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Wellesley Village Church United Church of Christ
First Worship, 9am, Village Hall December 13, 2015
“Making Room for Joy”
The Third Sunday of Advent
Welcome to First Worship! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of
God, who calls us together to pray, sing, and rejoice in God’s glorious presence.
If you are an old friend, or here for the very first time, we welcome you. Feel free to
bring coffee, snacks, and juice to your seat. Make sure you take a moment before or
after worship to meet those whom you are worshipping with today.
We especially welcome children to worship. We welcome their voices, their hands,
and their feet to be a part of how we all worship God together. Children are also
welcome to use the activity bags to connect with God in this sacred time.
This is a special place for us to be with God, and all these people whom God loves.
Welcome!
All music and words in this bulletin are reprinted by
permission under OneLicense.net, License #A-714276
and by CCLI, License #2910233.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
PRELUDE
RINGING THE HOUR
GATHERING SONG “If in your heart” Music by Ana Hernandez
Words by Angelus Silesius
CALL TO WORSHIP Megan Snell
CONFESSION
SUNG RESPONSE “O Come O Come Emmanuel”
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
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: “But 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.”
One: Hear us, Oh God, as we pray:
All: Creator of all, we rejoice because you are a God of joy, because you are a
God who sees your people as a delight. As Christmas nears, and we feel
the pressures of our to-do lists, may we let your light into our lives. May
we be filled with joy! Amen.
SUNG RESPONSE “Light a Candle Bright and Tall”
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.
*PASSING THE JOY OF CHRIST
*SUNG RESPONSE “Prepare Us Lord”
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 3:7-18
SERMON “I’ve Got Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in my Hands” Josh Fitterling
WORDS & MUSIC: Ken Bible PREPARE US Copyright © 2003 by LNWhymns.com (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Administered by The Copyright Company, 1025 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212. CCLI Song #4079778
SERMON RESPONSE “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”
OFFERING
Invitation
Offertory
SETTING THE TABLE “As At Communion
*COMMUNION
BLESSING OF THE COATS
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, and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
SUNG RESPONSE “Rejoice, Rejoice”
*BENEDICTION
Original Song title, "Put Peace Into Each Other's Hands"
Fred Kaan music & Words © 1989 Hope Publishing Company
TODAY’S NOTES
Communion Bread
Our communion bread was baked with love and care by the Village Bread Ministry.
Fellowship Hour and Alternative Gift Fair 11:15 am, Village Common
Join us for coffee, conversation and shopping at the Alternative Gift Fair in Village Common. The
Alternative Gift Fair is a wonderful opportunity 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 am, Parlor Nurses from our congregation will take your blood pressure and provide you with helpful handouts from the American Heart Association. 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].
Christian Meditation Practice 5-6pm, Burtt Chapel
6th and 7th Grade Youth Group 4:30pm, Village Hall
High School Youth Group (10-12 grade) 7pm, Y outh Room
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND COMMUNITY
All Are Welcome!
Village Churchmen’s Lunch Thursday, December 17, 12 noon, Parlor
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.
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 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!
Singing in Church:
December 13 at Second Worship, gather at 9:20 in Burtt Chapel.
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
Jodi Hitzhusen – Director of First Worship 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