Sunday, December 21, 2014

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Lectionary Readings (click here to read)

Focus Text: Luke 1:26-38

8:30: Service of the Word and Table

11:00: Service of the Word

Rev. Michael, preaching

Worship Notes

Finally (or too quickly, depending on your perspective), we have a story that includes the familiar characters of our expected seasonal story:  the angel Gabriel makes the "announcement" to Mary.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Wednesday, December 24

5:00pm, 7:00pm & 11:00pm

Lessons and Carols with Communion & Candlelight

All Christmas Eve Services include Communion and a candlelight service.

5:00pm:  "Come to the Crèche:" a service specifically designed to be accessible to children.  Children AND adults are invited to come in a costume from the Christmas Eve story (costumes will also be available in the narthex). During the story, we will populate our manger on the chancel.

7:00pm: special music featuring Central's choir.

11:00pm: special music featuring solos and ensembles.

A SERVICE OF CAROLS & BLESSINGS: Sunday, Dec 28 (8:30am & 11:00am)

On the first "Sunday after Christmas," on the cusp of a New Year, Central will again have a special service of Carols & Blessings.  Rev. Michael and Gregg Tomlinson will lead a service with elements of an "Agape Meal" and a "Watch Night" service.  We will sing carols, share sweetbread, and be invited to give and receive blessings. 

CHRISTMAS FUND OFFERING:  

A UCC SPECIAL MISSION OFFERING

Many clergy and lay employees of the UCC worked without benefits or with very little pension. The Christmas fund helps provide pension and health premium supplementation to lower-income retired church workers, emergency assistance to clergy or lay church employees in need, and Christmas "Thank you" gift checks to hundreds of annuitants. If you would like to give to this fund, please make your check to "Central UCC" and put in the memo: The UCC Christmas Fund. Thank you.

Conversations about Jesus 

9:30 AM, Window Room 2, Fellowship Hall 

It's not too late to join us!  "Saving Jesus Redux" is a 12 session DVD-based curriculum that helps explore the phrase, "Our faith is over 2,000 years old, our thinking is not."  No reading required so it's great for busy people.  If you borrowed one of the extra DVDs for home viewing and are finished, please return it to the library so others can borrow it (library is off the Fellowship Hall, first room on left (window side).  We meet on Sunday mornings in the "other" Fellowship Hall window room. We will not be meeting on Dec. 28 or Jan. 4. 

 Each week this group explores how spirit guides our personal journeys, and we gain new insights by listening to each other. It is a sacred hour +, from 9:30 to about 10:50. We close the door to create a quiet space but you are welcome to come in.

Godly Play, 3rd - 5th Grades

9:30am to 11:00am 

The 3rd to 5th Grade Sunday School will be exploring the New Testament all year. We will still hear the stories as in Godly Play then we will have time for art, exploration or even discussion. Sometimes our activities will be from a Lutheran curriculum called "Connect" which is especially developed for tweens. After the response to the story, the children will have an Agape Meal, prayers and sharing time. At the time of dismissal, we like to take time to give a blessing to each child.

9:30am   Children gather in Rm 201.
9:45am   Door person brings children to Rm 207

9:45-10:50am     Godly Play is in Room 208

10:50am             Return to childcare in Room 201

11:00am              Worship

12:00-12:30pm    Children's music in Room 209

Pre-school Sunday School

11:00am to 12:00pm (Rm 205)

Through storytelling, games, and arts and crafts, the 3 and 4 year old children learn Bible stories and begin to explore ways to be kind to each other and our world.

8:30-12:15 Childcare available, Rm 201 

11:00-12:00 Sunday school, Rm 205 

Parents may pick up their children in Childcare at the end of church.

Godly Play, K - 2nd Grades

Please take your child to Room 201

Class in Room 207 from 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM

We will be telling the stories of Advent, the Holy Family and the Mystery of Christmas during December. The Godly Play approach helps children to explore their faith through story, to gain religious language and to enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play.

11:00am The children remain in Rm 201

11:10am The Children are brought to Rm 207 for Godly Play.  

11:50pm Children return to Rm 201

12:00-12:30pm Children's Music, Rm 209

Fellowship of the Grape  

Saturday, January 3^, 7:00pm

Youth Service Day  

with Trees Atlanta 

Saturday, January 10 from 8:30am-1:30pm

We will meet at the church and head down to the Kirkwood Neighborhood to help plant native trees in the city park. Trees ATL is dedicated to protecting Atlanta's Urban forest through planting, conservation, and education. They have been making sure Atlanta stays green since 1985. This event is open to all who want to join.

INQUIRERS CLASS:  

Jan. 11, 18 & 25, 9:45-10:30am, 

 Rev. Michael will host a three-session Inquirers' Series from 9:45 to 10:30 AM in his conference room (office suite).  The sessions are designed for visitors to get to know him and each other a little better and explore both Central and the United Church of Christ. Attendees, of course, are not required to join following the sessions, but may if they feel ready to do so. The next "joining day" will be February 1. To register or for more information, email Rev. Michael.

SALT SHAKERS

Interested in getting to know Central folks in a more casual atmosphere? If so, join us for Salt Shaker. On January 24, February 28, March 28 ( 4th Saturday evenings). Groups of 8 or so will meet at our homes and share a pot luck dinner. Each month, the group will be mixed , so that you meet a different group of people each month. If you want to participate ( and if you are available to host), email Laura Winebarger.

PLASTIC BAGS FOR TOCO HILLS