Longswamp United Church of Christ PRAYER OF CONFESSION

200 Clay Road, Mertztown, PA 19539 Unison: Eternal God, we thank you that through all the years you have give your
Phone 610-682-6230 people a holy peace. We confess that at this time of year we are tempted to think
E-Mail: longswampucc@windstream.net Web: www.longswampucc.org that money can buy a perfect Christmas. Sometimes we do feel a little envious
of people who seem to do everything perfectly. Remind us that we can never see
Rev. Dr. Katherine Brearley, Pastor Audrey Tucker, Supply Organist into another person’s heart and soul. Help us to appreciate the family and
December 5th, 2010 Second Sunday of Advent friends that we have and the gifts we are given. You have given us the greatest
10:15 AM WORSHIP gift of all, our Savior Jesus Christ. We thank you forever. Amen
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sung Response (tune: Stuttgart)
Our Church’s Wider Mission Offering Sunday Come Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free
(Busy Boxes are available for younger children. Please turn off cell phones. The symbol + indicates that From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee.
those who are able should stand. Words in BOLD are spoken or sung by the whole congregation.) (Time of silent reflection)

MUSICAL PRELUDE ASSURANCE OF PARDON and LIGHTING OF THE FIRST CANDLE

Reader: In the Name of Jesus born in Bethlehem hear the Good News. Our sins are
WELCOME forgiven. We light this candle to proclaim the coming of the Prince of Peace. The name
ORGAN CHIMES “Emmanuel”, the name the angel Gabriel gave to Jesus, means “God with us”. With
the Prince of Peace as part of our lives God’s peace streams into our world like the
+OPENING HYMN ……………“What Child Is This?”……………………….……#150 light of the candle, piercing the darkness.

+CALL TO WORSHIP Sung Response as candle is lit.

Pastor: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art;
People: We get so used to hearing bad news: unemployment, rising prices, Dear Desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
health problems, car problems. We are always hearing bad news.
Pastor: God’s messenger proclaims peace to all who trust in the promises of God. THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
People: How wonderful it would be not to feel pushed and pulled by the Pastor: The Peace of God be with you. People: And also with you.
Please greet one another with words and/or signs of peace, remembering that not everyone wishes to shake hands.
commercial demands and the noise of Christmas.
Unison: This is the Good News. We belong to God and our value lies in God’s CHILDREN’S TIME
heart, not in what we buy or what we wear. Thanks be to God. (Please be seated)
OLD TESTAMENT READING
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE Isaiah 11:1-10 (Pew Bible page 1076)
Reader: We gather around the Advent wreath today knowing that we are not perfect. The lion will lie down with the lamb.
In our humanity we make foolish mistakes. Sometimes we willfully do things we know
are wrong. We struggle to do the right thing. GOSPEL READING
People: In the person of Jesus of Nazareth we see a man who obeyed God fully Matthew 3: 1-12 (Pew Bible page 1499)
in very way, even to the point of suffering a shameful death. Jesus had inner The Preaching of John the Baptist
peace because he lived the way God wanted him to live.
Reader: The reading is from John 14:27 and is part of Jesus farewell discourse. MEDITATION: “Peace in our Hearts”
“Peace is what I leave with you; I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried
and upset; do not be afraid.” Let us together confess that we need Jesus to help us HYMN ………………“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist Cry”……………………#136
live as God wants us to live. Let us pray:
Page 1 Page 2
PASTORAL PRAYER There are Busy Boxes available for use by the “young and restless” located in the bookcase
THE LORD’S PRAYER Unison: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy in the narthex. Please replace them after the worship service. Thank you to Jayne & Donald
kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and Siegfried for donating the boxes.
forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever, Amen. All members are reminded that the Annual Congregational Meeting for election of officers
and action on the 2011 budget will be held immediately following the worship service today.
INVITATION FOR THE OFFERING We hope all members will remain for this very important meeting.
Please remember that your OCWM gifts support the work of our overseas missionaries. Through their
work as pastors, doctors, teachers and youth workers they promote peace and justice in other lands. Today’s Altar Flowers and Worship Bulletins are presented to the Glory of God and are in
They thank you for your support. honor of children, MaryBeth, Jonathan, & Ethan by Jennifer & Michael Weidman.
MUSICAL OFFERTORY The Loft Choir Attendance – November 28, 2010 - 95
Receipts: General - $1750.00 Maintenance - $434.00 OCPP - $107.00
+OFFERTORY RESPONSE - ……………………………………………………. #150v3
So bring him incense, gold and myrrh, come, peasant, king to own him. Total Giving by Members - $2291.00 Missions: $30.00 Total - $2321.00
The King of kings’ salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him.
Our special thanks to the Strunk Family for participating in the Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby;
this second Sunday in the season.
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the babe the son of Mary.
Thank you to Audrey Tucker for serving as supply organist while Ann is away.
+OFFERTORY PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Unison)
What can we bring to the manger to offer the incarnate Lord, Creator of the For parents with children up to and including age five a nursery is available in our Christian
Universe? We bring what the Lord Jesus wants most, our humble thankful Education Building.
hearts. May these gifts bring peace to a broken world. Amen
If you are Hearing impaired please see a Greeter for an individual wireless receiver.
+COMMISSIONING & BENEDICTION (Cloth for the Cradle)
Pastor: When the world was dark and the city was quiet, God came. The Lord and Poinsettia orders are absolutely due by today! Deadline was actually last week, but late
Creator of the Universe crept in beside us. And no one knew. Only the few who dared orders will be accepted today only.
to believe the angels when they said God was going to do something different. God
Participants in today’s service:
crept in beside us. May He do the same this Christmas. Depart in peace.
Greeters: Ellie Long & Andrew Thomas Acolyte: Annie Bleiler
+ GLORIA ………………………………………………………………………#152 Refrain Head Usher: Kim Jenkins Reader: Bill Thomas
Glo………..ria in excelsis, Deo! Nursery Hosts: Liz Teeters & Bev Thomas
Glo………..ria in excelsis, Deo! Fellowship Hosts: No Fellowship – CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Lighting of Advent Wreath: Strunk Family
+PARTING HYMN ……………“Angels from the Realms of Glory”……………#174 Scheduled for next week – December 12th at 10:15am:
Greeters: Church School Acolyte: Courtney Moyer
MUSICAL POSTLUDE: Head Usher: Tim Masenheimer Reader: Fran Zettlemoyer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nursery Hosts: Cheryl & Annie Bleiler Fellowship Hosts: Church School
Welcome to all who join us in worship as this community of God’s People today. We welcome
Lighting of Advent Wreath: Artena Unger & Family
any visitors worshiping with us this day and request that they sign our Guest Register in the
Narthex. If anyone is interested in joining our church family, please contact the pastor. Altar Guild Members for the month of December are Artena Unger & Laurie Heagy.

Page 3 Page 4
Members and Friends Prayer List: [As of Bulletin preparation time]
Phoebe Home Holiday Gifts Dedicated December 12th
Recuperating: Grace Lantz, Artena Unger, Winfield Lease, Matthew Walbert, JoAnn Jones,
Gifts should be returned no later than Wednesday December 8th and will be dedicated at
Regina Lambert worship on December 12th. Please put your gift in a gift bag – this makes it easier for
Active Members of Military: PFC Matthew Shade [USA], PFC Michael Xiques [USA] residents to open. If you have any questions please ask Pastor Kathy.
Special: Beulah Harmony, Marlene Hamm, Jared Toth, Alayna Biltcliff, Olivia Radcliffe,
Bernice Bauer [Barbara Eck’s sister who is under Hospice Care], & Niki Ferrizzi [Friend of The following items are needed next Sunday for the “Brandywine Food Pantry” they are
Coralie Eck recently diagnosed with cancer] crackers, tuna, baby formula, toilet paper, toothpaste.
Shut-ins: Ida Gehringer, Ruth Hertzog, & Corinne Reppert [Lutheran Home, Topton], Ruth
Romig [Lewisburg], Mary Conrad, Anna Delong, Beulah Harmony, Webster Heffner, Remember to consult your December Newsletter for a full listing of our Advent and Christmas
Schedule.
Catherine Miller, Helen Schuler, & Doris Weller [at home]
Wreaths of live greens found on the exterior of the sanctuary’s main entrance doors have
Please give the Pastor a note on special prayer needs, and remember to notify the church of
been presented by the Men’s & Women’s Group in memory of the following members of our
any members hospitalized. Use our church codes for any hospital admissions - Allentown church family who entered into eternal rest this past year:
Hospitals - 451; Reading – 80 Robert R. Piatt, Jr. Frances “Mickey” Sicher Earl H. Weller
Thomas P. Hilt Marjorie “Betty” Mabry Max. J. Bleiler
Next Sunday, December 12th the Church School will be assuming worship leadership, as Jocelyn F. Fenstermacher Anna E. George Carlson R. Kutz
well as presenting their Christmas Program! Come listen to the “angels” sing! Ernest G. Conrad
If you would like to sponsor Altar Flowers and/or Bulletins, please sign up on the charts in Please note: Anyone hosting fellowship or other after church activities, is asked to please
the Narthex. make sure that the church or Christian Ed building is locked, windows are closed, and lights
turned off before leaving. Thank you.
Information for the January issue of the newsletter is due on Tuesday, Dec. 14th.
Church Family Notes:
Our next service of Holy Communion is Christmas Eve, both worship services. If you wish to Happy Birthday: Happy Anniversary:
receive private Holy Communion, or if you have a family member who cannot come to church Dec. 6 - Ashley Delong 12/10/1960 Doris & Carl Epting
for Communion, please notify the Pastor.
Dec. 7 – Jonathan Weidman 12/10/1994 Jennifer & Michael Weidman
Upper Room Daily Devotional guides are available in the Narthex, incl. large print, for $1. Dec. 12 – Keegan Weller 12/11/1982 Jill & Vern Shade

This Week at the Church: The 2011 Offering Envelope Sets are available for you to pick up on the table by the bell. At
all times, please remember to inform the church office of any address changes in order that
Today: 8:45am - Confirmation Classes; 9:00am - Church School; 10:15am - Worship:
your membership and mailing records will be accurate.
Christmas Fund Offering; FALL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING; Altar Guild decorating
sanctuary following meeting; 5:30pm – Bell Choir Your Church Staff and Information:
Monday: 6:30pm – Brownies; 6:30pm – Boy Scouts [cabin]; 7:00pm - Endowment Rev. Dr. Katherine Brearley. Pastor 610-295-9599
Thursday: 6:30pm – Worship & Music Ministry Team; 7:30pm – Loft Choir Dawn Strunk, Church Secretary 610 682-0802
Next Sunday: 8:45am - Confirmation Classes; 9:00am - Church School; 10:15am - Worship: Ann Mabry Miller, Organist 610 966-3160
Church School Program; 5:30pm – Bell Choir Vern Shade, Bell Choir Director 610 395-0970
Beverly Thomas, Learning Center Director 610 682-9750
Remember to check the calendar outside the church office for any schedule changes -
Ron Newhard, Sexton 610 966-4298
but please do not change that calendar without the knowledge of the church staff.
Page 5 Pastor Kathy’s “NEW” E-mail address is longswamppastor@windstream.net