SALEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1500 North Main Higginsville, Missouri web page: salemucchigginsville.org
December 2, 2018 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT THE GATHERING MUSIC BEFORE WORSHIP 10:30 a.m. * PROCESSIONAL HYMN Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus No. 124 WELCOME: No matter who you are or where you are in your life s journey, you are welcome here. A blessed Advent to you! Today as we worship, we begin the season of anticipation, hope and preparation for the coming Messiah. Welcome. NEWS OF THE CONGREGATION ADDRESSING OURSELVES TO GOD RINGING OF THE BELL Piano Prelude "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" arr. Lindberg * CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: People of faith, prepare for the coming reign of Christ! People: As we gather to pray and sing and listen, a spirit of anticipation and hope fills us. Leader: The days are surely coming, says Our God, when justice and righteousness will prevail. People: May our worship illuminate our hearts and minds, freeing us to respond joyfully to God s call in the days to come. * INVOCATION (Unison) Holy Source of life and hope, as we come together this day, open our ears to hear, open our eyes to see, and open our hearts to love, that we may come to know your ways and follow your paths. Help us grow in love for one another, and for all creation, as we prepare for the coming of the one who calls us to turn from our false gods to you, Holy One, the true source of our salvation and healing. Amen. 1
LIGHTING OF THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE: HOPE (Elders) Jeremiah 33: 14-16, Luke 21: 25-36 Leader: The light is surely coming! People: Its rays reaching out to illuminate injustice and oppression. Leader: With hope we watch for new growth to be coaxed from the earth. People: With anticipation we wait for the branch of mercy to shed its lifelessness and sprout new fruit. Leader: We open our hands to be bearers of Christ s light in the world. People: We open our hearts to be transformed with the promise of possibility that is to come. Leader: As we light this candle, the candle of Hope, we pray that it will brighten our path, that our steps inside this church might align with our steps outside in the world. People: We await the son of God! Prayer *GLORIA PATRI No. 623 MISSION MOMENT Paige Goetz and Judi Knipmeyer HEARING AND RESPONDING TO THE WORD MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES Judi Knipmeyer YOUTH CHOIR "Jesus is the Light" MacDonald HYMN Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light No. 129 (Please write your joys and concerns on the card and hand it to the usher during the hymn) JOYS AND CONCERNS Preparation for prayer PASTORAL PRAYER, THE LORD S PRAYER ( debts and debtors words in hymn No. 426) 2
MORNING OFFERING Offertory "In the Bleak Midwinter" arr. Thompson *Doxology No. 625 *Dedication Prayer *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle s Creed (Printed inside back cover of Hymnal) CHANCEL CHOIR "Let There Be Light" PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING MacDonald SCRIPTURE READING Luke 21: 25-36 (N.T. p. 80) SERMON Hearts Weighed down Tommy THE SENDING *HYMN How Firm a Foundation No. 275 *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE "O Thou Joyful" arr. Thompson The Worship Service is over and our Service begins. *Indicates please stand if you are able to do so **************************************** Leading Worship Today: Rev. Dr. Tommy L. Faris Pastor Stanton Thompson Liturgist Jamie Smith Substitute Organist/Music Director Maddie McDowell Acolyte GREETING YOU TODAY ARE: North Door: Senior High Sunday School South Door: Senior High Sunday School IN OUR PRAYERS: Charles Cole, is hospitalized at Center Point Medical Center. Bill Wallpe, has a malignant tumor on his left kidney. He will have surgery to remove his kidney on December 31, 2018, at North Kansas City Hospital. Arthur Thaller, is recovering at Meyer Care Center. Pearl Luehrman, is receiving weekly cancer treatment at KU. Al Dieckhoff, is recovering at Meyer Care Center. Gene Starke, is recovering at Meyer Care Center. 3
BAPTIZED TODAY AT THE 8:30 SERVICE: Kai Charles Rechterman, son of Jon and Kali (MacLean) Rechterman. Kai s big sister is Maclyn. Kai s Godparents are Tim MacLean and Dave MacLean. His grandparents are Jeff and Denise Kirchhoff, Jerry and Vici MacLean, and Jeff and Barbara Rechterman. ANNOUNCEMENTS: VOLUNTEERS: Everyone who is willing to help in setting up the stage for the Christmas Program, please meet in the sanctuary after the 10:30 worship service. Any and all help is appreciated! Women s Fellowship Circle Schedules for December Esther Circle December 5, 11:30 a.m., meet at JKVE Main Office. Ruth Circle December 5, Noon., at The Belarussian Baker, hostess Arlene Long. Eve Circle December 4, 6:00 p.m., at Mary Homfeld s home, Christmas Pot Luck bring a Christmas memory to share. Meet at Salem, 5:45 p.m., to share rides. Children's Christmas Program The Christmas Program will be next Sunday, December 9th during the 10:30 worship Service. The name of the Play is "A Bedtime Christmas Story: Twas The Night Before Christmas" POINSETTIAS: We will appreciate having poinsettias in church again this Christmas. If you wish to place a plant in memory of someone, please notify the church secretary (584-3603) by Wednesday, December 19, so that she can print it in the church bulletin. Be sure your name is on the plant that you bring. Please leave it in the fellowship hall on the stage by Thursday, December 20, or by noon on Friday, December 21, (Please do not bring the poinsettias before these dates), the flower committee will place the plants in the sanctuary. You may collect your poinsettia after the Christmas Eve Service. 4
COOKIES NEEDED: Anyone willing to make a dozen or so cookies for the Children's Christmas Program Reception, please drop them off in the office during the week of December 2nd through the 9th. Thank you! YOM COOKIE/BAKE SALE: Do you need some yummy, homemade cookies and/or baked goodies this holiday season? Our annual cookie/bake sale will be held after BOTH worship services on Sunday, December 16 th in the Fellowship Hall, and as in the past, you may fill a box (or more!) and make a donation to Youth on Mission at that time. Can t make it to our cookie/bake sale that day? Call Amy Goetz at 660-641-2406 to place your order and it will be delivered to you! ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS: Are available in the back of the sanctuary and outside the church office. 2019 ENVELOPES are available in the Fellowship Hall. ANGEL TREE: The Angel Tree is up and decorated so you can choose the tag or tags you wish to buy for. Buy and wrap the gifts, returning them with the tags number side up, no later than Monday, December 10, at noon. Please do not feel obligated to buy everything on the wish list. Whatever you choose to give will be appreciated. Stuart Starke Mission Scholarship Announcement: The Board of Christian Education and Youth on Mission are excited to announce Paige Goetz as our first recipient of the Stuart Starke Mission Scholarship, which will cover 2/3 of the cost of her trip in the summer of 2019. During worship today, Paige will use a mission moment to explain her efforts to fund-raise the other 1/3 of her expenses and how you can help. 5
Christmas Shopping that Changes Lives: During the holiday season, we are bombarded with ads for all sorts of stuff. If you re like most of us, these options rarely fill a NEED; shopping with Fields of Dreams Uganda is different. Throughout the month of December, drop by the Fields of Dreams Uganda table in the worship area, to shop or donate. If you are an online shopper, go to https://hope-marketplace-byfodu.myshopify.com/ to purchase additional beautiful, hand-made items. You may also read about and donate for hygiene kits online at https://www.fieldsofdreamsuganda.org/hhd RIDES FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE: If you need a ride to the Christmas Eve Service please call the church office by Friday, December 21. We will be happy to pick you up! CHRISTMAS EVE COMMUNION AND CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE will be Monday, December 24, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. CHRISTMAS OFFERING ENVELOPES: If you will not be able to attend the Christmas Eve Candle Light Service or you do not have boxed envelopes with the Christmas Eve offering envelope, please use the purple envelopes in the back of the sanctuary marked Christmas Fund. The Christmas Eve offering always goes to a mission. We always send a gift from us to the Christmas Fund (Formerly known as Veterans of the Cross ). YEAR END CHURCH BUSINESS: Please have all church financial contributions and business transactions to the church office by 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 31, 2018. Thank you for your consideration. COMMUNITY NEWS: JKV AND MEYER CARE CENTER BIBLE STUDY: John Knox Village and Meyer Care Center have a weekly Bible Study that is led, on a rotational schedule, by the Ministerial Fellowship. Liz Lindsey (Presbyterian) will be leading during the month of December. The Bible Study is held every Wednesday, 10:15-10:45 a.m. in the Gathering Room. 6
CHORUS OF FRIENDS PRESENTS: Christmas Presence (a Cantata by Pepper Choplin) (Conducted by: Dr. Guy D Aurelio) Performance Schedule: Thursday, December 6, 7:30 p.m., Lexington Immaculate Conception Church Friday, December 7, 7:30 p.m., Waverly Christian Church, Disciples of Christ Saturday, December 8, 4:00 p.m., Corder Zion Lutheran Church Sunday, December 9, 4:00 p.m., Higginsville Immanuel Lutheran Church Saturday, December 15, 4:00 p.m., Lexington Grace Lutheran Church Sunday, December 16, 4:00 p.m., Wellington United Methodist Church FREE CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT THE CHAPEL: The annual Christmas Concert at the Confederate Chapel will be December 9, at 3:00 p.m. The entertainment will be presented by the Warren s Recorder Consort, a musical ensemble based in Warrensburg since 1979. The historic chapel will be decked out in all of its old fashioned finery for the holidays, complete with a twenty foot Christmas tree beautifully decorated with period ornaments. Sponsored by the Confederate Memorial Friends Association TA TRUCK STOP-CONCORDIA COUNTRY PRIDE: Travel Centers of America-Concordia, MO-Country Pride Restaurant has a Church Program! We are offering 10% of your ticket price to be donated back to your local church. All you have to do is come in to dine with us, eat, and inform your server that you would like to participate in the program, give your church s name, your name, and we will take care of the rest! Come see and enjoy our new buffets and get one of our Buffet Punch Cards buy 5, get 1 free! 7
UP COMING DATES: December 9 Second Sunday of Advent Children s Christmas Program December 10 Please have Angel Tree gifts to church December 13 Homebound Communion (In Town) December 14 Homebound Communion (Out of Town) December 16 Third Sunday of Advent Youth on Mission Cookie Sale December 19 Please call Church Office with Poinsettia Information December 21 Please have Poinsettias to church this day by noon December 23 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 24 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candle Light/ Communion Service CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! If your child is most comfortable with you in worship, they are welcome. If you prefer, the nursery room is open and available for parents who would like to take their child there and stay with them. CHURCH INFORMATION Tommy s email: tlfaris@ctcis.net Tommy s cell phone: 816-352-2052 Church Telephone: 660-584-3603, Fax: 660-584-5666 Church Email: salemucc@ctcis.net Church Website: salemucchigginsville.org TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE: Transportation is available to any worship service. Please call the church office (584-3603) to make arrangements. OFFICE HOURS: Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. to Noon & 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. 8
Sunday - Monday - Tuesday - THIS WEEK S EVENTS AT SALEM December 2, thru December 9, 2018 First Sunday of Advent 8:30 a.m. Early Worship (Baptism) 9:15 a.m. Sunday School/Christmas Program Practice 10:30 a.m. Worship Christmas Program Stage Set-up 11:45 a.m. Confirmation 9:00 a.m. Committee on Ministry Meeting 6:00 p.m. Lion s Den 6:00 p.m. Tomorrow s Leaders Photo Pick-up Food Pantry 6:00 p.m. Tiger Den 6:00 p.m. Eve Circle Wednesday 10:30 a.m. Lafayette Area Pastors Meeting 11:30 a.m. Esther Circle Noon Ruth Circle 6:00 p.m. Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. Al-Anon Meeting 7:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal Thursday - Friday - W.I.C. All Day 6:00 p.m. Webelos I 7:00 p.m. Cub Scout Leader Meeting Schools Bringing Food Donations 3:00 p.m. Volunteers Sorting Food Donations Saturday - 9:30 a.m. A. A. Sunday - Second Sunday of Advent 8:30 a.m. Early Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School/Christmas Program Practice 10:30 a.m. Worship (Children s Christmas Program) Reception Following 10:30 a.m. Worship 9
OUR FRIENDS AND CHURCH FAMILY IN CARE FACILITIES: Listed below are our members and friends (at the time of printing of the Bulletin) now residing or recovering at our local and surrounding community nursing homes and care facilities. A card or visit from a church family member would be a delightful surprise! Meyer Care Center, 1201 W. 19th St., Higginsville, MO 64037 Al Dieckhoff Mary Kirchhoff Glenn Nowack Anna Marie Rinne Robert Cobb Souder Gene Starke Earl Struchtemeyer Bob Tankesley Arthur Thaller Lutheran Good Shepherd Home, 202 SW St., Concordia, MO 64020 Winnie Knehans Jake Stoecklin Ann Nuelle Country Oak Village, 101 Cross Creek Drive, Grain Valley, MO 64029 Viola Meinershagen Riverbend Heights Rehab & Health, Lexington Nursing Home, 1221 South Highway 13, Lexington, MO 64067 Mark Gieselman Addington Place of Lee s Summit, 2160 SE Blue Parkway, Lee s Summit, MO 64063 Roberta Summers (Apt. 212) (Roberta s mailing address is Roberta Summers, C/O Carrie Tunison, 1207 SE Brookwood St., Lee s Summit, MO 64063.) 10
UCC Mission Moment Portents of the end of everything doesn t sound much like a Christmas story, does it? This year the lectionary starts Advent off with a bang by not so much predicting an apocalypse but making sure we understand what the signs of its appearance will be. Luke s Gospel tells us that the skies will burst and the countries of the world, all the nations, will be in anguish. People will be anxious and despairing. Everything will be shaken to its core. The next sign, the one that would be hard to miss, according to Luke s Gospel and the book of Daniel, will be Jesus riding on a cloud and shining with all his glory. You would especially pay attention if you saw this because, according to this Gospel, it would signal the entrance of a new world. In Jesus day, living in his world meant being part of the Roman Empire; an empire with extreme income inequality, and oppressive forces pushing down both on the poor and the foreign born. The new world this passage envisions, is one where the poor will not be hungry, equality and compassion will rule and everything hopeful will be revealed in every corner of every street everywhere. Another way of imaging this can be stated this beautiful way: Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. (Arundhati Roy) The apocalypse, then, signals not only an end but also a beginning. According to the book of Revelation it will herald a time when the world will change dramatically for the good, for the just, for the end of sorrow, for the defeat of greed and the end to all those things that keep people from seeing each other as they are. The new world will truly be a Just World for All! The birth we anticipate, the baby in the manger, is a glimpse of that new world the hope of all. It is the great purpose of the church to be a place where we can hear the breathing of that new world. The world outside our congregations might feel hopeless. It may feel like evil powers are in control disregarding human beings, creating an order that feeds on greed and corruption and the extremes of inequality. But the church as the body of Christ houses hope itself. It s here, where we worship, that love is made visible, especially those three loves that the UCC holds dear: Love of Neighbor, Love of Children, Love of Creation. This Advent be mindful of how making love visible recharges our communities with possibility and infuses our world with resilience in times of trouble. This is the great work of the church to make Christ visible, always.