FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen, Pastor

First Sunday after Christmas

Debbie Lyon, Lay Reader

December 27, 2020 Worship 10:30 AM

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE Noel Provencal by Leon Roques

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: We are called to celebrate the gift of God in Jesus Christ.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like the angels we are called to sing our carols with great joy.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like the stars we are called to shine with the brilliance of good news.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like the shepherds we are called to eagerly gather around the Christ child.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like the donkey we are called to carry those who cannot walk by their strength

alone.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like the innkeeper we are called to provide for those without shelter in which to

rest.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like the manger we are called to cradle the precious gifts God gives.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like Joseph we are called to honor the dreams in which God speaks.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like Mary we are called to ponder the wonder of God acting through us.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like Simeon we are called to look for signs of God's salvation in our lives.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like Anna we are called to tell others what we know of the Christ child.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

Leader: Like the baby Jesus we are called to faithfully live God's purpose for our lives.

People: For twelve days of Christmas!

HYMN #189 Angels from the Realms of Glory (Please sing along at home!)

Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth;

You who sang Creation's story now proclaim Messiah's birth:

Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the fields abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night,

God with us is now residing, yonder shines the infant light;

Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King.

INVOCATION (in unison)

A boy has been born for us; a child has been given to us and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, the Prince of Peace. Once we were no people; now we are God’s people. Once we walked in darkness; now we have seen a great light. Be with us as we worship, Blessed One. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER (Trespasses)

*GLORIA PATRI (Please sing along at home!)

HEBREW BIBLE LESSON Psalm 148

HYMN #196 In the Bleak Midwinter (Please sing along at home!)

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan.

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

MORNING PRAYER

GOSPEL LESSON Luke 2: 1-7

A CHRISTMAS STORY A Donkey’s Tale Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen

OFFERING OF SPECIAL MUSIC Variations on “Away in a Manger” by Janet Correll

*DOXOLOGY (Please sing along at home!)

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (in unison)

As the parents of Jesus brought sacrifices to honor you, O God, we would give our best for the witness and outreach of your church. May you be honored in all our actions, not just these gifts. May our daily work praise you, our family life glorify you, and all our thoughts reflect your will for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

HYMN #218 Go Tell It On the Mountain Vs. 1&3 (Please sing along at home!)

Go, tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!

While shepherds kept their watching o'er silent flocks by night,

behold, throughout the heavens, there shone a holy light

Go, tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!

Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,

and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE God Rest You Merry by Wilbur Held

*Please stand if you are able.

Call to Worship reprinted from Seasons of the Spirit; Invocation adapted and reprinted from Cloth from the Cradle; A Christmas Story adapted and retold from Tracks in the Straw: Tales Spun from the Manger Lura Media copyright 1985; Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted from Whispers of God by Lavon Bayler

Happy Birthday

|Dec 27- Alan Lupton Dec 31- Helen Ellis |

| |

|Dec 30- Rich Morgan Dec 31 -Michelle Nevin |

| |

| |

| |

| |

| |

| |

| |

| |

| |

|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); Andy|

|Orrell (Linda Orrell-Fair's son); Claude Peters; Pia (Jim & Connie Malone’s friend); Piper (Lori & Rebecca’s daughter); 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) |

| |

| |

| |

|Calendar |

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

|Tues. Dec 29 – Men’s Group Gateway 8; |

|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 |

|Sunday Jan 3 - Worship Live Stream 10:30 |

|Mon. Jan 4 – Study Grp 9 |

|Tues., Jan 5 – 8 Men’s; 9 Study Grp |

|Wed. Jan 6 – Epiphany; 9 Study Grp; 10 TOPS; 5 Study Grp |

|Thurs. Jan 7 – CE 12-1 zoom |

|Sunday Jan 10 – Worship Live Stream 10:30; Social Action 12:30 zoom |

|Mon. Jan 11 – Study Grp 9; Trustees 4 Zoom; Sacred Convers. On Race 7 Zoom |

|Tues., Jan 12 - 8 Men’s; 9 Study Grp |

|Wed. Jan 13 –9 Study Grp; 10 TOPS; 5 Study Grp |

|Thurs. Jan 14 – Pastor Parish in person 10, 4 Staff in person |

|Sunday Jan 17 - Worship Live Stream 10:30 |

|Mon. Jan 18 – Study Grp 9 |

|Tues. Jan 19 – 8 Men’s; 9 Study Grp; Council 7 zoom |

| |

| |

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download