The Congregational Church of Wells, 
United Church of Christ 
December 13, 2016
Friends, 

Snow is here! And boy is it cold outside. It is amazing to think last December it was quite warm--I barely wore a heavy jacket! Not this winter. I want to note that I saw many neighbors doing acts of kindness to take care of people who are not able to shovel themselves, or that they have a spouse who is aways because of deployment or business. I want to encourage you if you see someone in need to also reach out in this cold winter to help. This continues the lessons of this Sunday that the gifts of love are not always what is expected, but the unexpected. And Living into the now, allows us to make changes for the future. There are always so many opportunities in front of us, let's see how God is surprising us this week! 


This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Advent: The Candle of Joy! Joy is a gift from God. It is not the same as happiness. Happiness is fleeting--the feeling when you do something good or something happens that is good. But Joy comes from the Lord. And we have to say Yes. When we do, our eyes open and we begin to see. We see the poor, the sick, the lame and the forgotten. And we remind them that God loves you, and I love you too! Joy allows us to enter into the story with Jesus. The Joy that Mary had on that not so silent night even though she had no place to call home. The Joy that the shepherds recieved when they just a simple no body was called to attend the most wonderful birth! To witness. And now we too have been invited to receive this gift. This Sunday the Kids will do the Christmas Pageant! And I encourage you to enter the story with them! What was it like for you as a child to enter the story? What is it like for you now? Remember that unless you have the heart of a child you will not enter the kingdom of God! Let us open our hearts together, recieving the gift of JOY! 

"The miracle has just begun in YOU! God Bless Us Everyone!"

God Bless Us Everyone! 
Rev. Charity Omartian

Twelve Days of Christmas 


Traditionally, the church has observed Christmas not as a single day, but as the twelve-day season of Christmas. It begins at midnight on Christmas Day and continues until January 5, the eve of Epiphany. 

All too often, the only reminder in our culture of "Christmastide" is the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." On New Year's Day we will revisit this timely song in order to teach everyone again the meaning of this very important carol. 

 Once December 25 comes and goes, most of society is ready to move on. The stores are already decorated for Valentine's Day! 

You can observe Christmastide this year by planning a schedule of specific good works. Each day of Christmas, doone of the "good things" that God planned "to be the way that we live our lives." 
Plan your season of grateful response to God's gift in Jesus Christ- and then "keep Christmas well" the rest of the year, too! December 25 - December 26 - December 27 - December 28 - December 29 - December 30 - December 31 - January 1 - January 2 - January 3 - January 4 - January 5 -"

Rawle, Matt. The Redemption of Scrooge Youth Study Book: Connecting Christ and Culture (The Pop in Culture Series) (Kindle Locations 901-910). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.


What will you do? 
The Hope of the Future for Today 

  A Christmas Carol is a story about salvation, but it's not a story about the hope of heaven. It's a story about experiencing the new, saved, redeemed life in this world. When Scrooge wakes up on Christmas Day, he discovers "the Time before him was his own, to make amends in!" (Stave Five). 

He seizes his chance to make a difference here and now. 

As he promised the last ghost, he begins to lead a changed life. The only proper response to the promise of eternal life tomorrow is an altered life today! What we do in our altered lives may not be big and important in the world's eyes; it may not earn us a place on history's roll call of heroes. But even small good works can be great ones.

Just ask Tiny Tim-" who did NOT die," the narrator assures us (Stave Five), thanks to Scrooge's newfound generosity. Some people laugh to see the change in Scrooge, but he doesn't mind. He's laughing for joy in his own heart. He is at last doing all the good things he was made to do and will do them even if the world thinks him foolish. As the Apostle Paul teaches, "the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength" (1 Corinthians 1: 25).

Rawle, Matt. The Redemption of Scrooge Youth Study Book: Connecting Christ and Culture (The Pop in Culture Series) (Kindle Locations 798-807). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.

Upcoming Events
 
What a wonderful way to start the Advent Season! 

Dec. 17th, 10 a.m. Pageant Rehearsal 
Dec. 18th, 9:30 a.m. Pageant and Worship 
Dec. 18th, 11 a.m Bible Study 
Dec. 24th. 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve Worship Service 
Dec. 25th, 9:30 a.m. Carols and Lessons Worship Service 
Jan. 1st, 9:30 a.m. The twelve Days of Christmas Worship Service  

   Our Staff                                                                
Pastor:                                                                                   Rev. Charity Omartian                              
Pastor Emeritus:                                                                Rev. George Fowler, DD                              
Administrative Assistant:                                                                   Cathy Goodwin                             
Music Director/Organist:                                                                            Greg Hall                              
Director of Christian Education:                                                 Traci Avery-Pardoe                              
Director of YSOC (Children's Choir):                                             Dianne Smallidge                             
Custodian:                                                                                              Lori Edgerly                             
Coordinator of Volunteers                                                                   JoAnn Dodd 

Congregational Church of Wells, UCC 
1695 Post Road 
PO Box 759
Wells, Maine 04090
 
Worship Services 9:30AM
Sunday School 9:30 AM Sept. 14 - June 14
Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9:00 AM to 12 Noon
Pastor Office Hours:  Thursday and Friday from 9-11. 
Phone: (207) 646-4309 
Emergency Phone: (207) 360 0252
http://wellscongregational.org
Pastor's office hours are times when people can drop in and find me in the office. It is recommended that you call ahead to make sure that the pastor is not already meeting with someone or responding to an emergency. There are other available times for visits. Please contact the pastor for availability. Please know that we can meet either at the church or another location. This email goes directly to the pastor.