2 – Hanging of the Greens

Worship Celebration with Communion

Cresskill Congregational Church United Church of Christ

December 6, 2020, 10:00 A.M.

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

85 Union Ave, Cresskill, NJ 07626 (201) 568-0608 www.cresskillucc.org

Rev. Ronald E. Verblaauw, Interim Pastor [email protected] Cell phone - (201) 838-4254

Julie Schmidt, Choir Director [email protected] Cheryl Woertz, Music Director [email protected] Eileen Andriano, Office Manager [email protected] Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 2

PRELUDE

THE WELCOME Rev. Ronald E. Verblaauw

AN ADVENT CELEBRATION - HANGING OF THE GREENS

HYMN “Come, O Long-Expected ” (vv. 1 & 4) NCH #122 Tune: Stuttgart

Come, O long expected Jesus, born to set all people free; From our fears and sins release us; grant us your true liberty.

By your own eternal Spirit, come to claim us as your own; By your all-sufficient merit, let us share your cross and crown.

PASTOR: Advent is a time of preparation and a time of waiting. As we make ready for Christ’s coming, we prepare our sanctuary and our homes with the symbols of , and we prepare our hearts by opening them to God’s promise. Then, in awesome anticipation, we wait, focusing our hearts and minds on God’s greatest gift to the world, God’s Son, born as a tiny babe in a humble manger in .

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9:6 (NRSV)

Let us pray (in unison):

Heavenly Creator, as we decorate this sanctuary and our homes, fill our hearts and minds with your love and peace. Help us to focus with joy on the true meaning of Christmas. May the hope, peace, and joy of this season surround us with your bountiful grace and love. Amen.

Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 3

THE ADVENT

READER 1: The circle of evergreens, having no end and bearing four candles, reminds us of the eternal Christ, the light of the world. Each Sunday in Advent, a new candle is lit until all four glow on the fourth Sunday.

Every home should have a circle with four lights. For us, some people will be in the church sanctuary and some will be at home, but always we name that the primary place of claiming God’s light is where each person lives.

Several years ago, Cláudio Carvalhaes, professor of worship at Union Theological Seminary, suggested that we lament before we light – naming those things which oppose or diminish our hope, peace, joy and love. We name them and then claim the power of that light over them. It is a wise lesson, and in this strange year, his insight seems even more true.

We ask each of you to contribute one word, or name several of the things which oppose hope or shatter peace, the things we miss that seem so important to our joy, the things that numb us to love, and put those words on one or several small pieces of paper in the center of your home wreath and, if possible and you are willing, post them in the chat or comments of Zoom or Facebook Livestream. Many of these may be similar each week – because the same things are quenching all four glowing points of our emotional compass.

Second Sunday in Advent

Leader:

In our sanctuary and in our homes we gather around to pray our lost hopes, broken peace, limited joys, and love so hard to find and share in this season of coronavirus. We affirm that our candles mean we claim the power to call this season Advent - when God’s light comes into the world nothing can overcome it.

We light the candle of hope.

The first is lit. Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 4

People / Liturgist Reading for the People

We now light the candle of peace in spite of:

[for example: gun violence, anger, post-election violence, dangerous homes, depression and addiction …]

The second Advent candle is lit.

Leader:

God’s peace illuminates the possibility of reconciliation and healing and brightens the path to joy.

People / Liturgist Reading for the People

Emmanuel, God be with us, in the week to come, lighting hope and peace on the wick of our lives so that we may shine on our world. Amen.

Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (v. 3) Veni Emmanuel The New Century Hymnal #116

O come, O come, O Adonai, who came to all on Sinai high, And from its peak a single law proclaimed in majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

THE SYMBOL OF THE EVERGREENS

READER 2: Among the ancient Romans, the evergreen served as a symbol of peace, joy, and victory. The early Christians placed them in their windows to signify that Christ had entered their home. The evergreen also serves as a symbol of eternal life – always green, always fresh and alive, everlasting. Thus, the evergreen is a symbol of the eternal promise of salvation and the everlasting God. The hanging of the greens has become a tradition of preparation for Christmas.

HYMN “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (v. 1) UMC #184 Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 5 Tune: Divinum Mysterium

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, he is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he of the things that are, that have been and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore.

THE ORIGIN AND SYMBOL OF THE POINSETTIA

READER 1:

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.” - Isaiah 60: 1-2 (NRSV)

The poinsettia is known in Central America as the “Flower of the Holy Night.” This blossom is a newer Christmas tradition. Its star shape reminds us of the Bethlehem star. Two legends have evolved from this flower. The first explains its origin. A little boy, having nothing to give the baby Jesus, prayed, and as he did, the flower grew at his feet. He picked the blossom and gave it to the Christ Child. The second legend tells us that the poinsettia was white, representing the purity of Christ.

Place poinsettia(s) on the altar.

HYMN “Creator of the Stars of Night” (vv. 1 & 5) Hymnal 1982 #60 Tune:

Creator of the stars of night, your people’s everlasting light, O Christ, Redeemer of us all, we pray you hear us when we call.

Come in your holy might, we pray, redeem us for eternal day; defend us while we dwell below from all assaults of our dread foe.

CHRISMONS Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 6

READER 3: “Chrismons” are handmade ornaments with various symbols of . The name “Chrismon” comes from a combination of the words Christ and Monogram. Some of the traditional symbols of Christianity are monograms composed of various combinations of letters for the name Christ or titles for Jesus. These monograms and other symbols were used in the early church as secret symbols of Christianity. To preserve the tradition of what the Chrismons represent the liturgical colors of white, silver, and gold are used.

FISH: Early Christians used the drawing of a simple fish outline to identify themselves to one another, as they were often persecuted by the Roman Empire officials.

The FISH Chrismon is hung on the tree.

MANGER: The birth of Jesus and the ordinary life, to which he was born,

A MANGER Chrismon is hung on the tree.

ANGEL: Represents God’s messengers who brought the good news of Jesus’ birth,

An ANGEL Chrismon is hung on the tree.

DOVE: The best known symbol of the Holy Spirit, reminding us of Jesus’ baptism,

A DOVE Chrismon is hung on the tree.

CHI RHO: The oldest monogram for Jesus Christ. They represent the 1st & 2nd letters of the Greek word for CHRIST.

A CHI RHO Chrismon is hung on the tree.

CROWN: Symbolizes CHRIST as King of Kings

A CROWN Chrismon is hung on the tree.

READING FROM THE PSALMS Psalm 85 (NRSV)

Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 7 Prayer for the Restoration of God’s Favor To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

1 Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin. Selah 3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.

4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us. 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 6 Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. 8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.[a] 9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

Footnotes: a. Psalm 85:8 Gk: Heb but let them not turn back to folly

HYMN “A Great and Mighty Wonder” (vv. 2 & 5) CoC #40

The Word becomes incarnate, descending from on high; And cherubim sing anthems to shepherds from the sky.

Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 8 Since all he comes to ransom, by all be he adored, The Infant born in Bethlehem, the Savior and the Lord!

SYMBOL OF THE

READER 2: The shepherd’s crook is a common symbol of Christmas, reminding us of the humble shepherds who were the first to worship the newborn Christ child. The “Candy Cane” had its beginning in 1670 when a choirmaster in Germany handed out sugar sticks, bent as a shepherd’s crook, to keep his young singers quiet during a Christmas pageant. At the turn of the century, red and white stripes and peppermint flavoring became the norm. The white represents Christ’s purity and the red stripe, the Lord’s sacrifice. The candy cane can be seen as a “J” standing for Jesus or the crook of the Good Shepherd. No matter how plentiful and traditional the candy cane is at Christmas, it is a true symbol of Christ’s birth.

A CANDY CANE is hung on the tree.

ALL OTHER SYMBOLS: There are many other symbols which represent all our traditions and meanings, old and new. Whatever your symbols, we encourage you to remember and remind others of them often.

All other ornaments may be brought forward to be hung on the tree.

THE CHRISTMAS STAR

READER 1: The star serves as a symbol of Christmas in many ways. We remember the and the Magi following the star to find the Christ child. Revelation 22:16 also refers to Jesus as the Morning Star:

“It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Starlight is universal; its rays are seen everywhere and so stars have become a symbol of peace throughout the world.

Deacons will light the pew lights.

HYMN “Star-Child” (vv. 1 & 5) Shirley Erena Murray Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 9 Sing! Prayer and Praise #174

Star-Child, earth-Child go-between of God, love Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightning rod. This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!

Hope-for-Peace Child, God’s stupendous sign, down-to-earth Child, Star of stars that shine. This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

READER 2: In ancient times, trees and all nature were held in great reverence as a symbol of rebirth. During the season, trees were brought indoors and decorated as part of pagan worship. Because of this, trees were banned in many Christian churches until the church leaders studied the words of Isaiah 60:13, “The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the pine, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of my feet.”

Many legends have evolved about the Christmas tree. The legend from the sixteenth century tells the story of Martin Luther, a German church reformer, who was inspired by the beauty of an evergreen tree lit by the stars on . He cut down the tree, dragged it home, and lighted the limbs with candles to simulate the stars in the sky above Bethlehem.

Light the Christmas tree.

ANTHEM “Angels Sing and Celebrate” Tom Fettke

THE

READER 1: - Luke 2:15-16 (NRSV)

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 10 taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.”

READER 2: In the Middle Ages, when few people could read and church services were in Latin, carved figures were used to tell Bible stories, especially the story of Jesus’ birth, the Nativity. This scene bears many names: Nativity scene, Christmas manger, manger scene, and Crèche, to name a few.

St Francis of Assisi is given credit for popularizing the manger scene in 1224 when he used a cave outside a small Italian town and set up a manger scene with live animals and real people. Jesus, the Christ Child, was life-size and was made of wax.

READER 3: Micah 5:2-5a (NRSV)

“But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.”

HYMN “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (vv. 1 & 3) COC #2

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given! Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 11 So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

PASTOR: Let us, through the great traditions of our faith, prepare with the shepherds of Bethlehem, the Wise Men from the East, Simeon and Anna, and seekers throughout the ages, to welcome the One whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. Let us prepare our hearts and our minds to receive Him when He comes. At , may we bring Him our gifts with gratitude and joy. May the message of our songs and our lives be, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, Peace and good will to people everywhere.”

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Prayer Requests Pastoral Prayer

THE OFFERTORY

God has enriched us in every way – in speech, knowledge, and spiritual gifts. From the fellowship of Jesus Christ, we are sent out to share with thanksgiving what we have received from your bountiful hand.

You are invited to continue your support at this time. You may either: • write your check and prepare it for mailing to the church, or, • to go to the church website (www.cresskillucc.org) o click on the heading ‘Give’ o then click on the green ‘Give’ button to make your donation / pledge through Tithe.ly.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Faithful God, we thank you that Christ is being revealed in every time and place until he comes again in the fullness of glory. Strengthen our testimony and spiritual gifts; increase generosity in us, we pray, as we wait for the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 12

HYMN “Come, O Long-Expected Jesus” (vv. 2 & 3) NCH #122 Tune: Stuttgart

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope to all the earth impart; Dear desire of every nation, enter every longing heart.

Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again.

SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION Maren Tirabassi

December 6, is the second Sunday in Advent, often called the Sunday of Peace. In the United States the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery is remembered on this date.

A deeply appropriate song for this day would be “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” (We have sung this song earlier during our ‘Hanging of the Greens.’) Bethlehem means “House of Bread” and the lyrics were written by Philip Brooks in the midst of his depression after the Civil War and leading the memorial service for Abraham Lincoln.

This communion liturgy is shared freely to churches that offer virtual worship or a hybrid sanctuary with both home tables and some people practicing distancing and caution in their sanctuary. This is my ninth month of offering Communion liturgy to celebrate how Sacrament transcends circumstance.

Invitation to Communion

The story is told that during the Blitz in World War II Britain, when the city was strafed and bombed, Operation Pied Piper evacuated many children to the country, but some remained in London and many of those were orphans. Some were sheltered in a Jesuit order of brothers, who noticed the children had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, night after night. When the children were being put to bed one night, one of the brothers guessed the children’s problem was that they were anxious because of uncertainty in their lives, and gave each child a small piece of bread, saying something like this –

“Hold on to your piece of bread while you are sleeping. Remember, when you woke up this morning, we fed you and took care of you. When you wake up tomorrow, we will be here for you. Let the bread remind you of this. Good night, children.” Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 13

The children slept.

Come, to be comforted in the story of Bethlehem, and in this the House of Bread. Come to be comforted at this table by a handful of bread and a cup of love, that will stay with you always.

Words of Remembering

O, we remember God’s promises of Emmanuel, and a branch of Jesse’s root, of Leader, Wisdom, Monarch, Key of all that is locked, and Dawn of every morning.

And we remember the sacred story, that happened in the House of Bread for a new mother and a fostering father, sheep and shepherds, a few wise travelers with gifts and many, many angels.

And we remember that the baby named Jesus, grew up to heal people, and teach them with strange parables, that made people angry.

At Passover he broke unleavened bread. and poured wine and love freely. that all may live in peace, and be comforted, and be led in peace, and also hope and joy and love, with all the world.

Prayer of Consecration

Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 14 Emmanuel, God with us, in our lonely nights, under our guiding stars, with the hopes and fears of all our years, we come for comfort, for peace of mind and peace on earth, for a blessing on our hands and the bread in them, on our lips and the cup we lift to it.

[In silence]

Breaking, touching, lifting the bread Pouring, touching, lifting the cup

May this bread and cup be your holy Life, that we may ponder in our hearts, and pray in our community …

Prayer of Our Savior

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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Hymn “Come to the Table of Grace” Words and Music by Barbara Hamm Sing! Prayer and Praise #112

Come to the table of grace. Come to the table of grace. This is Christ’s table not just yours or mine. Come to the table of grace.

v. 2 – Come to the table of peace … Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 15 v. 3 – Come to the table of love … v. 4 – Come to the table of joy …

Sharing of the Elements

Pastor: The Holy Child of Bethlehem descends to us, Unison: and is born in us in these days. Pastor: Let us share the bread. Unison: We hear the Christmas angels their great glad tidings tell. Pastor: Let us drink deeply, Christ abides with us.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God, we give you thanks that you have come to us – in the child of Bethlehem, in this bread and cup, and in your answer to all of our hopes and your offer of peace, deeper than any truce, truer than the upheaval that surrounds us. You have comforted us with your promise and your presence so that we too may spread the welcome wings of your good tidings. Amen.

THE BLESSING

My friends, life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who make this earthly pilgrimage with us, so be swift to love and make haste to be kind.

+ May the blessing of God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, the God who made us, the God who loves us, and the God who travels with us every moment of our lives, be and remain with you all, now and forever more. Amen.

CHORAL RESPONSE (in unison) ⎯ Edelweiss

May the Lord, mighty God, bless and keep us forever; Grant us peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor. Lift up our eyes and see God’s face, and God’s grace forever; Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 16 May the Lord, mighty God, bless and keep us forever.

Resources used in preparation of this week’s liturgy and the devotional materials following were:

Kimberly Bracken Long, Ed., Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014).

Maren Tirabassi, Blog: https://giftsinopenhands.wordpress.com • An Ceremony for 2020, published October 30, 2020, • Holy Communion Liturgy for the Second Sunday in Advent, the Sunday of Peace, published November 27, 2020.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 17

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our service this morning is led by Rev. Ron Verblaauw and the lay leader is Glenn Woertz.

Birthday wishes this week Buddy Clark - 6, Katie Hampton - 7, Robert Hargrove Jr. – 10, and In Young Sohn - 11.

If you want to order a poinsettia plant for the sanctuary in honor or memory of a loved one, please contact the office. The deadline to order a plant is this Wednesday, December 9.

Topic: Cresskill UCC Virtual / Zoom Worship Time: Dec 6, 2020 09:45 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97309458801?pwd=TmJXTUZlY1g0Mm5WbjFVa0wvdGdBQT09

Meeting ID: 973 0945 8801 Passcode: 531444

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Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 18 *** Reminder ***

If you are planning to attend our in-person service next Sunday, December 13, please call Eileen at the church office at 201-568-0608. You can reach her Monday – Thursdays from 10am-3pm.

The Work of Advent by Maren Tirabassi

Howard Thurman is the inspiration for this reflection on the work of Advent in this season of coronavirus.

When the carols of choirs are stilled,

when so many dear ones are gone it seems like the stars have blinked their tears into darkness,

when the year has kept so many home and endangered the homes of so many others,

when the shepherds of the year are health care workers, and, like those flock-keepers long ago, those in essential but poorly-honored jobs,

the work of Advent begins:

to find the grieving, the fearful, the lost,

to heal those broken in spirit with the story of an unexpected hope in another time of great danger,

to feed, clothe, shelter, employ, those financially insecure,

Order of Worship, December 6, 2020 – Pg. 19 to release the prisoner – especially those in immigration detention,

to rebuild all the nations, because the is that gifts come not out of our own chimneys but from strangers who live far away,

to become stable-makers that shelter peace, health, wisdom and care for the earth itself,

to sing the carols in our homes and teach the words and maybe one tune to someone, perhaps a child, who longs for a new harmony.

Source: https://giftsinopenhands.wordpress.com/2020/11/23/the-work-of-advent-after-howard-thurman/