Wellesley Congregational Church United Church of Christ Charles Schultz In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. Luke 2:8-10 December 16, 2012 The Third Sunday of Advent
ORDER OF WORSHIP December 16, 2012 9:00 am Welcome to First Worship! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of God, who calls us to be here together to rejoice in God s glorious presence. Welcome to children of all ages to all the children of God, each one of us. If you are an old friend or here for the first time, we welcome you. Our worship is an intergenerational experience and we want children to feel fully included. Children are welcome to pick up an activity bag and to bring snacks to their seats. We remember that worship offers us all a special place to be with God. In this space we talk a little more softly and walk a little more quietly. We are listening for God. PRELUDE RINGING THE HOUR WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP Chris Braudaway Bauman OPENING SONG O, Beautiful Darkness REFRAIN: O, beautiful darkness. O, comforting darkness. (repeat) The arms of darkness hold us, Revealing now how dear we are. REFRAIN Enfold us and hold us. Inform us, transform us. REFRAIN Surround us, all around us, And hold our light, like sky to star. REFRAIN
CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION ONFESSION Would You Harbor Me Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you? (repeat) WORDS OF ASSURANCE LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE OF OF JOY *P *PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST *S *SUNG RESPONSE Soon and Very Soon
SCRIPTURE CRIPTURE Luke 2: 8-20 SERMON ERMON Waiting for Holiness Pam Emslie SERMON RESPONSE In the Bleak Midwinter
OFFERING Invitation Offertory Prepare the Way O Zion Jodi Hitzhusen and Kevin McDonald SETTING THE TABLE INVITATION TO THE TABLE Fellow Traveler
*C *COMMUNION PRAYER AND THE LORD ORD 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, and the power and the glory forever. Amen. *W *WORDS OF INSTITUTION *S *SHARING THE GIFTS OF BREAD AND CUP *P *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING HANKSGIVING Break Not the Circle Break not the circle of enabling love, where people grow, forgiven and forgiving; break not that circle, make it wider still, till it includes, embraces all the living. *B *BENEDICTION
TODAY S NOTES Pastoral Care If you have any pastoral needs or know of any in the Village Church family, please call Kathy Musser at 781-235-1988 ext 14 until December 16. Martin Copenhaver at ext 12 from December 17-23. Daniel Cooperrider at ext 23 from December 24-30. The Chancel flowers are given by Karen and Paul Dale, dedicated to the memory of our loved ones for whom gifts are no longer given or received, whose chair is empty at the festive table, whose voice is silent during Christmans carols and whose absence is heartbreaking. We remember them with all of our love as they will be with us forever like the guiding star of Bethlehem. Fellowship Hour 11:15 am, Village Common Please join us for coffee and fellowship. Information for visitors is available at the Welcome Table. Providing hospitality today is the Board of Properties. Please take a moment to thank them. Pastoral Residency Program Sustainability Donations We have established a restricted account for those who would like to make contributions to the sustainability of the Pastoral Residency Program. Gifts can be designated for this purpose with a notation, Pastoral Residency Sustainability. If you have questions, feel free to speak with Ed Bedrosian. Book Groups Winter is a perfect time to curl up with a good book and meet with others to talk about it. During January and February, two groups will be reading and meeting for small group discussion. On Sunday evenings, 6:30 to 8:00 pm a group will be reading An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor. On Monday evenings, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. a group will be reading The Big Questions in Science and Religion by Keith Ward. Sign up on coffee hour on Sundays, December 16 or January 6 when books are also available for purchase, or contact Tricia Kibbe in the church office at 781.235.1988 x17 or tricia@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. For more information, see end of bulletin notes. Notice of Congregational Meeting 11:30 am, Sanctuary At this meeting, the congregation will be asked to approve two motions. The first motion is to formally adopt on a permanent basis the new church governance structure that has been in place on a trial basis over the past two years. The second motion is to accept the proposed revisions to the Church Bylaws that bring the Bylaws up-to-date and incorporate the new church governance structure. Information on these motions is available on the table in the Central Street lobby Village Church Monthly Birthday Party 11:15 am, Burtt Chapel We want to celebrate your birthdays with you! Come and find out who else is sharing your birthday monthor even the same day! Make a new friend! Whether you are celebrating your 5th birthday, or 50th or?????, come and add a candle to the cake. We look forward to doing these each month on 3rd Sundays throughout the year so everyone will have a chance to celebrate God s gracious gift to us of our birth, our lives, all our years!
Junior & Youth Choir Pageant Rehearsal Day: Youth Choir Room Gift Exchange and Lunch 11:15 am; Christmas Pageant Rehearsal 12 pm Village Drumming Circle 11:30 am, Upper Room 7th & 8th Grade Youth Group 5 pm Youth Room High School Youth Group 7 pm, Youth Room For information about youth programs, contact Pam Emslie at 781.235.1988 x15 or pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. City Mission Society Christmas Shop, through today The annual church collection of NEW gifts for CMS is in progress. A donation basket is in the cloister hallway. Suggested items: Coats, gloves, scarves, socks, blankets, backpacks, toys, games & gift cards. No food or knick knack items are needed. BULLETIN NOTES Village Churchmen Tuesday, December 18, Noon The Village Churchmen is a group open to all men of the church, their friends and visitors. We meet at Noon on the third Tuesday of each month. No reservations are necessary; just come, even if it is a last minute decision. Please bring your own bag lunch. Beverages will be provided. See you there. Christmas Nia! Thursday, December 20, 7 pm in the Upper Room Nia is back for Christmas. Nia is an exercise class that combines the dance and healing arts along with the martial arts to form easy choreography! All are welcome to this one hour of spiritual fitness to some of your favorite Christmas music! Collected donations will be split between Communities Without Borders (Fumbelo) and Family Promise Metrowest. Wear comfortable clothing, you can move in bare feet or sneakers! For more information and to r.s.v.p (not required) contact Leslie Appleby at: mrsappleb@me.com! Village Church Youth & Junior Choirs Performances: December 25, 11 am service Rehearsal Dates: Youth Choir: December 19, 5:30 pm; December 23, 8:30 am & 10 am Junior Choir: December 19, 5:30 pm; December 23, 10 am
Rosie s Place Volunteers Needed We are still looking for volunteers to shop, cook and serve for Rosie s Place a women's shelter in Boston during the first weekend of every month. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for families, groups of friends, youth groups, or individuals. So whether you are considering this opportunity for the first time or the 50th, we encourage you to sign up. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the Central Street Lobby. Email Lisa Weinstock (leweinstock@gmail.com) or Jane Amara (amarajf@yahoo.com) with any questions. Christmas Wrappers Needed Wednesday, December 19 - Friday, December 21 Chaplains On The Way needs volunteers to help wrap Christmas gifts for 150 children from a homeless family shelter in Waltham. Any time you can donate will be appreciated. Please email Sally Chaulk, sbchaulk@verizon.net if you can help. Village Churchwomen's Winter Gathering Please note the January meeting of the Village Churchwomen has been moved to February 12. Look for more information in early January.
Winter Book Groups An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor Time: Sundays, January 13, 27, February 3 and 10, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Led by: Kelly Stone and Chris Braudaway-Bauman In this book, critically acclaimed author and preacher Barbara Brown Taylor reveals meaningful ways to discover the sacred in the small things we do and see, from simple practices such as walking, working, and praying. Chapters include The Practice of Getting Lost as well as The Practice of Living with Purpose, The Practice of Wearing Skin and The Practice of Feeling Pain, The Practice of Saying No, and finally, The Practice of Pronouncing Blessings. As we incorporate these practices into our daily lives, Taylor says, we begin to discover altars everywhere we go, and learn to live with purpose, pay attentions, slow down, and practice reverence. The Big Questions in Science and Religion by Keith Ward Time: Mondays, January 14, 21, 28, February 4 and 11 Led by: Don Smith In this book Keith Ward, an Anglican priest who was once an atheist, offers insights into the relationship between diverse religious views and new scientific knowledge. He identifies ten basic questions about the nature of the universe and human life. Among these are: Does the universe have a goal or purpose? Do the laws of nature exclude miracles? Has science made belief in God obsolete? Are there any good science-based arguments for God? With his expertise in the study of world religions, Ward considers concepts from Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity, while featuring the speculations of cosmologists, physicians, mathematicians, and philosophers.
Childcare During First Worship Childcare is available during First Worship for Infants through Age 5 in the Infant Room located upstairs just outside the sanctuary on the main floor. What s happening at 10 am in Church School today? Kindergarten students and younger will be welcomed in their classrooms before 10 am worship begins. The Infant/ Toddler Room is located on the main floor just outside the Sanctuary to the left of the Chancel. 2 year olds through Kindergarten classrooms are located on the upper floor. Children should be picked up promptly at the conclusion of worship. Grades 1-8 will worship with their parents until it is time for class, as indicated in the bulletin. At that time, Grades 1 5 will meet at the signs downstairs in Village Hall and proceed to the following classrooms for a special activity. This week... Grade 1: Science Room Grade 2: Fishes and Loaves Cafe Grade 3: Science Room Grade 4: Artisans s Market Grade 5: Storyteller s Tent Grades 6, 7 & 8 will meet in the art studio for the art mural workshop. The activity for Grades 1-8 will conclude at 11:15 or the end of worship whichever is later. Students in Grades 3 and below should be met by their parents in Village Hall. The Family Room is available for parents who aren t quite ready to leave their infants and toddlers in childcare. In this room, parents will be able to listen to the worship service while their child naps or plays. This room is located upstairs beyond the library. Christmas Eve Worship 4:00 pm Family Worship Interactive telling of the Christmas story for young children and their families Sanctuary 7:00 pm Christmas Pageant Re-enactment of the birth of Jesus, narration and song by Junior and Youth Choirs Sanctuary 8:30 pm Communion Worship Meditation and song Burtt Chapel 9:15 pm Reception For returning Senior High Youth Group Alumni Parlor 10:00 pm Candlelight Worship Traditional readings and carols, Senior Choir singing Sanctuary