Wellesley Congregational Church United Church of Christ The First Sunday of Advent December 2, 2012
ORDER OF WORSHIP December 2, 2012 9:00 am Welcome to First Worship! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of God, who calls us to be here together to rejoice in God s glorious presence. Welcome to children of all ages to all the children of God, each one of us. If you are an old friend or here for the first time, we welcome you. Our worship is an intergenerational experience and we want children to feel fully included. Children are welcome to pick up an activity bag and to bring snacks to their seats. We remember that worship offers us all a special place to be with God. In this space we talk a little more softly and walk a little more quietly. We are listening for God. PRELUDE RINGING THE HOUR WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP Jocelyn Gardner Spencer OPENING SONG O, Beautiful Darkness REFRAIN: O, beautiful darkness. O, comforting darkness. (repeat) The arms of darkness hold us, Revealing now how dear we are. REFRAIN Enfold us and hold us. Inform us, transform us. REFRAIN Surround us, all around us, And hold our light, like sky to star. REFRAIN
CALL TO CONFESSION ONFESSION Would You Harbor Me Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you? (repeat) PRAYER OF CONFESSION WORDS OF ASSURANCE LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE OF HOPE *P *PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST *S *SUNG RESPONSE Soon and Very Soon
SCRIPTURE SERMON SERMON RESPONSE Luke 1: 1-25 Waiting For A Turn O Come O Come Emmanuel Kathy Musser
OFFERING Invitation Offertory God Help The Outcasts Lori Bruce SETTING THE TABLE INVITATION TO THE TABLE Fellow Traveler
*C *COMMUNION PRAYER AND THE LORD ORD 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen. *W *WORDS OF INSTITUTION *S *SHARING THE GIFTS OF BREAD AND CUP *P *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING HANKSGIVING Break Not the Circle Break not the circle of enabling love, where people grow, forgiven and forgiving; break not that circle, make it wider still, till it includes, embraces all the living. *B *BENEDICTION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TODAY S NOTES Pastoral Care If you have any pastoral needs or know of any in the Village Church family, please call Kathy Musser 781-235-1988 x14. The Chancel flowers are given today by Libby Bachman in celebration of the first Sunday of Advent and in honor of Bob s 90th birthday on December 6. Fellowship Hour and H.O.M.E. Store After First Worship and 10 am Worship in Village Common Enjoy your coffee while shopping at the H.O.M.E. Craft Store, which supports low income craftspeople in rural Maine.
Providing hospitality today are members of the Church Mom s Group. Please take a moment to thank them. Healing Prayer 11:15 am, Burtt Chapel One of the pastors will be in Burtt Chapel for laying on of hands and anointing with oil, if you like, or you may use this time of quiet and music to pray silently, or write your prayer to be prayed by the pastors when they meet together. Join us to experience the gift of healing prayer. Call to Congregational Meeting 11:30 am, Sanctuary At this meeting, Church Council will present a motion to the congregation to: a) Call the members of the Search Committee for the position of Associate Pastor b) Charge them to find a replacement for Kathy Musser's position. Notice of Congregational Hearings 11:30 am, Sanctuary The first Hearing will review the realignment of the church governance structure that has been in place over the past two years. The final motion to formally adopt the new church governance structure will be presented at a Congregational Meeting on December 16, 2012. The second Hearing will review the proposed changes to our Bylaws that bring the Bylaws up to date and incorporate the new church governance structure. The final motion to accept the changes to the Bylaws will be presented at a Congregational Meeting on December 16, 2012. You are cordially invited to attend one, or both, of these hearings to review the proposals, ask questions and offer your comments. Cherub Choir Rehearsal 11:15 am, 2 nd floor Cherub Choir Room Rehearsal today for all children in Kindergarten, First and Second grades. There will also be a rehearsal at 11:15 am on December 9 in preparation for December 16 performance. Advent Labyrinth Walk from 2-4 pm, Burtt Chapel In this season of Advent, we remember Mary s own journey of waiting and pondering. We invite you to come and walk with her as your own entry into this nurturing season. How wonderful it will be to invoke her presence among us as we walk the replica of the labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral in France. Our walk will be accompanied by music by the Voci Angelica trio. In this walk, we are also hosting friends in the wider community, as well as members of the Labyrinth Guild of New England, whose new canvas labyrinth we will be dedicating at the beginning of our time together. Come and join us! 7th & 8th Grade Youth Group 5 pm, Youth Room High School Youth Group 7 pm, Youth Room For information about youth programs, contact Pam Emslie at 781.235.1988 x15 or pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. BULLETIN NOTES A Gentle Reminder To Make Your Pledge for 2013 If you have already made yours, thank you for your continued support of Wellesley Village Church. There are several options to help you make your pledge. You can pledge online at www.wellesleyvillagechurch.org/about-us/stewardship, you can mail your pledge card, or you can call your pledge in to church accountant, Barbara Kucich, at 781-235-1988 x 18. The Village Church Moms : Dinner with Martin Copenhaver Monday, December 3, 7 pm at the home of Tracy Accardi
This casual, 'come when you can group, welcomes moms of all ages for monthly get-togethers away from the family, usually for a dinner in someone's home or a restaurant, or perhaps for a service opportunity. If you are interested in joining us, email Lyanne Cochi at m-lcochi@comcast.net. Blue Christmas Thursday, December 6, 7:30 pm in Burtt Chapel The season of Advent and Christmas is not always a joyous time. It can be a time when we are most aware of our sorrows, our hurts, our need for healing. We invite you to bring all your blues to a time of worship and healing as we wait together in the darkness for the Light that has promised to come. All are welcome. Village Church Youth & Junior Choirs Performances: December 9: Youth Choir, 10 am service Rehearsal Dates: Youth Choir: December 5, 6:15 pm; December 9, 9 am Junior Choir: December 9, 11:15 am 4 pm Family Christmas Eve Service Pageant Sign-Ups Pageant sign-up sheets are posted in the rotation and preschool hallways or you may feel free to sign up via email to Michaela@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. All children are invited to participate. There is one mandatory rehearsal, Saturday, December 15, 10 am to Noon. The Church Needs Your Gifts and Talents This is the season of Thanksgiving and a time when we thank God for all the gifts and talents with which we have been blessed. What better way to use these gifts and talents than to share them with the church. This is the time of the year when we are seeking out members to fill the many open slots in the ministries of Worship, Community, Service, Sharing and Learning. There are opportunities in Finance, Properties, Human Resources and Nominating. If you are interested in serving this coming year, please contact us for more information at wccnominating@gmail.com, or call Ken Chaulk, Chair of Nominating at 781-237-2594. Alternative Christmas Fair Sunday, December 9, 10 am to Noon The Alternative Christmas Fair accomplishes two wonderful goals simultaneously: it allows you to purchase meaningful gifts for the special people on your Christmas gift list AND it helps worthwhile organizations that are doing so much good in the world. Watch for the list of organizations participating this year, think about who on your list would be honored to receive a card saying that a donation had been made in his or her name for Christmas to that organization. Then attend the fair and visit the table displays of the organizations and make your incredibly personal and meaningful purchases. Rosie s Place Volunteers Needed We are still looking for volunteers to shop, cook and serve for Rosie s Place a women's shelter in Boston during the first weekend of every month. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for families, groups of friends, youth groups, or individuals. So whether you are considering this opportunity for the first time or the 50th, we encourage you to sign up. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the Central Street Lobby. Email Lisa Weinstock (leweinstock@gmail.com) or Jane Amara (amarajf@yahoo.com) with any questions. Christmas Wrappers Needed Chaplains On The Way needs volunteers to help wrap Christmas gifts for 150 children from a homeless family shelter in Waltham. The toys will be delivered to the church the week prior to Christmas. Definite dates/times to be announced. We will probably need to wrap gifts over a period of 2-3 days. Any time you can donate will be appreciated. Please contact Sally Chaulk at 781-237-2594 or e-mail at sbchaulk@verizon.net. NWW Holiday Gifts
The NWW s annual holiday party for adults with developmental disabilities will be held Wednesday, December 12 at Grace Church in Newton. Members of the Village Church Confirmation class will serve as hosts at this popular event. Traditionally our congregation has provided small gifts to be given to each of the sixty guests including calendars, videos, costume jewelry, hats, scarves, gloves, wallets, soap, key rings and more. If you would like to make a donation, please have women s gifs wrapped in red, men s gifts wrapped in green and unisex gifts wrapped in blue. Gifts should be brought to the church by Sunday, December 9 and placed in the designated box in the Cloister. For more information email Judy Mongiardo at jmongiardo@earthlink.net.
Childcare During First Worship Childcare is available during First Worship for Infants through Age 5 in the Infant Room located upstairs just outside the sanctuary on the main floor. What s happening at 10 am in Church School today? Kindergarten students and younger will be welcomed in their classrooms before 10 am worship begins. The Infant/ Toddler Room is located on the main floor just outside the Sanctuary to the left of the Chancel. 2 year olds through Kindergarten classrooms are located on the upper floor. Children should be picked up promptly at the conclusion of worship. Grades 1-8 will worship with their parents until it is time for class, as indicated in the bulletin. At that time, Grades 1 5 will meet at the signs downstairs in Village Hall and proceed to the following classrooms for a special activity. This week... Grade 1: Storyteller s Tent Grade 2: Science Room Grade 3: Fishes & Loaves Cafe Grade 4: Village Hall Grade 5: Artisan s Market Grades 6, 7 & 8 will meet in the art studio for the art mural workshop. The activity for Grades 1-8 will conclude at 11:15 or the end of worship whichever is later. Students in Grades 3 and below should be met by their parents in Village Hall. The Family Room is available for parents who aren t quite ready to leave their infants and toddlers in childcare. In this room, parents will be able to listen to the worship service while their child naps or plays. This room is located upstairs beyond the library. WELLESLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Martin B. Copenhaver Senior Pastor The Rev. Kathleen E. Musser Associate Pastor The Rev. Pamela H. Emslie Associate Pastor The Rev. Christina L. Braudaway-Bauman Associate Pastor The Rev. Daniel P. Cooperrider Pastoral Resident The Rev. Jocelyn B. Gardner Spencer Pastoral Resident Michaela F. McDonald Director of Children s Ministries David R. Carrier Director of Music Dr. Kevin J. McDonald Director of Youth Music Jodi M. Hitzhusen Music Director of First Worship Erin I. Donato Church Administrator Fred H. Edling Financial Administrator Tricia T. Kibbe IT and Administrative Coordinator Donald S. Banks Sexton Dolphe Richard Assistant to the Sexton Gerardo Ortiz Assistant to the Sexton 2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 781.235.1988 wellesleyvillagechurch.org An Open and Affirming Congregation of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST