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CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW Service are shared ELECTRONICALLY (contact [email protected] for more information) _________________________________________________________________________ If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us. The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am. We follow procedures to minimize the risk of exposure. Please read and follow these procedures for the safety of all. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to [email protected] to get Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS Our worship this week, and throughout the Advent Season is led by Christine Boardman, who we thank for this gift. A Warm Welcome to All Visitors. If any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or [email protected]. Regarding Individuals in the Hospital or Sick at Home It would be greatly appreciated if you know of individuals or family members in the hospital or sick at home, to kindly inform the church office at 802-228-4211 or [email protected]. Upcoming Meetings/Events Christmas Eve Service - Thursday, December 24, 4:00 P.M. (Zoom only) Executive Board Meeting, Wednesday, January 27, at 7:00 pm Christmas Flowers Given In loving memory of Jane Creaser Don and Virginia Ellison Pat Liao By: Laura, Allison, and Jesse If you would like to donate for Christmas flowers in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please contact Linda Alexander. Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending December 6, 2020, were $500. The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Altar Guild Linda Alexander will do the Altar Guild duties for the month of December. Prayer Concerns We ask that you keep Terry DeYoung's father, Arthur Marin, as he recovers from Covid-19. We continue to keep the following in our prayers: James Almond, Terry DeYoung, Kathy Doyle, Pam Dundy, Judy Edwards, Jean Eggleston, Carolyn Gauthier, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Oakes, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. If you are aware of someone in need of prayer, please leave a message at the church office by phone, 802-228-4211, or email, [email protected]. Pastor Harpster’s Address Reverend Dr. Donald E. Harpster 1716 Horne Creek Drive Durham, North Carolina 27703-7845 Phone: 919-302-6011 [email protected] _________________________________________________________________________In loving memory of Jane Creaser Don and Virginia Ellison Pat Liao Given By: Laura, Allison and Jesse  ECCO EXPERIMENT IN COVENANTAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH A Virtual Christmas Eve Service In addition to our Zoom Christmas Eve service from 4 -5 PM a virtual service will be available any time on Christmas Eve Day thanks to the ECCO group. This Virtual Christmas Eve service is produced by a collaboration of members of five area churches called ECCO, Experimental Covenantal Community Outreach. Members from the United Church of Ludlow, the First Congregational Church -UCC, Springfield, the United Church of Bellows Falls -UCC, the Grafton Community Church and the Acworth Congregational Church (NH) each created a segment of the worship service which includes scripture readings and music. There is traditional Christmas music that you can sing to and special music that you can listen to. Linda Thomson is the reader and Dean Alexander is our soloist for this service. Patrick Cody of Okemo Valley Television has generously overseen the production of this virtual service. There are many options for attending this Christmas Eve service safely from the comfort of your own homes. It will be broadcast on three public access television stations serving the area at 7 PM on Christmas Eve. Okemo Valley Television (channel Comcast 1076 and VTel 166), Springfield Area Public Access Television- SAPA (channel Comcast 1077 and VTel 160), and the Falls Area Community Television FACT (channel Comcast 1076 and VTel 172) have all agreed to broadcast it simultaneously for which the participants are grateful. If more flexibility in time is needed or if you do not have access to cable, it will also be available for viewing anytime on Christmas Eve from the websites of each of the stations, on Facebook and on You Tube and from each of the church’s websites. _________________________________________________________________________ December 20, 2020 10:00 A.M. Service of Worship Fourth Sunday of Advent – LOVE l PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREETING The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13: 13) And also with you. THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES O Holy One, we light this fourth candle of love And marvel at your desire to be one with us. Let its flame summon hearts grown cold into the warmth of a people living in the light of Love. Fill our lives with Love, making room there for friends and strangers. God be with us as we work for justice and peace in the service of Hope. God be with us in this Light of Love. CALL TO WORSHIP* Sing out, my soul! Sing of the holiness of God: Who has delighted in humanity; lifted up the poor, satisfied the hungry, given voice to the silent, and grounded the oppressor. God has blessed the full-bellied with emptiness, And given the gift of tears To those who have never wept; God has desired the darkness of the womb, and inhabited our flesh-- Sing of the longing of God: Sing out, my soul! HYMN 203 * Hail to the Lord’s Anointed INVOCATION O Wondrous God, send your Messenger to us today with a word of grace if we are fearful, move us to Confidence. If we are weary, offer us rest. If we are empty, fill us with Hope. We have been searching for you far away. Let us find you at home in our midst, changing hearts and minds urging us to join your work of Love. We pray in the name of the One who is coming, Jesus, the Christ. Amen. THE PSALTER READING Psalm 89 1-4, 19-37 Hymnal page 807 GLORIA 70 * Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION God, we confess that it is not easy to watch and to wait in the wilderness of this time together. Our world worships power and materialism while you send us the Prince of Peace. How difficult it is to speak the truth in love as we witness to your intention of justice while there are louder voices shouting the message of hatred and division. We turn to you now asking for courage and kindness that we may live fully as your beloved children. Forgive us and clear away a path for love every step we take. Silence ASSURANCE OF GRACE THE GOSPEL LESSON Luke 1:26-38 SERMON “Birthing a Promise” HYMN 217 * Away in the Manger SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let is Pray. THE LORD’S PRAYER (trespasses) PRAYER RESPONSE Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, That makest me dwell in safety. CALL TO OUR OFFERING In struggle and in joy, God is faithful to us. We bring forth our offerings – our tithes, our treasures, our least coins – to demonstrate our faithfulness to God. OFFERTORY Christmas Hallelujah Dean Alexander DOXOLOGY* At the Presentation, Hymn 95* Old 100th 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. PRAYER OF DEDICATION O Faithful One, accept these gifts of our hearts and hands. May they be multiplied and magnified as the living presence of Christ in the world. Amen. CLOSING HYMN 242* Love Came Down at Christmas BENEDICTION AND BLESSING * BENEDICTION RESPONSE DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading for the December 20 Service HYMN 203 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son! Hail in the time appointed, his reign on earth begun! He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free; to take away transgression, and rule in equity. He comes with succor speedy to those who suffer wrong; to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong; to give them songs for sighing, heir darkness turn to light, whose souls, condemned and dying, are precious in his sight. He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth; love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth. Before him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go, and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow. To him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend; his kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end. The tide of time shall never his covenant remove; his name shall stand forever; that name to us is love. HYMN 217 Away in the Manger Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes; I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray; bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there. HYMN 242 Love Came Down at Christmas Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine; worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign? Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine; love to God and all men, love for plea and gift and sign.  Comments are closed.
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