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TRANSCRIPT
Wellesley Village Church United Church of Christ
Second Worship, 10am, Sanctuary
December 13, 2015
“Making Room for Joy”
Third Sunday of Advent
All music and words in this bulletin are reprinted by permission under OneLicense.net, License #A-714276
and by CCLI, License #2910233.
Welcome to worship at Wellesley Village Church!
Committedtobeinganurturingcommunitywhereallarewelcomeandknownby
name,weinviteyouto:
♦ Wear a nametag—you may use the stickers or request a permanent nametag anytime.
♦ Sign the fellowship pads and leave a comment. We love feedback.
♦ Fill out a Connection Card so we can know you better.
♦ Linger for coffee hour following worship in Village Hall, located through doors near
the pulpit.
♦ If you have questions, ask any of us ...
We are delighted you are here!
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Today, all hymns are found in the Pilgrim Hymnal (red).
*Please stand as you are able.
PRELUDE
INTROIT “Ding, Dong Merr ily on High” Marion Roberts
Cherub Choir French Melody
PASTORAL GREETING AND INVOCATION “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” v. 1
Sarah Sarchet Butter
*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! Amen.
PRAYER OF ADORATION
*OPENING HYMN NO. 114 “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” TRURO
ADVENT SONG AND LITANY The Candle of Joy
One: Today we light the third candle of Advent, the candle of JOY. As the coming of Jesus draws near, our joy builds with our anticipation of his birth.
One: From the Book of Isaiah we read the words: “Be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.”
One: From Paul’s letter to the people of the church at Galatia: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”
“Light a Candle Bright and Tall” DIX
Light a candle bright and tall
For the Joy this season brings.
Joy like fountains brimming full.
Through our world now let it ring!
Shine within our hearts today
Come, O Christ, to us, we pray.
One: Let us pray, confessing together our need for the Advent gifts of Hope, Peace and Joy.
All: Coming One, We confess our deep longing for your hope for all the world, a hope
where all are welcome and there is room for everyone. We confess our deep need
for your peace, the peace that is restorative and brings people together in new and
whole relationships. We confess our yearning for joy, a joy that lives deep in our
souls and overflows into our homes and our communities. Ever-coming One, please
hear now our silent prayers . . .
SUNG ASSURANCE “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the glorious love of heaven.
No one discerns God’s coming, but in this world of sin,
Where yearning souls long to be whole, the dear Christ enters in.
*BLESSING OUR CHILDREN AND PASSING THE JOY OF CHRIST
One: Children of Village Church, may you grow in faith with the Holy Spirit as your guide.
All: Go with God’s love, and ours.
One: The peace of Christ be with you All: And also with you.
As we pass the peace and joy of Christ to one another, children through grade 8 are invited to
go to their classrooms.
*SUNG RESPONSE “Glor ia, in excelsis deo”
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 12:2-6 (page 558 in pew Bible)
Philippians 4:4-7 (page 955 in pew Bible)
One: The word of the Lord; All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON “Joy for the Journey” Sarah Sarchet Butter
*SERMON RESPONSE NO. 130 “Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come” ANTIOCH
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE 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 trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen
CHORAL RESPONSE
THE OFFERING
Invitation
The most important gift you can offer God is your presence. Please sign and pass the
fellowship book, located at the end of each pew.
Offertory “And the Glory of the Lord” G. F. Handel
And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the
mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
*Response
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below;
Praise God for all that love has done;
Creator, Christ, and Spirit One. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication and Dedication of Coats
OUR COMMON LIFE
*CLOSING HYMN NO. 115 “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” WINCHESTER NEW
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Toccata on “From Heaven Above to Ear th I Come” Garth Edmundson
Cherub Choir
ViVi Dublin Graham Evans
Morgan Hubbell Kate Morris
Leila Newman Piper Newman Mathilde Senter Caroline Smith
Riley Spangler James Stafford
Violet Staley-Goss Addison Steere Caitlyn Steere Isabelle Steere Samuel Steere
Allen Steere, accompanist Linda Harding, director
TODAY’S NOTES
Chancel Flowers this morning are given by Nancy and Bob Payne in loving memory of Nancy’s mother.
Fellowship Hour and Alternative Gift Fair 11:15 am, Village Common
Following worship, please join us for coffee, conversation and shopping at the Alternative Gift
Fair in Village Common. The Alternative Gift Fair is a wonderful opportunity for our
congregation to donate to some of the special organizations that Village Church supports.
Using the shopping list describing many gift options, you can circulate through the fair, check
off gift selections and if desired, receive gift cards to send to friends and relatives in lieu of
traditional gifts.
Blood Pressure Clinic 11:15-11:30am, Parlor Nurses from our congregation will take your blood pressure and provide you with helpful handouts from the American Heart Association. Currently there are 3 nurses who share this work but we need of more volunteers. If you are qualified to perform a blood pressure reading and can help out, please contact Susan Hoffman at 508-545-0189 or [email protected].
NWW Ecumenical Fellowship and 6th and 7th Grade Youth Group 4:30pm, Village Hall
The Newton Wellesley Weston Committee for Community Living is Village Church’s partner
in ministry to adults with developmental disabilities. For fifteen years NWW and Village
Church friends have been gathering; we invite you to experience this loving community. NWW
guests will be with us today and on the following Sunday afternoons: February 14, March 20
and April 10.
Led by Pam Emslie, Josh Fitterling and Judy Mongiardo, Ecumenical Fellowship is open to
all. Please contact Judy ([email protected]) with your interest.
Christian Meditation Practice 5-6pm, Burtt Chapel
Even as “mindfulness” reaches the mainstream, practiced by everyone from corporate CEOs to
major league sports teams, Christians are just rediscovering their contemplative tradition. We
invite you to join us in developing your own Christian meditation practice.
High School Youth Group (10-12 grade) 7pm, Y outh Room
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND COMMUNITY
All Are Welcome!
Please Consider a Year End Gift to Wellesley Village Church
A year-end gift to Wellesley Village Church is a wonderful way to express gratitude for the
blessings of the past year and to help the church end the year with financial strength. Please give
generously. Fulfill your pledges and help Village Church end the year in the black. Contact Shawn
Doung at 781-235-1988, x18 or by email at [email protected].
Christmas Sunday - December 20
Worship at 9 and 11 am in the Sanctuary
Fellowship Hour at 10 am
Childcare for children 4 and under will be provided during both services.
Village Churchmen’s Lunch Thursday, December 17, 12 noon, Parlor
Open to all men of the church, these are unstructured get-togethers with a bring your own lunch and
beverage coupled with spirited conversation and fellowship. No advance signup is needed and
there is no charge; just come!
Winter Term Church School Teachers Needed
The winter term is January 10 - March 13.
Preschool through middle school teachers needed. Email [email protected] for
more info and to sign up.
Christmas Offering - Neighbors in Need
Christmas Sunday, December 20 and Christmas Eve, December 24
In the seasons of Advent and Christmas, we not only celebrate the gifts in our lives, but also seek to
live out the Spirit of Christ by helping those in need. So once again we are participating in
Neighbors in Need, a special offering of the United Church of Christ. Through the NIN offering,
we support ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN
funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used
by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives,
advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. Make checks payable to Wellesley
Village Church and indicate "NIN" in the memo section and place in the offering plate on
Christmas Sunday or Christmas Eve.
Chancel Flowers Sponsors for 2016
The new 2016 calendar is here! If you would like to sponsor flowers in celebration of an event or in
memory of a person/s in your life, contact Tricia Kibbe at 781.235.1988 x17 or Linda Smith at
781.237.6813. Available dates are January 3, 17, 24 and February 7, 14, 21 and 28. The cost of the
flowers is $75. Thank you!
Church Office Hours
Christmas Week:
Monday-Wednesday, December 21-23: 9 am - 4 pm
Thursday, December 24: 9 am - 2 pm, the building will be open until late night.
Closed Friday for Christmas.
New Year's Week:
Monday, December 28: 9 am - 1 pm
Tuesday-Wednesday, December 29 & 30: 9 am - 4 pm
Thursday, December 31: 9 am - 12 pm
Family Promise Update
In the spirit of Christmas, we want you to know that our involvement with Family Promise will be
expanding in 2016! We hope you will volunteer to serve by setting up the rooms, serving a meal,
spending the night with our families, or attending the Sweet Sounds Concert that we will be hosting
on May 13th. We have expanded our hosting weeks from 3 to 4 weeks in 2016 and have added the
amazing Sweet Sounds concert to our Family Promise commitment.
Our 2016 hosting weeks are: February 7-14; May 22-29; October 2-9; November 27- December 4
If you have questions or would like to get involved, please contact Village Church's Family
Promise Coordinators: Christina Oliver, 617-529-9246, [email protected] or Susan
Mykrantz, 781-690-6443, [email protected]
YOUTH MINISTRY
6th and 7th Grade Youth Group Meets every other Sunday from 5-6:30pm.
8th Grade Youth Group Meets every other Tuesday from 6:30-8pm.
Confirmation (9th Grade youth) Meets most Wednesdays from 7:30-9pm
High School Youth Group (10-12 grade) Meets Sunday evenings 7-8:30pm.
Please check the Youth Program Calendar on the church website for dates.
For more information, contact Pam Emslie, Associate Pastor for Youth, at 781-235-1988,
x15; or by email at [email protected].
MUSIC MINISTRY
Cherub Choir for children in Kindergar ten, 1st and 2nd grades.
Come sing! Spring rehearsals will begin February 7.
For more information, please contact Linda Harding, Cherub Choir Director, by email at
Junior Choir: Grades 3-6 Rehearsals after Second Worship, 11:15am-12:00pm
Youth Choir: Grades 7-12 Rehearsals W ednesday evenings 6:15-7:00pm
Instrumentalists
If you play an instrument and would like to share your gifts with our church, please contact
Dr. McDonald.
For more information on Junior or Youth Choir and being an Instrumentalist please
contact Dr. Kevin McDonald, Director of Youth Music, by email at
Senior Choir
The Senior Choir welcomes new singers and rehearses each Sunday at 8:30-9:30 am. There is
no mid-week rehearsal.
For more information on the Senior Choir, please see Director David Carrier in the choir
loft or at coffee hour after Second Worship.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Church School Today:
Kindergarten students and younger will be welcomed in their classrooms on the Upper Level before worship begins:
• Toddlers, two and three year olds will meet in their classroom located on the
upper level at the top of the stairs just outside the Sanctuary; use the door to the left of
the piano.
• Four year olds and Kindergarteners will meet in the 4/K Room located on the
upper level beyond the library.
• Grades 1 - 8 will begin in the sanctuary worshipping with their families until it is time for class as noted in the bulletin. At that time, children will receive a blessing and then continue to church school together.
• Grades 1 - 5 meet in Village Hall on the lower level.
• Grades 6 - 8 meet in the Art Studio on the lower level.
After Worship,
• Toddlers through 3rd grade should be picked up from class by a parent/guardian
immediately after worship.
• 4th Grade and older will be released from class at the end of worship.
Children of all ages are welcome in our sanctuary to worship and be part of our service.
Worship bags are available in baskets at each of the entrances. Children’s bulletins are
available from an usher.
The Family Worship Room, located just outside the Sanctuary to the left of the piano,
is for families who wish to worship together in a child-centered space. The service is piped
in on a live audio feed. Please feel welcome to use this room anytime during worship.
For more information, please contact Michaela McDonald, Director of Children’s
Ministries, by email at [email protected] ir by phone 781-235-
1988, x16.
The Rev. Sarah Sarchet Butter ~ Senior Pastor
Associate Pastors Pastoral Residents
The Rev. Pam Emslie The Rev. Megan Snell
The Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly The Rev. Joshua Fitterling
Directors
Michaela McDonald – Children’s Ministry
David R. Carrier – Music
Dr. Kevin McDonald – Youth Music
Wellesley Village Church
An Open and Affirming Congregation of the
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482
Office: 781-235-1988
Urgent Pastoral Care Cell: 781-591-7451
www.wellesleyvillagechurch.org
Our Church Covenant
We are banded together as a Christian Church
to maintain the worship of God,
to proclaim the gospel of Christ,
to develop in all people a consciousness of their relations and duties
to God and to each other, and
to inspire them with love for truth, passion for righteousness,
and enthusiasm for service.
To this end we pledge our loyalty to Christ and covenant with each
other
to express God’s spirit in our individual and corporate life;
to live together as Christians and to submit ourselves to the
government of this Church,
working, giving, praying for its increase, its purity, its peace,
and seeking in every way to make it a power
for the building up of the kingdom of God.