Worship Bulletins
Hampstead Congregational Church
November 29, 2020
First Sunday of Advent
No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s Journey,
You are Welcome Here!
Order of Worship
Greetings and Announcements
Advent Wreath Candle
Lighting—the Candle of Hope
In our church and homes, we gather around wreaths to pray our lost hopes, broken peace, limited joys, and love so hard to find and share in this season of coronavirus. We affirm that our candles mean we claim the power to call this season Advent, when God’s light comes into the world and nothing can overcome it.
We light the candle of hope in the face of all that diminishes our hope…
God’s hope shines on hopelessness, and brightens the path toward peace.
Emmanuel, God be with us, in the week to come, lighting hope on the wick of our lives so that we may shine on our world. Amen
Passing of the Peace of Christ
Prayer of Invocation Judy Dobson
It is hard to think
about beginning a time of waiting once again, O Holy One. We are already
feeling isolated and alone, fatigued with our own stillness, impatiently
waiting to be able to busy our schedules again, so that we
can go back to avoiding our brokenness and hurt. And yet, you call us once
again, to this season of Advent, to sit in silence and wait. Help us, O Holy
One, to remember the stillness you demand.
Remind of
your love and hope, focus us on your peace and joy. Help us to
find these promises in our Advent stillness, not just for ourselves, but so we can
share these gifts with a world in despair and hurt. In Jesus name we
pray, Amen
Children’s Moment
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 64: 1-9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself, we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.
Sermon “Waiting in the Brokenness”
Rev. Kathy Youzwak
Musical Offering “Prayer of Thanksgiving”
HCC Choir
Call for Concerns & Celebrations
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s
Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Call to Offering
Prayer of Dedication
Bless these gifts, O Lord, and help them to bring the transforming love you have given us into ministries of hope and peace in this our hurting world. Amen.
Hymn of Going Forth
Benediction
Send
us into the world refreshed in hope,
Awake,
alert, attuned to your presence
ready to
join your work of blessing for all. Amen.
Copyright 2020, Faith Education, Innovation and Formation Ministry Team
(Faith INFO), United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100.
Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in
services of worship or church education.
All publishing rights reserved.
Ministrymatters.org/worship
Thanks to Cathy Kowley for the prayer of invocation, revgalblogpals.org
Announcements…
Missions' Christmas
Gift Drive is Underway! -- For Christmas this
year, we are collecting items for the Upper Room--gifts that will be used in
gift baskets for their clients. They are hoping to give 100 baskets away!
So--we are in need of the following:
*100 Basic Uno card games ($5 each)
*250 Coloring books for children and adults (many for children, some adult ones for the teens)
If you'd like to donate money rather than buy gifts, your donation can be dropped off or sent to the church, earmarked for the gift drive. We will use the money to purchase any additional gifts needed. Any excess funds will be donated to the Upper Room to support their work.
All items can be left in the foyer of Hadley Hall. Items are needed before the 2nd week of December. Thanks so much for your continued support and generosity!
Christmas Cards for Parkland Hospital--We are gathering Christmas cards to give to show our love and support to Parkland Hospital's patients and staff. We sent some cards in the spring, and they were thrilled. Please drop off your completed cards to the office by December 5th. Many thanks to Bea Randell who has offered to deliver them.
Will you be a Caring Connector? -- Would you consider writing or calling a few other congregants over the next months? We are looking at ways to remain connected with one another, since we cannot gather in person for a while. You can write/call as little or much as you are able. If you would be willing to participate in this important ministry, please contact Pastor Kathy or the office.
Communications Team Leader--Our Communications Team helps enhance our communication between the church and the community/world. It mainly involves social media and sharing our services to a wider audience. We are looking for someone to help lead the group for this next year. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Lora in the office. Thanks!
Hampstead Congregational Church
Covenant of Care
_________
During these days of Covid-19, the Hampstead
Congregational Church covenants to care for and love one another in new and different ways.
As an individual, I covenant to do my part to help keep our church community safe and healthy; therefore, I will…
Wear a face mask as a symbol of love and care for others
Stay six feet apart from
others, leaving room for God to work in the in-between spaces
Clean up after myself in the spaces I use, to thoughtfully keep them safe for others
Honor and respect the sacredness of each person here and stay home if I don’t feel well, knowing that God is with us wherever we are
Embracing God’s still-speaking voice
- 61 Main Street
- Hampstead
- New Hampshire
- 03841
(603) 329-6985
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