THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
GANDER PASTORAL CHARGE
Benton Gander Glenwood-Appleton
Ministers: The People of the Congregation
The Rev. Stephanie McClellan
The Rev. Steve Atkinson
Organist: Karen Nevin
Fraser Road United Church
December 24th, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
At the call of Jesus Christ, we, the people
of Fraser Road United Church, seek to:
Welcome all;
Strengthen one another;
Nurture each other in faith
Prepare and direct our people into God's world for service.
We Gather to Praise God
(*all who are able, please stand)
* Musical Prelude
* Welcome and Greetings
*Procession of Light and Word
* Musical Procession: - O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Passing the Peace of Christ:
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Life and Work of the Congregation and Stage Directions
(please feel free to remain seated while we sing single verses
during the creation of our live Nativity scene)
* Introit - Joy to the World, with the Sign Language Choir
Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Call to Worship: -
There's a song in the air!
There's a star in the sky!
There's a mother's deep prayer
And a baby's low cry!
And the star rains its fire
While the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
-- Josiah Gilbert Holland, Life's Treasure Book of
Christmas Memories compiled by H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Scripture:- Isaiah 9: 6-7
Let the zeal of the Lord accomplish this in our midst!
Let us worship!
Opening Prayer (in unison):
As once you came in the hush of darkness, O God, so still our hearts now by the wonder of this night. Let not our hearts be busy inns with no
room, but doors opened wide to welcome a Holy Guest, who is Jesus Christ, alive with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
-- Robert Stark, Voices United # 66
Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy
We come to celebrate the Birth of Jesus.
God came to earth in a tiny, vulnerable baby over 2000 years ago to love the world despite its brokeness, despite its unrest.
Jesus did not come to make God's love possible, but
to make God's love visible.
We see God in the child born so long ago.
God, Emmanuel, is with us still.
Hallelujah! Let's celebrate with candles and song!
(Light all five candles)
* Hymn: - A Candle Is Burning VU 6
1 A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
a candle of hope in December's dark night.
While angels sing blessings from heaven's starry sky,
our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh.
2 A candle is burning, a candle of peace,
a candle to signal that conflict must cease:
for Jesus is coming to show us the way;
a message of peace humbly laid in the hay.
3 A candle is burning, a candle of joy,
a candle to welcome brave Mary's new boy.
Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow
as joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.
4 A candle is burning, a candle of love,
a candle to point us to heaven above.
A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth,
for Jesus is bringing God's love to our earth.
5 We honour Messiah with Christ-candle's flame,
our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim.
O come, all you faithful, rejoice in this night,
as God comes among us, the Christian's true light.
Prayer of Confession:
God of stables, stars and surprises, of light and hope and new life;
Open our eyes and hearts to your presence in our world.
Forgive our obsession with property and possessions.
Forgive our compromises and narrowness of vision.
Open us to your grace, that we might hear again the song of the angels, and respond with a song in our hearts, and in our lives. Amen. -- Gordon Nodwell, Voices United, #63
Assurance of Pardon
Sing: Halle, Halle, Halle
Scripture: - Luke 2: 1-7
* Hymn: - Infant Holy, Infant Lowly 58VU
(animals and Mary, Joseph and Baby come forward)
1 Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;
oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing,
noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is born for all.
Christ the babe is born for all!
Scripture: - Luke 2: 8-14
* Hymn: - Hark the Herald Angels Sing 48VU
(angels come forward)
1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
'Glory to the newborn King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!'
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
'Christ is born in Bethlehem!'
Hark! the herald angels sing,
'Glory to the newborn King!'
Scripture: - Luke 2: 15-20
* Hymn: - The First Nowell VU 91
(shepherds come forward)
1 The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay akeeping their sheep
on a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel
Scripture: - Matthew 2: selected verses
* Hymn: - We Three Kings
(wise ones come forward)
We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Scripture:- John 3: 16-17
Reflection
* Hymn:- Silent Night VU 67
with the Sign Language Choir
1 Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
2 Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight:
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah,
Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.
3 Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Invitation to Offering
Leader: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. So Joseph took his wife, Mary, to the town of
Bethlehem in Judea. And Mary was great with child. Who are you? asked the census taker.
Mary: I am Mary, wife of Joseph, and greatly blessed. I
carry the Son of God.
Leader: Who are you? asked the emperor's clerk.
Joseph: I am Joseph of the house of David. I will love and care for the Son. I will raise him and share him with the world.
Leader: Who are you? asked the innkeeper.
Shepherds: We are shepherds who heard the message proclaimed from the night sky. We are believers all.
Leader: Who are you? demanded Herod.
Wise Ones: We are magi from the East who have read the stars and bring our best gifts for the Christ Child.
Leader: And through the ages, the question echoes: Who are you?
People: We are the church.
Leader: Yes, but who exactly are you?
People: We are United.
We are greatly blessed to carry the Son of God.
We raise him up and share him with the world.
We have heard the message and we are believers all.
We bring our best gifts for Christ.
Leader: Your offering will now be received.
-- Julie Kinkaid, The United Church Observer
Offertory Ministry of Music
* Doxology: - What can I Give Him?
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him - give my heart.
Prayers of Dedication of Self and Gifts (in unison)
Surprising God, we are amazed at your love for us expressed in the baby whose birth in Bethlehem we remember this night. On this holy night,
bless these gifts and those received monthly through PAR. Multiply their usefulness to you, in this congregation, across Canada, and around
the world through the Mission and Service Fund. Amen.
Prayers of the People and the Lord's Prayer
* Hymn:- Go Tell it on the Mountain VU 43
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.
1 While shepherds kept their watching
o'er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light. R
2 The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Saviour's birth! R
3 Down in a lonely manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent our salvation
that blessed Christmas morn. R
*Commissioning and Benediction
* Postlude
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE AND WORK
Welcome to all of you, members and visitors, who have gathered to worship this day. May this holy time bring you fellowship with God and neighbour, and many blessings. We invite visitors to sign our guest register, and please, do come and worship with us again when you are in our area.
Sunday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
Gander 11 p.m. Communion
Worship next Sunday, December 31
Gander 11 a.m. All Ages
Glenwood 7 p.m.
Christmas Coffee and Conversation with our Returning Students A chance to greet and welcome back those from amongst us who have left the area for school or work, yet have returned to celebrate the holidays with family. Your Church Family would love to keep in touch as well. All welcome as Greeters or Returnees! December 26th - 3:30-4:30 PM. Call Rev. Steph for more info!
Please Note The congregation is reminded that to be eligible for a tax credit in the current year, contributions MUST be received and recorded not later than 31 December 2007. Donations received for 2006 after this date will be posted to 2007 receipts.
For Your Information Rev. Steve is on vacation from December 25 to January 1 inclusive.
Are you enthusiastic about how your M & S dollars are spent? The Mission & Service Fund of the United Church of Canada supports many great programs and we need an M & S Enthusiast to keep us up to date on what is happening. If this is your passion we would love to hear from you. There is lots of material available to help you share the excitement. Call the church office to leave your name and we will get back to you.
Christmas Feast The Salvation Army Community and Family Services will be holding A Christmas Feast December 25th, at 12:00 noon at The Salvation Army church, 165 Airport Blvd, for those who find themselves alone at Christmas. See bulletin board for details.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Dec. 17 up to January 21 inclusive Mark your calendars for an Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast: Wednesday, January 24th 7:30 -- 9:00 a.m. at Saint Martin's Parish Centre. There will be a meal of pancakes and sausages served up by the members of the Gander Ministerial Association. Special guest speaker, Mayor Claude Elliott will be with us. The meal is free, but donations to the work of the Gander Ministerial Association are welcomed. Please sign the sign-up sheet found at the back of the church.
The Guatemala Mission Team 2008 will meet the first Thursday of each month (January 4th) at 8:30 p.m.
Take the Bible In A Year Challenge!!!!!
Approximately 15 minutes a day or 2 hours on the weekend will get you through the Bible in a year. On January 1, 2007, participants in our church family will start on a journey to read the Bible in a year. Those who finish will be presented with a certificate celebrating your accomplishment in January 2008.
Possible Questions:
- Do you have to join a class? No
- Will I have to go to special meetings? No
- Will I have opportunities to talk about what I am reading? Yes, if you would find that helpful but is certainly not mandatory.
- What is the goal? Just to read the Bible from cover to cover.
Bible Talk!!!!
This will be a time to talk about your reading is going. Times and dates to be announced. Please see sign-up sheet in the Narthax.
Are You On Par? The Pre-Authorized Remittance Program is now in place here at Fraser Road. To take advantage of the next automatic account debit date of January 20th, 2007 additional par registrations need to be received by the end of the month, when they will be forwarded for processing. You'll find info brochures on bulletin boards.
Calling and Caring Ministries: Lab I A 38 hour course to be held at St. Catherine's Renewal Center, Grand-Falls-Windsor, February 5th- February 9, 2007. What you learn in Lab I will be useful in all areas of your life: family, church, work, school, etc. See bulletin board for details.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LETTING US KNOW
WHEN A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY OR A FRIEND
IS ILL AT HOME OR IN THE HOSPITAL
website: www.unitedchurchgander.ca
May the blessings of Christmas fill your home and your heart through this holy season and into the New Year 2007.