Worship Bulletins
Hampstead Congregational Church
November 28, 2021
First Sunday of Advent
No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s Journey,
You are Welcome Here!
Order of Worship
Prelude Herb Tardiff
Greetings and Announcements
Advent Wreath Candle Lighting
Fred, Megan, Julian, Trevor & Harper Malcolm
-The Candle of Hope-
Watch and wait for Christ’s coming! Light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer.
We light this candle in hope.
Let us pray: Faithful God, out of war’s chaos, you bring the order of peace. Renew us in hope, that we may work toward Christ’s advent of peace among all nations.
God of promise, God of hope, into our darkness come. Amen.
Passing of the Peace of Christ
Responsive Call to Worship
One: In the season of Advent we watch and wait, preparing to
welcome the Christ Child into our world.
All: Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
One: In Advent we open our eyes wide; we watch for signs of God’s
light breaking into our lives.
All: Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
One: This is a season of hope. The Messiah has come, is coming
daily, and will come again at the end of time.
All: Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Opening Prayer Judy Dobson
In this season the days grow short and shadows lengthen. We are glad to gather in the warmth and light of community, for here we are strengthened and made whole. God, help us to see beyond darkness that our hearts might be quieted as we enter into this sacred season. Teach us to prepare the way so that Christ will surely enter in. In his name we pray it. Amen..
Children's Message
Musical Offering
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 2: 1-5 (NRSV)
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Scripture Reading: Luke 21: 25-28 (NRSV)
There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Sermon "A Foot in Two Worlds" Rev. Linda Lea Snyder
Special Music
Call for Concerns & Celebrations
Pastoral 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
Thank you for every blessing God. Thank you for the gift of hope you set in every heart. Teach us the ways of peace, and may these gifts become signs of the light of Christ in our midst. Bless them and we the givers. Amen.
Musical Offering
Benediction
Let us embrace the work and wonder of this day
with fresh commitment.
May we go forward together
in the power of the love of God
in the expectation and company of Christ
and by hope in the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License # A-730412
Worship materials Copyright 2021 Faith INFO Ministry Team, 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.
Announcements...
Christmas Fair Help Wanted-12/4/21 9AM to 3PM-- If you can help our fair in any way, it would be greatly appreciated. Things you can do: Provide baked goods; Make a pot of soup; Donate raffle items; Tend the tables at the event; Set up the night before and/or break down after the event; Put out signs around town starting on 11/20 advertising the event; Attend and invite others to attend – Masks will be required while in the building. You can sign up at church, contact Barbara Wallack at bsw91@comcast.net, or call her at 603-548-8326.
Missions Christmas Gift Drive—We are holding our annual Christmas Gift Drive now through December 12th. This year we are partnering with the Manchester Diaper Pantry and Makeover Ministries. These organizations work to provide area families with diapers, wipes, formula, clothing, and various baby and household items.
Their wish list for this year includes:
• Pack and Play cribs - new or gently used - (Amazon & Walmart both have Graco cribs listed for $40)
• Strollers - new or gently used (any type or size including inexpensive umbrella strollers)
• Boys clothes (sizes 6-12) - new or gently used
• Diapers (all sizes)
• Baby Wipes
All donated items should be UNWRAPPED, and can be left in the foyer or outside the Church Office. If you would prefer to make a monetary donation, checks can made out to HCC designating "Missions Christmas Drive 2021" on the memo line. As always, thank you for so generously supporting our church mission activities and making the holidays brighter for some local families!
Advent Booklets Available--Advent begins Today, November 28th. We have a wonderful daily Advent devotional booklet available to anyone who wants one. Those who used this resource last Advent loved it! This Living Compass devotional focuses on practicing patience each day of Advent and beyond. Copies are available in the foyer of Hadley Hall, or if you would like one sent to you, please contact the church office.
Advent Discussion Groups—As we did for Advent and Lent this past year, there will be two weekly discussion groups based on the Advent devotional booklet. Groups will meet on Monday evenings at 6:30pm on Zoom and Tuesday mornings at 10:30am on Zoom and/or in person. We will begin meeting the week of December 6th and will meet for four weeks. If you are interested, pick up a devotional and contact Pastor Kathy to sign up.
Blue Christmas Service-- We will be offering a Blue Christmas Service of Remembrance, Comfort, and Hope on Sunday, December 12th at 3 pm. For so many of us, the holiday season can be a time of conflicting emotions. Given the unprecedented time of grief and loss that we are living through, we want to provide an opportunity to reflect and come together, knowing that we are not alone in our struggles. Please spread the word and join us for a contemplative service of prayer, scripture and music. The service will also be live streamed and recorded.
Greens Workshop-Come create items for the craft fair while having fun with friends!--On Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 6:30pm in Hadley Hall, we will be decorating wreaths and making swags and centerpieces out of greens. Kari will be leading, teaching and directing, so even if you have never done anything like this before, come join us. We always have so much fun! Bring a friend and make it a “night out.”
If you have any pine, hemlock, spruce, holly, or any other kind of evergreen in your yard that you could cut and bring in, please bring it in ahead of time. We can store it in the basement. Collect pine cones, birch branches, winterberry and any other interesting natural finds that could be used as well. Kari will be providing ornaments, ribbons etc. for decorating.
All the products we create will be for sale on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Christmas Craft Fair.
Coffee-Less Coffee Hour (aka: Social Hour)--It has been wonderful to have a weekly Coffee Hour following Sunday morning worship each week!
Now, however, Covid numbers are surging once again! The Covid percentile for our county is pushing 11%, and the weather is getting colder - not a good combination!
Therefore, in an effort to keep our congregation safe, we will forgo our traditional Coffee Hour and instead offer a “Coffee-Less Coffee Hour”…in other words a “Social Hour”. Most of us like to “visit” and “catch up with” one another following worship – and that’s a good thing! We will continue to offer that opportunity inside Hadley Hall each Sunday morning, but without coffee and “goodies”.
We ask that everyone please…PLEASE…wear a mask indoors during our time together out of a loving concern and respect for one another. Those who do not wish to wear a mask - or who are unable to do so - are invited to “visit” outdoors instead. We trust that you will understand why we are making this change for now. Thank you!
Christmas Baskets for Nursing Homes--Discipleship will be delivering Christmas Baskets to two nursing homes, Colonial Poplin in Fremont and Pleasant Valley in Derry.
We are asking for donations of individually wrapped candy, and signed Christmas cards for both the nursing home residents and the staff.
Items can be left in the foyer now thru December 15th. Baskets will be delivered on December 18.
Steeple Lighting November 14-November 27-- The HCC steeple is being lit in loving memory of Jeanne & Warren Cooke who were faithful members of our church and community.
Lighting being offered by Jeanne and Warren's children Sue Cooke, Roger Cooke and Jean Hunt.
- 61 Main Street
- Hampstead
- New Hampshire
- 03841
(603) 329-6985
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