The heart of our church life is the worship of God. Our formally informal services follow the themes of the liturgical seasons and the scripture images of lectionary texts. These services of prayer and praise, word and sacrament, inspire us to serve more faithfully through the week. Valuing fine music and sound preaching, we delight to come together as a community of faith where all bring concerns and joys; where all are welcome to share their gifts.

Main Sanctuary

Meditation Room

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WORSHIP FOR DECEMBER 2011

December 4 – 10:30 A.M. Second Sunday in Advent & Communion
Preparing the Way
Isaiah 40: 1-11 & Mark 1: 1-8

December 11 – Third Sunday in Advent
Announcing the Way
Isaiah 61: 1-3 & Luke 1: 26-38

December 18 – Fourth Sunday in Advent & Pageant Sunday
Celebrating the Way (with Claude the Camel!)
Psalm 89: 1-4 & Micah 5: 2-5a

December 24 – 4:00 P.M. – Moravian Love Feast
A service for children and families that includes traditional Christmas carols accompanied by a
trombone trio, the distribution of sugar cookies and hot chocolate during worship, and the lighting
of a Moravian star over the chancel as a child sings “Morning Star” and all hold their lit candles to
the star. A very special tradition brought to us by Dr. Ralph (Skip) and Shirley Earle, based on
Skip’s boyhood experience at the Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
8:00 – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Our own traditional service of lessons, carols and anthems sung by our Senior Choir.
The Christmas Story is narrated from the King James Version, and the service concludes with the
congregation forming a circle around the sanctuary with candles lit from the Christ candle and all
sing “Silent Night.”

December 25 – Christmas Day Worship & Communion
Lighting the Way
Isaiah 52: 7-10 & John 1: 1-14

 

ADVENT COMMUNING
Half hour services will be held on Thursday mornings, December 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 7:30 am in our
lovely Meditation Room behind the Sanctuary. These simple services will feature an Advent reading, a
scripture lesson, recorded music, communion, and silence. Come, and empty yourself, that you might the more
be filled with that peace which passes all understanding.

Invitation to Participate in the Service!

During the past year, we hope you have enjoyed seeing a lot of new faces taking leadership roles in the service. It has added to everyone’s worship experience.

On most Sundays, only one deacon will be on duty during the service, which leaves a lot of opportunity for volunteers! If you’d like to open the service or read scripture, we’d love to have you! We’ll provide the text in advance and coaching if you like. You don’t have to be a member of the church to participate, but while we are experimenting with the process we would like to limit children to those who have been confirmed. If you ever have wondered what it might be like to be a deacon, volunteering for a service will give you a good idea!

If acting as a deacon isn’t something you’d like to do, perhaps you’d like to volunteer to be an usher for a service or for a month. You might also think about being the continuing presence for a few hours during some of our more contemplative worship activities, such as the Good Friday vigil or the Chartres labyrinth. On these occasions, we always like to have someone from the church there while the church is open to the community for silent worship.

Give yourself a new spiritual experience, and participate in the service. Just leave your name at the Church office and one of the deacons will be talking to you.