FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) Niles, OH 44446 www.firstchristianniles.org Rev. Cynthia Klingemier, Minister 10:45 a.m. Terry Soroka, Music Director WORSHIP SERVICE December 21, 2014 WE BEGIN OUR TIME TOGETHER NEWS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH (Please sign and pass the attendance pad across in your row, recognizing and greeting members and guests. Include children/family elsewhere in the building.) WE MEET OUR LORD TOGETHER AND OFFER OUR PRAISE * CENTERING (Responsively) One: We come to celebrate a God of love. Many: We come to celebrate that God is Love. One: We come to celebrate love to be revealed. Many: In the gift of Christ Jesus we know God’s love. One: Let us glorify and praise God! Amen. * SONGS ‘IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE’ ‘INTO MY HEART’ ‘JOY TO THE WORLD’ LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLES WE PRAY TOGETHER OPENING PRAYER (Unison) O God, what a glorious morning! We are so glad to have an opportunity to prepare ourselves for your presence with us here. Fill us and move us and recreate in us a new understanding of the Great Gift you give to us. This we ask. Amen. MORNING PRAYER CHILDREN’S CHOIR (Children ages 0-4 are dismissed after the prayer to the Preschool Room and Grades Kindergarten – 4 to go to Junior Worship. Please gather at the back of the sanctuary.) WE HEAR GOD’S WORD MEDITATION MOMENT SCRIPTURE Luke 1: 37-38 CHORAL SELECTION ‘Festival of Carols’ WE SHARE THE LORD’S SUPPER AND OFFER OUR GIFTS NT p. 57 PRAYERS FOR THE BREAD AND CUP AND FOR OUR OFFERINGS Elders Serving: Dennis Carpenter and Beverly McCloskey COMING TO THE TABLE (Please come forward from the center aisle and dip the bread into the cup. Those unable to come forward please stay seated and a deacon will bring the bread and cup to you.) OFFERING OUR GIFTS (Offering trays are available at the side aisles as you return to your seats.) LORD’S PRAYER (using “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”) WE DEPART TO SERVE LITANY OF BLESSING Leader: And now may you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child coming anew. People: We go to serve the Lord, rejoicing in hope! Amen. CLOSING SONG * Please stand if able ‘Glory to God’ Glory to God, glory to God, alleluia, alleluia! TODAY’S CHILDREN’S CHOIR is under the direction of Music Director Terry Soroka with help from Shelly Pressell and Amanda Crago. We will receive our CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OFFERING again today for our Regional Church ministries. Special Offering envelopes are available in the pew racks. Place envelope in the offering plates or mail it to the church office. Thank you. CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 7 p.m. Please join us to celebrate the coming of the Christ child. CHRISTMAS CARDS for the inmates of the Trumbull County Jail due TODAY. This is a difficult time of year to be separated from family and friends and the cards are very much appreciated. Unsealed cards may be placed in the basket on narthex table. Cards will be distributed by our Jail Ministry team tomorrow evening. ANNA CIRCLE is selling pine swags in the narthex again today. DECEMBER BIRTHDAY GROUP PROJECT –The group is collecting paper goods (paper towels, toilet paper, etc.) and cleaning supplies to be distributed through Niles Community Services. Donations may be placed in the container in the main hallway by the parlor. Change and monetary donations are being collected TODAY for a special offering that will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. Will you help out? RESCUE MISSION dinner served by FCC volunteers Dec. 23, 5 to 7 p.m., 962 Martin Luther King Blvd., Youngstown. When providing desserts for these dinners, please have items to the church by 2 p.m. and use the buzzer and door closest to the library parking lot. Dates are set for 2015 Rescue Mission dinners. Anyone wishing to volunteer to serve these dinners is asked to see Becky Carpenter in the library following worship today. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Church offices will be closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 26. CHURCH OFFICE HOURS for December 29, December 30 and December 31 will be 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The church offices will be closed on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. NO BIBLE STUDY Dec. 23 and Dec. 30. Join us January 6, 1:00-2:30 p.m., parlor ATTENTION DEPARTMENT/COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS – Please check your mailboxes for the 2014 Annual Report Forms. Annual Reports are due in to the church office by January 4th! It’s preferable and more efficient that the information be emailed to the church office at [email protected]. If you requested 2015 OFFERING ENVELOPES, please pick them up in the narthex today if you haven’t already done so. Your offering number has been stamped on the envelopes, but please write your name on them also. Thank you. ANYONE WISHING to have pledges and/or contributions credited to their 2014 giving statement must have it to the church office no later than Sun., Dec. 28, 2014. BUDGET NEEDS EACH WEEK ARE: BUDGET RECEIPTS LAST WEEK WERE: Sun. Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sun. 9:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 6:45 p.m. 5:00-7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 7 p.m.-9 a.m. Monday *CALENDAR * Children’s Choir Rehearsal Church School Worship – with Children’s Choir and Adult Choir singing Jail Ministry – Trumbull County Jail NO Bible Study Rescue Mission dinner served Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Merry Christmas! (church offices closed) Church Offices Closed Church School Worship Service Chi Rho and CYF Overnighter – fellowship hall $3,182.21 $2,178.50