Third Sunday of Advent  |  “Make the Blessings Known: UnabashedJoy”

December 15, 2019  |  Christmas Pageant  |  10:30 am

 

Journeying together toward deeper faith, justice, and love for all

 

~ EXPANSION OF OUR HEARTS ~

 

We gather together to worship the One Who Is Joy, and as we come together,
our hearts are expanded. We remember the heavens declare God’s praise as the sun rises
and light multiplies. And we witness that all of nature (including us) yearns to reach
and expand toward the Light so that all might know joy.

 

LIGHTING THE CANDLES                                                                    Julia Wallinga

 

We light candles to symbolize the light of Christ in our midst

 

PRELUDE                                For Children at Christmas                   by Southbridge

                                                         Christmas in Sicily                                      by Yon

                                                                                                            Geoff Olson, organ

RINGING THE BELLS

 

WELCOME  |  PRAYERS OF WELLBEING  |  SINGING BOWL

                                                                                                           Clare Gromoll, Associate Minister

 

FOCUSING ON UNABASHED JOY                 Cindy Mueller, Interim Lead Minister

 

*GATHERING SONG(all)  Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn    see the ivory insert

 

THE ADVENT WREATH                Bill & Marie Hurley, Luke Ackerman, Ireland Cook,

Tami Boulton, Cindy Mueller, Andre and Andy McCain

 

SUNG RESPONSE(all)        In the Darkness Light a Light      JOSEPH LIEBER, JOSEPH MEIN

 

OPENING PRAYER                                                                                 Clare Gromoll

One  Holy God, you provide the source of our joy.
It runs deep and wide underneath all of life.
When we are tempted to depend on others for happiness,
draw us back to you, for you are the Light that shines for us always.

All     Help us to shine that light from within us through our own Unabashed Joy.
Let us make your blessings known in our hearts this day.
Let us make your blessings known in our church this day.
Let us make your blessings known in the world this day in the name of Joy. Amen.

 

*OPENING SONG OF JOY (all)          My Soul Gives Glory to My God              #130

                                                                                                   verses 1, 2 & 4

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

 

Offer a smile, a handshake, or a hug as a sign of the peace of Christ

 

*INTERLUDE (all)                                Glory to God                                                #34

 

Gloria, Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, Gloria, alleluia, alleluia!

Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest!

Glory to God, glory to God, alleluia, alleluia!

 

Children & Youth may come forward during the singing

 

~ RECEPTION OF GOD’S WORD ~

 

As we open to receive the Word and interpret its meaning for our lives,
we connect to the depths of our being where the River of Joy is always flowing.
We have only to dip into it.

 

~THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT ~

 

Narrated and embodied by the children and youth of St. Paul’s UCC.

Cast, accompanists, and support team are listed on the back of the bulletin.

 

~ PROCESSIONAL DUET  |  The First Noël~

 

~ THE ANNUNCIATION ~

 

~ MARY VISITS ELIZABETH ~

 

~ MARY AND JOSEPH JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM ~

 

~ JESUS IS BORN! ~

 

~ THE SHEPHERDS RESPOND ~

 

~ THE JOURNEY OF THE MAGI ~

 

~ MANY OFFER GIFTS TO JESUS ~

 

CHILDREN & YOUTH CHORUS  |  Hush! There’s a Baby

 

CAROL                                  Go Tell It on the Mountain                                    #167

 

Children & Youth sing the refrain, Congregation sings the verses

 

RECOGNITIONS OF CAST, ACCOMPANISTS & SUPPORT TEAM

 

INTERLUDE                                       Pageant participants depart to the Fireside Room

                                                      Other young people, age 3–Grade 8, are welcome to join them

 

A READING FROM THE PROPHET       Isaiah 35: 1–10                      Jake Grussing

 

A READING FROM THE GOSPELS        Luke 1: 46b–55

 

THE MESSAGE                                                                                        Cindy Mueller

 

~ TRANSFORMATION OF OUR LIVES ~

 

Connecting with our deepest selves, we are able to accept that all of life
resides within joy’s possibilities—not only the happy moments, but also the sorrows
and difficulties of life. Like the work of our hearts, all that flows in can be given new life and
pumped back out with renewed oxygen, giving us strength and courage for all circumstances.

 

THE INVITATION                                                                                                                                  

 

OFFERTORY ANTHEM        Jina La Bwana (The Name of the Lord Is Holy)

                                          by Steven C. Warner  |  Beth Varela and Diana Carlson, percussion

 

Jina la Bwana, ni takatifu.
(The name of the Lord is holy.)

I acclaim the greatness of the Lord.

Jina la Bwana, ni takatifu.

I delight in God my Savior.

Moyo wangu, wamtukooza Bwana,

        (My soul proclaims
 the greatness of the Lord,)

Who regarded my humble state.

 

For God, so wonderful in power,

Has used that strength for me.

 

Holy the Name of the Lord!

Whose mercy embraces the faithful,

One generationto the next.

The mighty arm of God!

Scatters the proud in their conceit!

Pulls tyrants from their thrones!

And raises up the humble.

The Lord fills the starving
with good things.

 

God rescues lowly Israel,

Recalling the promise of mercy!

The promise made to our ancestors,

To Abraham's heirs forever!

Holy the Name of the Lord,

Whose mercy endures forever!

 

Jina! Jina! Ni takatifu!

Jina! Jina! Holy the Name!