sunday service of celebration september 26 , 2021 • …
TRANSCRIPT
NOVEMBER 28, 2021 • 10 A.M.
Our Mission:
to be a visible and prophetic presence in the church and in the world, to steadfastly proclaim the radically inclusive love of God, to be open to, and celebrate differences; to honor thinking for oneself, to faithfully work for the inclusion of, and justice for all people, regardless of
age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, race or national origin, or any particular element of a person’s total humanity, and for all of God’s creation.
Please join in where words are shown in bold type. Please stand if you are able for items with an asterisk*.
Centering ourselves with the sound of the chime and the Land Acknowledgement
Prelude Prelude on “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Dr. Marc Dickey by Hal H. Hopson Advent Wreath Lighting
A voice: The days lengthen and the night thickens. In this season of darkness, we come longing for light and possibility. Way before any of us can remember, there was a people waiting for someone – for a light bearer, a hope bringer, a cloud rider and a weaver of miracles.
(Sung: O Come, O Come Emmanuel)
One: O Come, Thou Dayspring, from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
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Choir: Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight.
All: (sung) Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Spoken: (As the candle is lit) This is the light of the world. Hope in the darkness. This tiny flame
signifies this: “Nothing is ever lost and we are not alone.” Something is coming with the dawn.
All: (sung) Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Prayer of Invocation Rev. Emanuel *Gathering Song People Look East
See page 7 *Welcome and Passing of the Peace Rev. Hoffmann Welcome Song
Angels we have heard on high welcome all to joyous strains Who or where or how you are is just enough for this refrain Glo------ria in excelsis Deo, Glo------ria in excelsis Deo.
Time with the Children Rev. Emanuel Anthem Comfort, Comfort, O My People Genevan Psalter, 1551; arr. C. Heard Sanctuary Choir words at Hymn #101 Contemporary Reading The Coming Steve Crow by R. S. Thomas (Welsh priest)
And God held in his hand A small globe. Look, he said. The son looked. Far off, As through water, he saw A scorched land of fierce Colour. The light burned
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There; crusted buildings Cast their shadows; a bright Serpent, a river Uncoiled itself, radiant With slime.
On a bare Hill a bare tree saddened The sky. Many people Held out their thin arms To it, as though waiting For a vanished April To return to its crossed Boughs. The Son watched Them. Let me go there, he said.
Scripture John 1:1-5 Rev. Hoffmann & Rev. Emanuel A New New Testament, Hal Taussig
In the beginning the Word was; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. The Word was in the beginning with God; through the Word all things came into being and nothing came into being apart from the Word. That which came into being in the Word was life and the life was the light of humanity; and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overpowered it. Special Music Something's Coming, from West Side Story words by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein Charlie Carlos, tenor Marc Dickey, piano Sermon What Myth Is This? Rev. Hoffmann Prayers of the People Rev. Emanuel
Prayer Response: “God of Mercy, Hold Us in Love” by Marty Haugen
See next page
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Leader: In peace, in peace we pray to you …
Leader: Help us, comfort us all of our days… Our Common Prayer
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the people of the earth! With the bread we need today, feed us. For the hurts we inflict on one another, forgive us. In the time of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For your reign is in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.
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Offering
The Invitation Rev. Hoffmann
Offertory Chorale Prelude on “Behold, a Rose Breaks into Bloom” Dr. Dickey by Johannes Brahms
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*Doxology: Old Hundredth (Hymn No. 7) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God with all the hosts above; Praise God in wonder, joy and love.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving Rev. Hoffmann Introduction to Sending Song Rev. Hoffmann *Sending Song #103 Watcher, Tell Us of the Night See page 8 *Benediction Rev. Hoffmann Choral Response Postlude Chorale Improvisation: “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying” Dr. Dickey by Paul Manz Community Life Announcements
See the announcement playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEBlwzL0DlLYFdhyVgdkqhVViSl4chwp_
The sanctuary flowers today are provided by Maria Alarcon in memory of her mother, Maria Gomez Alarcon, whose birthday would have been November 22.
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Parish Concerns
Please remember Richard Grauman on the death of his mother; Heather Chambers; Julie Francis, long-time friend of Pat Green; Mark Hill and his family upon the death of his mother, Dottie Hill; and Mark Hill’s brother.
Birthdays This Week
28 Jacksden Elizarraraz, Chuck Fowler, Allison King 29 David McMillin, Yvonne SaMarion 4 Alex Balin
To submit joys and concerns for inclusion in the bulletin and the newsletter or to subscribe to the newsletter, contact the office: [email protected].
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This Week at First Church
Sunday, November 28 8:45 am Adult Education – Pownall Room & Zoom 10 am Service of Celebration – Sanctuary & YouTube.com/1stChurch 11:30 am Fair Trade Holiday Market – Kilsby Courtyard Christmas Decorating – Sanctuary, Narthex, Koinonia Room Welcome Ministry Team Meeting – Pownall Room Beloved Bells – Patterson Hall 1:30 pm Urban Community Outreach Drop-In Center – on-site
Tuesday, November 30 4 pm DAYS Tutoring – Klar 1, 2, 3
Thursday, December 2 4 pm DAYS Tutoring – Klar 1, 2, 3 5 pm Jubellance Rehearsal – Youth Music Room 6 pm Bellissimo Rehearsal – Youth Music Room DAYS Leaders Long Beach – Klar 1, 2, 3 7:30 pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal – Sanctuary
Saturday, December 4 4 & 8 pm CSULB Winter Festival Concerts – tickets for these concerts are
available only from the CSULB box office 6 pm Women’s Book Group – Zoom
Sunday, December 5 8:45 am Adult Education – Pownall Room & Zoom 10 am Service of Celebration – Sanctuary & YouTube.com/1stChurch 11:30 am Fair Trade Holiday Market – Kilsby Courtyard Board of Parish Life Meeting – Pownall Room DAYS Gift Wrapping – Klar 2 & 3 Beloved Bells – Patterson Hall 12:15 pm Board of Stewardship & Finance Meeting – Zoom 12:30 pm Board of Christian Education Meeting – Zoom 1 pm Board of Social Justice & Outreach – Zoom 1:30 pm Diaconate Board Meeting – Zoom Urban Community Outreach Drop-In Center – on-site 2 pm Women’s Group – Zoom 4 pm CSULB Winter Festival Concert, followed by Sparkling Reception –
tickets available at days.org/winterfest 5:30 pm Youth Group – Seeing the lights on Naples
CHURCH OFFICERS
Christopher Bobo
Moderator
Sara Schoenfelder
Vice Moderator
Steve Crow
Treasurer
Ruth Keller
Secretary
BOARD CHAIRS
Board of Christian Education:
Cynthia King
Board of Cultural Arts:
Melody O’Keefe
Diaconate Board: Clarence Dendy
Board of Parish Life:
Randall Goddard
Board of Social Justice and Outreach:
Sebastian Jobin-Reyes
Board of Stewardship and Finance:
Randy King and Pamela Chapin
AT-LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS
Kathleen O’Neal, Kirsten Pickus,
Harold Sutherland
POET-IN-RESIDENCE
Tina Datsko de Sánchez
COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE
Curtis Heard
HISTORIAN
Kathy Young
CLERGY
Anne Hoffmann, Interim Minister
Tom Emanuel, Associate Minister
CLERGY IN OUR COMMUNITY
Jerry Stinson, Senior Minister
Emeritus
Katy Hyman, Program Coordinator for
Palliative Care, Long Beach Memorial
Medical Center
Laverne R. Joseph, Retired from
Retirement Housing Foundation
MUSIC STAFF
Curtis Heard, Director of Music
Tracy Halter-Balin, Associate
Director of Music and Youth
Marc Dickey, Organist
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Tracy Halter-Balin, Interim Christian
Education Director
Eric Peterson, Business Manager
Ruth Warkentin, Office Manager
Preston Andres, Custodian
Melody O’Keefe or Heather
Chambers at Heather R. Chambers,
CPA, Inc., Bookkeeper
241 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 • www.firstchurchlb.org
562-436-2256 • [email protected]