First Sunday in Advent December 1, 2024
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE UCC Praise Band
Mighty to Save, Light of the World, Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy), You Say
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor Jill
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Please stand in body or spirit and join me in the Call to worship and remain standing through the first song.
One: God says,
Many: “Do not be afraid.”
One: God says,
Many: “I have called you by name.”
One: God says,
Many: “I will be with you.”
One: God says,
Many: “You are precious and honored in my sight.”
One: At the beginning of this season,
Many: At the start of this week,
One: At the top of this hour,
Many: May we wrap ourselves in these words. May we begin again.
One: Let us worship our Holy God!
*Gathering Music Open the Eyes of My Heart
Candle Lighting Liturgy Judy Kuhlmann and Marie Hillemeier
A: In a weary and worn world, how do we begin again? Where do we start?
B: Let us begin with the good news! Let us begin by trusting that we are a blessing, loved by a gracious God. Let us begin with music and singing! Let us begin with warmth and welcome. Let us begin with hope.
A: Yes, let us begin with hope.
B: Today we light the candle of hope to shine a light in a worn and weary world. May this be our foundation. May this be our fresh start. May this be our new beginning.
A: May hope flow forth from here. Amen!
*Opening Prayer
GOD SPEAKS TO US IN WORD AND SACRAMENT
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
This Little Light of Mine
Scripture Readings Isaiah 43:1-7
43 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
4 Because you are precious in my sight and honored and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you;
6 I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”,
29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.
36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
SONG OF PREPARATION You Say
SERMON You are a Blessing! Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation to the Table
The Great Thanksgiving
Loving God,
We come to this Table today longing for a new beginning.
In a world that so often feels like it’s ending, we crave the hope of a new beginning. We long to heal from the endings and crash landings of our hurting world and start again, rooted in your good news.
So week by week, bit by bit, we return to your Word. Week by week, bit by bit, we return to each other. Week by week, and bit by bit, we repeat the truths that we so often need to hear, trusting that by your grace, it is never too late to start again.
So in this spirit of beginnings, we come to your Table. Once more we ask that you would meet us here. Pour out your Spirit on this ordinary meal, that in this bread and cup we may glimpse a new day.
May the sight of everyone being welcomed at this Table remind us that all are loved by you.
May the evidence that there is food for all remind us that no one is meant to go hungry.
May the fact that our own sin, shame, and doubt do not keep us from this Table remind us that you welcome and love us as we are.
And may all of these Communion truths serve as building blocks for a new day, for a new beginning.
With hope in our hearts, we pray.
With hope in our hearts, we gather.
With hope in our hearts, we begin again.
Meet us here.
Allow this joyful feast to be the start of something new.
With joy and hope, we weave our voices together to pray the words your son taught us to pray, saying . . .
The Prayer of Our Savior
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be Done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.
Sharing the Bread
While the bread is passed, please join in singing: Light of the World
Sharing the Cup
While the cup is passed, please join in singing: Joy to the World/Unspeakable Joy
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (unison)
Nourishing God,
Sometimes we tell ourselves that too much has taken place to begin again.
We think the world is too far gone.
We think we have made too many mistakes.
We tell ourselves that we couldn’t possibly begin again.
But then we come to this Table and we get a glimpse of your kingdom. We come to this Table and all are welcomed, all are seen, all are fed. And just like that, we have hope.
Just like that, we begin again.
Thank you for the gift of this fresh start.
Thank you for planting hope deep in our bones.
Thank you for meeting us in ordinary bread and juice to remind us that it’s never too late to build your kingdom here.
We are grateful.
We are so grateful. Amen.
WE RESPOND TO GOD
INVITATION TO GIVE, GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Pastor Jill
*DOXOLOGY We Are An Offering
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*SENDING SONG Go, Tell it on the Mountain
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
As you leave this place,
may you have the wisdom to lean on one other.
May you have the courage to hold onto hope,
the compassion to do the good that is yours to do,
and the confidence to trust that God sees you as a blessing.
For in a world full of dead ends,
Advent invites us to begin again.
So start here.
Start now.
Start with love and begin again.
In the name of Christ,
our new beginning,
go in peace.
POSTLUDE Go, Tell It On The Mountain
| We welcome all who are joining us for worship virtually, on YouTube, https://tinyurl.com/firstcongalex or Cable Channel #181 (each weekday). Our service is broadcast on KXRA 1490 AM at 11 am the second Sunday of the month. |
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY December 1, 2024
The Weekly Calendar
Sunday Dec 1,
10:00 Worship in person and online, First Sunday Music
11:00 coffee fellowship hosted by Connections, Missions meeting
11:00 Missions committee
1 pm Open House for Donna Myers
Monday Dec 2
10:00 “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros
7 p UCC @ Zion 2
Wednesday Dec 4
5:15 Choir rehearsal
Thursday Dec 5
9:00 Walking group@Church
2:00 Women’s Fellowship Christmas tea, 1 pm Bd
4:30 Holy Happy Hour @ Pike and Pint
Pastor Jill’s Office Hours
Pastor Jill is available throughout the week for pastoral care, conversation, or coffee! She is typically in the office on Tuesday mornings—and other times as well. It is always best to schedule a time if you want to talk. She can be reached directly at jill@firstcongregationaluccalex.com or (319) 361-0737. Shetypically takes Fridays off.
Today
Coffee Fellowship
Please plan to attend the fellowship coffee time after the service today. The Connections Committee will be serving coffee, hot chocolate, sweets and prizes you can win by spinning the wheel. Let’s greet the month of December with a Sunday Funday.
Donna Myer’s celebration
Donna is thrilled to commemorate 30 years since her miraculous recovery from brain surgery. Let’s gather to show our love and support. Join us When: Sunday, December 1st, 2024 Time: 1:00 PM onwards Where: Edgewood Vista Party Room 1902 7th Ave E. Please join us for cake, buns, and other delicious treats. This is an open house, so feel free to stop by anytime.
Bulletin board
There is a fresh bulletin board across from Cambridge Room that is inviting you to contribute photos, card fronts, or poems that say “this is beauty for all seasons”. These items to share, about 4×6, can be placed in Barb Brown’s mailbox. They will be changed out as we receive more examples. If you want your item returned please let me know. Looking forward to seeing your ideas of beauty.
Dart ball
Mon at 7 pm We are playing Zion 2 there. If you are interested in playing with our Men’s Dartball League, please contact Clayton Mielke.
Choir Rehearsal
Choir rehearsal at 5:15 on Wednesday December 4.
Cookies needed
Women’s Fellowship would like members to make cookies for the Christmas Tea on Dec 5.
Women’s Fellowship Christmas Tea
Our theme this year is “Enhancing Our Lives –Mind-Body-Spirit-Relationships. Make plans to enhance your life and that of others by attending the annual Women’s Fellowship Christmas Tea on Thursday, December 5. The fun begins at 2:00 pm with Christmas devotions and the annual Christmas Tea with sandwiches, Christmas cookies, coffee and tea. The Alexandria Area High School Carolers will provide Christmas music. Invite your friends to share in this fun event. Please contact Carol Zavadil (320-815-8860) if you would like to reserve a table.
Sundays in Advent
Please bring a favorite quilt or family quilt to church for the Advent season. We will find a time to share stories about the quilts we bring!
Multiple Volunteer Opportunities
Worship Service volunteers. We need readers, ushers, greeters, tech staff and coffee fellowship servers through the end of the year. Sign up is at the back of the sanctuary.
Christmas dinner volunteers needed. Look for more information soon.
As always, your time and talents are always appreciated and as we approach Advent we have many opportunities available for you.
Virtual Giving Options: Online and Text
Check out our updated website: firstcongregationaluccalex.com.
Click on the word “Give” at the top of the screen. You can also text (844)987-4483 to give to our general fund. Please contact the office if you need help setting up a giving account online using our provider, Churchtrac.
Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries
Cheri Schimmelpfennig 12/08
Judy Rose 12/14
Diane Severson 12/14
If the office has missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact us.
We are an inclusive community that welcomes extravagantly, seeks God and follows Jesus into the world.
We are also a member of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ and honor the dignity of each person created in God’s image. All are welcome here.
