The United Church of Gainesville
Follow That Star
Second Sunday of Advent
December 5, 2021
Join us here for a live-stream of Sunday Worship
beginning at 9:15am.
NOTE: Live stream of the 11:15am service will arrive in a separate email.
PRELUDE- Christmas Classic played by Philip Herr-Klepacki
LIGHTING THE THIRD CANDLE OF THE ADVENT WREATH- The Larson Family
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING/SPECIAL MUSIC – Christmas Classic played by Philip Herr-Klepacki
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT INTRODUCTION- Shay Smith
The audience is encouraged to participate in all songs.
Joseph -“O Holy Night”
Mary – “Alleluia”
Baby – “Awww, Sweet Baby”
Scene I – Angel Gabriel brings good news.
Narrator- A long time ago . . .
Scene II – The long trip to Bethlehem Narrator – Mary was engaged to Joseph
Scene III – The animals around the manger
Preschoolers will be led to the stage by guides as the song is being sung.
Narrator – There were all kinds of animals . . .
“The Old Innkeeper had a Stable” – to the tune of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”, including Cows, Horses, Donkeys, and Pigs.
The Old Innkeeper had a stable, ee i ee i o
And in his stable he had some cows (horses, donkeys, pigs) ee i ee i o With a moo moo (neigh neigh, ee aw, oink oink) here and a moo moo there Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo The old innkeeper had a stable ee i ee i o, etc.
Scene IV – Jesus is born
Narrator – That night, it was time . . .
“Away in a Manger”
Away in a manger, no crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky, looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Scene V – A very bright star Narrator – That night, there was . . .
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are
Scene VI – Shepherds and Angels
K-1 grade children who are sheep are to follow the Shepherds, and K-1 grade angels who are angels are to follow Gabriel. Guides will gently “herd” along.
Narrator – Also that night, there were Shepherds
Narrator – And angels
Narrator – And then everyone began to sing
“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.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Narrator – So the shepherds . . .
Scene VII – The wise people
Narrator – Far off in the East . . .
Instrumental – “We Three Kings of Orient Are”
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
Oh, Star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
Scene VIII– Gifts
Guides gently encourage 2-3 grade children to follow the Star on stage.
Narrator – And lo, the star led the wise people
ALLELUIA
RECESSIONAL PARADE
The star (and Shay, and childcare aides) will lead the parade of animals, shepherds, angels, wise people, innkeeper, narrators, Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus to the playground where children can be picked up by their families.
Pageant Cast:
Baby Jesus – Omri Fabrick
Mary – Marilu Nelson
Joseph – Anni Maxwell
Narrators – Lucia Nelson, Vivienne Larson, Elise Telg
Angel Gabriel – Leif Bittikoffer
Inn Keeper – Johan Telg
Star – Aiyana Duerksen-Raymond
Shepherd – Jaxon Bonnaghan and Nati Gutierrez-Hernandez
Cue Card Holders – UCG Childcare Aides
Stage Crew -Andrew Bittikoffer from MST
Barnyard Friends – Pre-K Class Angels and Sheep-K-1 Wise People -2-3
Program Cover Design – Elise Telg
Father Time/Baby Changer – Mike Myers
The cast would like to express a special thank you to:
Director/Producer – Shay Smith
Children’s Programs Coordinator- Keri Trosper
Stage Manager – Taylor Bourg
Assistant Stage Manager – Aaron Gitzendanner and Donald Moore
Stage construction and installation: Mike Myers, Sam Harris, and Steve Bates
Accompanist – Phillip Herr-Klepacki
Photographer – John Bollinger
Keeper of the Cradle – Sandy Reimer
Playwright – Heidi Stein
Kid Wranglers – UCG Childcare Aides
Prep and Clean-up Crew – Board of Children, Youth, & Families
Special thanks all around to the many other volunteers who helped make this production possible.
Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!
Happy Birthday!
|
Beverly |
Holt |
12/06 |
|
Patti |
Williams |
12/06 |
|
Colt |
Brewer |
12/07 |
|
Aoife |
Boisseau |
12/07 |
|
Jonathan |
Gitzendanner |
12/08 |
|
Travis |
Harris |
12/08 |
|
Patt |
Shille |
12/09 |
|
Mitchell |
Jim |
12/10 |
|
Boone |
Vogel |
12/10 |
|
Ann |
Gill |
12/11 |
|
Taylor |
Howard |
12/11 |
|
Henry |
Kaufman |
12/11 |
|
Tim |
Martin |
12/11 |
Announcements
Your Feedback Needed – Our upcoming service of Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve are typically well attended gatherings; so to help us plan accordingly, would you please complete this two-question survey? Thank you! We look forward to celebrating with you this year!
Advent Reflection booklets, with a reading for each day, are available in the Foyer. These special and beautiful booklets feature original artwork, photos, and writings by UCG members. If you’d like a copy mailed, please contact the church office or you may also download a PDF version here.
Youth United Annual Chili Lunch Today! – Join us from 10:30am-12:30pm to help support our UCG youth’s summer Work Tour. The cost is $7 for adults (16 and older), $5 for children ages 3-15 and free for ages 2 and under. Cornbread, brats, dogs (meat-eater and vegan friendly), and desserts included. We will have seating both outdoors and spaced out indoors and masked and gloved youth will serve you as you pass through the line. You will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for amazing baskets and artwork curated and donated by our boards and committees. Tickets are: $2 for one, $5 for 3, $10 for 8, or $20 for 20!
Christmas Mini-grants –The deadline to turn in requests for mini-grants is December 5. Click here to submit an online form.
Rawlings Gift Market Angel Gift Collection – Thank you so much for donating to the Rawlings gift market! This year there are two options for choosing the gifts you purchase. You can link to Sign-up Genius here or you can take a Christmas angel from the tree in the foyer of the sanctuary. Drop your unwrapped gifts off at UCG in the foyer on December 5 or 12 between during either service or bring them to Seminar B between 10 and 2 on Monday, Wednesday or Friday the weeks of November 28 or December 5. You don’t need to provide bags this year – we have lots leftover from last year. Blessings to all of our Christmas Angels.
Small Groups Registration Ends Today! – Click here to register on ShelbyNext or here for additional instructions. It is best to register through a web browser rather than the ShelbyNext app. Here is a list of group offerings.
Need a new dessert recipe or a great holiday gift idea? The UCG Food for Thought book club has put together a cookbook of 86 favorite dessert recipes and are selling them in the courtyard between services during December. The $15.00 price includes a $6.00 donation to your choice of Family Promise, Food 4 Kids, or the Covid Relief Fund.
Racial Justice Committee will be selling all sizes of BLM t-shirts today in the courtyard between services. Martin Luther King Day is Monday, January 17, 2022. Help us make UCG a big presence on the march that day. Cost of shirts is $10.00.
Every December we receive donations for Ray Meeks, UCG member who was on death row for 42 years when his sentence was commuted to life in prison. Ray uses the money for personal items like clothing, toiletries, snacks, and the use of his tablet for email, music, and movies. There is a basket for contributions in the Foyer or you can make an online donation here. Please include your name if you give cash. Ray likes to write thank you notes.
Lessons & Carols Rehearsals This Week: Thursday 7:15pm and final rehearsal Saturday at 9am, masks required.
PNO (Parents’ Night Out) is NEXT Friday, December 10, 5:30 – 9:30pm –PNO is for parents of babies through 5th grade. The kids are invited for a night of pizza* and fun outside and masked inside. The cost is $15 for the first child and $10 for each additional child. RSVPs are required by Wednesday, December 8 to taylorb@ucgainesville.org. *Due to life threatening food allergies, no outside food is allowed.
30th Annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Next Sunday, December 12 at 11:00am & 7:00pm. UCG tradition of instrumental music, choral anthems and scripture. Childcare provided at both services.
Men’s Squirrel Pie Lunch – All UCG men are invited to this holiday tradition on Friday, December 10, 12 – 1:30pm in Reimer Hall. Bring adult beverages, salads, side dishes and desserts that go with squirrel.
Women’s Tasteful Tea Party – Women’s Lunch Group will celebrate the holidays with a Women’s Lunch Group Tasteful Tea Party on Friday, December 17, 2021, from 1- 3 pm in the courtyard. Hot cider will be provided. Attendees are invited to bring a batch of your favorite cookies to share and a pack of new underwear or a financial contribution to support the Helping Hands Clinic clothes closet. All are welcome!
The All-Church Band will play its medley of sing-along Christmas carols on Sunday, December 19. If you play, or have ever, played a band instrument, please pick up music which is available in the foyer and plan to participate in this great UCG tradition. Rehearsal will be at 8:30am on December 19 in the Sanctuary.
Sunday Drive-Up Assistance Now Available – Volunteers are available to assist persons with mobility issues from the apron in front of the UCG courtyard into the Sanctuary. Please call or text Dar Mikula (352-359-4041) directly ahead of time to make arrangements and we’ll meet you out front. A 24-hour notice is preferred but we will help you even if you wake up Sunday morning and decide to attend the worship service.
Your help is needed on Sunday mornings with greeting and ushering individuals and families at the 9:15AM service AND the 11:15 service. There’s no lifting involved – just a friendly smile illuminating from behind your mask! To sign up, click here, email Dar Mikula, or call (352) 378-3500.
Please help keep our church finances healthy while you stay healthy! Please consider donating online. To GIVE, click here to make a one-time donation to UCG -or- to set up a recurring donation schedule via your bank account or credit card. Our budgeted (anticipated) amount of Plate Income for 2021 is $36,000, so we rely on the weekly passing of the plate. Here is a video on how to use Shelby Giving. Thank you for your support!