By R. Fisher Boyce, Kate Bryan, Vocals, Cliff Demanty, Guitar and Piano

Order of Service December 13, 2020

PRELUDE: "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" by R. Fisher Boyce, Kate Bryan, vocals, Cliff DeManty, guitar and piano

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREETINGS: Wendy Morical, Moderator OPENING BELL LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE (CALL TO WORSHIP): Ross and Jessica Gjerde, Kaitlin and Ryan The Innkeeper’s candle (Hospitality) Reader: The Christmas season is filled with activities—at least, normally. How will we shop this year? How can we feel safe going to parties? And there’s the rest of our strange lives this year. How can we find time to entertain the Christ child and his family? So often we go with what clamors the loudest, and we miss the gentle “tap tap” at the door. Reader: Weary travelers go hesitantly this year, but still need lodging, food, even entertainment. And on top of that there are refugees the world over—and two ragged souls here at our door, asking us to do even more. How can we be hospitable in such a time as this, to such souls as these? “I’m sorry, it’s too risky to let you come in, and too many people wandering homeless. But I see you two have need. I’ll work something out. There’s a stable out back. The animals will keep you warm…” And another candle joins those flickering two. Prayer: O holy child of Bethlehem, we open our hearts to you. And we seek to offer your hospitality to others in need in this holy season. Amen. OPENING HYMN: “We Hail You God's Anointed” #104 (see sheet music below)

RESPONSIVE READING Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. PEOPLE: THE LIGHT SHINES EVEN IN THE PLACES WHERE SHADOWS TOUCH OUR LIVES. Leader: Rejoice, then, friends, for Christ's presence lives among us. PEOPLE: AND BRINGS LIGHT TO OUR WORLD.

SCRIPTURE READINGS Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of recompense of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion--to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations...

For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God' for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Luke 1: 46b-55 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

MESSAGE: “Reason for Hope?” — Dick Weaver

MUSIC FOR REFLECTION 3

SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS

SILENT PRAYER, PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

PRAYER RESPONSE

STEWARDSHIP MOMENT

OFFERTORY During this challenging time, your continued financial support of Pilgrim Church allows us to continue to serve members and friends in new ways, pay our staff, and maintain our church building. If you wish to contribute using a credit/debit card or via a direct transfer from your bank, use Pilgrim’s secure website donation page: https://uccbozeman.org/donate-1

You may also mail a check directly to the church office: Pilgrim Church, 2118 S. Third Ave. Bozeman, 59715

HYMN OF DEDICATION: "My Soul Gives Glory to My God" #119 (see sheet music below)

POSTLUDE: “In the Bleak Midwinter" by Christina Rossetti and Gustav Holst, Kate Bryan, vocals and clarinet, Cliff DeManty, piano

______MANY THANKS to Amy Leach, hymnist, and Quarney Ali, live stream producer and video editor. ______

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staying in Touch: During this time of isolation, electronic communication is how we find out what's happening in our Pilgrim community and with one another. If you aren't receiving our twice-weekly messages, Click Here to sign up for our Weekend Preview Newsletter and/or our Concerns & Celebrations emails. Here's a link to the latest Concerns & Celebrations email: https://conta.cc/3mx5Rfa

Click Here to visit our website or type https://www.uccbozeman.org into your browser window. On the Pilgrim Blog If you need a little midweek inspiration, check out the Pilgrim Blog. This week's post was written by Wendy Morical. Look for a new post each Wednesday. You can get there, any time, from the home page of our website. Look for "Blog" under the "Ministries" tab.

Longest Night Worship Service, online December 21 at 7 p.m.: If there was ever a year when we can all relate to it, it’s 2020. A Longest 5

Night service, also known as a Blue Christmas service, is a simple, more somber worship which acknowledges that some of us aren’t all that excited about how happy we’re supposed to be at Christmas, and how “jolly” everything is. It’s a way to acknowledge loss, illness, troubled relationships, depression, etc. It will be a shorter service, but hopefully one that’s meaningful for those of us not really in the Christmas Spirit this year. The Social Justice Team is looking for a new treasurer. There isn't that much to it. For each donation, the Social Justice treasurer sends a simple voucher to Pilgrim's treasurer, gets the returned statements, looks them over, and updates the Social Justice budget spreadsheet. An email will be sent to the new Social Justice treasurer with a blank voucher that should explain everything.

At the end of December, outgoing treasurer Sara Bisterfeldt will send an updated spreadsheet for 2020 donations and it will have a blank column for 2021.

If you're interested, please contact Marci Young: [email protected] or (802) 888-3914

THANK YOU to Sara Bisterfeldt for her 5 years of dutifully fulfilling this role for the Social Justice team.

COUNCIL NOTES: Interim, Wagner Legacy, and Pilgrim Connect During the pandemic, your Council has continued to meet monthly, conducting the business of the church. These meetings are a chance for representatives from all committees to report their accomplishments and share their plans. Our Treasurer brings us up to

date on the current financial status of the church and current staff may weigh in with issues important to them. Click here to read an update on recent Council topics. 2020 POINSETTIAS donated by:  Randy and Sally Sullivan  Sally Babcock  Al and Sam Cunningham, in loving memory of our folks  Gary and Colleen Brester, in honor of our beloved family  Wayne and Norma Roberts, in honor of our parents, Ned & Audie Roberts and  Arden and Cathlene Hagy  Roger and Barbara Worthen, in memory of our parents  Bob Nichol and Phyllis Bock, in memory of our parents  Gail Cary, in memory of Bill and Fran Lounsbery, my parents  Julie Mackley, in loving memory of Bob  Donna Beasley, in memory of Bill Beasley  David and Rusty Swingle  Jim Cole  Jim Devitt and Wendy Morical, in memory of our parents  Jack and Tawnie Lehman, in memory of John Lehman and Bill & Jean Quinn  Robert and Lloyd-Ann McMahan, in memory of our parents  Roger and Pat Holm, in memory of Bernard and Vera Holm and Pat’s parents and grandparents

The 2020 Giving Tree: The Giving Tree project this Christmas season will be modified due to Covid 19. The tree will not be in the Narthex this year. Instead, you'll find a decorated Giving Tree box in which to leave your gift. The charities this year are the Warming Center, Haven, and the Blueprint Home. Items needed by the shelters are 7

listed below after descriptions of the shelters. Two of the shelters are requesting gift cards that can be purchased at grocery stores. The gift cards are very much needed and can be mailed directly to our contacts at the shelters. Please do not put gift cards in the Giving Tree box. The gifts should be new, unwrapped and please tape a note to the gift with the name of the shelter. Click here to read the full 2020 Giving Tree announcement.

Stewardship 2021: Letters to the Pilgrims: "Letters to the Pilgrims" allow for connection and reflection on the importance of our church community during this stewardship season. Please get in touch with Mindy Misener (contact information in the directory) or the church office if you are interested in writing a Letter to the Pilgrims to be shared with the congregation during one of the upcoming Sunday services. Youth Group Secret Santa: December 18 from 6 to 7 p.m.: Youth in grades 6 -12 are invited to bring a small gift under $10 for a secret Santa exchange. This annual tradition is a lot of fun and we are excited to offer it this year. With the surge of COVID-19, we will meet outside and warm up around a fire-pit. The Narthex will be open for those who feel too cold. We'll practice social distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing protocols. If a youth is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms: fever, cough, headache, please stay home. Pilgrim Christmas Tree Decorating through December 21: Everyone is invited to hang an ornament on our Christmas Tree in the Narthex. The building is open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. (If you need weekend access, call the office to arrange an alternate day/time: 587-3690). We'll compile pictures

of the decorated tree during the month of December and create a virtual slideshow. You can retrieve your ornament after Christmas.

First Christmas Album from Storyhill: After three decades of writing and performing together, Storyhill has just released their first holiday album, Bethlehem. "Embracing the full depth and meaning of the Advent and Christmas season, this album leans into the message of hope for a more peaceful world." The album is for sale at Cactus Records and Gifts and Storyhill.com. Free Holiday Concert Video: Pilgrim Church members, Kate Bryan and Cliff DeManty, along with their Kate & The AlleyKats' bandmate Ron Schimpf have created a free Holiday concert video as a gift to the Bozeman community during this holiday season. Click Here to watch. Zoom-Along Christmas Sing-Along, December 20 at 4 p.m.: All are welcome to join this interactive and fun, Virtual Christmas Sing- along event led by Kate Bryan and Cliff DeManty. The sing-along will feature traditional Christmas carols and holiday favorites (words provided). To receive the zoom link, song words, and event details, email [email protected] by 12 noon on 12/20. Everyone welcome! Pilgrim Church membership is not a requirement for participation. If others in the church would like to lead (sing and accompany) a well-known Christmas carol or holiday sing-along song, please contact Kate by 12/16 via phone or text: 406-570-2839. See you there for some holiday cheer and song!