Katie Scott, President, Board of Trustees Becky Edmiston-Lange, Senior Minister Katy Carpman, Director of Religious Education Adrian Rodriguez, Music Director Hui Shan Chin, Keyboard Artist Deck the Hall! Rev. Becky Edmiston-Lange & Katy Carpman December 8, 2019 Our beloved community of faith, reason, and affection welcomes all to grow in mind and spirit as we build a better world. A Welcoming Congregation CELEBRATION OF SUNDAY WORSHIP December 8, 2019 Prelude This is special music while we gather together. Some people will come forward to light a candle. Our pianist Shan will play Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaokovsky. We find a place to sit and we listen quietly. Welcome and Announcements—-Board trustee Dori Wolfe welcomes us here. Opening Carol - Come, Sing Carols with Me (a variation on #346) Come, sing carols with me, come, sing carols with me, Come, sing carols with me, that I might know your mind. And I’ll bring you hope, when hope is hard to find, And I’ll bring a song of love, and a rose in the winter time. 2: Come, share stories with me… 3: Come, deck the halls with me... Call to Worship—our minister Becky shares words of hope from Kathleen McTigue. Chalice Lighting (say the words in italics) In this small flame dwell: the beacon light of lanterns guiding travelers home; the warmth of hearth fires tended through the generations; the transforming energy of furnaces and the power and life of our sun. May these blessings -- warmth and light and life-giving energy -- be kindled in each of us. -Jean L. Wahlstrom Greeting One Another We take a couple of minutes to meet the people around us. Story 1: Greenery Our minister Becky tells a story. We sit quietly and listen. Anthem A special piece of music from our choir. Today’s piece is “Let it Snow.” We sit quietly and listen. Story 2: The Legend of the Poinsettia from Tomie DePaola Our director of religious education Katy shares a story. We sit quietly and listen. Carol Deck the Hall Sing or hum along—and if you like, come forward to help us put out the garland and poinsettias! Deck the hall with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la la la, la la la la, Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la la la, la la la la. See the blazing Yule before us, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Strike the harp and join the chorus, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la la la, la la la la, While I tell of Yuletide treasure, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Fast away the old year passes, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Sing we joyous all together, Fa la la la la, la la la la, Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Story 3: Charles Follen and the Christmas Tree Rev. Becky tells a story. We sit quietly and listen. Offering—We pass a basket to raise money for those in need. Shan will play Le Cygna by Camile Saint-Saens. Story 4: Ornaments Katy tells a story. We sit quietly and listen. Carol O Christmas Tree Sing or hum along—and if you like, come forward to help us decorate the tree! O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, A tree most fair and lovely. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, A tree most fair and lovely. The sight of you at Christmastide spreads hope and gladness far and wide. O Christmas tree, O Christmas Tree, A tree most fair and lovely. O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, You bear a wondrous message! O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, You bear a wondrous message! You do proclaim the Savior’s birth, Good will to men and peace on earth. O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, You bear a wondrous message! Taking it Home— Christmas Comes Whether You Are Ready or Not by Cynthia Frado. We sit quietly and listen. Closing Carol We Wish You A Merry Christmas We rise and sing—hum if you need to! We wish you a merry Christmas, (3x) And a happy New Year! Refrain: Glad tidings we bring to you and your kin, Glad tidings for Christmas and a happy New Year! Please bring us some figgy pudding, (3x) And bring it right here! Refrain We won’t go until we get some, (3x) Please bring it right here! Refrain Benediction—We’re sent out into the world with a blessing. Postlude—Our pianist Shan will play The Christmas Song. We listen, then exit to The Gathering Place. Thank you to our greeters: Betsy Gelb, Shelley Gottschalk; to our ushers: Shelley Gottschalk, Patrick Grealy, Judy Williams, Dori Wolfe; and to our AV team: Kevin Crotty. Next week—December 15, 2019 “We Need a Little Christmas” Holiday Pops Spectacular Adrian Rodriguez and Rev. Becky Edmiston-Lange As we approach winter, come join the Emerson Music Department and Rev. Becky Edmiston-Lange in a Christmas pops performance! Today!—Children/Youth Religious Education This Sunday all ages take part in worship as we share stories and carols and decorate our Sanctuary together! Children should see the ushers for supplementary materials. Learn more: http://emersonhouston.org/sundayclasses. Want to get a weekly text about Sunday School? Sign up online at www.remind.com/ Next Sunday!—Adult Religious Education December 15 – The Nicomachean Ethics – Applying Aristotle to Social Jus- tice in the 21st century, presented by Mike Condit December Share-the-Plate Collections—Benevolence Fund Members and friends sustain the operating expenses of the church with their pledges enabling us to donate our entire offering to organizations approved by our Outreach Committee. Administered by the Senior Minister, the Fund provides immediate financial assistance to members of the congregation or the community who are ex- periencing a financial emergency. People who receive assistance are also encouraged to take advantage of the network of social support organiza- tions, but sometimes there is no substitute for an immediate small monetary gift and - “no questions asked”. It can mean the difference between someone making it through a difficult stretch or slipping further behind. Please give generously so that Emerson can continue to have a positive impact on peo- ple’s immediate well-being. If paying by check, please indicate “Share the Plate” on the memo line of your check. If paying your pledge, please write “Pledge” on the memo line of your check. This Week Around Emerson Mondays—Beginners’ Meditation We welcome people from all backgrounds and spiritual prac- tices. 7-8:15 PM, Room 208. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays—ELL (English Language Learning) Classes Tuesday/Thursday evening classes from 6:30-8:30 PM and Saturdays from 1-4 PM. Interested in volunteering? E-mail the program director for more informa- tion at [email protected]. Wednesdays—Stitchers in The Gathering Place Stop by for stitching and/or conversation from 11 AM - 3 PM. Wednesdays—Choir Rehearsals For all who are interested in sharing music with our beloved community, please attend the laid-back rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 7-9 PM. No audi- tion needed. Contact Adrian Rodriguez, [email protected], with any ques- tions and to get involved! Next Week! Emerson’s ELL Program Holiday Bake Sale! Emerson’s celebration of the season continues next week with our Holiday Bake Sale Sunday, December 15, benefiting our English Language Learners Program. Not only will some of the best bakers of Emerson be offering their treats and sweets but many of our students (who come from over 33 different countries) have volunteered to bring specialties from their homelands as well! The Bake Sale begins at 10AM and will offer treats for Sunday morning snacking as well as your holiday celebrations. So plan to load up your holiday table with tamales, croissant bread pudding, empanadas and more! And plan to donate generously to assure the success of our English Language Learners Program as it prepares for its January 2020 Semester. NOTE: If you plan to contribute food items (and we hope you will), please consider dropping them by the Church Saturday, December 14 between 1 -4 PM. Otherwise, volunteers will be available to accept your contributions beginning at 9am Sunday, December 15. Congregational Meeting Congregational Meeting on Budget Sunday, December 15, in the Sanctuary at 12:30 PM. Childcare is provided so parents can attend this meeting. Holidays at Emerson! Holidays at Emerson! Deck the Halls Worship Service 11 AM Deck the Halls Worship Service 11 AM 12/8 All ages collaborate to decorate our Sanctuary while exploring the signs and wonder of the 12/8 All ages collaborate to decorate our Sanctuary while exploring the signs and wonder of the holiday season. Let’s all wear comfortable clothes (holiday sweaters optional.) holiday season. Let’s all wear comfortable clothes (holiday sweaters optional.) Shop Local Craft Fair 12:15 PM Shop Local Craft Fair 12:15 PM Emerson will hold its Fourth Shop Local Craft Fair after the service. Come see all the won- Emerson will hold its Fourth Shop Local Craft Fair after the service. Come see all the won- derful items! Crafters and artists: If you would like to reserve space at the fair, please con- derful items! Crafters and artists: If you would like to reserve space at the fair, please con- tact Beth Hammer or Robin McElfresh.