December 14, 2014 Advent 3 Peninsula Joint Worship Bayswater-Summerville 9:30 am Westfield11:00 am The flowers placed in the sanctuary for the Christmas Season are in loving memory of Helen Likely and James West Sr. by the Likely and West Families Prelude Welcome Life and Work of the Church Lighting of the Christ Candle WE GATHER IN HOPE *Gathering: (seated) O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. * indicates to stand as able Response printed in bold Advent Candle Liturgy Reader 1: On the first Sunday of Advent we lit a candle of Hope (light first blue candle). Reader 2; Our second candle was lit for Peace. (light second blue candle) Reader 1: Today we light a candle for Joy. (light pink candle) Reader 2: This is the joy we search for: the joy that comes when we go out of our way to help others, Left Side: the Joy that overcomes fear and repression, the Joy that Jesus brought to the downtrodden and despised, Right Side: the Joy that chuckles out from a young baby: the Joy that is in the energy of a street-hockey game, All: the Joy that comes with a new job the Joy that is found in a purposeful retirement, the Joy of compassionate friendship, the Joy of a Christian faith that is central to all we do and are, a Joy to release us, a Joy to delight us, a Joy to encourage us, a Joy to challenge the despair in our hearts, in our homes and community and among the hopeless of our world. Sung Response: Hope Shines as the Solitary Star More Voices 220 Joy shines as the solitary star faith is the inner light. You and I together mirror the Light of Lights, and illumine the pathway home. Gathering: People of God, come, for the light of joy beckons us together. Come, let us follow this light into Advent, into the wonder and heart of God s love. People of God, come, for the light of joy beckons us together, asking, who are you, what is your great joy? Come, let us follow this light in our worship. Opening Prayer: Left side: Come, great spirit of Joy, and fill our hearts and minds today. Right Side: Come, miraculous laughter, and help us to rejoice. Left Side: Come, enlivening comforter, and give us the courage to proclaim and celebrate all that sparks the divine flame within us. Right Side: Come, wondrous light, and lead us on this path toward new life. Left Side: Come, for we are ready to hear your words and feel your presence. Come, for we are your people, longing to be renewed. Amen *Hymn of Praise: Joy To The World Voices United 59 WE LISTEN WITH HOPE
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessolians 5: 16-24 Reader: This is the witness of God s people Music Selection Reflection Super Christmas Sunday School Carol: While Shepherds Watched Their Flock Voices United 75 v. 1&2 WE RESPOND IN HOPE Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true, know God will guide you in all you do. Go now in love and show you believe, reach out to others so all the world can see. God will be there watching from above, go now in peace, in faith and in love. Amen,Amen,Amen. Today s Worship Resources: Gathering : adapted from Seasons of the Spirit. Used with permission. Advent Candle Liturgy: Adapted from work by David Sparks, gathering A/C/E 2014/15, pg.62. Used with permission. Super Christmas: written by Vanessa Unti, http//ministry-to-children.com Adapted Go Now In Peace: Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price, Music by Don Besig. Reproduced with permission under Licensing #C9979. An Invitation to the Joyful Act of Offering: Offering & Presentation of Gifts Offertory Hymn: As With Gladness Men Of Old Voices United 81 v.3 As they offered gifts most rare, at that manger crude and bare, so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin s alloy, all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to you, our heavenly King. WE SCATTER IN HOPE *Empowering Hymn: Song of Mary Voices United 889 melody Voices United 266 (Amazing Grace) Sending Forth: Today we join the World Council of Churches in prayer for the people of; Benin, Cote d Ivoire and Togo. Readers: Greeters/Offering: David Lomas (BW-SV); Amanda Evans(W) Kelly Newstead (BW-SV); Doug & Amanda Evans (W) Thank You to the Lighthouse Sunday School children, leaders and parents for leading us in worship this morning at Westfield. LIFE AND WORK OF OUR CHURCH Mission and Service Update: Million of People Thank You. In response to the Mission and Service Pilot Project for the month of November the team is delighted to report an increase in the number of contributors to M&S: Bayswater-Summerville from 6 to 7; Long Reach from 17 to 18; Westfield from 51 to 81! Total of 32 new contributors to Mission and Service! Thank You! Benediction: Go Now In Peace Go now in peace. Never be afraid. God will go with you each hour of every day. Open House at the Manse, Sunday, December 21, 4-7 pm Rev. Elizabeth and David invite you to drop in at the Manse, 3264 Route 845, Long Reach. Watch for the Peace sign on the front of our home. Come, share a cup of brew and a
moment of Christmas Spirit without anything to do but be there. Church Calendars: To everyone who ordered a church calendar, sorry to say there are no more calendars available. This Week: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 10:00-11:30 am 4-week Advent Study Group. Contact Rev. Elizabeth for more information esteven@nb.sympatico.ca Everyone Welcome! Westfield Christmas Families - Anyone able to help sort groceries & pack boxes Dec. 15 & 16 please call me. Thank you for your assistance in such an important ministry. Judy (757-8079) Needed: Westfield Jr. Sunday School Leaders for two Sunday s in January and all of February & March. This is an important Ministry so please give it some thought. Sign up sheets are posted at the back of the church. For further information see Bette Ashley after church, call her at 763-3742 or email at bettekaseyashley@gmail.com Looking Ahead Thursday, Dec. 18, 7:00 pm Sunday, Dec. 21 Christmas Eve Worship: Blue Christmas, Long Reach Lessons and Carols, Westfield & Long Reach Summerville 4:30 pm Long Reach 6:30 pm Westfield 8:30 pm Deep in our Hearts Cooperative Ministry invites you to share in an oldfashioned Christmas Carol Sing, Stories, cookies & warm cider at Glen View United Church, 8 Upland Rd., Saint John East, Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2 pm. Free will offering will support our outreach programs. There are several ways to prepare for Advent and Christmas by sharing: 1. Coverdale - United Church Clothing Outlet - Aids Saint John - Hestia House. Containers to receive donations are placed at the back of the sanctuaries: Boost, socks and underwear (gently used is fine), deodorant, body wash, toothbrushes and men s winter coats, toques, gloves and razors. 2. Two Rivers is providing Christmas baskets for 15 families - 12 by Westfield; 3 by the Peninsula. A sign up sheet is posted for you to participate by providing groceries or gifts. Once the goods are received, volunteers are needed to sort and deliver. At Westfield, please contact Judy Sheaves 757-8079. 3. Give a gift of Fair Trade Products. Regular, decaf and Christmas Blend coffee; plain hot chocolate and bars consisting of Roast Almonds in Milk or Dark chocolate as well as Mint are available at the church office. These all make great gifts, stuffers and great hostess gifts. When you purchase from our Fair Trade Store at the Westfield Church or at Long Reach, you support the farmers and help send children to school in Guatemala as well as make someone here happy. Come in, purchase and try some of the products just waiting for you. 4. Mission and Service Fund. Give a gift in someone s honour. 5. Gifts With Vision This gift gives to your loved one as well as our United Church of Canada ministry partners around the world. The catalogues are available at the back of the sanctuary or www.unitedchurch.ca A wonderful way to give! 6. Peace Olive Oil and Soap from Palestine Church in the World TWO RIVERS PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Bayswater-Summerville Long Reach Westfield 133 Nerepis Road, Grand Bay - Westfield, N.B. E5K 2Z3
Office Phone: 757-2201 Office e-mail: wuc@nb.sympatico.ca Pastoral Charge website www.2riversunited.com United Church of Canada website: www.united-church.ca Clergy: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Stevenson 763-2373 email: esteven@nb.sympatico.ca Youth & Young Families Minister Bette Ashley 763-3742 email: bettekaseyashley@hotmail.com Music Directors: Joan Small - Long Reach - 763-2479 Bertis Sutton - Westfield - 757-2531 Peter Boyce - Bayswater-Summerville - Celebration of God s Presence in the Sacrament of Baptism
Commitment to Follow the Way of Jesus the Christ Commitment to the Mission and Ministry of the Church *Congregation s Commitment We will continue to support you, walk with you and grow with you. With God s help, we will live out our baptism as a loving community, as followers of Jesus: nurturing one another in faith, upholding one another in prayer, encouraging one another in God s work. Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Pouring of Water The Act of Baptism Baptism Marking with the Sign of the Cross Laying On of Hands Presentation of a Candle Declaration and Congregational Welcome Voices United 454 May God who creates you give you light, may God who sustains you make you wise, may God who protects you give you joy, may God who surrounds you give you peace. Presentation of Certificate Celebration of God s Presence in the Sacrament of Baptism Statement of Purpose In baptism we celebrate God s gift of life and love, a love which has surrounded us from our beginnings, a love revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. In baptism we dedicate ourselves to God s purposes, we dedicate ourselves to being disciples. Through baptism, the family of faith makes room for one more. Presentation of Candidates: Received for initiation into the Body of Christ through adult baptism: Brenda Marie Johnson Profession of Faith and Promises Profession of Faith in the Triune God Commitment to Seek Justice and Resist Evil Statement of Purpose In baptism we celebrate God s gift of life and love, a love which has surrounded us from our beginnings, a love revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. In baptism we dedicate ourselves to God s purposes, we dedicate ourselves to being disciples. Through baptism, the family of faith makes room for one more. Presentation of Candidates: Received for initiation into the Body of Christ through adult baptism: Brenda Marie Johnson Profession of Faith and Promises Profession of Faith in the Triune God Commitment to Seek Justice and Resist Evil Commitment to Follow the Way of Jesus the Christ
Commitment to the Mission and Ministry of the Church *Congregation s Commitment We will continue to support you, walk with you and grow with you. With God s help, we will live out our baptism as a loving community, as followers of Jesus: nurturing one another in faith, upholding one another in prayer, encouraging one another in God s work. Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Pouring of Water The Act of Baptism Baptism Marking with the Sign of the Cross Laying On of Hands Presentation of a Candle Declaration and Congregational Welcome Voices United 454 May God who creates you give you light, may God who sustains you make you wise, may God who protects you give you joy, may God who surrounds you give you peace. Presentation of Certificate Church in the World There are several ways to prepare for Advent and Christmas by sharing: 1. Coverdale - United Church Clothing Outlet - Aids Saint John - Hestia House. Containers to receive donations are placed at the back of the sanctuaries: Boost, socks and underwear (gently used is fine), deodorant, body wash, toothbrushes and men s winter coats, toques, gloves and razors. 2. Two Rivers is providing Christmas baskets for 15 families - 12 by Westfield; 3 by the Peninsula. A sign up sheet is posted for you to participate by providing groceries or gifts. Once the goods are received, volunteers are needed to sort and deliver. At Westfield, please contact Judy Sheaves 757-8079. 3. Give a gift of Fair Trade Products. Regular, decaf and Christmas Blend coffee; plain hot chocolate and bars consisting of Roast Almonds
in Milk or Dark chocolate as well as Mint are available at the church office. These all make great gifts, stuffers and great hostess gifts. When you purchase from our Fair Trade Store at the Westfield Church or at Long Reach, you support the farmers and help send children to school in Guatemala as well as make someone here happy. Come in, purchase and try some of the products just waiting for you. 4. Mission and Service Fund. Give a gift in someone s honour. 5. Gifts With Vision This gift gives to your loved one as well as our United Church of Canada ministry partners around the world. The catalogues are available at the back of the sanctuary or www.unitedchurch.ca A wonderful way to give! 6. Peace Olive Oil and Soap from Palestine 3. Give a gift of Fair Trade Products. Regular, decaf and Christmas Blend coffee; plain hot chocolate and bars consisting of Roast Almonds in Milk or Dark chocolate as well as Mint are available at the church office. These all make great gifts, stuffers and great hostess gifts. When you purchase from our Fair Trade Store at the Westfield Church or at Long Reach, you support the farmers and help send children to school in Guatemala as well as make someone here happy. Come in, purchase and try some of the products just waiting for you. 4. Mission and Service Fund. Give a gift in someone s honour. 5. Gifts With Vision This gift gives to your loved one as well as our United Church of Canada ministry partners around the world. The catalogues are available at the back of the sanctuary or www.unitedchurch.ca A wonderful way to give! 6. Peace Olive Oil and Soap from Palestine Church in the World There are several ways to prepare for Advent and Christmas by sharing: 1. Coverdale - United Church Clothing Outlet - Aids Saint John - Hestia House. Containers to receive donations are placed at the back of the sanctuaries: Boost, socks and underwear (gently used is fine), deodorant, body wash, toothbrushes and men s winter coats, toques, gloves and razors. 2. Two Rivers is providing Christmas baskets for 15 families - 12 by Westfield; 3 by the Peninsula. A sign up sheet is posted for you to participate by providing groceries or gifts. Once the goods are received, volunteers are needed to sort and deliver. At Westfield, please contact Judy Sheaves 757-8079. WAITING FOR HOPE TO BE BORN The Rev. Tiina Cote served as overseas personnel with the Christian Council of Tanzania as a chaplain at the University of Dodoma. Tiina reflects on hope for the Advent season. What happens when hope is born through the grace of God? As I witness the intensity of University of Dodoma students long, loud prayers to God, I imagine the intensity of Joseph s prayer to his God on those many nights after the birth of a promise. As I see the tears fall from the students faces when they sing thanks to their God, I imagine Mary s face as she sings her song of blessing and promises fulfilled by her God.
And when students feel empowered and able to speak their truth out loud, I imagine the confidence of Zechariah as he stood in a countercultural moment and claimed the name of hope for his son as given by his God. Such is the face of Advent hope across the world today. Each of us has been silenced in some way, yet we hold a story of hope waiting to be born again. For the University of Dodoma students of the Christian Council of Tanzania, that story is being born with the support of your generous gifts for Mission and Service, which help fund the chaplaincy at the university. May the difference, that you help these students to make in their own lives. be your story of hope this year. Please give generously. Mighty and tender God, our gifts to M&S help your church to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you. And when students feel empowered and able to speak their truth out loud, I imagine the confidence of Zechariah as he stood in a countercultural moment and claimed the name of hope for his son as given by his God. Such is the face of Advent hope across the world today. Each of us has been silenced in some way, yet we hold a story of hope waiting to be born again. For the University of Dodoma students of the Christian Council of Tanzania, that story is being born with the support of your generous gifts for Mission and Service, which help fund the chaplaincy at the university. May the difference, that you help these students to make in their own lives, be your story of hope this year. Please give generously. Mighty and tender God, our gifts to M&S help your church to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you. WAITING FOR HOPE TO BE BORN The Rev. Tiina Cote served as overseas personnel with the Christian Council of Tanzania as a chaplain at the University of Dodoma. Tiina reflects on hope for the Advent season. What happens when hope is born through the grace of God? As I witness the intensity of University of Dodoma students long, loud prayers to God, I imagine the intensity of Joseph s prayer to his God on those many nights after the birth of a promise. As I see the tears fall from the students faces when they sing thanks to their God, I imagine Mary s face as she sings her song of blessing and promises fulfilled by her God.