This Week at Central Congregational Church

Sunday, 13th                  9:30   Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

                                    10:00   Worship Service and Sunday School

                                    11:15   Pageant Rehearsal, Sanctuary

                                    11:30   Communications Committee, Room 303

                                    11:30   Music Committee, Room 307

                                    Noon   God and Country Preparation, Room 302

                                    Noon   ChristCare Training, Room 308

                                      1:00   Boy Scout Troop 74 Eagle Ceremony,

                                                            Sanctuary/Fellowship Hall

                                      7:00   Boy Scout Troop 74 Patrol Leaders, Fellowship Hall

Monday, 14th                 4:00   Daisy Troop 63115, Room 302

                                      4:30   Daisy Troop 62063, Room 303

                                      4:00   Girl Scout Troop 66167, Fellowship Hall

                                      6:00   Boy Scout Troop 74, Fellowship Hall

                                      7:00   Christian Education Committee, Room 308

Tuesday, 15th                             4:30   Brownie Troop 830, Fellowship Hall

                                      7:00   Parents of Teens, 9 Worthen Street

                                      7:15   Stephen Ministry, Room 308

                                      7:30   House Committee, Room 307

                                      7:30   Cub Scout Pack 45 Committee, Fellowship Hall

                                      7:30   SonLight, Church Bank Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Wednesday, 16th            1:00   KiSeLo, Fellowship Hall

                                      4:00   Brownie Troop 6310, Fellowship Hall

                                      7:15   Diaconate, 9 Worthen Street     

Thursday, 17th                           4:30   Girl Scout Troop 62044, Fellowship Hall

                                      7:00   Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary                 

Friday, 18th                    3:30   Cub Scout Pack 45-Den 11, Room 303

                                      3:45   Brownie Troop 66406, Fellowship Hall

                                      4:30   Cub Scout Pack 45-Den 1, Room 302

                                      4:30   Cub Scout Pack 45-Den 12, Room 308

                                      5:15   Brownie Troop 60209, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, 19th                

Sunday, 20th                  9:30   Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

                                    10:00   Lessons and Carols, Sanctuary

                                    11:45   Middle School Youth Group, Fellowship Hall

                                    Noon   God and Country Preparation, Room 302

                                      1:30   Caroling

 

Liturgy for the Third Sunday of Advent

We light this candle as a symbol of Christ, our joy.

Jesus is near, and therefore, so is joy. Despite the frantic bustle and the pressure that           

Christmas so often brings, the promise is clear: Jesus is near.

Amid the din and hype we hear the promise of God’s presence and so we rejoice.

We light a candle to help us remember that Jesus, our joy, is near.

(The third candle is lit.)

 

 

Announcements for the Week of December 13th

u  Prayer Notebook: There is a notebook in the narthex for prayer requests. If you have a concern or celebration you would like to have included in the Prayers of the Faithful, please write it in the notebook and it will be brought to the Pastor in time for the prayer.

u  We remember in prayer our church friends at home: Thelma House, Janet Olsson, June Nickless, Lilla Eaton, Marion Gowdy, and Edna Lambert.

u  For 107 years, the Christmas Fund Offering for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund has been a way in which we, as members of the United Church of Christ have embodied Christ’s compassion and care to those who serve our church. The severe economic downturn experienced since the start of the current recession at the end of 2007 has created even greater financial stress on those with the most limited resources and resulted in an unprecedented number of requests for Ministerial Assistance compared with prior years. Because of that, we ask you to prayerfully consider your response to the 2009 Offering and give to the best of your ability. Think of the ways in which your life was touched by a retired pastor, a former Sunday School teacher, a church secretary, a custodian, a minister of music – and honor their ministries in a way that will help them in these critical times. Please use the Christmas Fund envelope in this bulletin to make your contribution. As always, thank you for your generosity and have a Blessed Holiday Season.

u  Today’s Lessons and Carols/Pageant rehearsal will take place immediately following the service. Teachers will take the children to the sanctuary. Parents, please pick your children up from the sanctuary after rehearsal which should be over around noon.

u  Today is the last day to bring in “Secret Santa” gifts wrapped and labeled. If you forgot, please contact a SAM member or call Carol Cleven, (CCC Directory).

u  Orphan Dishes:  There are many dishes left in the kitchen from the fair and other events. Please check the table at the back of the hall to see if anything belongs to you. 

u  Have you guessed who's been sending you Secret Pal cards this year....who remembered your birthday? No? Well, come to KiSeLo on Wednesday, December 16th, at 1:00 p.m. and find out who has been bringing a smile to your face this year. Our suggested Open Pantry items are small boxes of muffin mix or coffee, tea or cocoa mix. Hope to you there!

u  Come carol with the carolers on Sunday, December 20th. We will meet at the church at 1:30 p.m. and be joined by The Holy Cows and The God Squad. To join in the Christmas spirit, email Lindsay Acheson at lindsayacheson@yahoo.com or call at (CCC Directory).

u  We need one adult who doesn't have children in the Lessons and Carols/Pageant next Sunday, December 20th, to volunteer to be in the Loving Arms Nursery, so that the regular teachers can be in the sanctuary. Can you help? Please let Judie Bryant know, if you can. Thanks.

u  Millie Whitney is living with her son in Pennsylvania. Her address is: Millie Whitney, c/o Steve McDonald, 1630 Heebner Way, Lansdale, PA  19446. She would love to hear from her friends.

u  The deadline for the January Crusader is Monday, December 21st with a mailing/emailing date of December 30th.

u  Members of the Chelmsford Board of Selectmen are in the beginning stages of fostering a Military Community Covenant with Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts and the local military community. Originally a US Army program, the Community Covenant is designed to foster and sustain a formal partnership with our armed forces to improve the quality of life for local military members, their families, and veterans. Once implemented, we hope to harness the generous volunteer spirit of our residents to help military families and veterans in need in a variety of ways. This will be a town sponsored, volunteer program at no cost to taxpayers. The Covenant will be formally signed at a ceremony, on December 17, 2009 at the Chelmsford Lodge of Elks on 300 Littleton Road in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

u  Prayer Chain consists of dedicated people who firmly believe in the power of prayer. If you wish to be part of this chain, or have prayer concerns, contact Daphne Freeman, (CCC Directory), or Ginnie Hall, (CCC Directory).

u  If certain holidays cause you sadness, contact Pastor John or a Stephen Leader and let a Stephen Minister walk beside you, pray with you and for you, and help you handle your particular burden. Stephen Leaders: Linda Carson, (CCC Directory), Ginnie Hall, (CCC Directory) or Karen Papenfuss, (CCC Directory).

u  Thank you to EVERYONE who worked so hard to put together the reception for my Ecclesiastical Council last Tuesday evening. It was a wonderful night that I will never forget. A special thanks to the House Committee, John Smith and Peter Rogers particularly, for working so hard to get the heat fixed. Thank you, too, to all of my church family who were able to come to my council and to those who offered prayers and good wishes. A special thank you to Linda Lis, organizer extraordinaire, and to Linn Flint, for all her help. Thank you, too, to Pastor John for all his support, prayers and singing a mighty fine, "Why did he come down?” at the council. Blessings, Judie Bryant

u  Please take a look at the Jesse Tree that the children in grades 1-8 have been working on these last few weeks. The Jesse Tree is in the hallway by the elevator and there is an explanation of the symbolism of the Jesse Tree on the wall next to it.

u  Please bring in cans and other non perishable foods to add to our second annual food can tree. The tree is in the narthex this year and due to the lower ceiling is a bit smaller than last year, but that doesn't mean that we can't equal or surpass last year's food collection. All food will be brought to the Open Pantry of Lowell.

u  The Music Committee is looking for 2 interested people to join Music Committee members to be on the Search Committee for a Director of Music. The Committee will have its first meeting the first week in January. If you are interested in being on the search committee, please contact Margie Dissinger at (CCC Directory) or email at margie228@gmail.com.