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Christmastide 1 December 27Th, 2020 Christmastide 1 December 27th, 2020 540 S. Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90020 Telephone 213.385.1341 – www.FCCLA.org The Gathering of the People First Congregational Church of Los Angeles is a safe place for all people, and we celebrate our diversity of race, creed, gender, religion, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions...We extend a warm welcome to all this morning and especially those who are worshiping with us for the first time. Your presence both enriches us and this time of celebration together ~ Prelude on the Great Organs Dr. Christoph Bull Do You Hear What I Hear? (Gloria Shayne & Noël Regney, arr. C. Bull) Guest Soloist: I-Chin, Mezzo-Soprano Well-tempered Variations on a Bach Prelude in D minor (Christoph Bull) Mystery Tune: Merry Gentlemen vs. ??? (arr. C. Bull) Noël Nouvelet (arr. C. Bull) Winnetou-Melodie (Martin Böttcher, arr. C. Bull) Sing-along Hymn “Angels We Have Heard On High” (arr. C. Bull) Welcome Rev. Michael Lehman Welcome to First Congregational Church of Los Angeles on a Sunday known as Christmastide. We celebrate this day with a special performance of A Christmas Carol by David Melville and carols from the traditions of Dickens’ time and place. Join us now in these Words of Gathering as we begin our time together. This is the moment. This is the day of gladness, the rebirthing of love! And we listen for the sounds of joy. Here, with the memory of angels and shepherds around us and among us in this place - and in our ordinary lives and everyday places… grace emerges. And we watch for the signs of the Holy. In this time, in every time, we hold our breath in awe for the wonder of the Christ. This morning, for this and so much more, we give thanks! Christmastide Hymn “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” GOD REST YOU MERRY God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Savior Was born on Christmas Day To save us all from suffering When we were gone astray. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy! In Bethlehem in Judah This blessed babe was born, And laid within a manger Upon this blessed morn, For which His Mother Mary Did nothing take in scorn O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy! With sudden joy and gladness, The shepherds were beguiled, To see the Babe of Israel Before his mother mild. O then with joy and cheerfulness Rejoice each mother's child. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy! Now to our God sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love for everyone Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas Is coming on apace. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy! Christmas Prayer Rev. Wally Hoeger Holy One, this morning, our hearts are filled with peace. Our lives are filled with possibility.. Our dreams are filled with hope, and our world with new promise. May we know these precious paths of our lives, and may we nurture the future they promise. As those who know and love this common joy, we pray in the name of the One who has been born again. Amen. A Reading from the Hebrew Bible from Isaiah 58 Rev. Michael Lehman Listen now to this reading from the book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible as the Prophet spoke to the people of God’s desire for their lives. This is the sort of fast that pleases me: Remove the chains of injustice! Undo the ropes of the yoke! Let those who are oppressed go free, and break every yoke you encounter! Share your bread with those who are hungry, and shelter people who are homeless. Clothe those who are naked, and don’t hide from the needs of your own flesh and blood. Do this…and your light will shine like the dawn – and your healing will break forth like lightening. Your integrity will go before you, and the Glory of God will surround you. This is the wisdom of the ages. Thanks be to God! Presentation of Offering Rev. Wally Hoeger Over the past four Sundays we heard beautiful readings from our families as they lit our Advent candles. They are lit again today, and we remember their words about - the ways hope, peace, joy, and love are always brought to birth in, through, and among - all creation. On Christmas Eve, we shared these truths when we lit candles together in our services. It was an amazing time for memories and remembering... it was a time to wonder and to give thanks for this great cathedral and - for the community of faith that has made it a home for all. Today, we also lit our Christmas candle: the Christ candle. It brings light and love as we celebrate this Christmas Tide Day. The Christ candle is one that helps us understand our diversity is a reflection of God. This knowledge drives away fear. The Christ candle is also a candle of truth. Its light will lead us in unknown paths as the new year unfolds. May the giving of our offerings this morning, help us remember who God is and who we are called to become in this, our sacred time and place. Our offerings will now be given and received. Offertory Carol “Good King Wenceslas” TRADITIONAL Laude, Dr. David Harris, Director, Molly Pease and James Hayden, Soloists Doxology For Advent or Christmas Christmas Doxology The First Noel D Bm A A7 D/F# G D A7 D A7 Praise God from whom all bless - ings flow. Praise God, all 7 D G A7 D A7 D A7 Bm A A7 crea - tures here be - low. Praise God a -yebove, 12 D/F# G D A7 D A7 D G A7 D A7 D heaven - ly host. Praise Fa - ther, Son, and Ho - ly Ghost. 18 A7 D Bm F#m D G A7 D A No - el, No -Noel, -Noel, - el, 22 Bm D/A G D A7/E D/F# D/A A7 D born is the King of Is - ra - el. Words: Thomas Ken, 1674 THE FIRST NOEL Music: Trad. English Carol Irr. with Refrain Text and tune adapted by Dean McIntyre, The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Telephone 615-340-7073. Website http://www.umcworship.org. Email address: [email protected]. Text and tune are public domain. Prayer of Dedication Rev. Michael Lehman O God of love, receive our gifts and with them the thanksgiving in our hearts for this season. This morning, we kneel before the wonder of your coming, as did the people of old. Help us now to carry your love into the world through their example. We pray this in the name of the Christ. Amen. “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens Performance by David Melville Passing of the Peace Rev. Wally Hoeger The birth of Jesus was announced by the Angel’s song of Peace and Goodwill. The life of Jesus was a covenant of Peace and Love. So this morning we give thanks to God for this never-ending gift of Peace, illusive as it may be. May the peace of God be with you. And also with you. Christmastide Benediction Rev. Michael Lehman God, you find the Tiny Tim inside of everyone — both brokenness and courage. We are absolutely vulnerable and marvelously strong, each needing a circle of love — the corner by the fire, the friend, the family — and also the unexpected intervention of compassion shared. And from this season of the longest nights and the brightest gifts you call forth the shocking universality of benediction — God bless us, everyone. Amen Christmas Hymn for the Journey GARTAN “Love Came Down At Christmas” Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas; Star and angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine; Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for sacred sign? Love shall be our token; Love be yours and love be mine; Love to God and people, Love for plea and gift and sign. Love for plea and gift and sign. Postlude Prelude in D minor from Well-Tempered Clavier (Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. C. Bull) Christoph Bull, Organist-in-Residence .
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