First Congregational Church of Plainfield s1

First Congregational Church of Plainfield

United Church of Christ

860-564-5932 www.fccplainfield.org

December 24, 2016 - Christmas Eve

Pastor Stephen Finlan

As the prelude begins please take this time in silence to prepare your hearts

Prelude - Jean Barrett, pianist

Candle of Remembrance & Prayer

We light this candle for those in harm’s way;

for those serving our country in the military,

for those in the service of the United Nations and

for those involved in other humanitarian agencies.

Announcements Judy Jones

Lighting of our Advent Candles by Susan Minta, Maya Taylor, and Ian Taylor

Deacon Chelle:

We are a people of hope. Our hearts are full of anticipation for the coming of our beloved Christ Child.

Let us light the Candle of Hope.

(first purple candle is lit)

Deacon Merry:

We are a people who seek to be brought together by the unconditional love and forgiveness of Christ. Acknowledging God’s free gift of grace, we light the Candle of Love. (second purple candle is lit)

Deacon Rebecca:

Joy to the world! Salvation has come. Let us sing songs of gladness. Our Savior reigns! Let us light the Candle of Joy.

(pink candle is lit)

Deacon David:

We are a people who seek peace. In the name of that Child who was born to become the Prince of Peace, we now light the Candle of Peace.

(third purple candle is lit)

For Pastoral Care/Spiritual Needs

Contact a deacon listed below, or the pastor.

Alternates: Patti Ihloff

Deacons for December are Chelle and Merry

If you have a special prayer request, please write your request and put it in the offering plate.

Pastor Steve Finlan / 732.266.8035 cell
Chelle Wright / 860.465.7577 cell
Darlene Hill / 860.428.7406 cell
David Young / 860.608.4696 cell
George Brew / 860.367.5232 cell
Jean Lukin / 860.377.4488 cell
Rebecca Theriaque / 860.382.5505 cell
Merry Humphrey / 860.655.4837 cell
Sherry Mason / 860.913.4801 cell/860.822.1153 home

ATTENTION

Choir chime members wanted –

Rehearsals are Sunday mornings, at 9:15.

Grades 3-adult. No music experience needed.

GENERAL

- Visitors will find a guest book inside the front doorway on right.

- Child care is provided in our nursery.

- There are activity bags located in the back of the sanctuary;

filled with books, games and puzzles- help yourself.

- A Card Request box is available inside the front doorway. Please let us know if we might send a card to show we care.

Church Cancellation due to weather tune into

Channel 3 WFSB TV or Channel 8 WTNH TV

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Prayer of Dedication- in unison led by Deacon Merry

With these gifts, dear God, accept the praise and thanksgiving of our hearts, which rejoice in your goodness and love.
Let our gifts point to your presence in the world, and further your dream for the world through Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us. Amen.

Lighting the Christ Candle – Deacon Chelle:

Tonight is the night for which we have all been waiting.

Our Advent wreath will now be completed

by the lighting of our Christ candle.

“For unto us a child is given, unto us a Savior is born and the order of the world will be upon his shoulders.”

With the birth of Jesus, our lives will be forever changed.

We are being transformed by his model and message.

We light this candle to represent

that Christ is truly the center of our lives.

Ringing in Christmas Day our bell will ring 12 times

The Deacons will light their candles from the Christ Candle.

They will take their candles and light the candle of each person on an aisle seat.
In turn, each will then light the candle of the person next to them. When all candles are lit…..

Please stand

Hymn - “Silent Night!” #186

[Words are on the back.]

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Call to Worship – Deacon Chelle

One: Come, all who are faithful and all who seek joy in your lives.

All: It is the season to sing praises to God for the Christ Child is near.

One: The symbols of hope, love, joy, and peace shine brightly in our hearts.

All: May they remain with us throughout the year.

One: We hold to the promise that was fulfilled by God:

All: That the Child who is born will call us to new lives of love, joy, and faith in action. Amen.

Please stand.

Opening Hymn – “O Come, All Ye Faithful” # 182

Please be seated.

First Lesson Genesis 12:1-4 Deacon David
Now theLordsaid to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to a land I will show you.2I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing...3And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.

Hymn – “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” #191

Second Lesson Isaiah 11:1–9 Deacon Rebecca

A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of theLordshall rest onhim,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of theLord.
3His delight shall be in the fear of theLord.

4With righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth....

6The wolf shall live with the lamb....
8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp.
9They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

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Choir Anthem: “Mary Did You Know?”

Third Lesson Luke 1:26–35, 38 Deacon Chelle

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.32He 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.”

34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The 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.... 38Then 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.

Special Music - “Oh, Holy Night,” Rebecca Theriaque

Fourth Lesson Luke 2:4–7 Deacon Merry

4Joseph went from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem to be registered, because he was descended from the house and family of David. While they were there, the time came for Mary to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Hymn - “Away in a Manger” # 203

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Fifth Lesson Luke 2:9–12, 16–21 Pastor Steve

9Then an angel of the Lord stood beforethe [shepherds], and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger....”

16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw the child lying in the manger, they made known what had been told them about this child;18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.19ButMary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Christmas Message “She Pondered Them in Her Heart”
Pastor Steve Finlan

Invitation to Share –Deacon Chelle

The Ruler of Peace is coming, the prophet Isaiah says,

and we await the Gift of God together.

Our gifts today help us to strengthen one another and to offer hope to our community. Let us present our gifts and offerings.

Offertory

Please stand.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Silent Night

1 Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm all is bright,
‘round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

2 Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing: “Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!”

3 Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light,
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!

First Congregational Church of Plainfield, UCC

860-564-5932 www.fccplainfield.org

519 Norwich Rd., Plainfield, CT 06374

Pastor Stephen Finlan

Calendar of Events Dec. 24, 2016

Tue., 12/27 1 Corinthians Bible study, 6 pm

Tue., 12/27 Choir Practice 7:15 pm

Thur., 12/29 Women’s Prayer Group, 10 am

Thur., 12/29 “Faith” Bible study, 6 pm

Thur., 12/29 Open Hearts rehearsal, 7:15 pm

Wed., 1/11 Cabinet meeting, 6 pm

Thur., 1/12 Trustees meeting, 7 pm

Sun., 1/29 Annual meeting

Fund raising

Gift cards can be ordered from Cathie for 99 Restaurant, Chili’s, Olive Garden, and Ruby Tuesdays.

Our Church Family in Need of Prayer

The Baton Family

The Hill Family

The Shippee Family

The Foular Family

The Ducharme Family

Alan Williams (Joan Bessette’s brother)

Pat Palonen, Ellie Desjardin’s daughter diagnosed with breast cance

Joey Backofen

Eddie LaPerle

Pat Michalski (continuing to battle cancer)

The Milliron Family (facing struggles, relatives of Elton & Leslee Bunnell)

Diane, Kelly and Alex Gaudreau (Sherry Mason’s family)

Terry Tatro (being treated for cancer)

Helen Coombs (resident of Davis’ Place)

Sarah Phaiah (Amy’s friends who lost her husband Kenny)

Norma Sharkey (cancer and treatment)

Linda Lukin (Jean’s daughter recovering from cancer treatment )

Bobby Stewart (Bruce &Phyllis’ son continuing chemotherapy)

Rebecca Theriaque (continued healing)

Gregory Cruz (deployed overseas – prayers for his mom, Kristin)

Jocelyn Espeleta (8 yr.old surviving cancer, friends of Carol Credit)

Gerald Bergsten (Rebecca’s grandmother)

Cody O’Bryon

Rudy Schmied, The LaFlamme Family,

Stephen Snellgrove (as he continues to undergo rehabilitation)

Amy Vaughan’s mother Suzanne recovering from Hip replacement surgery

For our military and their loved ones.

For all victims of natural disaster .

For all those in crisis around our world.

For all who are struggling with faith in Christ

that they may know real and enduring love.