need to have studied Paul with us last year). We will meet every Thursday, through December 20, and January 3 & 10 in the Library. Bring a Bible if you have one. If not, we have one for you! Contemplative Prayer Circle It doesn t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don t try to make them elaborate, this isn t a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak. --Mary Oliver. Join us on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:00 pm for a time of deep listening for the Spirit moving within and among us. We ll explore different prayer practices over the weeks including lectio divina, centering prayer, music and meditation. Dates: "Contemplative Prayer in Advent" Wednesday nights: 6:30-7:00 pm in the Hoag Parlor on December 12th and December 19th. Book Group New Meeting Time! We will gather on Tuesday, January 15 th at 11:00 am in the library to conclude discussion of The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness by Rabbi Rami Shapiro. Our New Book, Almost Everything: Notes on Hope by Anne Lamott, will be discussed on January 22 nd and 29 th at 11:00 am. All Welcome! Led by Martha and Laura. Annual Reports From Boards and Committees are due Monday, January 7, 2019. The Annual Meeting is Sunday, January 27, 2019, after the 11:00 AM service.
There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. -John Holmes We depend upon one another and there are those who depend upon us. During our 2019 Stewardship Campaign, please faithfully consider how your investment can sustain and grow the extraordinary ministries and missions of this church and strengthen the blessings of interdependence that we receive from our Mission partnerships. Children s Choir Join us on Wednesdays, 5:00 to 5:45 pm, in the Sheffield Auditorium. We welcome all children to this lively group of musicians. Ladies Who Stitch Don t miss our sales events! We want to be your gift supplier! Our creations will be available at the All-Church Christmas Open House. We reconvene on December Mondays. We continue to collect reusable shopping bags for the Shoreline Food Pantry. Questions: email Eunice at eunicetaylor@me.com. Caregiver s Group: A Special Caregiver Group will meet on Friday, December 21st: A Room of One's Own: Caregiving through the Holidays, the Hoag Parlor at 10:00 am. Led by Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager. Annual Pop-up Holiday Store in Old Saybrook This Christmas you can buy truly one-of-a-kind gifts that support our partnership artists who need your help. Our shop featuring Tribal Crafts, Haitian art, and Palestinian goods is located at 264 Main Street in Old Saybrook (the former Southern Exposure). We are open on Fridays and Saturdays 11-6, and Sundays 12-5 through Christmas.
All-Church Christmas Open House Friday December 14th 5:00-7:00 PM Join us for fellowship and some light fare with a glass of cider or wine. Maybe shop a bit from church artisans and partnership committees. Take some time to sing the traditional carols of the season with our choir. Stop by briefly or stay the entire time! Fellowship Hall will be beautifully trimmed for the season as we gather with our church friends. You are welcome to bring your children to Sheffield Auditorium for some supervised fun while you relax with the big kids in Fellowship Hall! No need to RSVP, but please do stop by! Tree of Life Educational Fund will be holding another Journey informational meeting in the FCCOL library TODAY from just after 10:00 a.m. until just before 11:00 a.m. Our Mothers of a New Creation Journey to Israel/Palestine will be March 12-23 with an optional extension to Jordan March 23-26. This journey will have a special focus on the role of women, past and present, who by their love, courage, resilience and determination endeavor to make their communities a place where all God's children might learn to live together in peace. Please come to learn more and to consider joining us on this trip of a lifetime! Today in God s Neighborhood we will hear about Lucia, who carried the light, and hear about the tradition of doing good things for others. We will do crafts and projects. Everyone Welcome! Please Join Us! Today, Sunday, Dec. 9, immediately following 9:00 a.m. Worship Service, children in our Sunday School program will gather in the Sheffield Auditorium at 10:00 am to create holiday gifts for the special people in their lives. A pizza lunch and healthy snacks will be provided. Parents may pick up their children at 2:00 p.m. Thanks! December 16 Annual Christmas Pageant. It s almost here! Join us at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16, in the Meeting House for a special Christmas Pageant put on by our Sunday School students. It s not to be missed! (All Sunday School students are welcome to participate. Participating students will need to be at the church at 2:30 p.m. A snack will be provided for them after the rehearsal.)
CHRISTMAS SEASON SCHEDULE DECEMBER 16 Sunday 5:00 PM ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PAGEANT (Rehearsal at 2:30 pm) MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 CHRISTMAS EVE THE LIVING MANGER 5:00 PM Service for families with young children 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM CANDLELIGHT SERVICE OF LESSONS & CAROLS CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE MEMORIAL MUSIC & FLOWERS If you would like to make a contribution to our special Christmas Eve music and flowers in memory of a loved one, please leave a message at the church office, <fccol@fccol.org> or 860-434-8686 by Monday, December 10th. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30 TH ONE SERVICE ONLY AT 11 AM & No Sunday School. Sunday Memorial Flowers December 30th is open for Sunday Memorial Flowers. Please contact Gisele Perry at 860-382-3115 for more information. Calendar of Events and Meetings for This Week Sunday School TODAY at 9:00 am. Gifts Made With Love TODAY at 10:00 am in the Sheffield Auditorium. Tree of Life Travelers Information Meeting TODAY at 10:00 am in the Library. Ladies Who Stitch Monday, December 10th at 10:00 am in the Sheffield Auditorium. Property Committee Tuesday, December 11th at 6:30 pm in the Library. Board of Stewardship Tuesday, December 11th at 7:00 pm in Steve s office. Board of Trustees Tuesday, December 11th at 7:30 pm in the Library. Poetry Group W ednesday, December 12th at 4:00 pm in the Hoag Parlor. Children s Choir W ednesday, December 12th at 5:00 pm in the Sheffield Auditorium. Tree of Life Travelers Meeting W ednesday, December 12th at 6:00 pm in the Library. Contemplative Prayer Circle W ednesday, December 12th at 6:30 pm in Hoag Parlor. Senior Choir W ednesday, December 12th at 7:30 pm in the Sheffield Auditorium. Bible Study Thursday, December 13th at 10:45 am in the Library. All-Church Christmas Open House Friday, December 14th, 5-7:00 pm in Fellowship Hall.