Sunday, November 27, 2011

First Sunday of Advent

Hope

 Visitors:  Welcome to our church.  Please sign our guest book!  If you do not have a church home, we pray that you will find one with us.  We have large-print bulletins available, as well as hearing assistance devices.  Please ask an usher if you require either of these.  Restrooms are located in the church school building.  Go through the door next to the choir loft, and straight ahead.  We also have restrooms downstairs in Fellowship Hall.  Again, exit through the door next to the choir loft, turn left down the hall, and go down the steps. 

 We Gather To Worship

Prelude

Announcements

Chime Interlude

 *Call To Worship

Voice 1:   (A letter from Paul.)

               My sisters and brothers in Christ, when I think of you I offer thanks to God with all my heart—but there aren’t enough words to express what amazing things I hear the Spirit is doing in you and through you, as witnesses to Jesus with your very lives.  And with the Spirit you have all you need—what more could you want?  All the gifts of God are there before you waiting for you to grow into them as you wait for these gifts to unfold in your lives.

Voice 2:   We wait?

Voice 1:   Yes, we wait.

Voice 2:   What are we waiting for?

All:         We wait for a world filled with God’s love.

Voice 1:   We are longing.

Voice 2:   Longing?

Voice 1:   Yes, longing.

All:         Hoping with trust in God that Love will reign in the world.

Voice 2:   We yearn for God and God is with us as we wait.

 *Hymn:  “When the King Shall Come Again” …………………..#337

*Opening Prayer And Advent Candle Lighting (Hope)  (We light the Christ Candle.)

Voice 1:   We wait—We wait not because we do not know the story of Jesus, and not because you are not already and always here.  We wait because to wait is to expect something more.  To wait is to expect that the story might enter our hearts and our world in new ways, to bring the change for which we long.  (We light the Advent candle.)

 Voice 2:   As we light the candle of hope, we remember the stories of God with us, when life has been hard, and not what we expected.  We can trust that God is with us, as we wait for hope to be born, anew, in us.

 *Response:  “Shine, Candle, Shine!”………………………….(insert)

 Prayer Of Confession

Voice 1:   Imagine being forced to leave home, constrained to live in exile in the land of those who attacked your people.  Then imagine returning home after a long time away.  Do you wonder where God has been as you leave the homeland, struggle to live in exile, in your return and challenge to rebuild?  The story of people of Judahand their lament in Isaiah 64 shape our prayer of confession and assurance of forgiveness.  The people of Judahfelt abandoned and turned away from God.  I wonder whether there have been times when we, as individuals or communities, have turned away from God?  (pause)

 Voice 2:   The people of Judahaccused God of leaving them, forgetting them, and being far from where they were.  I wonder if there are times when we, as individuals or communities, blame God for being far away, for letting things happen that we do not understand?  (pause)

 Voice 3:   Sometimes prophets had to remind the people that it was God who created all.  I wonder if there are times when we, as individuals or communities forget that God is Creator of all that lives?   (pause)  (A time for silent prayers of confession; Music:  “Savior of the Nations Come.”)

 Assurance Of God’s Forgiveness

 Pastor:     The people ofJudahremembered that they were God’s people, and found hope as they trusted in that.  I wonder if we might remember now that God’s love is for all people, and trust and hope that love will reign in our world.  We don’t need to hope for God’s forgiveness; we are forgiven.

Affirmation:    “Jesus, Name Above All Names”. . . ………………..#106

 We Hear The Word

 ReadingOf The Scripture:    Mark 13:  24-37

A Time For Children

Anthem:       “My Lord, He is a Comin’ Soon” …………………Winnen/Cothran

 Reading Of The Gospel:    Isaiah 64: 1-9

Message For This Day                                        

 We Respond To God

 *Hymn:  “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”………………………….…#135

Pastoral Prayers And 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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.)

 Our Offering

Offertory

 *Doxology:  “Praise God from Whom All Blessings” …………………….#809

*Prayer Of Dedication

 *Closing Hymn:  “Christ Is Coming! Let Creation” …………………….#271

*Blessing

Leader:   As we go, may we be always thankful for each other, for this community, for the whole global community of followers of Jesus the Christ.

 People:  May we be aware of the Spirit always with us—our strength, the giver of the gifts we need for the journey.

 Leader:   May we know God to be ever faithful, calling us into community, calling us to be attentive in our waiting for the hope of God to revealed anew this Advent season.

 *Choral Benediction:  “Emmanuel, Emmanuel”……………………..#140

*Chime Meditation

Postlude

*Where noted, please stand if able.                                           

                                                                                                                            

 November’s  Proverb:

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.                                                                                                        Proverbs 21:  5

Time Change For Sunday, December 4 Service.  Sunday School at 9:00 a.m., worship at 10:00 a.m., pageant practice from 9 – 9:30 a.m., and brunch following worship.  Please bring brunch place settings.  A sign-up sheet is on the credenza.

The 2012 Flower Calendar is posted in the vestibule.  Wide choice of Sundays; sign up today.

Greeter/Bulletin Sponsorship 2012 Sign Up Sheets are located on the credenza.  Please sign up.

Poinsettia Orders are due today, November 27.

The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held following worship on December 11.

Our Traditional Christmas Social will be held following worship on December 18.  Homemade cookies, punch, coffee, and fellowship will all be in abundance.  If you wish to bring homemade cookies, please sign up on the credenza clipboard.

Cheer Baskets will be assembled on December 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Zion House.

The Book Club will meet on Thursday, December 1, 7:00 p.m., in the Mustard Seed Room.  The synopsis for December‘s selection These is My Words is as follows:  based on the real-life exploits of the author’s great-grandmother, this fictionalized diary vividly details one woman’s struggles with life and love in frontier Arizona at the end of the last century.   When she begins recording her life, Sarah Prine is an intelligent, headstrong 18-year-old capable of holding her own on her family’s settlement nearTucson. Her skill with a rifle fends off a constant barrage of Indian attacks and outlaw assaults.  It also attracts a handsome Army captain . . . This novel is a compelling portrait of an enduring love, the rough old West, and a memorable pioneer.

Camp Michaux Storm Update.  The October 29 untimely snow storm did significant damage to theCampMichaux area.  Trails have downed limbs, some large enough to require chain saws.   Two very large trees are down and much chainsaw work will be needed to get the former main roadway into the camp (near the round concrete POW marker – Stop 8 on the tour) open again.  The clearing could wait until spring; however, anyone needing something to do in the next few months may begin to clear the downed trees and limbs.  –David Smith,CampMichaux Recognition and Development Project

The Food Pantry item for November is pasta and pasta sauce; December, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

 Our Next Community Night At Hoss’s Steak And Sea House inGettysburg will be Monday,     December 5, from noon until 8:00.

Your Are Invited To Participate In This Year’s Christmas Caroling to be on Sunday, December 11. 

Carolers will leave the church at 3:45 p.m., carol for an hour, and return to the church for hot chocolate and cookies.   Children and adults are welcome.  Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a responsible parent/guardian.

 Hoffman Homes Gift Program.   Once again Zion will be assisting the Hoffman Homes gift program by purchasing new, unwrapped gifts for Hoffman Homes.  The gifts range from toiletry items/stocking stuffers to gift certificates to CD players.  **Remember, no glass or sharp items**.   Please return the gifts to the main Sunday School room by December 4, 2011.  We will be helping to wrap the gifts on December 7 or 8.  Please let Chris know if you have any questions or would like to help wrap.

Holiday Home Bureau Toys are due today.  We will bring the items forward during the children’s message.

Bring Your “Merry Heart” And Join The Homewood Auxiliary.   Memberships ($2) are now available.  Auxiliary members areHomewood’s Merry Hearts – working hand-in-hand with the staff to help provide the kind of “medicine” only a friend can give.  A clipboard is on the credenza.  Be a “good medicine” forHomewood’s health care center residents by giving time, talents, and resources.

Be A Homewood Hero.  Homewood Retirement Centers of United Church of Christ will be giving us names of nursing home residents at Plum Creek inHanover.  We will be purchasing Christmas gifts for these residents.  Donna Miller is the coordinator.  A clipboard will be available as soon as the names are received to gather congregational member names who wish to participate.  A resident’s name and gift selection will be given to you when it is received. 

The November Soup Kitchen has been rescheduled for another date in 2012 with the next Soup Kitchen slated for December 31.  A sign-up sheet will be on the credenza in December; further information will be in the December newsletter.

 Habitat For Humanity.  The Gettysburg Habitat house still needs volunteers for every Saturday through at least January 7, 2012.  The work day is from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; but if it only suits for part of the day, that would also work.  Anyone interested in working on any Saturday should please contact Roger.

 2011 Greeters Needed for Dec. 11, 18, 24, 25

2012 Greeters Needed for most Sundays.

2011 Bulletin  Sponsors Needed for Dec. 11, 18, 25

2012 Bulletin  Sponsors Needed for most Sundays.   

Inclement Weather Policy.  If snow or ice force cancellation of Sunday services, here’s how to get the word on whether or not worship services will be held:  call the church at 677-8319 and listen to the answering machine message. The message will be updated to tell you if services have been cancelled due to inclement weather; tune in to WGET or WGAL TV 8; check the church web site:  www.zionuccarendtsville.org; or contact a Consistory member.

Our Spring Rotation still has many openings.  Please see sign up sheets and sign up as able. 

 

Coming Up Next Week:

Nov. 27, Holiday Family Outreach Toy Collection due date

Nov. 27, Pageant Practice, 10:45 – 11:15 am

Nov. 28, Consistory Mtg,ZionHse, 7:00 pm

Nov. 30, Choir Practice, Sanctuary, 7:30 pm

Dec. 1, Book Club, Mustard Seed Rm, 7:00 pm

Dec. 3, Youth Discovery Day,LancasterSeminary, 8:30-2:30

Dec. 3, Habitat for Humanity,Gettysburg, 8 am – 4 pm

Looking Forward:

Dec. 4, Sun Sch, 9:00; Pageant Practice 9-9:30, Worship: 10:00; Brunch: 11:15

Dec. 4, Hoffman HomeHolidayGifts Due

Dec. 5, Hoss’s Community Night,Gettysburg, 12 noon – 8 pm

Dec. 5, Something More, Oakside Park, 12 noon

Dec. 5, Altar Guild Assembles Cheer Baskets,ZionHse, 6:30 pm

Dec. 7, Bible Study, Fellowship Hall, 6:30 pm

Dec. 11, Annual Congregational Mtg, 10:15 am

Dec. 11, Pageant Practice, 11:00 – 11:30 or 11:45

Dec. 11, Christmas Caroling,    3:45 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Dec. 18, Communion, Pageant, Christmas Tea Social, Choir Practice

Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Cantata, Sanctuary,     7:30 p.m.

Dec. 25, Worship; no Sunday School

Dec. 31, Soup Kitchen, Prince of Peace, 10:45 – 1 pm