Third Sunday of Advent – Joy
December 12, 2021
30th Annual Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols at 11:00am & 7:00pm

 Join us here for a live-stream beginning at 11:00am

Join us here for a live-stream beginning at 7:00pm

PRELUDE

11am

“Christmas Concerto, Pastorale from Concerto Grosso, Op. 6 #8” – Arcangelo Corelli
Pool Deck Players – Cheryl Poe, Mary Fukuyama, Jackie Davis, Sally Simonis

“Away in a Manger” – William James Kirkpatrick 
Youth Brass – Carl Carter, Ewan Johnson, Brian Martin, David Martin, Douglas Maurer

“The Crown of Roses” – Tchaikovsky
“The Shepherd’s Farewell” – Hector Berlioz 
Adult Brass – Mark Burlingame, Tim Martin, Larry Reimer, Ruth Saunders

7pm

“Sing We Now of Christmas” – French Traditional
“Pat-A-Pan” – Traditional
“Greensleeves” –Traditional
Dalirusa Fling Quartet – Lisa McElwee White, Sally Simonis, Ruth Saunders, David Turner

“Jeanette’s Christmas Night” (Sussex Carol/ Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella) – Traditional, arr. Irma Reeder
Dulcimer – Kathryn McGill; Handpan – Nancy Ryan

 “I Saw Three Ships” – Traditional, arr. Kathryn McGill
 Dulcimer – Kathryn McGill 

“Dona Nobis Pacem” – Traditional, arr. Dave Haas
Dulcimer – Kathryn McGill; Handpan – Nancy Ryan

WELCOME and OFFERING – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan, Minister

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
Ezra Stone, Jasmine Angelini-Knoll, & Josiah Angelini-Stone, 11am

Andrew & Jill Ragsdale, 7pm

HYMN – “O Come, All Ye Faithful” John Frances Wade, 18th century
Solo – Anni Maxwell
Choir and Congregation, Brass

O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant.
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels. O come, let us adore Him.
O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing; O come, let us adore Him.
O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, in the highest glory.
O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

INVOCATION – Rev. Andy Bachmann, Associate Minister


THE FIRST LESSON – Isaiah 40 – Stephen Bottomly, reader 

CHOIR – “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains” – Zachary Neece
Soprano Trio – Adriane Isenberg, Cynthia Granger, and Hannah Norton

Comfort, comfort my people says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Her warfare is ended. Her inequity is pardoned.
A voice cries in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way of God’s anointed;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Ev’ry valley shall be lifted up, ev’ry mountain and hill made low.
The crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places plain,
and the glory of God shall be revealed!
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of one who brings good tidings,
who promises peace who speaks of salvation saying
‘Come, ev’ry one who thirsts come to the waters;
You shall meet your God in joy and be led forth in peace.’
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of one who brings good tidings,
How beautiful, peace and joy. Beautiful!


THE SECOND LESSON – Isaiah 9 and 40 –  Rev. Maureen Killoran, 11am reader, Nan Ryan, 7pm reader

CHILDREN’S CHOIR – “Go Tell It On The Mountain” -African-American spiritual compiled by John Wesley Work Jr. – Keri Trosper, Children’s Choir Director

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

The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior‘s birth.

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn


THE THIRD LESSON – Isaiah 7 and 11; Micah 4 – Jenny Hill, 11am reader, Todd Louis, 7pm reader

CHOIR – “Creation Will Be At Peace” – J. Paul Williams / Anna Laura Page

In the holy mountain of the Lord
all war and strife will cease;
in the holy mountain of the Lord
creation will be at peace

The wolf will lie down with the lamb,
the cow and bear will feed,
their young will play together;
a little child will lead.

The leopard and goat will graze,
the lion will feed on straw.
They will war no more;
a little child will lead them all.


THE FOURTH LESSON – Luke 1 -Tamara Herchel, reader

CHOIR  “O Magnum Mysterium” Dale Warland
Cynthia Martin, flute

O Magnum mysterium,
et admirable sacramentum
ut animalia viderent
Dominum natum, jacentum in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum. Alleluia!
O great mystery,
and wonderous sacrament,
that animals should see the new-
born Lord, lying in their manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear the
Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!

THE FIFTH LESSON – Matthew 1 and Luke 2 – Donn Smith-Lopez, 11am reader, Jim Harper, 7pm reader

CHOIR – “This Little Babe” – Edward Benjamin Britten

This little babe so few days old,
Is come to rifle Satan’s fold;
All hell doth at his presence quake,
Though he himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak unarmed wise
The gates of hell he will surprise.
With tears he fights and wins the field,
naked breast stands for a shield;
His battering shot are babish cries,
His arrow looks of weeping eyes,
His martial ensigns Cold and Need,
And feeble Flesh his warrior’s steed.
His camp is pitched in a stall,
His bulwark but a broken wall;
The crib his trench, haystacks his stakes;
Of shepherds he hismuster makes;
And thus, as sure his fo to wound,
The angels’ trumps alarum sound.
My soul, with Christ join thou in fight;
Stick to the tents that he hath plight.
Within his crib is surest ward;
This little Babe will be thy guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
then flit not from this heavenly Boy.

*RESPONSIVE PRAYER – Rev. Talia Raymond, Associate Minister

Leader: O God, you have already come near to us; otherwise we would not be waiting for Christmas, looking for the birth of love in our world.

People: The light we await is already shining.  It is the source of our longing, the small voice that will not let us rest content with things as they are.

Leader: You have called us as your children and asked that we act as such toward you and toward each other.

People: Let us kindle the lights of Christmas, the lights of our hopes and of our rejoicing.

Leader: May our Christmas lights be a sign of warmth and acceptance stronger than words, a light that the darkness will never put out.

People: May the lights of our church be a beacon of your presence in this world.  Amen. 

HYMN – “The First Nowell”- traditional English Christmas carol
Choir and Congregation

1. The first Nowell the Angel did say
Was to certain poor Shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
In a cold winter’s night that was so deep

Chorus
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell
Born in a manger Emmanuel

2. They looked above and saw a star
Shining in the East, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued, both day and night. Chorus

3. And by the light of that same Star
Three sages came from country far,
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the Star wherever it went. Chorus

4. This star shone bright the northwest;
O’er Bethlehem it seemed to rest.
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay. Chorus

5. Then entered in those magi three,
And bending low upon their knee,
They offered there, in great reverence,
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. Chorus


THE SIXTH LESSON – Luke 2 – Isabelle Wolcott Durante, 11am reader, Lucy Stein, 7pm reader

YOUTH CHOIR – “”Someday at Christmas” by Stevie Wonder

Someday at Christmas, men won’t be boys

Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December our hearts will see
A world where all are free
Someday at Christmas, there’ll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life’s really worth
There’ll be peace on earth
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where all are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas, we’ll see a land
With no hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning, people will share
Our world where people careWhoa, someday at Christmas there’ll be no tears
When all are equal and no one has fears
One shining moment one prayer away
From our world today
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where all are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas, we will not fail
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart
Someday in a world where all are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime

THE SEVENTH LESSON – Luke 2 – Lucia Nelson , 11am reader, Eva Fabrick, 7pm reader

HOGTOWN PICKERS – “Little Baby Child”  Jim Hurst
Andy Bachmann, guitar; Ned Stewart, guitar; Alan Hill, bass; Art Crummer, dobro; Jack Nettles, mandolin

Did not come strong in the
armor of a warrior
Did not come tough with a
weapon in his hand
Did not come strong in
armor of a warrior
He came as a child, a
little baby child
He was helpless and small
cradled in his mothers arms
Helpless and small he
whimpered and he cried
People looking for a king
or a mighty general
They walked on by the
little baby child
Do not come strong in the
armor of a warrior
Do not come tough with a
weapon in your hand
Humble your heart for God’s
amazing grace
Come as a child,
a little baby child

THE EIGHTH LESSON – Matthew 2 – Wilson Bell, 11am reader, Christine Engels, 7pm reader

CHOIR OF UPPER VOICES – “Personent Hodie” – from Piae Cantiones

Personent hodie                       Resound today
Voces puerulae                        Voices of boys,
Laudantes jucunde                   Praising merrily
Qui nobis est natus,                  He who is born to us,
Summo Deo datus,                   Given by the Supreme God,
Et de virgineo                          And of a virgin’s
Ventre procreatus.                    Womb born.
In mundo nascitur;                   He was born into the world,
Pannis involvitur;                      Wrapped in rags,
Praesepi ponitur                       Placed in a manger
Stabulo brutorum                     In a stable for animals,
Rector supernorum;                  The Ruler of Heaven;
Perdit spolia                             Has lost his spoils
Princeps Infernorum.                The Prince of Hell.
Magi tres venerunt;                  Three Wise Men came;
Parvulum inquirunt,                  They sought the Child,
Bethlehem adeunt,                   The go to Bethlehem
Stellulam sequendo,                  Following the Star
Ipsum adorando,                      In total adoration.
Aurum, thus et myrrham           Gold, incense, and myrrh
Ei offerendo.                            They offered.
Omnes clericuli,                        All clerics,
Pariter pueri,                           Together with the boys,
Cantent ut angeli:                     Sing like the angels:
“Advenisti mundo:                    “You have come into the world;
Laudes tibi fundo                      I pour out praises to you.
Ideo: Gloria                             Therefore: Glory
In excelsis Deo.                        “In the highest to God.”


THE NINTH LESSON – John 1 and Luke 2 – Jan Adkins, 11am reader, Jenny Hill, 7pm reader

CHOIR – “Child of Light” (premiere) – music by Zachary Neece; text from John I, Luke I
Soprano Trio – Adriane Isenberg, Cynthia Granger, and Hannah Norton

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God.
In God’s Word was life and the light of the world.
A light that darkness could not overpower.
That Child of Light came to prepare God’s way.
Called a prophet Most High.
Dawn will break upon us to give light
and guide our feet in the way of peace.
The Child of Light shines bright in the deepest night.
In God’s Word was life
and that life was the light of the world.
Dawn will break on high to give us light in the deepest night.

BENEDICTION – Rev. Andy Bachmann, Minister

HYMN – “Joy to the World” Isaac Watts
Brass Ensemble

Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let Earth its praises bring:
let every heart prepare Christ room, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ:
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Christ rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
the glories of God’s righteousness, and wonders of God’s love,
and wonders of God’s love, and wonders, wonders of God’s love.

Christmas choral music represents a long history of Christian tradition and theology. This diverse theological heritage may not always speak to you, or your understanding of the Christmas story. Our hope is that you will find some measure of hope, peace, joy, and love in the music, the story and prophecy, and in the gathered community who share in these sacred moments together. 

Special thanks to the singers, musicians, readers,
and to the following individuals:
Phillip Herr-Klepacki – Conductor and Music Director

Brian Hargrove – Accompanist
Phillip Herr-Klepacki, Talia Raymond – Youth Choir
Keri Trosper – Children’s Choir
Ruth Saunders – Instrumentalist Coordinator
Larry Reimer –Adult & Youth Brass Coordinator, trumpet
Kitty Williams – Music Librarian
Cathy Persons – Music Folder Preparation
Andy Olivenbaum – CD and Recording Coordinator
Catherine Cake – Production Coordinator
Mike Myers – Construction & Assembly of Risers
Jenny Hill – Readers’ Coach
Holden Martin – Video Coordinator
Elise Lee – Sound Coordinator
Terry Moo – Soundview Multimedia
John Bollinger – Photographer

ADULT CHOIR
Soprano Alto Tenor Bass
Mary Aplin Jasmine Angelini-Knoll Anne Casella Edo Carter
Jess Archer Tracy Bachmann Stuart Huggard Sam Harris
Stella Bachmann Mary Caraher Andrew Ragsdale Darrell Hartman
Cynthia Granger Jackie Davis Stan Smith Alan Keitt
Shelby Havens Sandy Flory Ezra Stone Allan March
Suzanna Hough Sue Hartman Don Suther Andy Olivenbaum
Adriane Isenberg Sally Kimberly Kitty Williams Larry Reimer
Susan Kirkland Joanne LaFramenta Mary Fukuyama Christoph Seubert
Karen Martin Sue Littell
Hannah Norton Sandy Reimer
Phoebe Papadi Charlotte Seubert
Jennifer Pritchett Sally Simonis
Evelyn Ragsdale
Talia Raymond
Suzanne Stapleton
Catherine Turner

Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!
Happy Birthday!

Julian

Hill

12/12

Emma

Beachy

12/14

Claudia

Connelly

12/14

Calissa

Harris

12/14

Karen

Brown

12/15

Ellery

Burgess

12/16

Dick

Elkins

12/16

Jim

McClave

12/16

Cathy

Owen

12/16

Tenley

Hemmerich-Sullivan

12/18

Announcements

  • Adult 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.

  • Christmas Angel gifts are due back today. Please place your donations under the tree in the Foyer.

  • 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. Please include your name if you give cash. Ray likes to write thank you notes.
  • The All Church Band play will perform at both services on Sunday, December 19.  Rehearsal is at 8:30am that morning.  Music is available in the foyer.  All players welcomed!
  • 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!
~Next Sunday December 19

Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:30am – All-Church Band rehearses in Sanctuary
9:00 – 12:30pm – Nursery & Toddler care
9:15 & 11:15am Worship – Andy Bachmann 
9:45am –  Extended Activity Time for Children
10:00am –  Fellowship & Beverages
5:30pm – Youth Christmas Party
6:00pm – Sacred Sound Symphony

 

December 10 COVID Update

The Florida Department of Health reports that last week the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Alachua County increased from 35 to 58 per 100,000 per week. Alachua County remains in the orange zone (25-100), a substantial risk for viral transmission.

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!