Communion Sunday A Sunday of Peace Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ December 9, 2018 O May I Rest Here 1
Welcome Ringing of the Bell Prelude Prelude in F by Corelli *Call to Worship In Unison In the silences of the heart In the voices we share When feeling and words are beyond saying In the depth of Peace that exceeds it all In the birth of a child Into a world, yet to know Let our Peace be like that. About to change. What we have yet to know. 2
*Opening Hymn NCH # 43 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Unison Prayer Guide us to openness, Spirit of Peace. Aid us in seeking God s justice and grace with an inspired, peaceful heart. Move us to a Christ Compassion through the embrace of a better world Let this Peace, your Peace, be such that all are welcome in our midst. Your midst. Where we all belong. In Peace. Assurance of God s Love *Passing of the Peace Lighting of the Second Candle for Peace We began Advent last Sunday by lighting the first candle, the candle of Hope. We light it again today to remind us of the coming fulfilment of God s promises. Today we light the second candle, the candle of Peace. The prophet Isaiah said, Comfort, comfort my people to a nation anxious about invasion and exile, as he foretold the coming of the Prince of Peace. Our world is still filled with discord and worse. We remember Jesus word, My peace I give you. Let us accept what we have been given and continue to share this, Jesus Peace, with one another and the world. Open our hearts to this Jesus so we may know the peace of such holy presence, living it in our struggling world. Come, peaceful God, come. 3
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First Reading Seeking Out Our Sparks Adapted from Seek My Face, A Jewish Mystical Theology Like all who have gone before, we, too are in search of sparks of light. We, too, find them scattered throughout the world, making the world sacred in all places of its design. We are guided in our search, never limited, by the sacred texts of our faith led into the realm of the collective ancient and present wisdom of divinity manifest in Kairos, that is God s time, beyond the tick-tock accountability and measurement of Kronos. We search for the sparks of light by turning inward to gain a vision of ourselves and the world around us. We train our inner eye to see the One who underlies the many; to see all of life and all of creation as being God. And for the spark in us, created long before we were We ask for this spark to be renewed in us with each breath we exchange, as we remember the first breath into this world of the child named Jesus. Musical Praise Prepare Ye the Way by Allan Pote Gospel Reading: Luke 3:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas John, Zachariah s son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet: Thunder in the desert! Prepare God s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight! Every ditch will be filled in, Every bump smoothed out, The detours straightened out, All the ruts paved over. Everyone will be there to see The parade of God s salvation. 5
Message for All Gathered A moment for reflection Hymn NCH #122 Come O Long Expected Jesus Prayer for Others and Ourselves Now, you are invited to lift your joys and concerns before God and one another. Please wait for me to come around with the microphone so everyone can hear your request. You are also welcome to write your joys and concerns on the prayer card in the pew, placing it in the collection basket during the offertory. May we hear your joys and concerns? The Lord s Prayer/The Prayer of Jesus Musical Praise Lion and Lamb from Emmanuel by Dorothy Davidson Hausske Invitation to Give Thank you for your generosity in helping us to share God's love for all. We are grateful for all the ways you participate in the work of this ministry, and more than anything, we are most grateful that you are here. We welcome your offerings at this time and invite you to place your prayer and information cards in the basket. Offertory *Doxology We praise thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator; in grateful devotion, our tribute we bring. We lay it before thee, we come and adore thee, We bless thy holy name, glad praises we sing. Amen. 6
Communion Prayer God be with you. And also with you. All are invited to this table. How could we do otherwise? Please join us. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to God. Let us give thanks to God. It is right to give God thanks and praise. Invitation to the Table Jesus said: I am the bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger; you who believe in me shall never thirst. In company with all who hunger for spiritual food, we come to this table to know the risen Christ in the sharing of this life-giving bread. Karen Maust, Liturgist It is indeed right, always and everywhere, to give thanks to you, Creator God. You are our Divine Path, the path of wind, sea, earth, fire and more. You are the Universe s guarantee; The Hope and Peace of all creation, precursor and protector of Justice and Love; Freedom and Love; Hope and Peace; Joy and Love. All these things and more are assured by You. Beauty and spirit and goodness 7
abounds in our midst because you are within and around us. You are the inner life, the outer life, the eternal life we share. How amazing and wonderful that we have come to know you and seek to know you more. So, we turn to Jesus and his words to the disciples at that last supper; the meal where Jesus revealed you; revealed you by his words and his actions. Friends, see Jesus, now Breaking the bread, giving it to his disciples and saying: This is my body, given up for you in more ways than you can imagine, here in Spirit Wonder, on the edge of unimaginable eternity. Whenever and wherever you do this, remember me. Remember what I have taught you. Love and teach others, as I now and forever love and teach you. Pastor: And after he blessed and shared the bread, Jesus lifted a cup, and again gave thanks to God, whom he called Abba. And, he said to the disciples Church Covenant (Sung in Unison) In response to God s love, we covenant with each other to be faithful to the demands and inspiration of the eternal spirit, revealed in the event of Jesus Christ; to accept and respect each other with love and concern in our worship and witness; to reach out with the courage of our convictions in the cause of justice, liberation and equality for all; In this, we covenant to keep the ultimate promise; I care, I am with you. Sharing of the Elements: These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Servers Communion Responses: The Bread of Life ~ The Cup of Blessing 8
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God, for inviting us to this table, remembering your active presence in our lives. We are grateful and continuously thirst for the new and right spirit of this communion with you today, tomorrow and every day. Guide us always, as we embrace you and all those who have gone before us. Amen. Closing Hymn SPP #196 Let It Shine Refrain: Let it shine, let it shine, the light of the world that shows the way; let it shine, let it shine, and show us peace today. The church bears witness to God's grace, its mission crystal clear: to show the world God's human face, a world that God holds dear. Refrain When love replaces human greed, a lasting peace will come as hands reach out to human need from hearts no longer numb. Refrain Now let us give ourselves to God within this war-torn world, and work till justice walks abroad with flags of peace unfurled. Refrain Benediction and Sending Forth Choral Blessing Ringing of the Bell Postlude Amor Volat Undique by Carl Orff 9
Congregational Informational Meeting at Hospitality Today, December 9th following worship to review Constitution and 2019 Budget prior to Annual Congregational Meeting. Christmas Eve Services Christmas Eve Family Service at 5 PM and Midnight Service at 11 PM. Greater Sayville Food Pantry: Every Day of Advent Please continue to be a part of Every Day of Advent for The Greater Sayville Food Pantry. We ask that every day you place one item in the bag, returning it with your gifts on/by December 24 th. All food donations will be delivered to The Greater Sayville Food Pantry by January 1, 2019. Thank you for joining us in this Christmas giving for our friends in need of our love and kindness in this and all the ways you share. Prayer Shawl Ministry - Thursdays If you have any interest in knitting or learning to knit - this is for you! And, we can use as many knitters as possible to keep up with the need for prayer shawls. Contact Sue Lanchantin or see Ray for more information. We'd love to have you join us! Thank you to all who knit and love and laugh for others! Can you help? You are invited to share in the ministry and mission of our church by: Signing up for leadership responsibilities on Sunday, continuing to provide food in support of Sayville Food Pantry, volunteering to run our slides and video each Sunday, joining the choir, leading a children's message, volunteering for Sharing a Meal, participate in our Prayer Shawl Group, attend Bible Jam... And there are more ways your help would be welcome. Looking for a chance to become involved and serve? Just let us know! Stop & Shop Cards are available at coffee hour each week. They make great gifts and are great way to purchase your groceries while supporting Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ. Newsletters: Are you receiving our weekly newsletters: echimes and Justice Chimes Newsletters? Let us know: ray@sayvilleucc.org. echimestv.com! You can watch our service live or afterwards by going this link: www.echimestv.com. 10
Congregational Informational Meeting at Hospitality Today, December 9th following worship to review Constitution and 2019 Budget prior to Annual Congregational Meeting. Calendar Bible Jam Choir Practice Prayer Shawl Ministry Senior Exercise Mondays at 11:45 AM; Tuesdays at 7:00 PM (V) Wednesdays at 5:30 PM (S) Thursdays at 10:00 AM (V) Tuesdays at 9:00 A.M.; Thursdays at 12:15 P.M. (V) Congregational Leadership & Life Meetings Full Deacon Board Meeting Monday, December 10 at 7:00 P.M. (V) Annual Congregational Meeting Affiliates Sharing a Meal Inishfree School of Irish Dance Recovery Meetings Mondays 7:30 PM Tuesdays 7:30 PM Wednesdays 7:30 PM Wednesdays 7:30 PM Thursdays 6:45 PM Saturdays 11:00 AM Sunday, December 16 following worship. Mondays through Thursdays at 5:30 P.M. (FH) Resumes in January 2019 - Fridays at 3:00 P.M. (FH) NA (FH) CODA (V) AA (FH) SCA (L) NARANON (V) NA Serenity in Sayville (FH) Special Events Second Sunday of Advent December 9 11
Be sure to visit our website at www.sayvilleucc.org and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sayvilleucc Remember to leave a comment and "Like Us" on Facebook! Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ For more than a century and a half, Sayville's Congregational Church has served families on the South Shore and been a voice for the progressive Protestant tradition. A member of the United Church of Christ since it was established in 1957, today we continue to celebrate God's love, to speak for the oppressed, and to welcome those seeking a spiritual home. To learn about membership, please speak with any deacon. Today s Worship Leadership Setting of the Communion Table Connie Kauffman Communion Servers Laura Heaney, Pat Cunningham, Pat Mahar and Gail Acker Liturgist Karen Maust Music Director - James Higgins Greeter/Ushers Sue Lanchantin and Kathy Leis Projectionist Team Casey Cunningham (December) Hospitality The Board of Trustees Building Close-up Kathy Leis Everyone can sign up. We will help you know what to do! We invite you to be Sunday Stewards! You can do it! J Please contact Heather in the office, Sue Lanchantin, or see the calendars in the Vestry hallway to get signed up! Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ Middle Road, Sayville, NY 11782 churchadmin@sayvilleucc.org www.sayvilleucc.org; www.facebook.com/sayvilleucc Heather Corcoran, Church Administrator; echimes Editor Ray Bagnuolo, Pastor ray@sayvilleucc.org -- (Cell/Text) Thank you for being with us today. Peace. Shalom. Salaam. For the ways of peace are many. Namaste Please contact Heather if you have questions or need any additional help. 12