FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WAUWATOSA
December 4, 2005
MORNING WORSHIP 8:45 AND 11:00 A.M.
The Second Sunday of Advent
THE CHURCH GATHERS
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME A ND
ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev.
Steven Peay, Ph.D.
PRELUDE Fantasia
on ‘Greensleeves’ Vaughan Williams
Gerald
Loughney, Violin
CHIMES AND TOWER BELLS
THE CALL TO WORSHIP Rev.
Carrie Kreps Wegenast
Minister: Our souls magnify the Lord!
People: Our
spirits rejoice in God our Savior!
Minister: The mighty One has done great things for us!
People: Holy
is God’s name!
Minister: Let
us worship God!
ALL: For
God is our Maker and our Redeemer; from generation to generation God gives
mercy.
*HYMN 30 Ye
Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
*THE CHORAL CALL TO
WORSHIP
*THE PRAYER OF INVOCATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (unison)
God of Grace, you chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace, to be the
mother of our Lord and Savior.
Now fill us with your grace, that
with her, we may rejoice in your salvation, and in all things,
embrace your will; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who taught us to
say…
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.
*THE GLORIA PATRI (Hymn
513)
THE LIGHTING OF THE
ADVENT CANDLE
8:45 a.m. The Bokern
Family 11:00 a.m. The Elwing
Family
Following the lighting, respond with singing
“He Came Down”
He came down that we may
have peace;
He came down that we may
have peace;
He came down that we may
have peace,
Hallelujah forevermore.
THE CHURCH LISTENS TO THE WORD
THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Romans 16:25-27 Bible,
page 990
*HYMN 128 In
the Bleak Midwinter
[Children are dismissed to Sunday School during
the singing of the hymn.]
THE CANTICLE (unison) Luke
1:46-55 Hymnal
p. 545, no 126
Rev.
Samuel Schaal
THE GOSPEL LESSON Luke 1:26-38 Bible,
page 887
ANTHEM 8:45 How
Far Is It To Bethlehem arr. Pethel
Gerald
Loughney, Violin
11:00 Carol
of the Bells Wilhousky
THE SERMON “Mary:
Beyond the Manger” Dr.
Peay
THE CHURCH OFFERS PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING
THE CALL TO PRAYER AND SILENT MEDITATION
THE PRAYER OF MINISTER AND PEOPLE
THE
CHORAL RESPONSE
THE
OFFERTORY
THE ANTHEM 8:45 A
Christmas Prayer Larson
11:00 Do
You Know? Algozin
*DOXOLOGY (Hymn 515)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Minister: If
we look at our own lives,
People: we
must confess the mixture of giving and selfishness, our waiting on the Lord
turned to an endless rush, our missing the mark of Advent.
Minister: Lord,
forgive our frantic ways and misplaced efforts. But we can also trust
in God,
People: who
still brings us salvation, who still supplies us strength, who hears our songs
of gratitude, who accepts our joyful praise.
Minister: Let
us all draw water from the wells of salvation. Let us shout it in church and in
town:
People: The
Lord’s great name will still be praised. His saving deeds support our lives.
His greatness still astounds us. The Holy One of Israel is among us. Praise the
Lord and sing for joy.
ALL [sung] O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend
to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON
THE GREAT PRAYER OF
THANKSGIVING
Minister: The
Lord be with you.
People: And
also with you.
Minister: Lift
up your hearts.
People: We
lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let
us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It
is right for us to give thanks and praise.
[after the Minister says “to proclaim the glory
of your name” we all say:]
Holy, holy, holy
Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna
in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the
highest.
[The Ministers continue the Great Thanksgiving
Prayer]
THE COMMUNION
THE PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
THE CHURCH IS SENT
FORTH TO LOVE AND TO SERVE
*HYMN (insert) People,
Look East
*THE
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE Prepare
the Way, O Zion! Cassler
*The congregation is
invited to stand.
The
Christmas decorations are provided by the Board of Deacons
and through the generous donations of members in honor or in memory
of loved ones.
Head
Greeters: Marilyn
Auer, David Moore
Head
Ushers: Sue
Melby, John O’Meara
Ushers: 8:45 a.m. Charlie Wakefield-Captain, Merrill York, Doug
Jacobson, Dick Clark and Stew Davis
Ushers: 11:00 a.m. Don Hensch-Captain, John O’Meara, Lyle Dobberke,
David Moore and Tom Winkel
Greeters:
8:45 a.m. Roger
and Carrie Laubenheimer
Greeters: 11:00 a.m. Alida Smith
Acolytes:
8:45 a.m. Alex
Probst and Bobby Russ
Acolyte: 11:00 a.m. Alexandra Wray
CARE
FOR CHILDREN
A nursery for infants and toddlers is available
during the 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. services.
Sunday School at 8:45 and 11:00.
Worship Preview Sunday, December 11, 8:45 and
11:00 a.m.
Duane Coates, Pastoral Intern, will deliver the
sermon.
The kindergarten will present the Christmas
Pageant.
The Cherub Choir sings at 8:45.
Lee Jacobi directs the Pilgrim Choir at 8:45 and
the Chancel Choir at 11:00.
Betty Dethmers is the organist.
CALENDAR WEEK OF December 4, 2005
SUNDAY, December 4
7:45
a.m.
Lectionary Bible Study-RC
8:45 a.m. Worship/Children in Church/Sunday School/Communion
10:00 a.m. Coffee Hour-SH, Sunday Symposium-Lounge, Pageant and
Cherub Choir rehearsal-Nave, Jr. Choir rehearsal-LL5, Mission Mazahua Team
meeting-Parlor
11:00 a.m. Worship/Children in Church/Sunday School/Communion
1:30 p.m. Combined Choir rehearsal-Nave
3:00 p.m. Christmas Workshop-LL2/LL3/LL4/ LL5/200/201/202
5:00 p.m. Workshop Dinner-SH
6:30 p.m. @Kreps Wegenast-Sr. PF Advent meeting
7:00
p.m.
Bd/Christian Ed-RC, Music Committee-Parlor
8:00
p.m. AA-LL5
9:00
a.m. Retired
Men’s Club-SH
9:30
a.m. Music
Jamboree-LL2
6:00
p.m. First
Aid Meeting-Lounge
6:30
p.m.
Investment Ad. Hoc. Committee-Conf. Rm.
9:00
a.m. Chapel
Devotions
9:30
a.m. Prayer
& Pilates-Lounge
10:00
a.m. @Harwood-Communion
& Chat
6:00
p.m. Olde
English Dinner (Program: Steeple Belles), Debtors Anonymous-LL5
9:00
a.m. Big
Band-SH
6:00
p.m. First
Aid Mtg.-Lounge, Budget and Finance-Parlor
6:45
p.m. Pilgrim
Choir-LL1
7:00
p.m.
Jubilation Ringers-LL5
7:30
p.m. Combined
Choir-LL1
8:30
p.m. Chancel
Choir-LL1
10:00
a.m. @CH-Hug-a-Tot
8:00
a.m. Women’s
Group-RC, Jubilation Ringers rehearsal-Nave
9:00
a.m. Christmas
Play rehearsal-Lounge/Nave, Boy Scouts-LL5
6:00
p.m. PF Second Saturday
Welcome
to all visitors joining
us today. Please check the welcome tables in the atrium for information about
our church.
For
those who wear a hearing aid, our Nave is equipped with an FM loop system.
Simply set your hearing aid to the “T” setting.
In
addition to the loop system, there is a new hearing assistance system, which can amplify the worship service with the use
of a receiver and headset. The headset is not usable with a hearing aid.
Please ask for the receiver/headset at the church office.
Today,
join us at 10 a.m. in Friendship Lounge for Sunday Symposium, Rev. Dan Schowalter will present “Advent and
Archaeology.” On December 11 at 10 a.m., Rev. Jim Durnil, a chaplain at
Froedtert Hospital, will address dealing with feelings of sadness and grief
during the holidays.
The
Christmas Workshop is scheduled for today
from 3 - 5 p.m. Crafts range from $.25 to $1 with the exception of a few
special ticket items. RSVP to the church office for pizza dinner to be held at
5 p.m. in the Social Hall, (414) 258-7375. Adults/$5; children under 12/$2.
The
Retired Men’s Club of Wauwatosa
will meet December 6 at 9 a.m. in the Social Hall. Jerry Korte will present
“The Proof is in the Pudding.” All retired men are welcome.
Circle
8 will meet at the Congregational
Home on Tuesday, December 6 at 9 a.m. to decorate the Home for Christmas. After
lunch, we will wrap gifts.
Red
Cross Standard First Aid and AED Class will
be offered in Friendship Lounge, Tuesday, December 6 and Thursday, December 8
from 6-10 p.m. Jane Kolberg will be teaching the class. It is required to
attend both classes. The cost is approxi-mately $40. For any questions, contact
Jane at (414) 607-7105. Sign up at the table in the atrium today.
An
Olde English Christmas Dinner is
scheduled for Wednesday, December 7 at 6 p.m. Dinner will be prepared by Rev.
Peay and friends. After dinner, enjoy the serenading sounds of the Steeple
Belles. Pre-paid reservations for
dinner and/or childcare must be made by today. Cost: Adults/$8; children
under 12/$3; under 3/free.
Please
join us at the Congregational Home on the second Friday of each month from
10-11:30 a.m. for Hug-A-Tot. We’ll
meet in the Fireplace Lounge. Bring your little ones and a few toys for a
chance to delight the residents as they watch the children play. Please call
Becky Peacock at 414-607-0500 if you have any questions.
Cookie
Bakers Needed! 40 boxes of cookies
are needed to deliver to shut-ins this holiday season. Please bring 3-4 dozen
cookies any time before December 11 at 4 p.m.
Those
interested in Praying for the Nation(s) and for Peace should meet at 12 noon on Wednesdays at Underwood
Memorial Baptist Church during the month of December.
Choir Anthem
Pilgrim Choir 8:45 a.m.
How Far Is
It To Bethlehem
Traditional
English Carol
How far is it
to Bethlehem? Not very far. Shall we find the stable room lit by a star?
Can we see
the little Child, is He within? If we lift the wooden latch may we go in?
May we stoke
the creatures there, oxen and sheep? May we peep like them and see Jesus
asleep?
If we touch
His tiny hand will He awake? Will He know we've come so far just for His sake?
Great kings
may have precious gifts, and we have naught; little smiles and little tears are
all we've brought.
For all weary
children Mary must weep, here on His bed of straw, sleep, children, sleep.
How far is it
to Bethlehem? Not very far.
A
Christmas Prayer
Jan McGuire
You came to
be our Prince of Peace, God's gift to humankind,
But in our
world of hurried lives, your peace we seldom find.
We need to
hear the quiet of a Christmas long ago,
When Mary
gazed into Your eyes by light of candle's glow.
Come, whisper
peace into our hearts; remind us who You are;
The Savior,
whose arrival was announced by silent star.
The angels
sang their glorias in honor of Your birth,
But quiet joy
filled Mary's heart the night You came to earth.
Gloria! If we
could feel the quiet joy that Mary felt that night,
We'd
celebrate Your coming in a new and different light.
Breathe calm
into our frantic rush, help us Your peace to know,
As quietly we
worship You by light of candle's glow,
Like Mary
long ago,
Like
shepherds long ago.
Chancel Choir 11:00
Carol of
the Bells
Peter J.
Wilhousky
Hark! how the
bells;
Sweet silver
bells,
All seem to
say
"Throw
cares away"
Christmas is
here
Bringing good
cheer
To young and
old,
Meek and the
bold
Ding, dong,
ding, dong,
That is their
song,
With joyful
ring,
All caroling.
One seems to
hear,
Words of good
cheer,
From
everywhere
Filling the
air
O, how they
pound,
Raising the
sound,
O'er hill and
dale,
Telling their
tale,
Gayly they
ring,
While people
sing
Songs of good
cheer,
Christmas is
here!
That is their
song,
With joyful
ring,
All caroling.
On, on they
send,
on without
end
their joyful
tone
To every
home.
All caroling.
One seems to
hear,
Words of good
cheer,
From
everywhere
Filling the
air
O how they
pound,
Raising the
sound,
O'er hill and
dale,
Telling their
tale,
Gayly they
ring,
While people
sing
Songs of good
cheer,
Christmas is
here!
Merry, merry,
merry,
Merry
Christmas!
Merry, merry,
merry,
merry
Christmas!
Do You
Know?
Charlotte
Algozin
Do you know,
Baby Jesus, as you sleep on the hay, and the starlight shines down from above;
do you know how the world has awaited this day to be given your message of
love?
Do you know
as the shepherds hear the tiding of joy, and follow the angel’s call,
that our
Father in heaven sent you, Tiny Boy, to become the Good Shepherd of all?
Do you know,
Baby Jesus, as the kings from the east journey on to this place you were born;
that as King
you will ride to the Passover feast, but your crown will be made of thorn?
Do you know,
Baby Jesus, in the stable so cold, as the slumbering cattle nod,
that your
mother was chosen as prophets foretold, and that you are the Son of God.