PRAYER CONCERNS: Please keep these individuals and their families in your prayers. Barbara Vietze Family of Irma Porter Joyce Cisco Ann Slade John Slade The Bertotti Family *Each month the congregations of the Grand West Association, United Church of Christ will hold each other in prayer. This month we will pray for and on behalf of the congregation of Muskegon Congregational United Church of Christ. May God bless this congregation and its leadership in ministry to the Muskegon area. HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS Open 9am-3pm Monday, Dec. 21 Open 9am-3pm Tuesday, Dec. 22 Open 9am-noon Wednesday, Dec. 23 Open 9am-3pm Tuesday, Dec. 29 Open 9am-3pm Wednesday, Dec. 30 PASTOR RUTH S OFFICE HOURS Pastor Ruth is available on most Mondays from 10am-1pm for office hours. She is in the office and available other times by appointment. Please call ahead for a visit! 616/245-0578 OFFICE/BUILDING HOURS Open Mondays through Thursdays from 9am-3pm. WEATHER-RELATED CLOSINGS East Church follows the pattern of closing based on Grand Rapids Public Schools. In the event of a storm, please check WOOD-TV for up-to-date information. Messages will also be posted on our website and our Facebook page. HELPING HANDS Need a ride to the doctor? Need a ride to church on Sunday? Need meals while recovering from surgery or illness? Helping Hands may be able to help you! Call Joy or Pat Murray at 455-0353. This Week at East SUNDAY (December 20) 9:30 AM Pageant Rehearsal 9:45 AM Advent Quiet 10:10 AM NO Chancel Choir Warm-Up 10:25 AM Nursery Care available 10:30 AM Worship Service PAGEANT! 10:45 AM NO Sunday School 11:45 AM-12:15 PM NO Youth Choir/Handbells 7:30 PM-8:30PM AA Meetings, Parlors MONDAY (21) 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Men s Club 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Thrifty Treasures Open 7:00 PM-8:00 PM Yoga, Second Space 7:00 PM-10:00 PM Bridge Club Evenings TUESDAY (22) BULLETIN ITEMS DUE! 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Thrifty Treasures Open 7:30 PM-8:30 PM AA, Parlors WEDNESDAY (23) 12:30 PM-3:30 PM Bridge Club, Fellowship Hall 5:30 PM-6:30 PM Practicing Meditation THURSDAY (24) CHRISTMAS EVE 9:30 AM-12:00 PM Golden K Kiwanis 10:30 AM NO Knitting Group 12:30 PM- 3:30 PM NO Bridge Club 5:00 PM CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICE 6:30 PM- 7:30 PM NO Handbell Rehearsal 7:30 PM-8:45 PM NO Chancel Choir Rehearsal 7:30 PM-8:30 PM AA Meetings, Parlors 11:00 PM CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICE FRIDAY (25) REJOICE! Merry Christmas! SATURDAY (26) DECEMBER Coming Up 27 10:30 AM Morning Worship in Klise Chapel 27-Jan 3 IHN Week
1005 Giddings Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI P 616/245-0578 F 616/245-4481 www.eastchurchgr.org CHIMES Empowering God's community to grow in faith through worship, service, and learning at every age. -Vision Statement, adopted May, 2015 We Gather As God s People (Please prepare for worship by ending your conversations.) PRELUDE We Three Kings H. Hopson Youth Handbells GREETING (responsively) Leader: People: All: The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. Amen. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH We Prepare to Hear God s Word *CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively) Leader: The love of the season fills us today! The time for celebrating is almost here. People: We have come to praise the Lord! Leader: We are here to sing praises to God, the Holy One in whom we trust. People: God opens our eyes and lifts us up. Leader: Let us praise God and listen for the good news. *HYMN It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (PH 131) *Those who are able, please stand. 10:30 a.m. December 20, 2015 Fourth Sunday in Advent A Festival of Music and Drama **NCH - black The New Century Hymnal, PH blue Pilgrim Hymnal No matter who you are, or where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here. ANNOUNCEMENTS December 20, 2015 We had a great turn out for the caroling at Beacon Hill last Sunday December 13th. Staff and residents were very happy to see us. We even had help from some of the residents with singing. We then headed over to Pastor Ruth's where she fed us tacos, and ice cream! The youth had a very fun and lively gift exchange with lots of candy and 10 two liters of pop as gifts. FYI-the 10 bottles of pop was ONE gift! ;0) Don't forget IHN weekend is December 27th and I still need at least four youth to play and interact with the kiddos from 6:30-8:00.No YG meeting today as it is Happy Pageant Day. 2016 Christmas Offering The annual Christmas Offering will be collected on behalf of Interfaith Hospitality Network and Feeding God's Children. The East food pantry relies on the Christmas offering to replenish their funding to keep the pantry stocked with items not available through direct donations. Please remember to plan for your Christmas offering donation and look for the Christmas Offering envelopes in the pews. LOST & FOUND ITEMS GOING SOON! SUNDAY SCHOOL FAMILIES: Sunday School will resume on January 10! Please help our families by being understanding and supportive of our young children's squirms, talking, giggles, and cries. They are learning important lessons about both God and patience. We are grateful for the love our church family shows! IHN WEEK SIGN UPS ARE AVAILABLE: Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) Week consists of hosting homeless families for a week right here at East Church. The families will arrive on Sunday, December 27 and depart on Sunday, January 3. This is a busy time of year for all of us, but if you are going to be in town AT ALL during that week, please consider signing up to bring part of a meal, play with some kids or spend the night as a family. By giving a little bit of your time, you are giving these families the gift of hope for a brighter future. Look for sign up sheets and the online Sign-Up for volunteer positions or meals by: 1) signing up in the book after church today, 2)going to our website at www.eastchurchgr.org and clicking on the link, or 3) using the link sent to your email if you subscribe to the East Church Newsletter. LECTIONARY STUDY: We will reconvene in January, meeting on January 6 to read the passages for Sunday, January 17 (Psalm 36:5-10, John 2:1-11). MUSIC MINISTRIES: KNITTING GROUP: The Knitting Group gathers on the first and third Thursday mornings of each month in the room that formerly housed the Siloam Spirituality Center at 10:30 a.m. Our next gathering will be Thursday, December 17. All are welcome! STEWARDSHIP:
A limited number of large-print bulletins are available. Ask an usher! WELCOME TO ALL! We re glad you ve chosen to worship with us. Visit our church website at www.eastchurchgr.org to hear past sermons. Audio CDs of the worship service are available by calling the church office during regular business hours. HEARING DEVICE OPTIONS 1) You may ask an usher in the narthex for headphones to connect with the church amplification. After worship, leave the headsets on the end of the pew. 2) If you have a t cell on your hearing aid, switch to that setting to be connected to the loop system. CHILDREN All children ages 3-5th grade are invited to Sunday School and may follow the teachers to the classroom after the Time with Children. Parents may pick up their children in the Fish Tank room on the second floor. Nursery Care is available in the Noah s Ark room on the second floor above the main office for ages birth through 3 years old. SERVING US TODAY Festival of Music & Drama December 20, 2015-Fourth Sunday of Advent Acolytes: James Austin, Dylan Choura No Sunday School Nursery: Soundboard: Bill Otten Head Usher: Jim Pierson Ushers: Mike Hansen, Harold Koorndyk, Jackson McClure Greeters: Welcome Center Desk: Mary Ann March Receptionist: Judy McKay Coffee Hour: Sharon Guild PARTICIPATING NEXT WEEK December 27, 2015-Fourth Sunday of Advent Klise Memorial Chapel Liturgist: Kim Slupe Acolytes: James Austin, Dylan Choura Nursery: Head Usher: Jim Pierson Ushers: Anne Miller, Harold Koorndyk, Jackson McClure Greeters: Open Welcome Center Desk: Marilyn Dunn Receptionist: Open Coffee Hour: Grace Guild LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES (unison) ECCYG-East Church Youth Group O God, we thank you that Jesus showed your love for every person babies and children, old people and young, sick and those who were well, rich people and those who were poor. Come to us this Advent season, and give us love in our hearts for all people. Amen. SUNG RESPONSE Light the Advent Candle (verse 4) (insert) INVOCATION AND THE LORD S PRAYER (unison) Loving God, our light and our salvation, you bring hope, peace, joy, and love to the lowly and oppressed. Let us see our world through your eyes, that we may love people everywhere, that we may work for justice, and that our lives may bear witness to the good news of your realm at hand. Open our eyes and ears today so that we might hear your message from new voices, in new ways, and be moved to live in new love. Amen. SILENT 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. We Hear God s Word SCRIPTURE READINGS Psalm 146:5-10 page 507 RESPONSE Prepare the Way (insert) All music in this bulletin is printed with permission under OneLicense.net, license A-711772. 1005 Giddings Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 phone (616) 245-0578 fax (616) 245-4481 Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald, Pastor rfitzgerald. Mark Loring, Director of Music and Arts Ministries mloring. Bren Elliott, Youth Ministries Leader belliott. Stephanie Rodriguez, Director of Christian Education srodriguez. Shelly Maltbie, Office Administrator Curtis Prussner, Custodian cprussner. BULLETIN DEADLINE Noon every Tuesday. THE LIVING NATIVITY: A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT WITH CAROLS WELCOME Written by Mary Loring
O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant; O come ye; O come ye to Bethlehem! Come, and behold him, born the King of angels! O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL O Come, thou Root of Jesse s tree, an ensign of thy people be; before thee rulers silent fall; all peoples on thy mercy call. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. MARY & JOSEPH GABRIEL S MESSAGE TO MARY GABRIEL S MESSAGE TO JOSEPH MARY AND JOSEPH TRAVEL TO BETHLEHEM O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. For Christ is born of Mary and, gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. PRAYER MINISTRY OF MUSIC He Came Down! Cameroon Carol Combined Choirs We Respond To God s Word THE OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS (Please sign in and pass our Friendship Register to your neighbors in the pew.) Any loose change placed in the offering plate will support our Sunday School offering which goes to Kid's Food Basket, Ele's Place, & Neuva Vida. OFFERTORY I Saw Three Ships R. Robinson Chancel Choir *DOXOLOGY (unison) (NCH 780) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) O God, we bring our gifts to you. May they be used to make a difference in the lives of people where hope is scarce, where peace is far away, and where joy is a memory. May our gifts be a reminder to those who receive them that your love may never fade. Amen. *HYMN Angels, From the Realms of Glory (PH 117) *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE Toccata on Hark the Herald Angels Sing D. Bish Please thank all those participants (and parents!) who took part in this morning's program. Please take the time to thank them for sharing their gifts with us at today's reception. Many thanks to Mary Loring, Chaplain at Clark Retirement Community, for writing and directing this nativity drama. Many thanks to all who participated in today s Living Nativity! Many thanks to Lu Bertotti for helping with the costumes. Many thanks to Penny Notter for helping with the poinsettias. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO COFFEE HOUR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE WORSHIP SERVICE TODAY. Christmas Eve Services are offered on December 24 at 5:00 pm & 11:00 pm Today s Call to Worship and Prayer of Dedication are adapted from Joy is Coming! Service Prayers for the 3 rd Sunday of Advent written by Henrietta Stith Andrews.
THE SHEPHERDS FOLLOW THE STAR AND WORSHIP THE BABE AWAY IN A MANGER (please sing a cappella) Children s Choirchimes Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby wakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes; I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay, Close by me forever, and love me, I pray! Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care And take us to heaven, to Live with Thee there. HEROD AND THE WISEMEN FROM THE EAST WHAT CHILD IS THIS What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ, the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. This, this is Christ, the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him. This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing: THE WISEMEN OFFER THEIR GIFTS SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT Silent night, holy night! All is calm; all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child! Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. BETHLEHEM AND THE INN MINISTRY OF MUSIC One Small Child D. Meece Rachael Johnson, soloist THE BABY IS DELIVERED & SHEPHERDS HEAR THE NEWS MINISTRY OF MUSIC Rise Up Shepherd and Follow Spiritual Children s Choir THE ANGELS APPEAR TO THE SHEPHERDS HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn king. Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful all ye nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate deity; Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, Born that we no more may die, Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth. THE ANGEL S ANNOUNCEMENT! Isabel Fuzi, soloist