Old Greenwich, THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL United Church Connecticut CHURCH OF GREENWICH of Christ Founded in 1665 The First Sunday of Advent 27 November 2011 10 o clock in the morning Art Credit: Ted Mallory 2009
W ELCOME to this Service of Worship at First Congregational Church on the first Sunday of Advent. As we begin this season and transition from Thanksgiving, we rejoice in the blessings God has given us and give thanks to God for all of life. Giving and receiving are what this time is all about. And, now, we prepare for all that is to come, reflecting on the words of Dorothy Sayres, as together we seek: To celebrate that mighty eternity, can be born in time, and God s life in yours and mine. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices. *All who are able please stand Seating of latecomers PRELUDE Savior of the Nations, Come CALL TO COMMUNITY Please sign and pass the red book. Dr. Craig Scott Symons, organist J. S. Bach Dr. David D. Young PRAISING GOD CALL TO WORSHIP * OPENING HYMN AND PROCESSION O Come, O Come, Emmanuel New Century (black) Hymnal 116 LIGHTING OF THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE Betty Bonsal and Ginny Breismeister Opening Sentences Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12 Prayer
Lighting of the first Advent Candle MUSIC DURING LIGHTING OF CANDLE The Palmer Handbells Savior of the Nations, Come Arr. Cathy Moklebust CALL TO CONFESSION CONFESSING TO GOD PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of steadfast love, how impatient we are with you, with each other, and with ourselves! We do not live as those who recognize your reign on earth, though we are again celebrating its arrival. Our children, parents, and friends receive our anger too often and our expressions of love and interest too rarely. We expend our compassion in dinner-table conversations about the evening news, and satisfy our desire for justice by reading the morning editorial page. We try to absolve our responsibility to relatives and friends through the annual ritual of gifts and cards. We speak of love and peace on earth, but ignore the realities and needs of our brothers and sisters in the global community. We earnestly repent, and are sorry in our hearts for these shortcomings and misdoings. We ask your forgiveness. Please give us the vision, strength, and will to expect and live in your dynamic, caring, and brooding presence Now! and through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray 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. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Congregational Response (Tune: Sussex Carol) Then why should we on earth be sad,
since our Redeemer made us glad; Then why should we on earth be sad, since our Redeemer made us glad, When from our sin Christ set us free, all for to gain our liberty. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Twin daughters of Marjorie & Charles Glover BAPTISMAL RESPONSE Sung to the tune of Morning Has Broken Water has cleansed us, bathed with forgiveness, has with clear blessings, washed sin away. Jordan s strong currents God s son announcing, made a beginning, baptismal day. (During the baptismal response, the children will go with Rosemary to Room 104 for a Big Event. Young people 11 and older are invited to come and help our younger ones make a Family Advent Wreath. Parents can meet their children in Room 104 after worship.) HEARING GOD'S WORD FIRST LESSON F ollowing those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble. Mark 13:24-37 Lucinda Allen "And then they'll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky no one will miss it! He'll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. "Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying
this for some future generation, but for this one, too these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. So keep a sharp lookout, for you don't know the timetable. It's like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. So, stay at your post, watching. You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. You don't want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. I say it to you, and I'm saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch." SCRIPTURE ANTHEM Gloria from Gloria The Chancel Choir Antonio Vivaldi Gloria in excelsis deo Glory to God in the highest SECOND LESSON G I Corinthians 1:3-9 Pat Larrabee race to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always for you, because of God's grace that was given to you in Christ Jesus. That is, you were made rich through him in everything: in all your communication and every kind of knowledge, in the same way that the testimony about Christ was confirmed with you. The result is that you aren't missing any spiritual gift while you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also confirm your testimony about Christ until the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and you were called by him to partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. * HYMN Come, O Long-Expected Jesus New Century (black) Hymnal 122 SERMON: Felt the Call? Rev. Avery C. Manchester
RESPONDING TO GOD *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH I believe in Jesus Christ and in the beauty of the Gospel that began in Bethlehem. I believe in Him whom the kids of the earth ignored and the proud could never understand, whose paths were among the common people, whose welcome came from people of hungry hearts. I acknowledge the glory of all that is like Christ. The steadfastness of friends, the blessedness of homes, the beauty of compassion, the miracle of many hearts made kind at Christmas, the courage of those who dare to resist all passion, war, and hate. I believe that only by love expressed shall the earth at length be purified, and I acknowledge in Christ a faith that sees beyond the partial face, a trust in life redeemed that looks beyond our present evil; And I pray that this redemption may begin in us who make this declaration of faith during Advent. *Advent Gloria (New Century Hymnal 122 verse 3) Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again. CALL TO PASTORAL PRAYER PASTORAL PRAYER AND QUIET MEDITATION CALL TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY ANTHEM Et in terra pax from Gloria The Chancel Choir Antonio Vivaldi Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis And on earth, peace, to men of good will. *Advent Response (verse 3 of As With Gladness Men of Old) As they offered gifts most rare, At the manger rude and bare, So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin s alloy, All our costliest treasures bring, Christ to thee, our heavenly King. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION GOING FORTH TO SERVE GOD *CLOSING HYMN AND PROCESSION We Hail You God s Anointed New Century (black) Hymnal 104 *CLOSING SENTENCES Leader: The feet of the humblest may walk in the field People: Where the feet of the holiest trod, Leader: This, then, is the marvel to mortals revealed when the silvery trumpets of Christmas have pealed, People: That human beings are eternally the children of God. *BENEDICTION *BENEDICTION RESPONSE POSTLUDE Savior of the Nations, Come J. S. Bach
Music Notes: Today s prelude and postlude are based on the Advent hymn Nun komm der heiden heiland. Bach wrote several settings of this popular Lutheran chorale and it can be found in the New Century Hymnal at number 84. Both works are from the collection entitled The Leipzig Chorale Preludes, composed while he was employed in Weimar, but re-worked in his final years of life when he lived in Leipzig. The prelude is one of his most florid, ornamented settings, dating from 1708, and includes a walking bass line in the pedals, with a very elaborate and intricate melody line in the right hand. The postlude is also from 1708 and is in fugal form, meaning that one voice enters, and, at a certain number of measures later, another voice enters and so on until the pedal enters with the chorale tune in long notes. The choral pieces this morning are taken from Vivaldi s most popular work, Gloria, written around 1716. The opening two movements from this 30-minute extended work typify the compositional techniques used in that period. Gloria is a joyous, exuberant segment, telling the glory of God s greatness. Et in terra pax contains fugal-like sections where each voice part spins out a theme. In two moments during this movement, the chorus sings together and the harmonies and dissonances weave in and out, emphasizing peace and goodwill in the midst of discord and strife. The flowers in the Meetinghouse this morning have been given in loving memory of William and Isabelle Webster by their children. The First Congregational Church of Greenwich declares itself to be open and affirming; open to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment, and affirming of all who wish to join us as children of God. We continue to give thanks for God's guidance in our journey of faith.
We have child care for babies and toddlers every Sunday. Your children are always welcome for the entire service or for a respite time if needed. Please see an usher if you need directions. The 10:00 am Service is broadcast live each week on WGCH 1490 AM Radio. In addition, the service is available through the church s website, www.fccog.org. A bulletin can be found there as well as a link to the live broadcast. Previous sermons may also be found there. Next Week at First Congregational Church 10:00 am Worship Service Meetinghouse The Second Sunday in Advent Music by: The Youth Choir: Take My Voice and Let Me Sing The Chancel Choir: Behold a Star from Jacob Shining Rev. Daniel B. England, preaching *** 5:00 pm linc worship service Auditorium Come as you are and bring all your friends! Leader: David Young Giving Opportunities for the Season The Giving Tree If you haven t already, please be sure to pick up your gift tags for gifts to give to our friends at Pilgrim Towers and H.O.M.E. Co-op in Orland, Maine. This is the sixth year we have been able to bring some holiday cheer to these two communities. Deadline for wrapping and delivering your gift(s) back to the church is Friday, December 9.
Mitten Tree Throughout Advent, the Mitten Tree is available in the Auditorium to accept gifts of mittens, hats, gloves and socks that will be delivered to St. Luke s Lifeworks to help warm the hands and hearts of those who benefit from St. Luke s services. White Gifts White Gifts are offerings of new clothing, toys, books or other useful items wrapped in white paper that are offered during our 10 am and 4 pm services on Christmas Eve. The white paper gives the illusion of snow under the trees in the Meetinghouse. The gifts will be sent to Covenant to Care for Children, which provides advocacy, mentoring, and direct assistance to children and youth who are neglected, abused or at risk. Warm clothes, coats, educational toys, family board games, and gift cards (for Target or Walmart for teens) are particularly appreciated. Ribbon and bows are not necessary but please attach a tag listing the contents including age, gender & size. (Hint: If you find yourself without white paper, some patterned papers reverse to white, or use white tissue paper.) Christmas Tree Sale One of the ways that we increase the amount we are able to share through the Outreach Budget of FCCOG is through our Annual Christmas Tree Sale! The trees (and wreaths, garlands and kissing balls) arrived yesterday and we began selling as soon as the truck was unloaded. Here's where you come in...buy TREES AND OTHER ITEMS FROM US!! Also, we need tons of volunteers to pull off this effort. If you are able to help out, please contact the Church Office. Calendar TODAY Church School There are no Church School classes today, however, there is a Church School Big Event in Room 104 where we will consider the meaning of Advent and the wonder of waiting for the Light. Children will be making family Advent wreaths. Don t forget the Advent Craft Fair this afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in the Daniels Center (see more
info below). Next Sunday, we will resume our regular Church School classes. Annual Advent "Make Your Own" Craft Workshop Today from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in the Daniels Center This annual event is hosted by the Church School Task Force. Join us this afternoon. There will be several new crafts in addition to the long time favorites - photo ornament and pet gifts. A great time will be had by all! Bible Study There is no Bible Study this week. We will resume with a discussion of two books (Heaven is for Real and The Great Divorce) and one movie (Hereafter) on January 8. If you need one or both of the books, email Dan England (dengland@optonline.net) and we will have them for pick-up in a couple of weeks. Youth and Cherub Choir Rehearsals Youth Choir will rehearse today from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm in the Choir Room and Cherub Choir will rehearse from 11:15 to 11:45 am in Room 104. linc Join us today at 5:00 pm in the Auditorium for our new linc worship service. Come in your jeans and t-shirt and experience something completely new. Y! - Youth Ministry There will be no Youth Ministry programs (Y!) this evening. NEXT WEEK Wellness Program - Greenwich Senior Services Good to Know Please join us next Sunday, December 4 at 11:30 am in the Lounge for a very special Wellness Program Greenwich Senior Services Good to Know, presented by Sam Deibler, Director of Greenwich Commission on Aging. I didn t know that is often the response when people hear of the many helpful services available to seniors in Greenwich. Like it or not, the Town Senior Services now
considers people 50 years and older to be eligible for their services! There are many exercise and enrichment programs, as well as programs to assist those finding it difficult leaving the house. From transportation to recreation, from meals-on-wheels to insurance counseling, our town has much to offer. Sam Deibler will touch upon the many services offered and answer questions. Sam will also offer an update on the 2012 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, which has an earlier enrollment deadline this year. For more information, please contact Sue Asselin, Parish Nurse, at ext. 21. NEWS AND NOTICES A Chance to Help Sadly, Saugatuck Congregational Church UCC in Westport suffered a fire last Sunday evening. Fortunately there were no fatalities or injuries, but portions of the building were severely damaged and the building remains closed due to significant water and smoke damage throughout. While the church is covered by insurance, not all the losses will be covered. The church will, therefore, be in need of funds to help with those uncovered expenses. At their request, the UCC will be accepting gifts toward that fund through the Conference s online giving page at: http://www.ctucc.org/donate/. This is your chance to help. In addition, please keep the church, its pastor, the Rev. Howard Tobak, its staff and lay leadership and all the members of the Saugatuck community in your prayers. Giving Thanks for our Community Garden Harvest Thank you to the members of the Hunger Mission Team who dug, planted, watered, weeded and harvested 446 pounds of food this summer, all donated to the Neighbor to Neighbor food pantry. Summer squash, eggplant, several kinds of peppers, string beans, celery, basil, cucumbers and, of course, many pounds of tomatoes all made their way to many tables in our community. We look forward to maintaining a plot again next summer and will have plenty of opportunities for folks who like to garden and can put in a few glorious hours here and there over the summer. Messiah is coming!
We will be starting rehearsals for our annual performance of Messiah under the direction of Director of Music, Dr. Craig Scott Symons, held on Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18 at 4:00 pm. Singers should be prepared to attend all rehearsals and performances. Choir rehearsals will be in the Meetinghouse from 7:30-9:00 pm on: Tuesday, December 6; Wednesday, December 7; Tuesday, December 13; and Wednesday, December 14. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to join us in this exciting choral opportunity! FCCOG s New Website Have you checked out the new FCCOG website yet? Take a look at www.fccog.org and let us know what you think. Direct any feedback about the website, including corrections or adjustments to Dan England at dengland@optonline.net. Tai Chi Classes with Luis Duarte Improve your balance, health and well being. Come and experience the many wonderful benefits of Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercises. Classes are held on Wednesdays at 8:00 am and Thursdays at 9:00 am. Only $7 per class if paid by the month, and $8 per class for drop ins. Join us! You ll love it! All are welcome! News from The Rummage Room The Christmas Shop is open and filled with goodies for your delight. You need Christmas gifts? We have Christmas gifts! You need Christmas decorations? We have Christmas decorations! You need Holiday clothing? Come and check it out. There are Christmas cards, wrapping paper, spools of ribbon, toys and stuffed animals, china and pottery, crystal for every occasion, Christmas trees, wreaths, ornaments, Christmas stockings, music boxes the list is endless! December Calendar: December 3: The Last Day for Donations. Please Do Not Leave Donations Outside when the shop is closed. The weather will reduce the donations to rubbish and they will have to be disposed of at The Rummage Room expense. December 3: First Light will be held Saturday evening from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Rummage Room and all the retail shops in Old Greenwich will be open so come by for punch and cookies and plenty of good shopping.
December 5: All Christmas clothing and Christmas items will be 25% off throughout the week. December 12: Everything in the shop will be 50% off through Friday, December 16. December 16: The Rummage Room will host its annual Holiday Party throughout the day. December 16: The Rummage Room closes for the Holidays at 5:00 pm and reopens on Monday, January 2 at 10:00 am. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our customers, donors and volunteers. May your Holiday happiness equal the appreciation we feel for your amazing support. Because of you The Women s Fellowship, The Allocations Committee and The Rummage Room Committee, along with Manager Maria, are able to help so many. Thank you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christmas Memorial/Honor Flowers and Decorations The Chancel Committee invites contributions for decorations for the Meetinghouse this Christmas. Any amount is welcome. Please deliver the completed form with your check to the Church Office (payable to the First Congregational Church Flower Fund) on or before Sunday, December 11. Thank you. In Memory/Honor of By Enclosed is my check in the amount of $ Please print names legibly to minimize spelling errors. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celebrate Advent and Christmas at FCCOG The Services of Advent Sunday Worship at 10:00 am Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11 and 18 Christmas Carol Sing & Dinner Sign up early for this favorite Christmas event! Join us for a night of food, fellowship and a rousing Christmas Carol sing-along. Sunday, December 11, 6:00 pm Part I of Handel s Messiah and Hallelujah Chorus Our annual candlelight performances of this masterpiece will be held in the Meetinghouse December 17 and 18 at 4:00 pm. This year the soloists will be: Bonnie Pepper, soprano; Christopher Pfund, tenor; Wanda Brister, mezzo soprano; and Mark Kaczmarczyk, bass. Christmas Eve Services 10:00 am - Children s Service 4:00 pm - Family Service: Once in Royal David s City 5:00 pm - Community Carol Sing 8:00 pm - Carols and Communion 11:00 pm - Candlelight Service Christmas Day Services 10:00 am - Worship at First Presbyterian for FCCOG and First Baptist Churches 5:00 pm linc Christmas New Year s Day Services 10:00 am - Worship at FCCOG with First Presbyterian and First Baptist Churches 5:00 pm linc Christmas
The First Congregational Church of Greenwich 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut, 06870 203-637-1791 www.fccog.org Ministers: The Members of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. David D. Young Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry: Rev. Mark D. Montgomery Minister of Communication and Adult Education: Rev. Daniel B. England Minister of Pastoral Care: Rev. Avery C. Manchester Director of Music: Dr. Craig Scott Symons Director of Church School: Rosemary Lamie Director of Membership: Ginny Breismeister Director of Publications: Barbara Wilkov Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin, RN Pastors Emeriti: Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Stiers and Rev. Sally Colegrove Director of Music Emeritus: Dr. John Stansell