FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen, Pastor

4th Sunday in Advent

Alyssa Maxfield, Lay Reader

December 20, 2020 Worship 10:30 AM

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE A Strange Way to Change the World (Joseph Said "Why Me?")

Dave Clark, Mark Harris and Don Koch

Kelly Meath, piano

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Into our world as into Mary’s womb…

People: Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader: Into the forgotten places, as into the stable…

People: Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader: Into the lives of the poor, bringing hope; into the lives of the powerful, bringing

caution; into the lives of the weary, bringing rest; into the lives of the wise,

bringing restlessness; and into our lives and longings, whatever our estate…

People: Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader: This is good news: Christ is coming, and blessed are those who wait on the Lord.

People: Therefore come quickly, Lord. Amen.

HYMN #182 O Come All Ye Faithful (Please listen but do not sing)

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

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing all ye citizens of heaven above;

Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord

INVOCATION (in unison)

There is one task only: the task of love. We are called by God to live this life with love for everyone. All that we do can be an expression of God's love. However mundane the task, perform it with a generous spirit and grateful heart. The most insignificant task performed with love is tribute to God.

LORD’S PRAYER (Trespasses)

*GLORIA PATRI (Please listen but do not sing)

SPECIAL MUSIC Welcome to Our World by Chris Rice

Dan and Edie Rice

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE OF LOVE The Rudolph Family

Leader: May we see the vision of God, hear the promises of God and be faithful followers

in all we do.

People: We yearn for the light and we rejoice in the promises of God as we relight

the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy! (Light the first three advent candles)

Leader: Today let our hearts be knit together as we light the candle of Love.

People: We seek God’s love to help us heal a broken world.

Leader: Love is the strength of a young woman destined to bear the Light of the world.

People: Love is the humility of a young man called to play the unexpected role of an

earthly father.

Leader: Love is protecting the innocent.

People: Love is embodying the hope of righting the wrongs in the world.

Leader: Today, as we light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of Love, we remember

the path we traveled this Advent season. May our love be fueled with the Hope, Peace, and Joy promised through the birth of the Christ child.

People: We are ready for the light! (The candle of Love is lit.)

ADVENT CANDLE SONG Ava Ieda

HEBREW BIBLE LESSON Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26

HYMN #185 Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Please listen but do not 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 th’angelic host proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”

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

Hark! the herald angels sing “Glory to the newborn King.”

MORNING PRAYER

SPECIAL MUSIC What Child Is This? William C. Dix

Women of the Choir

GOSPEL LESSON Luke 1: 26-38

SERMON You’ve Got to Be Kidding! Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen

OFFERING OF SPECIAL MUSIC Away In a Manger arr. Phillip Keveren

Hannah Cox, cello; Edie Rice, piano

*DOXOLOGY (Please listen but do not sing)

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (in unison)

For your love, protection, and discipline, we give thanks, O God. In gratitude we bring the work of our hands for your blessing. May all the efforts supported by these offerings carry forward your vision for the world. Accomplish through these gifts and our attempts to be faithful that which is impossible by human design alone. Amen.

HYMN #229 The First Noel (Please listen but do not sing)

The first Noel the angels did say, was to certain poor shepherds

In fields as they lay, in fields where they, lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel Noel Noel Noel! Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star shining in the East; beyond them far,

And to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night.

Noel Noel Noel Noel! Born is the King of Israel!

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE O Come, All Ye Faithful arr. Edward Broughton

*Please stand if you are able.

Call to Worship reprinted from Cloth from the Cradle; Wild Goose Pub; Invocation adapted and reprinted from The Uncluttered Heart; by Beth Richardson; Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted from Whispers of God by Lavon Bayler

Happy Birthday

| Dec 20 - Thomas Rice Dec 22 - Debbie Jackson |

|Dec 20 - Jim DeMay Dec 25 - Mark Davison |

|Dec 21- Alice Berry Dec 25 - Stu Gillim |

|Dec 25- Jean Ingalls |

| |

|Prayer List |

|Steve Beck (Heidi Schwarz’s brother); Brad Bliss; Marjorie Case; Charley (Marilyn DeSmith’s brother); Cheryl (Jennifer Maxfield’s |

|sister-in-law); Cathy Coots; Den, Paris, and Kira (Friends of Fred Henry); Peggy & Bob DeSantis (Dorice & Don Raw, Sr.’s friends); Julie |

|English (Janet & Kim Tenreiro’s friend); Family of Melanie (Dennis & Jennifer Maxfield’s niece); Brian Fuscaldo (Mara Huberlie’s nephew);|

|Jerry Gomez (Kathi Nacca’s friend); Gene Hermenet and Family; Carin Herren; Jim and Carolyn (Amy Ogden’s friends); Jim Kolesar (George & |

|Carin Herren’s friend); Sue Kotalik; Jan Larsen (Dawn’s mother); Michelle List (JoAnn Reed’s friend); Loren (Meg & Jack Radley’s friend);|

|Lynn (Joan Ryan’s friend); Eileen McCarthy (Carla DeMeco & Betsy Dresser’s friend); Sally Mueller; Liz Nelson (Kathy Ward’s friend); |

|Claude Peters; Pia (Jim & Connie Malone’s friend); Chris Pritchard (Rick, Cindy Mullen & George Herren’s friend); Jack and Meg Radley; |

|Sara (Meg & Jack Radley’s granddaughter); Scott and Amanda (nephew and niece of Don & Marilyn DeSmith); Smith/Dworetsky Family (Okke & |

|Kathy Postma’s friends); Smith Family (Jessica Casellas’ friends); Pat Smith; Sally Stowell (Alice Berry’s mother); Walker (Don & Dorice |

|Raw’s friend); Tom Wallace (Jackie Lowe’s significant other); Kathy Ward; Gordon Wenner (George & Carin Herren’s friend); Merle Winn |

|(Amy Ogden’s friend); Robin Wisniewski (Alicia’s mom); Josh Yeo (Barb Stahl’s friend); Jason Zeller (Kathy Ward’s son); Linda Zeller |

|(Kathy Ward’s daughter in law) |

| |

|December Calendar |

|Sun. Dec 20 - Worship Live Stream 10:30 & Sunday School; 4th Sunday of Advent; Rehearsal for Christmas Eve 11:30 |

|Mon. Dec 21 – Study Group 9 Chapel |

|Tues. Dec 22 – Men’s Group Gateway 8; Study Group 9 Chapel Rughooking 10 Dining Room; Carols and Candles 3 Live Stream |

|Wed. Dec 23 - Study Group 9 Chapel; TOPS 10 Basement; Study Group 5:30 Youth Rm |

|Thurs. Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Service 5:00 LIVE STREAM ONLY |

|Fri. Dec 25 – Merry Christmas! Office Closed |

|Sun. Dec 27 – Worship Live Stream 10:30 no Sunday School |

|Mon. - Thurs – Dawn off |

|Tues. Dec 29 – Men’s Group Gateway 8; Rughooking 10 Dining Room |

|Wed. Dec 30 - TOPS 10 Basement; Study Group 5:30 Youth Rm |

|Thurs. Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve |

|Friday Jan 1 – Happy New Year! Office Closed |

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