Welcome to Christ Lutheran e-news, a weekly electronic newsletter which highlights programs and activities of our congregation. Feel free to .
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"Secular Christmas" has already begun, and it can be a lot of fun: shopping, baking, partying, cards in the mail - and it can be overwhelming. Join your siblings in Christ for Advent meditations, beginning this Wednesday (tomorrow!) at 6:15. We'll pray and ponder together what can -and can't - wait in this holy season of hope and expectation, repentance and rejoicing.
There will be a pot of soup on the stove. Help yourself to a bowlful, either before or after the mediation, which will end by 7:15.
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Music Notes
Tom Berryman, Music Director
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The Bell Choir will be playing "Come, see this Child in Bethlehem" arr. by L.H. Redner and Linda R. Lamb for the Offertory Music on December 8, Advent II. The Bells will also be playing in the afternoon at the Maryanne Morse Nursing Home.
The CLC Choir will be singing Hank Beebe's setting of Isaiah 55:12 "Go Out with Joy and be Led Forth with Peace" in place of the Psalm for Advent II.
We continue to add verses to appropriate Advent hymns
"Light One Candle," "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," and "Soon and Very Soon."
The Prelude is a setting by 18th Century composer Ludwig Krebs on the Advent hymn "Wake, Awake for Night is Flying." The Postlude is a setting of the Hymn of the Day, "Comfort, Comfort Now my People" by Johann Walther.
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Youth & Family
Gail Weston-Roberts, Youth & Family Ministries Coordinator
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Happy December, CLC Youth and Families!
I hope you are enjoying your Snow Day today-always a welcome departure from routine, I'd say.
And speaking of which...can we gather this Sunday (12/8) after the service, for lunch, vigorous actions, and caroling at Mary Ann Morse with the bell choir?
Since the bell choir is playing there at 2:00pm, that leaves us a good window beforehand for these possibilities: snow-fort building; baking cookies; helping set up for Family Promise week; hot chocolate around the firebowl; assembling quilts as per usual. Your ideas for this are most welcome--as soon as possible, plz!
Parents, you are also invited! I'll be telephoning to see if you can join in this Advent-ual gathering.
Thank you very much, and the Spirit's peace be with you all - Gail W-R
P.S. Save the date for our annual Carol In The Neighborhood Joint-WASS-ALE!!!-on Tuesday, 12/17!
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ADULT FORUM
This week in the adult forum Celeste and Rolf Larson will share something of their life-changing experience in Tanzania this past summer. Join us in the Memorial Room at 9:00.
This Saturday, Rolf Larson and Pastor Bourret will lead conversation at the Racial Justice Dialog at the Common Street Community Center at 2:00. Speak with Rolf or Celeste Larson or Joyce Simon, who participate regularly in the dialogs, to learn more about this ongoing conversation.
There is
no
CLC@the Movies this busy month. Join us in January on the third Sunday of the month.
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BIBLE STUDY
We invite you to join with us this Thursday morning as we gather for coffee and refreshments at 9:45 a.m. in the Memorial Room so that the hour discussion/study can begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.
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Sunday afternoon at 2:00 all are invited to join the Bell Choir in bringing cheers and carols to folks at Mary Ann Morse, among whom are two of our own members. Music will be provided.
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Later, come by the parsonage-61 Fisher Street in Natick-for some holiday food, drink, and camaraderie. All are welcome, any time between 5:00 and 8:00.
Sunday is a full day: The annual interfaith vigil remembering those who have died in the opioid epidemic will be Sunday at 7:00 at First Congregational Church.
Our congregation has not been asked this year to provide gifts to clients of Ascentria Care Alliance; however SPARK Kindness, a local organization, has extended a request on behalf of SOAR (Supporting Outreach and Addiction Recovery), a coalition of mothers whose families are affected by Substance Use Disorder, to provide personal care items to men in the early stages of recovery.
A complete list of items may be found here:
http://soarnatick.org/giving-bags.html They may be dropped off at the Morse Institute Library, Natick Town Hall, or the Natick Senior Community Center , by December 13.
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Concerned about deportation of migrants? Are you inclined to do more than offer thoughts and prayers? CLC folk are invited to join Rolf Larson on a "Jericho Walk" on Thursday, December 5, at 8:00 a.m. at the Burlington ICE headquarters, and show solidarity with Bianca, who is in jeopardy of deportation. What's a Jericho walk? Here is a portion of a statement from Temple Shir Tikvah's website:
The Jericho Walk is a silent, peaceful, and prayerful walk and is open to people of all or no faiths. The Walk is not in response to, nor does it target, party politics. Rather, it is an expression of the certainty we draw from our various faith traditions: that deporting peaceful people is wrong and that separating families and uprooting peaceful and productive neighbors and friends harms many and helps no-one.
If you are interested in joining Rolf for this walk, please email: racslarson@verizon.net.
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Advent meditations will continue next week, Wednesday 12/11, and the following Tuesday, 12/17, all at 6:15.
Do invite friends and family to "Wass-Ale" at the Morse Tavern on Wednesday, December 18, from 7:00-9:00. We sing songs in public (!), and order from the menu, if desired.
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On Sunday, December 8,
we celebrate the Second Sunday in Advent
,
10:00 a.m. worship. Pastor Rebecca Bourret
preaching and presiding.
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READINGS FOR THIS WEEK - Second Sunday in Advent
December 8, 2019
At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases we turn toward the approaching light of Christ. For Christians he is the root of Jesse, the righteous judge who welcomes all, especially the poor and meek of the earth. We wait with hope for that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and there will be no more hurt or destruction. From the Lord's table we are sent in the spirit of John the Baptist to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of God has come near.
First Reading Psalm Second Reading Gospel
Isa 11: 1-10 Ps 72 Rom 15:4-13 Matt 3:1-12
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Sing For Joy
Enhance your understanding of the weekly scripture readings by listening to Sing For Joy
http://www.stolaf.edu/singforjoy/
from St. Olaf College. The Sing For Joy radio program, produced by
St. Olaf College
, has a simple mission: to explore the weekly themes of Christian worship by providing the best in sacred choral music and thoughtful commentary. The musical performances eloquently "do the talking," while the concise remarks from host
Pastor Bruce Benson
illuminate the meaning of the texts.
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