Welcome to Worship
Third Sunday in Advent
Twenty-Ninth Annual Service of
Nine Lessons & Carols
The United Church of Gainesville – December 13, 2020
If you would like to watch the service as a playlist, please click here and you will be directed to our YouTube page. If you prefer, you may click on the individual links below at your own pace.
Prelude, Prayers, and Lighting the Candle of Joy
PRELUDE
Youth Brass Ensemble – “Away in a Manger ” – Kirkpatrick
Ewan Johnson, Xander Kiker, Douglas Maurer, trumpet; Larry Reimer, coordinator
WELCOME – Rev. Talia Raymond
PRAYER OF INVOCATION – Rev. Andy Bachmann
“As With Gladness, Men of Old” –Traditional, Cynthia Martin, Jillian Provost, flute
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES – Bromleigh McCleneghan, Josh Hammond, Fiona, Callie, and Hattie Hammond
United Tribes Christmas Craft and Activity Time
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
THE FIRST LESSON – Isaiah 40 – Susan Austin, reader
“Fum, Fum, Fum” –Traditional, Sally Simonis, Lisa McElwee-White, Joan Andrews, flute
THE SECOND LESSON – Isaiah 9 and 40 – Shelby Havens, reader
“Coventry Carol and O’ Come, All Ye Faithful” –Traditional English, performed by the Pool Deck Pandemic Players: Mary Fukuyama, Sally Simonis, Belle Sutton, flute; Cheryl Poe, Wendy Visscher, clarinet; Jackie Davis, string bass
THE THIRD LESSON – Isaiah 7 and 11; Micah 4 – David Thaler, reader
“Sacred Spaces” composed, arranged, and performed by Nan Ryan, Mark Burlingame, Handpans
THE FOURTH LESSON – Luke 1 – Sandy Reimer, reader
“Happy Christmas (War is Over)” by John Lennon, performed by the Youth Ensemble: Stella Bachmann, Elena Frenock, Carlos Frenock, Diego Frenock, Anja Julian, Magnolia Nelson, Jillian Provost
So, this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
Chorus: A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and for poor ones
The road is so long
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For Native and Immigrant
Let’s stop all the fight
Chorus
And so this is Christmas (w/Descant)
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so happy Christmas (w/Descant)
We hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
Chorus
And so this is Christmas (w/Descant)
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
War is over
If you want it
War is over Now
THE FIFTH LESSON – Matthew 1 and Luke 2 – Betsy Harris, reader
“Mary, Rock Your Baby” – sung by Mary Caraher, Sue Hartman, Susan Kirkland
Chorus: O Mary rock, rock, rock your little baby, Rock your child in the stable tonight.
O Mary rock, rock, rock your little baby, Rock your baby in the heavenly light
Angels join in a lullaby, As a star shines bright in the winter sky.
Shepherds travel from far and wide, Just to kneel at the baby’s side.
Chorus
Holy baby from heav’n above, You have come to offer us peace and love.
Join we know in a song of praise, On this happiest day of days!
Chorus
THE SIXTH LESSON – Luke 2 – Josiah Angelini-Stone, reader
Brass Ensemble – “Gesu Bambino” by Pietro Alessandro Yon
Larry Reimer, Tim Martin, Mark Burlingame; trumpet
THE SEVENTH LESSON – Luke 2 – Tesslyn Dahl, reader
“How Far is it to Bethlehem?” – Poem by Frances Chesterton, sung by Tané Dekrey, Hannah Norton, Judy Parsons
How far is it to Bethlehem?
Not very far.
Shall we find the stable-room
Lit by a star?
Can we see the little Child?
Is He within?
If we lift the wooden latch,
May we go in?
May we stroke the creatures there
Ox, ass, or sheep?
May we peep like them and see
Jesus asleep?
If we touch His tiny hand,
Will He awake?
Will He know we’ve come so far
Just for His sake?
Great kings have precious gifts,
And we have naught;
Little smiles and little tears
Are all we brought.
For all weary children
Mary must weep;
Here, on His bed of straw,
Sleep, children, sleep.
God, in His mother’s arms,
Babes in the byre,
Sleep, as they sleep who find
Their heart’s desire.
THE EIGHTH LESSON – Matthew 2 – Stan Smith, reader
“Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” –traditional, performed by the Pickers – Andy Bachmann, David Evans, Alan Hill, Jack Nettles, Ned Stewart
O’ Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
Shining afar through shadows dim
Giving the light to those who long have gone
Guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on.
Chorus: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns.
Give us the lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on
Beautiful Star the hope of light
Guiding the pilgrims through the night
Over the mountains till the break of dawn
Into the light of perfect day
It will give out a lovely ray
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem shine on
Chorus
Beautiful Star the hope of rest
For the redeemed, the good, and blessed
Yonder in glory when the crown is won
Jesus is now that star divine
Brighter and brighter he will shine
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem shine on
Chorus
THE NINTH LESSON – John 1 and Luke 2 – Jenny Hill, reader
“O Holy Night” – Adolphe Adam, sung by Adriane Isenberg
Oh holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error, pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn’
Fall on your knees, oh, hear the Angels’ voices
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born
Oh, night divine, oh, night, oh night divine
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn’
Fall on your knees, oh, hear, hear the Angels’ voices
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born
Oh, night divine, oh, night, oh night divine
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim
*BENEDICTION – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
POSTLUDE – Christmas Concerto – Arcangelo Corelli, performed by the Pool Deck Pandemic Players: Mary Fukuyama, Sally Simonis, Belle Sutton, flute; Cheryl Poe, Wendy Visscher, clarinet; Jackie Davis, string bass
Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week.
Happy Birthday!
|
Emma |
Beachy |
12/14 |
|
Claudia |
Connelly |
12/14 |
|
Calissa |
Harris |
12/14 |
|
Luis |
Pedreira |
12/15 |
|
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 |
|
Becky |
Guinagh |
12/19 |
Sunday Schedule
Sunday Seminar – Why Christmas still means so much to us, even though it is myth. Andy Bachmann will be the guest speaker, and John Harvey will host. Join here. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385, Passcode: 1624
Please also join us at 12:30pm for Congregational Coffee Hour – Talia will be available on our Zoom account to talk and share. She’ll be prepared to talk about the online worship experience, but with no set agenda other than hoping to see your faces and have a chance to touch base. Join here. Meeting ID: 875 0792 2974 Passcode: 1624
UCG Young Adults December Gathering today, December 13 – Post-high school to 30ish UCGers are invited to bring a lunch (or not!) and connect with others over fellowship and discussion. Join us on Zoom here! Meeting ID: 883 8715 3689 Passcode: UCG
Important Announcements
Advent Devotional Book – Make your way through Advent guided by the voices of our community. Pick up a hard copy in the basket in the Courtyard at church, get one in the mail (email shannas@ucgainesville.org), or check our FB page at noon for each day’s reading. Download a PDF at www.bit.ly/UCG20AdventBook
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Rawlings Christmas Angel Gift Market – Today and tomorrow are the last days to bring your gifts to UCG for the Rawlings Christmas Angel gift market. You can drop them off with a Compassion in Action committee member alongside the street in front of the courtyard from 10am-12pm today or bring them to Seminar B between 10am and 2pm tomorrow, Monday, December 14. Thank you for being a Christmas angel for the parents and kids at Rawlings Elementary.
Women’s Lunch Group Christmas Lunch – There will be a special Women’s Lunch Group Christmas Lunch via zoom on Friday, December 18th. This is open to all women, whether you regularly attend or not. We’d love to have some people share a holiday reading or story. If you would like to share a story or reading (five minute maximum), please email Shanna so she can add you to the lineup. Please note it begins at 12:00pm but it may last longer than an hour just as our normal holiday party tends to be longer. Feel free to wear your festive best too!
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Blue Christmas Labyrinth Walk – From Sunday, December 20 through Wednesday, December 23, you can sign-up for a 30-minute spot to come and walk our labyrinth in our Sanctuary. You will have the place all to yourself (or with your COVID cohort.) Click here to reserve your time.
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Longest Night/Blue Christmas Service – Dec. 21 • 7:15 pm- A live Zoom service of grief, loss, reflection, and quiet hope. Watch for the link to join in upcoming E-Vents.
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Christmas Eve Worship Dec 24 • Times to be determined. We’ll definitely live stream; we may be outside in person, too. We want our rejoicing to be safe. We need your input! Please follow the link to complete a survey to help us know how best to support your household’s celebration of this holy night. www.bit.ly/WouldUCGCome
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Ray Meeks has been moved to Madison Correctional Institution. Eventually it will have more opportunities for educational activities, but for the moment all classes are shut down because of COVID. His address is:
Douglas Raymond Meeks 046346
Madison Correctional Institution
382 S.W. MCI Way
Madison, FL 32340
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Post Christmas Office and Staff Schedules – Everyone on our church staff works full days and weeks during December. In recognition of their need for holiday time as well as some down time, the church office is closed from December 24 through January 1. The front office answering machine will be checked daily for messages. Any situation that needs immediate attention will be referred to one of the ministers or to the appropriate staff person. Note that e-mail will not be checked during this Christmas break. From all the Staff of UCG, we wish you a blessed holiday season filled with peace!
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The survey is here! As part of our newly-adopted Three-Year-Plan, we have committed to periodically checking in with each other to assess how well church programs are meeting our needs for spiritual nurture, connection, and accessibility. Please respond to the survey today! It should take less than 10 minutes for most. Thanks!
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If you are a regular supporter through our collected offering, please consider making your donation now. Our budgeted (anticipated) amount of Plate Income for 2020 is $40,000, so we rely on the weekly passing of the plate. To GIVE, click here to make a one-time donation to UCG -or- to set up a recurring donation via your bank account or credit card click here. Thank you for your support.
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Please note: While the Church Office remains closed, we are still available by phone or email from 9am – 4pm, Monday – Friday.