The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme

2 Ferry Road

Old Lyme, Connecticut

(860) 434-8686

Website: www.fccol.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP

Steven R. Jungkeit, Senior Minister

Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager, Senior Associate Minister

Carleen R. Gerber, Associate Minister

Simon D. Holt, Director of Music

December 22, 2019 Fourth Sunday of Advent 11:00 AM

Prelude

Introit: Ding Dong! Merrily on High David Willcocks

*Processional Hymn: #136 “Angels, from the Realms of Glory”

*Call to Worship:

In the midst of darkness, God brings a new light.

We give thanks to the God of light.

In the midst of confusion and fear, God brings hope and peace.

We give thanks to the God of peace.

In the midst of turmoil and strife, God delivers a word of hope.

Let us worship the One who loves us and brings us new life.

*Invocation

*The Lord’s Prayer

Welcome and News of the Church

Advent Wreath Lighting Matt and Cara Muehl-Miller

*Unison Reading:

The winter is cold, is cold.

All’s spent in keeping warm.

Has joy been frozen, too?

I blow upon my hands

Stiff from the biting wind.

My heart beats slow, beats slow.

What has become of joy?

Help me forget the cold

That grips the grasping world.

Let me stretch out my hands

To purifying fire,

Clutching fingers uncurled.

Look! Here is the melting joy.

My heart beats once again.

-Madeline L'Engle, "The Winter is Cold, Is Cold"

*Gloria Patri: (#36 in hymnal)

Scripture: Luke 2: 1-20 (NT p. 55)

*Hymn: #137 “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”

Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer Response: Hear Our Prayer

Offertory Invitation

Offertory Anthem: A Maiden Most Gentle Andrew Carter

*Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God for all that love has done;

Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen

*Offertory Prayer

Sermon: The Exuberant Pluralism of Christmas Rev. Dr . Steven R. Jungkeit

*Hymn: #135 “Angels We Have Heard on High”

Benediction

Benediction Response: In the Bleak Mid-Winter Harold Darke

with soloists Lisa Feltes and Brian Cheney

Postlude

*Congregation Standing

We thank you for worshipping with us. Following the life and teachings of Jesus,

we are a church that strives to be a place of grace, welcoming all regardless of theological

expression, age, race, gender, sexual identity, national origin or financial means.

In our Church Constitution we recognize that “each member shall have the undisturbed

right to follow the word of God according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, under

the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.” The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme,

established in 1665, cherishes this proud Pilgrim tradition. We are honored by your presence

among us, and we invite you to help us become what we endeavor to be.

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The memorial flowers this morning are given by Ted and Pamela Hamilton in loving

memory of Grace and Frank Hamilton and John W. Dyer and Margaret Haake.

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The deacon on duty is Rick Strickhart.

The hosts for fellowship hour this morning is Martha Gibson.

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Childcare is available this morning in the nursery downstairs at the 9:00 am service.

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If you are visiting us for worship this morning, we welcome you, and invite you

to join us in Fellowship Hall for fellowship and refreshments. We invite you

to pick up a “Welcome” packet, which can be found in the vestibule.

We hope this information will be helpful in acquainting you with

our church and its activities and programs.

Quiet Activity Bags for young children are in the vestibule.

They are colorful bags with quiet projects for our youngest members.

Please feel free to offer these bags to your children.

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The Rev. David W. Good serves as our Minister Emeritus.

The Rev. Rebecca T. Crosby is our Minister for Haitian Outreach.

Rebecca A. Francisco, a recent graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary,

serves as minister to the South Lyme Union Chapel.

Large print versions of the bulletin are available from the ushers.

Adult Forum

There is no Adult Forum today. They will resume on Sunday, January 12, when the speaker will

be Tom Sherer, who will discuss “End to End.”

God’s Neighborhood News

Today in God’s Neighborhood we will hear the story of The Shepherds’ visit to Jesus and

create some Christmas Crafts. Everyone Welcome; please join us.

Today the SPF and chaperones will be participating in the Midnight Run bringing food and

clothes to homeless residents of New York City. They are meeting at church to make

sandwiches and pack starting at 2:30 and will be leaving around 5. Thank you to everyone who

has donated clothing and chili and to the drivers, other chaperones and high school students!

Holiday Pop-up Store

The Partnership Co-op of FCCOL (Haitian Art, Palestinian goods, and Tribal Crafts) will be set

up in a storefront next to the Big Y in Old Lyme (the former music shop). The shop has been

open for two weeks: TODAY from 10 am - 5 pm. Come and support the Lakota, Haitian and

Palestinian craftsman!

Under the Meetinghouse Christmas Tree

We are collecting socks and men’s or women’s underwear for the Homeless Hospitality Center.

Cans of ground coffee are also most welcome! Please place items under the Christmas tree in

the pulpit.

Fellowship Hall Christmas Tree: Leave a Gift Take a Gift

When you make a gift to the Connecticut Bail Fund, please take home a Christmas ornament

from the tree. Ornaments are handmade by Haitian artists.

Can you help?

Our food pantry could use some boxes of dry spaghetti noodles in the weeks to come. Please

bring in a box on Sunday mornings if you can!

“Where Your Treasure is, There Will Your Heart be Also…” “God loveth a cheerful giver.”

-2 Corinthians 9:7

Please follow your heart and make a commitment to our 2020 Stewardship Campaign.

So far we have received 273 commitments for $531,336 toward our goal of $600,000.

Thank you!

Book Group

Our next meeting will be on January 7th at 10:45 in the Hoag Parlor. We will discuss Grateful:

The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks by Diana Butler Bass. Please join us; all are

welcome!

CPR/AED and First Aid class

Do you live around other people? You need to know what to do in an emergency. A CPR/AED

and First Aid class will be held on Saturday, January 25 from 1-5 p.m. in the Media Room,

located in the Sunday School area. The class is $28 and American Red Cross certificates will be

given. Cathy is an ARC instructor and can be contacted at camathis43@gmail.com with any

questions.

The FCCOL Immigration Committee

The committee continues to help Jose, a young gentleman from Honduras who is seeking

Asylum. Jose, was in ICE detention for many months and was finally granted release from

detention. He has a valid Asylum application which merits consideration for a pathway to

permanent residency. We are looking for volunteers to offer Spanish translation, visitation/

activities, car rides, meals/groceries, laundry help, and especially our loving community

support. Jose is not confined to church and is able to move about and share in our community

events and activities. For any questions and/or to volunteer, contact Lina Tuck

(lina.tuck@gmail.com).

A Journey Toward Hope: A Tree of Life Journey to the Holy Land

Please consider joining us for our March 2020 Tree of Life Journey! This journey will be led by

Ghoufran Allababidi, President of Tree of Life Educational Fund, a non-profit organization

established by our church. Also, co-leading this journey will be the Rev. Dr. Steven Jungkeit

and Dr. Reza Mansoor, President of the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford. On this

journey we will meet many outstanding and involved people, including Palestinian families,

former Israeli soldiers, Palestinian farmers and Israeli and Palestinian dreamers and visionaries.

We would love to have a large contingent from this congregation join our friends from the

Berlin Mosque on this journey! Please speak with Steve Jungkeit or send a message to our

Minister Emeritus, David W. Good, davidwgood@fccol.org if you would like to explore this

great opportunity! More information including tentative itinerary, cost and schedule can be

found on the Tree of Life website, www.tolef.org.

Pizza Corner New Britain - A Great Holiday Adventure!

Malik and Zahida are hard at work making delicious pizzas, and their party pizzas are perfect

for your holiday gathering! Please visit them at 36 Broad Street in New Britain! (And please

pardon the incorrect town listing in the December Newsletter.)

Florence Griswold Exhibit Highlights Our Church

In 2018, Brooklyn-based photographer Matthew Leifheit documented a Pakistani family (our

own Malik, Zahida, and Roniya) who had sought refuge at our church for the New Y orker. The

new Florence Griswold exhibit, “Nothing More American: Immigration, Sanctuary, and

Community,” uses images taken for the New Yorker, along with historic paintings and prints of

our church, to bring forth the intersection of immigration, national identity and the role our

church has played as an icon in American art.

The exhibit will be on view until May 24, 2020.

Looking for Another Christmas Gift Idea?

How about to your church? At this time of year we are occasionally in the difficult position of

balancing our revenues and sometimes larger than expected expenses, which makes balancing

the books a real challenge. We would appreciate any additional special gifts you could

contribute by year-end. And, as always, we deeply appreciate the generosity of all our members

and friends.

NOTICE OF FCCOL ANNUAL MEETING

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

OF OLD LYME WILL BE HELD ON THE 26th DAY OF JANUARY, 2020

AT 12:15 PM IN THE MEETING HOUSE AT 2 FERRY ROAD, OLD LYME,

CONNECTICUT.

THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING SHALL BE:

TO RECEIVE THE REPORTS OF THE MINISTERS, BOARDS AND

COMMITTEES, AND THE CHURCH OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 2019;

TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE REPORT OF THE NOMINATING

COMMITTEE;

TO ELECT OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE COMING

YEAR;

TO APPROVE THE CHURCH BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2020;

AND TO CONDUCT SUCH OTHER OLD OR NEW BUSINESS AS

SHALL PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.

Annual reports from Boards and Committees

are due Wednesday, January 8, 2020.

Calendar of Events and Meetings for This Week

Sunday School TODAY at 9 am Service.

Holiday Pop-up Store TODAY from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Children’s Choir TODAY at 10:45 am downstairs.

Pottery with Ellen TODAY at 1:00 pm in Walt’s Studio.

Hand bell Ringers Monday, December 16 at 7:30 pm in the Sheffield Auditor ium.

Christmas Eve Services Tuesday, December 24 at 5:00, 8:00 & 10:00 pm in the Meetinghouse.

Memorial—Lynn Thornwall Saturday, December 28 at 11:00 am in the Meetinghouse.

Bible Study Thursday, January 9 at 10:45 am in the Library

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

Tuesday, December 24th

THE LIVING MANGER

5:00 PM Service for families with young children

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE OF LESSONS & CAROLS

8:00 PM and 10:00 PM Services

UNITY SERVICE

Sunday, December 29th

One Service Only at 11 AM And No Sunday School