the evangelical congregational...
TRANSCRIPT
The Congregational Church of Westborough UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
West Main & Church Streets, Westborough, Massachusetts
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
WE WELCOME VISITORS AND NEWCOMERS!
We are an “Open and Affirming” Church
Available are nursery care, large print bulletins, and an elevator.
Pastor Paul Sangree, Senior Pastor Rev. Elaine S. Gaetani, Pastor of Spiritual Development
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THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WESTBOROUGH
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Dec 18, 2016 10:00 AM
Third Sunday of Advent
“We are a church of the Holy Spirit! Whatever your spiritual disposition - skeptic, seeker,
follower - we welcome you and pray that you might hear something of the Good News today!”
*The congregation is invited to stand.
PRELUDE “An English Carol” arr. by Arnold Sherman
Festival Ringers, dir. by Sue Menzel
WELCOME! Rev. Elaine S. Gaetani
LEADER: During Advent, we are on a journey that takes a look at how God blesses each and
every one of us with the ability to be transformed. The chimes of the clock-tower
bells in Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol, provided a wakeup call for Ebenezer
Scrooge and turned him from his resentment, fear and isolation. Each week, we hear
the bells ring just as Scrooge did on that transformative night…
INTROIT “COME TOGETHER, ONE AND ALL, IN THE GIVING SPIRIT.
GIFTS ABOUND HERE, GREAT AND SMALL, JOYOUSLY WE FEEL IT.
BLESSING SENT US FROM ABOVE GUIDE US ON OUR WAY.
WE RAISE OUR VOICE AS WE REJOICE, BOW OUR HEAD AND PRAY.
A MIRACLE HAS JUST BEGUN. GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!”
*LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH The Fox Family
Leader: During the Advent season, we have lit three candles – for joy, peace, and love.
Today we light the fourth candle – the candle of hope.
People: We light it knowing full well that hope can be elusive, and for some people, it is
almost completely absent. But in this season of Advent, we trust that God is
never absent from us.
Leader: God is always preparing something new. And even when there is discord between
countries, families, or within our own hearts, God is present, leading us to new
possibilities. Our God is a God of hope!
(please pause until the candles have been lit)
People: Loving God, we thank you for the hope you offer us. In this season of Advent,
may we open all the dark places in our lives and memories to the healing light of
Christ. Show us the creative power of hope as we prepare our hearts to be
transformed by You.
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*OPENING HYMN #124 “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” PICARDY
*PRAYER AND THE LORD'S PRAYER (Debts) Clayton Heidbreder
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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
(Everyone may be seated.)
CHILDREN’S TIME
(All kids can go out to Sunday School, and adults are invited to greet one another.)
TIME OF PRAYER Linda Hartley
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS
Invitation: Let us bring our gifts before God!
(In each of our pews today is a black friendship book which we encourage you to fill out and
pass to the person next to you during the offering. If you have been with us before, just put
down your name, but if you are new today, please let us know who you are. If you can,
please leave the sheet on the top of the book at the end of the pew. Thanks!)
Offertory Choir Anthem “The First Noel” arr. Lloyd Larson
*DOXOLOGY (Unison)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts: Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Loving God, use these gifts and our lives that we may serve You and one another in love. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
SERMON SCRIPTURE Matthew 1:18-25 (pew Bible page 783)
Matthew speaks of how Jesus will be Immanuel, which means “God with us”.
SERMON “Where can we find hope?” Pastor Paul Sangree
TIME OF HEALING
*CLOSING CAROL #150 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” MENDELSSOHN
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*SUNG BENEDICTION “A Winter Night” Dave Waggoner
Thee Six: Rebekah Tregger, Amanda Borglund, Pam Kapitz,
Sue Menzel, Margy Piears and Kathy Todd
A winter night, a winter chill, wind and cold are bitter; still,
Child is born, the angels call,
“Peace on earth, good will to all.”
*POSTLUDE “From Thy Throne So High” C.W. Gluck
Doug Wales greeted you this morning and served as liturgist.
Cathie and Steve Achorn are Deacons of the day.
OPEN DOORS – GROWING FAITH!
This is our vision statement. It speaks to our desire to open our doors to all of God’s children,
and to have all of the love and acceptance that is in this place flow out of our doors for the
community and beyond. Our hope is also to grow faith in kids, youth and adults so that we can
walk together in Jesus’ way, led by the Holy Spirit. Join us!
Join us for refreshments and fellowship downstairs after worship!
PRAYERS & CELEBRATIONS FOR DEC 18, 2016
Continued Prayers: Dee Mumby (Cathie Achorn’s mother); Jane Kruse; Ted Jaworski’s mother Gina and
his sister Liz; Dick Birch; Helena Engberg
Celebrations: Prayers and blessings to Fran Whitten (their son) and Marissa Sexton who will join in holy
matrimony on New Year’s Eve! Time to celebrate!
Prayer requests: You can place prayer concerns on the church’s email distribution list at
[email protected]. If you would like a prayer request included in today’s service, please let a
Deacon know prior to the start of worship. Prayers will remain listed for 8 weeks. If you would like a
prayer renewed, please call the church office.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CAN YOU HELP DELIVER POINSETTIAS TODAY?
Following the TODAY’S service, we would greatly appreciate help in delivering poinsettia plants to our
octogenarians and shut- ins. Thank you, Carolyn Bent
GROCERY CARD SALES
*Note: There will be no sales on Christmas Day but there will be sales on New Year’s
Day.
PARKING OPTIONS
Please know that in addition to parking in our lot or on the street, you can park next door in the library
parking spaces on Parkman St., or behind the Forbes building next to the library. We’re glad you’re here!
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SERMON AND BIBLE STUDY EVERY SUNDAY AT 9AM
Please join us every Sunday morning at 9AM in the Chapel downstairs for a Bible Study focused on
the sermon Scripture of the day! We always have a great conversation! There will be no Bible study
on Dec 25th
and Jan 1st.
MISSIONS – VOC SPECIAL OFFERING - TODAY
The special offering envelopes “Christmas Fund (VOC)” is collected the last Sunday before Christmas, this
year Dec. 18th
(today). This offering provides financial assistance to retired and active UCC authorized
ministers and lay employees and their surviving spouses. The “VOC” stands for Veterans of the Cross. For
those of you with offering envelope booklets, there is an enveloped marked VOC. We will also have some
available on the mission table.
UPCOMING CHRISTMAS SERVICES!
Please plan to be with us for the Christmas Pageant tonight at 5PM! The Cookie Walk will be downstairs
after the pageant. Then plan to be with us on Christmas Eve for the 5PM Family Service (with JoySpring
singing) or the 7PM Candlelight Service (with the choir and bells). Then join us on Christmas Day at
10AM for an intimate service in the Chapel downstairs. Bring a friend or family member!
STEWARDSHIP NOTICE
So you have that little piece of string tied around your finger to remember something important...hmmm,
what was it? Oh, send in your pledge card for 2017! That's it! Pledge cards are available in the Narthex of
the church or by calling the church office at 508-366-2000. You can even call Lisa in the office and she
will enter your pledge. It is so important that every member pledge their support to the ministries and
missions of the church in whatever amount you are able. Thank you in advance for your support. The
Stewardship Committee
CONTRIBUTIONS
Contribution envelopes will be available for pick-up after the Christmas Eve services. All contributions
you would like included in your 2016 report must be received in the church office by December 31, 2016.
If you are unsure of the balance due on your pledge for 2016, please feel free to give me a call (508-366-
4023) or send me an email: [email protected]. Thank you for your continued financial support of the
church ministries and missions. Linda Sharkey
GROCERY CARDS
2016 Goal: $10,000 2016 YTD Sales: $7,987.25
Welcome Here! Join us in fulfilling our commitment to our Church's operation budget for 2016. We will
need our faithful supporters as well as many new ones to accomplish this goal. How does it work? We
purchase grocery gift cards in bulk at a discounted rate. We then sell the cards to you at face value. It's
easy. Stop by our table after worship on Sundays for more information or contact one of us and we will
deliver them to you. Karen Hutchinson at 508.870.1782 or [email protected] or Nancy Quimby at
774.249.4431 or [email protected] or Sally Petersen at [email protected] and 366.5169.
PRAYER TIME CARDS
We are encouraging people to speak to a pastor upstairs before the service if you want a prayer lifted up on
Sunday morning, or you can fill out a blue card (located at a table near the front entrance, outside the
sanctuary and in the pews) and give it to a Deacon, Thanks!
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DISMAS HOUSE
Our church goes on the first Thursday of the month to cook and serve a meal with the people of Dismas
House, a home for ex-prisoners. If you would like to help, be in touch with Karen Hutchinson at
[email protected]. We will go again Thursday, January 5th. Donations of Stop and Shop cards are
greatly appreciated to help with the shopping for the meals! Thank you.
Pastor. Thanks!
COFFEE HOUR
Would you like to serve by helping out with the coffee hour after church downstairs? Please look for the
sign-up downstairs on the coffee hour table. Email Suzanne Arpante at [email protected]. Thanks!
JOIN US FOR PLAYGROUP
We meet in the nursery downstairs on Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:00am. Questions call
Sandy Horton 508-410-9000
OUR CHURCH HAS A FACEBOOK PAGE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER TOO!
Pastor Paul Sangree, Senior Pastor – [email protected]
Rev. Elaine S. Gaetani, Pastor of Spiritual Development - [email protected]
Wendy Reardon, Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries - [email protected]
Clayton Heidbreder, Minister of Music/Organist – [email protected]
Sue Menzel, Director of Bells – [email protected]
Linda Hartley, Pastoral Associate – [email protected]
Office hours: Mon & Fri 9-1, Tues,Wed,Thurs. 9-2,Church office phone 508/366-2000
General Church email – [email protected] Church website www.uccwestboro.org
www.facebook.com/TheCongregationalChurchofWestborough
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CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS ARE GIVEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF, OR IN HONOR OF
The Arnold families in memory of Kenneth A. Arnold, Jr and Charles Wojnar
Suzanne Bowman Arpante in loving memory of Kay & Al Bowman
Charlotte Bramley in memory of Christopher Bramley
Charlotte Bramley in memory of Jim & Polly Price and son Mickey
Charlotte Bramley in memory of Jack & Ginny Bramley
Jeff Bramley in memory of my parents Virginia & Jack Bramley
Jeff Bramley in memory of my brother Chris
Dorothy Collins in memory of my daughter, Linda Lewis
Harry &Nancy (Purrington) Cook in memory of Ann & Phil Purrington, Frances & Charles Cook, Susan
Cook and Susan Krauss
Stephen & Gretchen Finch Doret in memory of:
Norma Finch DeBettencourt
Bernard and Dorothy Finch
Dr. Stanley A. Doret
John & Jacob Nunley
Charles & Nancy Gage in memory of Loved Ones
Kathy & Gabe Leblanc in memory Mary Gilson
The Leblancs and the Bentons in memory of Loleada B. and William R. Scheffley
The Leblancs and the Bentons in memory of Agnes and Alberic Leblanc
Ron & Melinda MacKendrick in memory of George & Georgina McKendrick
Ron & Melinda MacKendrick in memory of Richard Jr, James W, and John G. Green
The McClung Family in loving memory of Averill P. Clark (who would have celebrated 100 this year) and
Louise Clark
The McClung Family, in loving memory of George and Donna Lehmann
Sue Menzel in memory of Grace, Carl & Thom Lawton
Eleanor Myers in memory of loved ones
Bob and Sally Petersen in memory of our beloved John
The Purcell Family in memory of Margaret Sugden, Russ Purcell and Al Mount Nancy & Charlie Quimby in memory of our parents, Madeline & Clyde Quimby and Grace & Jim McDonald
Adam, Tyler and Benjamin Ridley in loving memory of John Petersen
Adam, Tyler and Benjamin Ridley in loving memory of Hazel & Edgar Ridley
Adam, Tyler and Benjamin Ridley in loving memory of Helen & Robert Gay
Linda & Art Sharkey in memory of our beloved parents
JP, you’re always in our hearts, Love the Sharkeys
David and Jackie Smith in memory of Ann Griffin
David and Jackie Smith in memory of Lillian and Arthur Wentzell
Polly & Jay Thayer in celebration of the birth of Oliver J. Thayer
Mary Parker Uhlman in memory of Edwin & Marjorie Heckman and John & Marjorie Uhlman
Nancy Walker in memory of Thomas Walker
Women’s Fellowship in honor of all our church friends – Merry Christmas
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CALENDAR FOR DEC 18TH
– DEC 25TH
Dec 18 Sunday – Advent IV
9AM Bible Study/Chapel
10:00 AM Worship & Church School
5:00 PM Christmas Pageant & Cookie Walk
Dec 19 Monday
7:00 PM Mission Committee/Kerygma Room
7:00 PM Men’s Group/Chapel
7:30 PM AA/Nursery
Dec 20 Tuesday (no events scheduled)
Dec 21 Wednesday
9:30 AM Playgroup/Nursery
3:30 PM Journey Home Singers/Choir Room
7:00 PM Cabinet/Kerygma Room
7:00 PM Choir rehearsal
7:30 PM JoySpring rehearsal
Dec 22 Thursday
11:00 AM PCC/Fannie Forbes Room
6:30 PM BSA/Vestry
Dec 23 Friday (no events scheduled)
Dec 24 Saturday
5:00 PM Christmas Eve Service – Family Service
7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service – Candlelight Service
Dec 25 Christmas Day (Linda Hartley preaching)
10:00 AM Worship Service – Chapel