Welcome & Announcements
Introduction to Las Posadas
Prelude Savior of the Nations, Come (Fughette) Andreas Nikolaus Vetter
Posadas Song Please sing the song on opposite page when invited
* Prayer of Confession
One: When we fail to see the ways our choices leave others stranded,
All: Forgive us, and turn our hearts.
One: When we stick to policy at the expense of humanity,
All: Forgive us, and turn our hearts.
* Words of Assurance
One: One is coming, and is already here, who will make blooms burst forth in the driest desert, who brings good news to the poor, and who will take our sincere repentance and transform it into new life.
All: Come, Lord Jesus! Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
* Hymn #121 Black All Earth Is Waiting Taule V. 1,3 in English
* Passing the Peace of Jesus Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Anthem Carol of the Advent arr. Philip Dietterich
Union Church Choir
1. People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.
2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there: give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish. People, look east and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way.
3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build, guard the nest that must be filled. Even the hour when wings are frozen God for fledging time has chosen. People, look east and sing today: Love, the bird, is on the way.
4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim one more light the bowl shall brim, shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together. People, look east and sing today: Love, the star, is on the way.
1. peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way.
Preparing the Way
A Christmas Pageant by the Union Church Children and Youth
Narrated by John the Baptist with readings from the Gospel According to Luke
Anthem Light One Candle Natalie Sleeth
Isaiah 40:3-5 Cora Livingston
Advent Candle 1: Hope , Prepare
Luke 1:5-17 Della Walters
Song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Please join in singing
Oh 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.
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here, disperse the gloomy clouds of night,and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.
Luke 1:26-45 Aubry Smith
Advent Candle 2: Love, Manger
Luke 2:1-7 Holly Jennings
Advent Candle 3: Joy, Shepherds
Song Go, Tell it on the Mountain
Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain That Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching O’er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens, There shone a holy light…. Refrain
The shepherds feared and trembled When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior’s birth…. Refrain
Down in a lowly manger Our humble Christ was born
And God send us salvation, That blessed Christmas morn…. Refrain
Luke 2:8-21 Abi Woodie
Advent Candle 4: Peace, Angels
Song Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? Refrain
Come to Bethlehem and see Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain
See Him in a manger laid whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise. Refrain
Offertory Comfort, Comfort, These My People (Freu Dich Sehr) arr. Michael Burkhardt
* Doxology Tallis’ Canon
All praise to you, eternal Son, whose advent has our freedom won. With the Creator we adore, and Holy Spirit, evermore.
* Prayer of Thanksgiving
Ringing of the Peace Bell
The Union Church Peace Bell was created by Jeff Enge in honor of Union Church member Carl Eschbach (1904-1998). A twin bell hangs in Berea’s sister province in Kiyosato, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community
Our Lord’s Prayer
One: …Our Maker, our Mother,
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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
* Closing Hymn #119 Black My Soul Gives Glory to My God Morning Song
* Benediction
Postlude Lift Up Your Heads (Macht Hoch die Tur) arr. Richard Hudson
Especially in our prayers …
Each week we join millions of Christians who pray for one another through the ecumenical prayer cycle and, locally, the Berea Ministerial Association’s prayer cycle. Let us hold the people of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, and Togo and our brothers and sisters at Dixie Park Cornerstone Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them. Please also hold these concerns in your prayers today and throughout the week.
* Those in harm’s way in the service of our country and all those who wait and worry for them.
* Abigale Embry, at the death of her stepfather, Billy J. West, on December 9
* Gail Burks, friend of the church, injured in an accident
* Lisa Bosley and her family, at the loss of Lisa’s father, Hugh Bosley
* The Panciera family, at the death of Anne’s father, Gordon Erb
* Nancy Jones, recovering at home after a hospital stay
* Ruth Butwell, recovering well at home after hip replacement
* Judy Rowell, recovering at home
* Greg Bolster, Steve’s brother, fighting cancer
* Erin Hay
* Linda Parsons, recovering at home
* Michelle Tooley, awaiting cancer treatment
* Dawn Manor, Dot Kindel’s daughter, recovering at the Kindels’ home
* Naomi Brandenburg, Larry’s mother, recovering at home after hip replacement
* Rose Brandenburg, Larry’s aunt, at Berea Health Care Center
* Edith Hansen, at The Terrace
* Klara Welsh, at Berea Health Care Center
* Bernice Robertson, at Berea Health Care Center
* Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
Assisting in Worship
About today’s music: On each of the Advent Sundays, the organ music for the Prelude/Procession is based on the German Advent chorale, “Savior of the Nations, Come” (Nun Kommder Heiden Heiland). This Sunday the prelude is a short fugal setting by German baroque composer Andreas Vetter. The final hymn is a poetic rendering of Mary’s “Magnificat.” This most famous of biblical canticles is traditionally read or sung on the third Sunday of Advent. We sing it to an early American tune found in Kentucky Harmony.
Special Thanks: Today’s pageant would not have happened without the hard work and generosity of many people. Thank you especially to: Carrie Jadud and Leslie Small Stokes, co-directors; Barb Taylor, Stephanie Woodie, and Rebecca Tomlin, costuming and organizational help; Larry Brandenburg and Nyghel Byrd, music and instruction; Grace and Christopher McKenzie, flexibly allowing youth to help; parents of the children and youth for bringing them to practice and being so supportive; the kids themselves for taking their roles very seriously and helping us lead worship in a beautiful way. Thank you!
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign in, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church. Use the pew folder in your row, passing it back when all have signed. Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Check out the Parlor! Many thanks to Don Jiskoot for the donation of the mantle and accessories AND the for the labor and materials framing it. It is beautiful, and we are so grateful!
Sunday School, Children’s Church and Little Church will have a Christmas break today, December 22 & 29th. All will resume on January 5.
The Berea Classic Chorale’s Christmas Concert is this afternoon, 2:30 pm in the sanctuary. Under the direction of Larry Brandenburg, this is the Chorale’s inaugural concert. This newly-formed community choir of 22 voices will sing a variety of Christmas pieces, both accompanied and a cappella. The music ranges from a short cantata (“In Dulci Jubilo”) by the Baroque master, Buxtehude, to English carol settings to American folk settings. The choir is accompanied by B. G Hibbard, assisted by strings, flute and percussion. There is no admission charge, but a free will offering will be taken. Plan to enhance your Advent/Christmas season by attending—and bring a friend!
Christmas Caroling Wednesday, December 18 – Come One, Come All! All are invited to the 5:45 p.m. supper of soup and trimmings. We will then set out to carol in two groups: one group will walk to those houses nearby and a second group will be driven to those homes a little farther away in the trolley (great fun last year!). We will meet back at the church for cookies and hot chocolate. Whether you join us for caroling or not, cookie contributions will be much appreciated.
The Long Night Service will be Thursday, December 19, 7:00. This will be a special Service of Prayers of Healing. This special quiet service is for anyone who is suffering in body, mind, or spirit during the holidays: those who have lost loved ones, who are divorced or widowed, suffering depression, lost their jobs, or are simply mindful of the pain of the world. Set near the longest night of the year, the service is meant as a loving community of care as we wait for the light to return. A reception will follow in the classroom.
Pop-Up Wedding! You are cordially invited to join Nick and Rusti Mullins after next week’s worship service (22nd) for a brief vow renewal service. Celebrating 15 years by having the church wedding they never got to have, they would be overjoyed to have you celebrate with them. All you have to do is stay in the sanctuary after the service . A reception will follow.
Poinsettias Needed for Christmas! If you would like to bring a poinsettia to church, please do so by Friday, Dec. 20. If it is to be “in honor of” or “in memory of” someone, please get that dedication to the office by noon on Thursday, Dec. 19
Christmas Eve at Union Church! We will have two services on Christmas Eve: the first will be at 5:30 pm in the sanctuary, followed by a finger food reception (see below) and the second at 11:00 pm in Cowan Chapel.
Return of the Christmas Eve Reception! For years, Union Church has had the tradition of a Finger Food Reception in Fellowship Hall following the early Christmas Eve service (5:30 pm). Last year we were just barely back in the sanctuary for Christmas, but Fellowship Hall was not yet ready to host the usual large number of church families and guests. This year we want to bring back the tradition, but we will need everyone’s help: please bring savory or sweet finger foods to the kitchen prior to the service.
We also need a number of helpers, both before and during the event, for tasks including decorating and set-up (afternoon); receiving food and arranging platters (one hour prior to the service); serving punch and replenishing platters during the reception; and clean-up afterwards. Please sign up on the bulletin board at the back of the sanctuary.
Christmas Baskets: This morning you can choose a gift to give to a family: a food basket for families of 2,4,6,or 8. The Christmas tree in front of the church has Christmas ornament reminders. Union Church lends a hand to our sister church, St. Clare Catholic Church for their Christmas Basket and Toy Collection during Advent. We will contribute 15 Christmas baskets with food for families of 2 to families of 8. For more information or to volunteer to help, contact members of the Mission and Service Board – Jessica Holly at jessicadholly@hotmail.com or by phone text/call (859-200-7702) – (please leave voicemail if no answer).
Advent reading: For the four Sundays of Advent, Debbonnaire Kovacs will be reading her story, “The Christmas Dollar,” here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0nwtbizVDE. She hopes you enjoy it!
Loriel Warren (eyeonloriel@gmail.com) would like to let everyone know that she is available for holiday party planning, set up, clean up and decorating help. Email her to set up an appointment.
Berea East Ridge Neighborhood Community Garden There is a group of Berea East Ridge Neighborhood residents who would like to organize a community garden on our side of town- which runs from Prospect Street to VanWinkle Grove and includes every street in-between. We hope there are other neighborhood residents who would like to join us in the garden! We plan to organize our garden now so the garden will be ready for the spring.
To stay up-to-date on our garden plans, visit this page- https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bereaseastridgecommunitygarden/ or email katie.startzman@gmail.com to be added to our email list.
If you would like to be involved in the planning and preparation for the garden, please join us for our first planning committee meeting which will be Wednesday, December 18 at 7:00 pm at 147 Lorraine Court Berea. RSVP to Katie Startzman at 985 9114 or katie.startzman@gmail.com.
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