First Congregational United Church of Christ River Falls, Wisconsin December 23, 2018
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN DECEMBER 23, 2018 Fourth SUNDAY in ADVENT 9:00 am Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do. ~David Wilkerson Welcome to our guests who are visiting with us today! Join us for coffee in the Fellowship Hall between the 9:00 & 10:30 worship services. ~The Nursery is available for young children. ~Church Mouse activity bags are available for children. ~Large print bulletins and hearing impaired devices are available from the ushers. ~Please stand when noted by the * ~Congregation responses are in bold. No matter who you are. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here! As Jesus courageous disciples, living God s grace, we strive to: ~ Worship faithfully ~ Welcome openly ~ Grow spiritually ~ Care passionately ~ Serve generously PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS SILENCE AND RINGING OF THE BELL LIGHTING OF ADVENT WREATH L: Love is what gives meaning to the Advent season: God's love for us and our love for God and one another. Because God comes to us in love, we long to share that love with others. We light the fourth Advent candle, the Love Candle, because God is love. P: Hear this promise from John's gospel: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" All: God is love and in him there is no darkness at all. We walk in the light of Christ, loving as he first loved us, as we light the Candle of Love.
He Came Down CALL TO WORSHIP L: Walking toward Bethlehem, P: Listening every step of the way L: For the sound of our name, P: For the announcement that we have found favor with God. L: Walking toward Bethlehem, P: Watching every step of the way L: For a new star in the sky, P: For guidance in our daily lives. L: Walking toward Bethlehem, P: Sensing we are not alone. L: Angels are all around us. P: The prayers of saints surround us. L: Walking toward Bethlehem, P: Hoping we shall find a baby in a manger: L: A simple sign that God loves us still P: And reason enough to sing God's praise. All: Come let us join our voices in praise to the Living God!
*HYMN Canticle of the Turning
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION L: Gracious God, when we find ourselves irritable and preoccupied with the pulsating and demanding rhythms of the seasons, P: Have mercy on us, O Lord. L: When we talk peace, but do not walk peace, P: Have mercy on us, O Lord. L: When we lose sight of the Child whose coming has transformed the world, P: Have mercy on us, O Lord. L: When we push away and keep out others who are different and needy, P: Have mercy on us, O Lord. L: When kindness and generosity fail us, P: Have mercy on us, O Lord. All: Grant, that we may be conscious of your presence during this season, so that in spite of the secularism of the holidays, we may stay centered in the sacredness of each moment. Amen. *ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS L: Hear the good news! P: Like Mary let us rejoice at the new thing God is doing in our world. L: Hear the good news! P: Like Joseph let us marvel at the unexpected gift of joy brought to each of us. L: Hear the good news! P: And like John let us turn from our wayward paths and be at peace. L: May the peace of the Lord be with you all. P: And also with you. *PASSING OF THE PEACE (Please greet one another with signs of peace)
*GLORIA SPECIAL MUSIC Carol of the Bells Jubilee Ringers and Chancel Choir SCRIPTURE LESSON 1 John 3:1-3 CANTICLE OF MARY (Cantor will introduce; congregation, please join on refrain) L: My soul is filled with joy as I sing to God my savior: P: You have looked upon your servant, you have visited your people. L: I am lowly as a child, but I know from this day forward, P: That my name will be remembered, for all will call me blessed. L: I proclaim the power of God, you do marvels for your servants; P: Though you scatter the proud hearted, and destroy the might of princes. L: To the hungry you give food, send the rich away empty. P: In your mercy you are mindful of the people you have chosen. L: In your love you now fulfill what you promised to your people. P: I will praise you Lord, my savior, everlasting is your mercy. R
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 1:39-45 SERMON Rev. Chris Myers *HYMN My Soul Gives Glory to My God #119 *STATEMENT OF FAITH for Advent We believe in Jesus Christ and in the power of the gospel, which began in Bethlehem. We believe in the one whose spirit glorified a small village, of whose coming the shepherds saw the sign, and for whom there was no room at the inn. We believe in the one whose life changed the course of history, for whom the kings of the earth had no power, and who was not understood by the proud. We believe in the one to whom the poor, the oppressed, the discouraged, the afflicted, the sick, the blind, gave welcome, and accept as Lord and Savior. We believe in the one who with love changed the heart of the proud and with his life showed that it is more important to serve than to be served, and that the greatest joy is giving your life for others. We believe in peace, which is not the absence of war, but justice among all people and nations, and love among all. We believe in reconciliation, forgiveness, and the transforming power of the gospel. We believe that Christmas is strength and power, and that this world can change if, with humility and faith, we kneel before the manger. We believe that we must be the first ones to do so. Amen. THE PRAYERS & LORD S PRAYER (debts/debtors) 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
OFFERTORY We Give Thee But Thine Own *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Gracious God, you call us to prepare to entertain angels, to be alert to wait and watch, to be awake for the coming of your glory, to receive your presence in our lives. Send your Holy Spirit on us we pray, that we might be made ready to open our hearts and lives with gladness. Fill us with the joy of anticipation and make our waiting a sweet time of communion with you. Amen. *HYMN Angels, from the Realms of Glory Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o er all the earth; you who sang creation s story, now proclaim Messiah s birth: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Shepherds, in the fields abiding, watching o er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing, yonder shines the infant light: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear, suddenly the Lord, descending, here among us shall appear: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.
*COMMISSIONING Spread the good news! Greet strangers as you have been greeted here. Feed them as you have been fed by God. Look for signs of Christ s presence as we wait and watch for his birth among us. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord your God. Amen. POSTLUDE Reprinted music used by permission under the following licenses: OneLicense.net A-703731 CCLI License 2892021 Liturgist: Coffee Fellowship: Ushers: Welcomers: Nursery: Organist: Trustee: Counters: Among Friends Coordinator: Music Coordinator: Choir Director: Bell Choir Director: Church Moderator: Church Secretary: Youth Pastor: Minister for Community: CE Minister: Senior Pastor: Assisting in today s worship service are: Steven Koecher The Myers Family Peter Rayne, Suzanne Hagen, Traci Hagberg, Aspen Richter Diane Crist, Peg Thompson Sheila Peterson Marsha Pearson Scott Elsesser Roz Ostendorf, Jean Smith Norma Revels Marsha Pearson Scott Perau Jamie Mills Neal Prochnow Missy Luedtke JaNae Westrich Rev. Dave Ostendorf Rev. Stacy Johnson Myers Rev. Chris Myers Altar table flowers are given by Fred and Yvonne Benson in honor of Pastor Chris and Stacy.
Sun., Dec 23 Mon., Dec 24 Tues, Dec 25 Wed, Dec 26 Fri, Dec 28 Sun., Dec 30 First Congregational UCC, 110 N. Third Street, River Falls, WI 54022 Tel: 425-2052 Email: office@firstchurchrf.org Fax: 425-9800 8:00 am - Music Practice 9:00 am - Worship Service 10:00 am - Coffee Fellowship 4:00 pm - Family Candle Light Service 6:00 pm - Family Candle Light Service with Communion 11:00 pm - Candle Light Service with Choir and Communion - Christmas Day Church Office Closed - No Wednesday Programs - Church Office Closed 8:00 am - Music Practice 9:00 am - Worship Service 10:00 am - Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am - Worship Service 2018 Children s Program A Stable Fit for a King
Please remember the following in your prayers this week: Those who are ill or recovering: - Steve (brother in law of Carole Mottaz), Nancy (sister of Bobbie Kuhn), Barb (sister of Sue Simonet), Jared (relative of John and Joan Hyland), Jack Husak (father of Juli Okal), Pam Creydt (friend of Sue Grisar), Bobbie Kuhn, Terry Mahoney, Barb de Souza, Marty (nephew of Barb Wall), Larry Wiskerchen (father of Dawn Follstad), Avis Thompson (sister of Alice Hanson), Bill Olson Prayers for the ministry of our congregation: - For our Sunday School kids who shared their musical gifts with us in last week s gift of A Stable Fit for a King - For those seniors who will enjoy the amaryllis plants, that they may be visible signs of God s care - For those at the Kinnic Alcohol and Drug Rehab who enjoyed their Shoebox Christmas gifts given to them by our yoga group and others, that they may bring God s love close to them this Christmas season - For our Bell Choir gracing us with their music this day that they may lead us in joy! - For the Wellhaven group who gathered this past Tuesday for Christmas coffee and communion Prayers for our world: - That we may remember the three loves of our Christian faith love of God, love of neighbor and love of self - For sandwich people, taking care of aging parents and young children, that they may receive God s strength - For college students gearing up for final exams - For High School seniors working on college applications and letters of recommendation and family members who seek to help them - For those helping those with dementia & memory problems that they may be graced with courage & patience - For those looking for Jayme Closs, that she may be safely found - For our political leaders that our nation might work justly and for the common good - For those working to care for our delicate creation and the daily decisions we make to help do this Prayers of thanksgiving: - For all who helped with the Christmas Musical this year, thank you! - For our Christmas Eve liturgists, musicians, deacons and all those who take part in making it a holy evening - For John and Joan Hyland who celebrate their 50 th wedding anniversary December 28. Congratulations! - For Wendy and Tony Hill as they move back to Canada for retirement, may God watch over them - For Dave Reilly, Jamie Mills and Marsha Pearson who lead our Advent Evening Prayer services Wednesdays - For Linn Lawrence s family who again donated our Christmas Trees (from LoriLynn Farms in Ettrick, WI) - For Bryson O Keefe, born to Melissa and Mike who will be baptized on Sunday, December 30 - For those who serve Coffee Fellowship each week (there are openings in January, hint, hint) Those grieving the loss of loved ones: - For Sylvia (Scott Nelson s mom) who died suddenly recently, may she rest in God s faithful care - For the Follstad and Olson families in mourning, that God may comfort them If you have people you wish to include on our prayer list, please see the pastor or use the blue prayer cards in the pews or on the back sign-up table.
DECEMBER 23, 2018 (B) FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT SCRIPTURE LESSON: 1 John 3:1-3 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 1:39-45 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.