First Congregational Church December 23, East Northern Lights Blvd. Anchorage, Alaska (907)

First Congregational Church December 23, 2018 2610 East Northern Lights Blvd. Anchorage, Alaska (907) 272-8363 Email: fcc@gci.net www.fccak.org

December 23, 2018 10:30 am Enter with a spirit of preparation as we gather ourselves for worship Prelude: Quatrieme Dimanche de l Avent Chauvet Welcome and Announcements Choral Introit *Call to Worship *Processional Hymn: Love Came Down at Christmas pg. 7 Ritual of Friendship ONE: On our journeys of life we meet here in this sacred space. ALL: We affirm that we are people of the Way, we give thanks that today our paths cross. ONE: Let us greet each other as we journey together towards fullness of life. Let us greet the one on our left and the one on our right with peace and love. *Greeting of One Another The Gathering Bell Advent Candle Lighting *Responsive Reading: ONE: We look for an extraordinary sign of hope for our world but God s sign is most ordinary of all: ALL: A young woman is with child. *Those who are comfortably able may stand.

ONE: We look to power for strength in our world but God points to the most vulnerable: ALL: She gives birth. ONE: We look far and wide for a key to God s mystery, but God points us home: ALL: She calls this child Immanuel: God-with-us! ONE: Let us rejoice, and worship our God ALL: In our ordinary, vulnerable lives: God-with-us! First Reading: Psalm 80:1-7 1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. 4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people s prayers? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6 You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. Anthem: Advent David N. Davenport Children s Moment Prayers of the People Silent Prayer 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Choral Prayer Response Invitation to Giving Offertory: Noel sur les Flutes Daquin *Doxology: (tune) No. 47 Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below, Praise God above, ye heavenly host, Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen *Dedication of Gifts *Hymn: My Soul Gives Glory to My God No. 130 Second Reading: Luke 1:39-55 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. Sermon: Shared and Received Blessings Rev. Jacob Poindexter Service of Holy Communion This community meal celebrating Communion at FCC is an open table. All are welcome to share in this meal, no matter what your faith tradition may be. No matter what has led to this moment, young and old alike come to share. May this moment be a time of rest and belonging. INVITATION COMMUNION PRAYER One: All: One: All: One: All: May God be with you And also with you! Gather in your hearts We gather together in God! Let us give thanks to God among us. It is right to give God thanks and praise!

One: In this home of our worship, as in the homes of our sleep, and everyplace in between WORDS OF INSTITUTION ONE: We remember ONE: The light of the world is upon this moment. In the bread and cup we see share the promise of life arriving and returning again and again. Just as the sun draws out life in the form of vine and grain, so it is that the light of God draws out life in us. We are almost finished awaiting the birth of light in our midst. Arise! Shine! The day is near and this table is set. ALL: Amen! COME HOLY SPIRIT! PREPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP -You are invited to take the bread, and when all have been served, we will eat together. There is gluten free bread available for those who cannot eat wheat just ask. -When the wine and juice are passed, please take and drink as you are ready. The red cups are wine, and the white cups are white grape juice. The clear cups in the center contain water. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING *Hymn: Twas in the Moon of Wintertime No. 166 *Benediction *Choral Benediction Postlude: Noel Grand Jeu et Duo Daquin Cover Attribution: Used under Creative Commons license (CC0)

-News for the Pews- Handbell Choir practice today at 11:50 am. The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is scheduled for December 24 th at 7:00 pm. Make plans to invite friends and family as we welcome in the birth of Christ. The Outreach Ministry continues to collect socks and gloves for the homeless through December. Thank you for your generous contributions. The Church Office will be closed on December 25 th and January 1 st. Holiday Special Offering The Abused Women s Aid in Crisis Center (AWAIC) is the recipient of our Holiday Special Offering for 2018. If you wish to donate in support of their programs that provide shelter and advocacy for women and their families, please write AWAIC on the memo line of your check or use one of the specially-marked envelopes. You will find these envelopes in the back of the pew in front of you or on the lobby table. All other offerings will be dedicated to supporting the work of First Congregational Church and will enable us to continue embodying our mission of faith working through love in the community. The Youth Donation Drive for AKEELA is over. Thank you for a very successful donation drive. Your generosity will go a long way toward helping people in need this winter. Confirmation The 2019 confirmation cohort is forming right now. It has been a few years since the last confirmation session, and in order to make sure all youth have the chance to complete it, we are including any high school aged youth and beyond. Anyone who has not yet gone through confirmation is encouraged to do so. The purpose of confirmation is to help us think about what our faith and tradition can mean moving into the rest of our lives. It is not designed to be a list of things people have to believe or memorize. Instead, it will be an exploration of what enlivens each of us and an opportunity to continue to form lives of deep faith on our own terms, just as we are, and where we are at right now. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

-Prayer List- December 23, 2018 -Sisters Leigha and Latisha and parents Van and Laverne Pettigen -Barbara Bowerman -Vivian Pike -Trevor Pike-Harmon, Vivian Pike s grandson -Dorothy Arnold -Anne Hutchings -Holly Charland, Grandaughter of Susan Faith -Fred Smith, Susan Faith s brother -Tante Galeai -Bill Werth and his sister Donna Werth -Victims of the California fires -Family of Richard Dworsky -Daniel, friend of Caroline Valentine -Sunnie Bird -Family of Marjorie Mardie Prentke -Steve McKean -Sally Dworsky -Jacob, Killian McClure s friend -Lillian Soth, granddaughter of Jeanette & Fermen Dillon -For the family of Margaret Louise Burton, Donna Meyer s Mom -Darleen Lime -Jeannie Rosebrock -Fred Young -Gordon Shortman -All teachers, aides, staff, & volunteers who educate our children -First responders, who risk their lives to save ours -Our military serving at home and abroad -All the peacekeepers, all those who serve our community, and all those in need within our community. -Public servants, lawmakers, and politicians, that they will make thoughtful decisions in care of the common good. -Our community members who struggle with addiction -People who we are in conflict with.

People of First Congregational Church Senior Minister Rev. Jacob L. Poindexter (907) 272-8363 jacob@revpoindexter.com Music Ministry Organist & Director, Northern Lights Ringers: Caroline Valentine Chancel Choir Director: Lori Parker Wasko Acolyte Attendant: Laney Hanas Sunday Volunteers Advent Reader: Kate O Dell Deacons Serving: Lynn & Dave Barber Claudia Kniefel Greeter: Tina Lynch Liturgist: Lynn Barber Fellowship Hour: Kathy Means Usher Team: Susan Faith & Kate O Dell Contacts Admin. Assistant & Editor: Marcy File 272-8363, fcc@gci.net Church Sexton: Scott McClure 350-9148 Wedding Coordinator: Sandra Skaggs 622-1777 Hearing-Assist System Connects directly to a smart device with Bluetooth hearing aids or traditional headphones. 1. Download the AudioFetch app: 2. Connect to Wi-Fi signal: FCCAK HEARING ASSIST 3. Make sure hearing aid is Bluetooth connected 4. Open AudioFetch app and enjoy the sound! The Communion Table Flowers are donated by Abbie Wolfe & Family Peace on Earth Flowers are provided by Evalyn s Floral Connect - Get Involved - Share a Prayer Request. Fill out one of the connect cards located in the pew back in front of you and drop it in the offering. Member: National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. www.facebook.com/fccak.org Online Giving In addition to cash or checks, First Congregational Church accepts donations and pledge payments securly online with a credit card. -Scan the QR code or go to www.fccak.org/give. Thank you for your financial participation in the work of First Congregational Church of Anchorage!