Bethel UCC Worship Service - First Sunday of Advent - November 28, 2021

November 28, 2021 – 1st Sunday of Advent Calm and Bright: Sleep in Peace "While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." - Luke 2: 6 This Advent season join Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ as we celebrate the message of the beloved Christmas carol, "Silent Night, Holy Night" using materials from Marcia McFee and Worship Design Studio. This over 200-year old hymn gives hopes when we sing “all is calm, all is bright” bringing peace, joy and love to soothe our hearts and help us focus on and celebrate the message of Christmas – God with us. One of the most famous stories about this beloved hymn took place in World War I. British and German soldiers on the front lines called a truce on Christmas Day. So close where the encampments from which they were fighting one another, they could hear each other in the peaceful quiet of the truce singing “Silent Night,” each in their own language. This prompted the soldiers to come out and meet on the battlefield, without weapons, and they spent the day playing soccer and exchanging small gifts–whatever they had. Humanity is the holy infant for whom God so desires a heavenly peace. Is it possible to bring calm and bright to our own corners of this world? Special Thanks to Our Worship Leaders: Rev. David Randall-Bodman – Pastor Beth Astarte – Program Coordinator Paige Unangst – Reader Beth Asmann– Greeter, Usher Peter and Susan Bauer - Advent Family Beth Asmann, Mark Clift, Lynne Marie Elbert, Rod Etter, Nancy Macpherson, Diana Marsden, Kala Mulcahy, George Patch, Liz Patch - Singers Owen Hofmann-Smith – vocals, guitar, cello, producer Chad Halligan – piano Cathy Thoma, Nancy Macpherson, Lynne Marie Elbert – Worship Visuals Nikki Manley Smith, Monique Manley Smith, Leon Taylor, Kathy McCullough- A/V Assistance Kristin Harbert – Announcement Slides Credits “Nocturne in E-Flat Major” Music by Chopin “Parent’s Day” Music by Jim Lang “The Church’s One Foundation” Words by Samuel J. Stone. Music by Samuel S. Wesley. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-723031. All rights reserved. “We Need a Silent Night in Here” Marsha Jean Moors-Chalres. Arrangement by Chuck Bell. Reprinted with permission under WORSHIPcast License #12575 All rights reserved. “Watcher Tell us of the Night” Words by John Bowring. Music by Joseph Parry Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-723031. All rights reserved. “Let There be Peace on Earth” Written by Jill Jackson and Sy Miller Reprinted with permission under WORSHIPcast License #12575 All rights reserved. “Rise Up Shepherd and Follow” Arranged by Jack Schrader. Published by Hope Publishing Company 2021. Design, leader parts, liturgy and words for communion © Marcia McFee, www.worshipdesignstudio.com. Used with permission.