Sunday Bulletin
Celebration Service November 27 , 2022 – 9:30 am
Lyrics and music for the hymns, when legally sharable,
are available by clicking on the title of each hymn.
Prelude “Wachet Auf” Bach
Introit “The King Shall Come”
Welcome & Announcements.
Advent Wreath Lighting Dave & Nan Myers
We are a people of hope.
Our hearts are full of anticipation for the coming
of our beloved Christ Child.
For God is to be among us
and we will see a great light in the midst of our night.
Let us light the Candle of Hope in the sure hope that God’s promises endure. Amen.
Call to Worship
Today, I make my Sacrament of Thanksgiving.
I begin with the simple things of my days:
Fresh air to breathe,
Cool water to drink,
The taste of food,
The protection of houses and clothes,
The comforts of home.
For all these I make an act of Thanksgiving this day!
Hymn* “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” #119
Unison Prayer
Dear God;
As we begin our Advent pilgrimage,
grant us the courage to hope.
Hope for your presence,
Hope for your peace,
Hope for your promise. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Message
Psalm 25:1-10 Lay Reader: Dave Myers
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The Gloria Patri*
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
Anthem “Sleepers, Wake” Bach
Prayers of the People
Hymn “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” #124
Reading: Luke 1:5-25
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Message “Waiting with Unanswered Prayer” Rev. Dan Haugh
Offering
Click here to make an online donation. - THANK YOU!
Offertory “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Callahan
Doxology*
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above you heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Offertory Prayer*
We give in grateful thanksgiving for all that God has given us. In the upside down world of the gospel, we measure our wealth not by what we have, but what we can give away. To bless your church, your people, your creation. Amen
Hymn* “Come, O Long-expected Jesus” #125
Benediction*
Go into the world showing a gentle attitude toward everyone. Be joyful and thankful! Fill your mind with those things that are good and deserve praise: things true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. Put into practice what you have heard here.
And may the God who gives peace be with each of you.
All: We go in the peace of Christ to love and serve all creation.
Benediction Response “God, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing”
Postlude “ Now thank We All Our God” Peeters
*Please stand as you are willing and able.
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Calendar of Events
Our 9:30 Traditional worship service is open to all. Masks are optional for vaccinated individuals. We will continue to live stream our services through our website www.stowecommunitychurch.org.
Monday, 11/28 Wreath delivery
Noon AA weekly meeting in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, 11/29 Wreath decorating
8:00 AA weekly meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, 11/30 Wreath decorating
Noon AA weekly meeting in Fellowship Hall
5:30 choir rehearsal in Organ Loft
5:30 – 7 ‘Twas the Night… rehearsal
Thursday, 12/1 Fair Set Up in Fellowship Hall
Friday, 12/2 Fair set up in Fellowship Hall
11:00 small wedding
3:30 – 5 ‘Twas the Night…” rehearsal
Saturday, 12/3 10:00 – 2:00 Christmas Fair in Fellowship Hall
Happy Birthday this week to:
Kathe Rhinesmith today 11/27
Dean Percy on 11/29
Nancy Alty and Quinn Krukar on 12/2
Parker Liljedahl on 12/3
Announcements
The ushers today are Dave and Nan Myers . Thank you for helping today.
During the month of November we are asking for prayers for the Trustees of our church. Our trustees are responsible for all of the upkeep of our church property, maintaining the beauty of our building, safety, and maintenance of the Church building including Narthex, Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall. They are also responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the church parsonage.
With such old buildings this requires an incredible amount of time and work, and they are looking for volunteers to help share this work. If you are interested in decorating, painting, interior designs, gardening, contracting, consulting or just lending an extra hand for projects, please contact our Head Trustee, David McGaughy at McGaughyDavid1@gmail.com. Many hands make light work.
If you would like to support the Department of Children and Families by visiting the Giving Tree and taking a tag or two. The gifts can be any or all of the wish list items listed on the tag. Please wrap your gifts and attach the giving tree tag. The gifts are due into the church by December 10th.
Christmas Fair December 3rd!
The Christmas Fair is Saturday December 3rd from 10:00-2:00!
We need gently used jewelry for this year. The jewelry can be dropped off at the church.
If you're interested in helping, contact either megscotti@mac.com or Laurettahaugh@gmail.com.
Share Your Music!
Do you play an instrument?
We'd love to include you in our Sunday worship. We will be occasionally featuring instrumentalists in the next few months during our 9:30 service, either as soloists, duets or with an accompaniment by our Music Director, Karen Miller. It would be great to include YOU! Come up to the choir loft after a Sunday service and introduce yourself, or call the church 253-7257 and leave your number and we'll get in touch.
If you, or someone you know, would like prayers for comfort or healing, the members of the Prayer Team are ready to support you. Please fill out the prayer request form in the bulletin and put it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher to deliver to the office.
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Musical Notes by Karen Miller
Prelude: The beloved old German chorale melody “Wachet auf” may have been written by Hans Sachs (1494-1576), adapted by Philip Nicolai (1556-1608), and later harmonized by J.S. Bach. Hans Sachs was a German shoemaker and poet and part of the Nuremberg Mastersingers. He wrote over 4,000 master-school poems and nearly 2,000 narrative and dramatic poems. He was immortalized by Wagner in Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (1862-1867). Philip Nicolai who adapted this melody for his own text was a German Lutheran pastor who debated both Catholics and Calvinist Protestants. In 1731 J. S. Bach created a harmonization for this melody for his church cantata No. 140. This is the version seen in many hymnals. Bach also wrote a choral-prelude on the melody for the organ. The tune is heard in the tenor voice phrase by phrase between interludes of embellishment.
Anthem: The J. S. Bach harmonization of “Wachet auf” from his church cantata No. 140 is sung by the choir today. The English translation is by Milford East and reads:
Sleepers, wake! A voice is sounding, from watch to watch the call rebounding; Awake, Jerusalem, awake!
Midnight past, the hour is nearing when in the East the darkness clearing, A new and brighter dawn will break.
The bridegroom to receive, Arise! Your couches leave, your torches light, and mount the height of Zion’s wall to greet His coming, one and all.
Let all creatures now adore Him, all men and angels bow before Him; with harp and lute in sweet accord.
From the pearly gates and towers the cherubim proclaim His powers and spread aloud His mighty word.
No mortal eye or ear did ever see or hear such joyous thing; Let therefore ring the song of praise that to almighty God we raise.
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