UNITED CHURCH NEWS DECEMBER 2006
“A community of faith providing nurture,
strength, & direction for living today in God’s world.”
From the Interim Pastor’s Pen:
Yesterday,
I participated in our tremendous worship gathering and dramatic presentation
“Lost and Found.” The story is a
familiar one and is often referred to as “The Parable of the Prodigal
Son.” In Lloyd Ogilive’s book Autobiography
of God he suggests that the story be renamed, “The Parable of the Prodigal
Father” and after studying this story and the definition of the word “prodigal”
I am inclined to agree. The word
“prodigal” is defined as “extravagant, lavish, and unrestrained.” These words describe the actions of the
father far more than the actions of either son.
In this story the father’s love had no limits, forgiveness no
boundaries, and joy no restraint. This
father had prodigal love for the lost.
Jesus
told this parable to reinforce the very purpose of His incarnation. His physical and tangible entrance into our
world was to communicate prodigal love for the lost. As we pause to prepare and reflect on the
impact of this incarnation, an invitation continues to be offered for all lost
sons and daughters to come home. Come
home this Advent and Christmas season.
Come home from all the wandering dimensions of your life and receive a
love that has no limits, forgiveness with no boundaries and a joy that has no
restraints. What better way to
experience the peace of Christ.
Yours
in the love of the Incarnate One,
In Search of Our Kneeling
Places
by Ann Weems as found in Kneeling
in Bethlehem
In each heart lies a
an inn where we must ultimately answer
whether there is room or not.
When we are Bethlehem-bound
we experience our own advent in his.
When we are Bethlehem-bound
we can no longer look the other way
conveniently not seeing stars
not hearing angel voices.
We can no longer excuse
ourselves by busily
tending our sheep or our kingdoms.
This Advent let’s go to
and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.
In the midst of shopping
sprees
let’s ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts.
Through the tinsel
let’s look for the gold of the Christmas Star.
In the excitement and
confusion, in the merry chaos,
let’s listen for the brush of angels’ wings.
This Advent, let’s go to
and find our kneeling places.
Worship for December 2006
Child Care 9 AM –
Dec. 3 First
Sunday of Advent Lighting
the Advent Candle: HOPE
10:25 AM Meditation: “While
We Wait” Rev.
Brigid Boyle
Scriptures: Jeremiah 33:1-16;
Luke 21:25-36 Liturgist: Richard Hole
Sermon: "While We Wait" Sacrament of the
Lord’s Supper (“served”)
Dec. 10 Second
Sunday of Advent Lighting the Advent Candle: PEACE
Scriptures: Mal. 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; 3:1-6; Phil. 1:3-11 Liturgist: David DeHority
Prelude by the Children's and Youth Christmas Orchestra
Cherub
Choir Advent Presentation, UCF Senior Choir
7:00 PM St. Nicholas Festival Lessons & Carols - Community Advent Service
Area Combined Choirs at Immaculate
UCF Senior
Choir, Joyful Sign Choir
Dec. 17 Third
Sunday of Advent Lighting
the Advent Candle: JOY
10:25 AM Meditation
with Lessons & Carols Rev.
Dr. Kathleen Waters
Scriptures: Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:39-45; 46b-55 Liturgist:
Deborah Dawley
Advent
Lessons and Carols, Music by the Youth, Handbell, UCF Senior choirs
Christmas Joy/Thank Offering received
4:00 PM Brass
and Bells Concert
Dec. 24 Fourth
Sunday of Advent. Christmas Eve Lighting
the Advent Candle: LOVE
Meditation on Luke 2:1-20 Liturgist: Joanne Birge
(
5:00
PM Family Service Lighting
the CHRIST CANDLE
The Christmas Story, Lessons and
Scriptures: Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-20 Christmas
Offerings received
Youth Handbell Choir,
soloists Liturgist: Tom Parmenter
10:45 PM Handbells
and Organ Prelude Lighting
the CHRIST CANDLE
11:00
PM Candlelight Service of Lessons
& Carols Rev.
Dr. Kathleen Waters
Scriptures: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 1:39-45; 46b-55, 2:1-20 Christmas Offerings received
Senior Choir, Joyful Sign
Choir, Adult Handbell Choir, Organ Music
Dec. 31 Christmas
Sunday, New Years Eve (
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148;
Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52
About
Our Guest Preacher:
December 3: Rev.
Brigid Boyle is currently a
Parish Associate at Park Central Presbyterian Church in
Worship, Music &
Spiritual Life
“Lost and Found” Thank you!
The
worship service on Sunday Nov. 19 was a joyful and inspiring service of praise
and thanksgiving, from the opening brass & woodwind quintet’s musical
offerings of “Just a closer walk” and “Amazing Grace,” to the Bible “time
machine” opening to introduce the prodigal family’s story, and the heartfelt
ending of the drama “Lost and Found.”
Thank you to all who worked hard to make a wonderful worship experience,
especially Judy Spencer, director, Lynn and Doug Scharbach,
costumes and stage set, Sarah Vonhof, keyboard and accompanist, Jim
Spencer and Sarah V. children’s choir leaders, Sarah McCoubrey and Emily
Olmsted, backdrop, John Price, sound, Ron Turner, electric
bass player, Betsy Easson, percussion, our prodigal family, Andy
Baxter, John Price, Tom Parmenter and especially our cast and chorus of
26 children, youth and adults from our choirs! Your extra efforts were really
appreciated. Bravo and thank you to all
for making it possible. Alice Hatt
Advent Wreath Ceremony
During Advent
worship services we will share in the traditional Lighting of the Advent
Candles of hope, peace, joy and love. It
will be led by Seekers and Mentors.
Advent Devotions ~ “Jesse
Tree”
“Jesse Tree
Devotions” will be available
for the first Sunday of Advent. The
booklet contains candle lighting ceremonies, reflections and a simple ornament
idea for families and individuals. The Jesse Tree is a visual enactment of the
history of the Messiah, sometimes known as Jesus' Family Tree. The Jesse Tree
helps us remember everyday that despite the commercialism all around us, the
Nativity story is about real people and God=s relationship
with us throughout history.
The annual Combined Choir “Lessons and Carols”
ushers in the Advent season in an ecumenical way. It features choirs from our
Fayetteville-Manlius churches, including our Senior Choir and Joyful Sign
Choir, and also a combined Men’s Choir this year. Interested children and youth
are invited to join our UCF choir to sing the anthem “Angel’s Carol” by John
Rutter. Speak with Alice Hatt about a
rehearsal.
Join us Sunday,
Dec. 10th,
Children’s & Youth Christmas Orchestra
The Prelude on Dec. 10th will be a
joyful worship offering by 22 of our children and youth, playing violins (7),
violas (4), cellos (3), flutes (2), trumpets (2), saxophones (2), clarinet,
baritone horn, tuba, percussion, keyboard players, directed by Jim Spencer.
Praise God for
their gifts!
Advent Artists. . .
Children and youth in our Sunday School classes are
invited to use their talents to draw covers for the four Advent Sundays and
Christmas Eve family service bulletin covers.
Connie Caldwell is coordinating with the teachers based on the weekly
worship themes and Advent candle names for the Worship & Spiritual Life
Committee. We wait in anticipation of their creative gifts!
Handbell Concert at The
On
Saturday, Dec. 16th,
“Brass & Bells” Concert – New time
A Christmas tradition at UCF! The
Christmas Eve at United Church
5 PM Family Service and Living Creche at
The 5 PM Family Service will be a service of
lessons and carols with a Christmas story.
Youth singers and the Youth Handbell Choir will offer Christmas music
for the service. Luminarias light the way after the family service at
Candlelight Service of
Lessons and Carols
The traditional candlelight Festival of Lessons
& Carols service begins with a time of preparation with the Adult
Handbell Choir and Organ Prelude at
December 31 – Christmas
Sunday and New Year’s Eve
Christmas Carol Sing and Story telling - Christmas
carols and stories proclaim the good news of Christmas in poetic and powerful
ways. On Christmas Sunday we will sing
and tell the good news for the birthday of a King!
Alice Dickerson Hatt, Minister of Music &
Worship
Forums and
Bible Study
Sundays
Join us for coffee, fellowship & discussion
December 2006
I. Forums in Beard Lounge
9:00 AM Forums are
presentations and discussions which focus on timely topics of Christian social
concern, personal and spiritual development, Bible study, or explorations of
our Christian heritage and world religions.
Through Forums we seek to provide a place for understanding special topics
or current issues of our Christian presence in the community and world.
The
following topics are scheduled for Adult Forum during December:
December 3:
Jason Larson, “The Religion of Christmas.” Part I. Jason is member of the
December 10: Jason Larson, “The Religion of Christmas.” Part II.
December 17: Kay Lindauer; reflections on the life of Mary or other women in the Bible
December 24: No Adult Forum or Bible Study
December 31: Informal discussion on “New
Year’s Resolutions for the
II. Bible Study in Women’s Lounge
III. A Parents’ Place [Downstairs in Room 5]
Suggestions for future Adult Forums or topics for Bible study. Please speak with Chairperson Norm Hatt or a member of the committee: Lois Coleman, Shirley DeHority, Dorothy Harrold, Jason Larson, Dick Lang, Jackie Meyer, Carol Reinsmith, Lois Spitzer, Joe Steiner.
Submitted by Norman Hatt, chair.
What’s Up
from Down Under
Sharing and Caring by the Young People
Of United Church
Mark these new events on your calendars!!
Sun.
Dec. 3 Cookie Walk
Sun.
Dec. 10 Cherub Advent
presentation
Christmas
Luncheon
Sun.
Dec. 17 Cherub Choir
Christmas Party
Sun.
Dec. 24 & 31 Sunday School
vacation
Sun.
Dec. 24
Sun.
Jan. 7 Sunday School classes resume
A Peaceful Advent Season Is A Season When . .
.
As we light
candles on an Advent wreath during Advent we remember and prepare for the
coming Messiah. Make your Advent
preparation an active preparation, a preparation with purpose. Prepare by teaching peace in your family and
by being peaceful in your lives. Include
time to pray, time to be still, time to tell the story of the coming
Messiah. Plan family time together that
allows for quiet and peaceful reflection.
Find opportunities as a family to serve in our community. Participate in the joyful telling of the
story through Christmas programs.
Experience what it means to be actively peaceful and peacefully active.
Adapted from Ideas! For Church Leaders,
Winter 2004-05, Vol.4, Issue 2
The Music
Of Angels . . .
I guess we
should really say the music of Cherubs!!
The
Cherub Choir came through loud and clear as
they sang “Jesus
Said, ‘Come Follow Me’”, a simple song with a
big message.
The Cherub
Choir will sing again on Sunday,
December 10
in a special
Advent presentation.
December Sunday School
Mission . . .
Children’s
Worship offerings for November and December will help buy Christmas gifts for a
family of four selected through Catholic Charities. Each class will enjoy making up the shopping
list for a family member. Then they will
put their creative skills to work and decorate a special Christmas card for
each family member.
Celebrating The Season Together . . .
Cherub Choir
is having a Christmas party during
their regular choir time on Sunday,
December 17. We will sing Christmas
carols and play games. Come prepared to have fun!!
Brass and Bells Concert . . .
Our own UCF handbell choirs and
Ensemble will sparkle at their concert on Sunday afternooon,
December
17 at
an even
more family-friendly event!!
All Wrapped Up In God’s Love . . .
Sixteen Sunday School kids and their families met
at church on Sunday evening, Oct. 29, to cut and fringe 82 colorful polar fleece scarves for
Kids Helping Kids . . .
So many of our young people went collected for UNICEF when they went trick or treating
on Halloween that the little orange boxes just kept coming in!! We are proud of all our young people who take
the time to care! Thanks to Seeker, Toni Hines and her mentor, Jackie
Meyer, for counting all those coins!