Wellesley Village Church Congregational United Church of Christ Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2016 10:00am The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11 v. 6
Welcome to Worship at Wellesley Village Church! An Open & Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ Whoever you are, wherever you are on the journey of life and faith, we are delighted you are here! We Welcome All! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of God, who calls us together to pray, sing, and rejoice in God s loving presence. We welcome children to participate fully in Worship anytime. During 10am Worship, childcare for under 5 is available in the Family Worship Room, located through the door nearest the piano. Children 1st grade and older begin in worship before transitioning to Village Children s Church on the second level. We Value Community! Visitors, we want to help you connect with our community. Please fill out a Connection Card found in the blue folders, and sign the welcome book or pew pads. To subscribe to our weekly Enews contact Chris Toppin at: christine@wellesleyvillagechurch.org or at: 781-235-1988, x17. God Calls You By Name, and So Do We! Please wear a nametag; temporary stickers are available and you may request a permanent nametag anytime. We like to linger We hope you will join us for fellowship and refreshments after worship. Questions about our life together are always welcome, or find information on our website. www.wellesleyvillagechurch.org
ORDER OF WORSHIP December 11, 2016 Hymns can be found in the New Century Hymnal (black) *Please stand as you are able. PRELUDE RINGING OF THE BELL The bell is rung three times to attune us to the presence of the Triune God. WELCOME, CALL TO WORSHIP & INVOCATION 10:00 AM Betty Seaborn Sarah Sarchet Butter *OPENING HYMN No. 116 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel v. 1,2,6,7 VENI EMMANUEL During v.7 all children are invited forward to surround the Advent Wreath for the lighting. LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH Michaela McDonald, Josh Fitterling, and Children of Village Church BLESSING OUR CHILDREN One: Children of Village Church, All: Go with God s love and ours. *SUNG RESPONSE No. 132 v.1 Joy to the World ANTIOCH Joy to the world! the Lord is come; let earth its praises bring; Let every heart prepare Christ room, and heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing. Children may go to their classes. CALL TO CONFESSION AND PRAYER OF CONFESSION Loving God, As we prepare to welcome you anew, transform our focus from the stress of preparation to the significance of your coming. Forgive our short-sighted ways. Forgive our indifference to others. Forgive our pre-occupation with lesser things. (Silence) Fill us with hope, the hope that comes from knowing your ways are not the worlds ways. Focus us on peace, the peace that is found when a little child leads us. Surprise us with joy, the joy which transcends situation or circumstance, the joy that comes from knowing we and all are embraced in love. (Silence) Emmanuel, help us experience the world your way, where each time we look at another person we see the whole person they are. Where each time we hear another person we know there is a life story behind their voice. Where each time we hug another person, we know we embrace a heart as fragile as our own. (Silence) Emmanuel, God with us, help us truly prepare for your coming. AMEN
ASSURANCE OF GOD S GRACE AND PASSING OF THE PEACE One: The Peace of Christ be with you; All: and also with you *SUNG RESPONSE No. 132 v.2 Joy to the World ANTIOCH Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Invitation Covenant Promises of the Parents & Godparents Covenant Promises of the Congregation Congregation: We will, with the help of God. With this sacrament, we welcome Maeve into the fellowship of Christ s church and invite her to share with us the joyful life of discipleship. We promise to receive her as a child of God, nurture her in Christian faith, and grow with her in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. Amen. Prayer of Blessing Act of Baptism One: See what Love God has for us that we should be called children of God. All: God of love, we thank you for Maeve Roxana Leeson; bless her and keep her, now and forever. Prayer & Introduction to the Family of Faith *SUNG RESPONSE No. 128 In the Bleak Midwinter vs. 3 CRANHAM Angels and arch angels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the midnight air; But his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss. SCRIPTURE LESSONS Isaiah 11:1-10 p. 558 Pew Bible Matthew 11:2-11 p. 792 Pew Bible SERMON Reigning Influence *HYMN OF RESPONSE NO. 591 This Is My Song FINLANDIA
OUR COMMON LIFE AND OFFERING Megan Snell Offertory And The Glory of the Lord Messiah G. F. Handel *Doxology and Presentation 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. *Prayer of Dedication PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen *CLOSING HYMN No. 115 The Baptist Shouts on Jordan s Shore v. 1-3 WINCHESTER *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE & DISMISSAL From Heaven Above, to Earth I Come Johann Pachelbel At conclusion of the postlude, ALL ARE INVITED to share in refreshments and conversation in Village Common, located through the doors nearest the pulpit. Alternative Christmas Gift Fair, Today! after 10am worship Please plan to stay and learn about the 10 different organizations represented; all with strong Village Church connections, and support them through your purchase of alternative gifts for family and friends. Donations will be given directly to each organization you support, by check or cash. Please plan to bring your checkbooks, in order to donate to several groups. Please Consider a Year End Gift A year-end gift is a wonderful way to express gratitude for the blessings of the past year and to help the church end the year with financial strength. Your checks may be made payable to Wellesley Congregational Church or to Wellesley Village Church, either name will be accepted by the bank and Fidelity. Should you want to know your pledge balance or information on making a gift of stock, contact Shawn Doung at 781-235-1988, x 18 or shawn@wellesleyvillagechurch.org.
TODAY AT VILLAGE CHURCH New Nametags are alphabetical by last name in index boxes on a table in the Village Common Lobby. Please insert it into a nametag holder and after worship place it at any one of the nametag locations of an entrance that s most convenient to you. Fellowship Hour is hosted today by the Worship Ministry Deacons. Thank you! 9:00 AM First Worship, Burtt Chapel Rev. Pam Emslie, preaching, Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly liturgist 10:00 AM Second Worship, Sanctuary Rev. Sarah Sarchet Butter, preaching & Revs. Megan Snell & Josh Fitterling, liturgists Village Children s Church Infant Through Threes, Family Worship Room (9:50am arrival) Pre-K / Kindergarten Students, Upper Floor (9:50am arrival) Grades 1-8, Begin in worship then proceed to Upper Floor classrooms Exploring the Bible Grp 1, Burtt Chapel 11:15 AM Alternative Christmas Fair Village Common Fellowship Hour, Village Common Junior Choir, Youth Choir Room B6 Blood Pressure Clinic, Parlor 11:30 AM Sharing Ministry Deacons, Room B18 Pastoral Residency Committee, Room B15 12:00PM Delivery & Sorting City Mission Coats, Offsite 1:00 PM Chinese Language School, Upper Level 5:00 PM NO 6th & 7th Gr Youth Group Christian Meditation, Parlor 7:00 PM High School Youth Group (10-12th Gr), Youth Room Christmas Services Quiet Christmas 12/15 7:30pm Christmas Sunday 12/18 10:00am Only Christmas Eve Worship 12/24 Children & Family Service 4:00pm Youth Pageant Service 7:00pm Contemplative Communion 8:30pm Candlelight Service 10:00pm Christmas Day Worship 12/25 10:00am Only New Year's Day Worship 1/1 10:00am Only
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES Details at: www.wellesleyvillagechurch.org Christmas Tea Tuesday, December 13 th, 1:00 pm - Burtt Chapel and Village Common. Come be mesmerized by the beautiful voices of the Voci Angelica Trio, which includes our very own Jodi Hitzhusen, Music Director of First Worship. Please RSVP to sallykellogg@verizon.net by Tuesday, Dec. 6th by email or by signing up on the sheet in the Central Street lobby. Quiet Christmas, Thursday, December 15, 7:30pm in the Chapel Find holy space in an hectic season. In this midst of holiday business, grief and stress we make room with scripture, prayer, song and silence in the chapel. Christmas with Village Churchwomen's Giving Tree of Presents IT'S NOT TOO LATE but deadline is DECEMBER 18. (or December 13 th if you plan on attending the Village Churchwomen Tea). Looking to make a difference this Christmas for families living just a stone's throw from our comfortable homes? Select a gift tag from the Giving Tree in the Village Common Lobby with a gift idea (suggested amount:$25) for an under-served family in our area. Bring the gift to church, along with wrapping paper/gift bag by DECEMBER 18 and we'll be sure to get them to Hoops & Homework for their Christmas party. As Reverend June Cooper, Director of City Mission, said, "Let's love our neighbors to love ourselves better" as God works through people. CONGREGATIONAL HEARING and MEETING, SUNDAY, January 8, 2017 Calling all members of Village Church! As an expression of the Congregational covenant of membership, you are invited to participate in an important Congregational Hearing and Congregational Meeting. The meeting, called for Sunday, January 8, 2017 following the 10 am worship, will include a Hearing to receive a report on the Village Church 2017 budget and a Meeting to change the By-Laws to allow more flexibility in scheduling the Annual Meeting. We hope you will be present to participate by receiving and responding to the proposed budget and By -Laws change as we live out our Congregational commitment to be in covenant with one another and guided by the Holy Spirit!
Wellesley Village Church An Open and Affirming Congregation of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 Office: 781-235-1988 Urgent Pastoral Care Cell: 781-591-7451 Our Church Covenant We are banded together as a Christian Church to maintain the worship of God, to proclaim the gospel of Christ, to develop in all people a consciousness of their relations and duties to God and to each other, and to inspire them with love for truth, passion for righteousness, and enthusiasm for service. To this end we pledge our loyalty to Christ and covenant with each other to express God s spirit in our individual and corporate life; to live together as Christians and to submit ourselves to the government of this Church, working, giving, praying for its increase, its purity, its peace, and seeking in every way to make it a power for the building up of the kingdom of God. Ken Sipe ~ Moderator Susan Sullivan ~ Vice Moderator Vicky Lazzell ~ Immediate Past Moderator The Rev. Dr. Sarah Sarchet Butter ~ Senior Pastor Associate Pastors The Rev. Pam Emslie The Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly Pastoral Residents The Rev. Megan Snell The Rev. Joshua Fitterling Ministry Directors Michaela McDonald Children s Ministry David R. Carrier Music Jodi Hitzhusen First Worship Music Dr. Kevin McDonald Youth Music Erin Donato Administration All music and words in this bulletin are reprinted by permission under OneLicense.net, License #A-714276 and by CCLI, License #2910233.