“Expectations and Interruptions ” Sunday Worship December 17, 2023”
We welcome all, in-person or live on our YouTube channel, for our 10:00 am Worship this Sunday, December 17th 2023: The Third Sunday of Advent. This Sunday we gather for worship as we continue our Advent journey, welcoming our Director of Worship Arts Amy Pott to the pulpit. Our scripture readings this morning are Luke 2:1-7 and Psalm 103:1-14, 19-22. There will be a Message For All Ages this morning during worship, following which our youth will be dismissed to Hands on Faith. Today we light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy. Wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here. Come as you are, for this is God’s house—a house of prayer for all people, and God welcomes each one who comes. First Church of Christ is an Open & Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ. Open and Affirming (ONA) is the United Church of Christ’s designation for congregations which make a public covenant of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. In keeping with the life and teaching of Jesus, we joyfully and unconditionally welcome all people of any age, gender, sexual orientation, race, culture, ability or social or economic status into our community of faith. We affirm the humanity of all people as unique individuals made in God’s image. Our Worship services are every Sunday at 10:00am in our Sanctuary, and can be viewed on YouTube live or any time after; on your own schedule, at your own pace. Our Worship bulletin is available through the link provided below. Connect with us! Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.firstchurchsuffield.org/n... Follow us on Instagram: / firstchurchofchristsuffield Like us on Facebook: / first-church-of-christ-suffield-ct-ucc-195... Support our Ministries: http://www.firstchurchsuffield.org/co... Our Going the Extra Mile Mission Offering for the month of December is The Christmas Fund for Veterans of the Cross. The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees. Head to our Online Giving page to donate to our Extra Mile Mission Offering: https://secure.myvanco.com/YJQ1/home First Church of Christ, Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) 81 High Street, Suffield CT 06078 860-668-7223 [email protected] http://www.firstchurchsuffield.org/ Works Cited: Call to Worship: The Gift of Revelation—Hebrews 1, posted on the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Opening Prayer: Janet Morley, in Tell Out My Soul, Christian Aid, 1990. Reprinted by permission. From Bread of Tomorrow: Prayer for the Church Year, ed. Janet Morley Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1992, p. 151. Advent Wreath Liturgy Advent Liturgy and Pastoral Prayer: Deep Well Worship by Carol Prickett. Pastoral Prayer: ~ Annabel Shilson-Thomas. Christian Brothers of the Midwest. http://www.cbmidwest.org/ Hebrew Scripture Intro: Donald J. DaRos, First Church Member Offering: adapted from the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand website. http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/ New Century Hymnal © 1995 Pilgrim Press, All right reserved. Reprinted/Streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE A-739199.