[CHRISTMAS EVE]

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 24, 2023

HYMNS

"I'll Be Home for Christmas"

"O Come, All Ye Faithful"

"The Carol of the Bells"

"O Little Town of Bethlehem"

"Away in a Manger"

"Silent Night, Holy Night"

"Carol of the Children"

"Angels We Have Heard on High"

"O Holy Night"

"The Rebel Jesus"

December 22, 2023

Dear Congregation,

Advent has gone by quickly, as it always does, and here we are almost

to Christmas Eve in two days! I pray that Advent has been a meaningful

time for you. Because this year December 24 th is the Fourth Sunday of

Advent, as well as Christmas Eve, the purple LOVE candle will be lit as

well as the white CHRIST candle. In Christ, hope, peace, joy, and love

are embodied.

My Christmas wish for each of you is that you both experience and

share each of these aspects of Christ. While we enjoy the story of the

miracle of Jesus’ birth as a baby it’s important to rejoice in the Good

News that the baby grew up! As we focused in worship last Sunday on

the words of the Magnificat in Luke 1:46b to 55, Mary’s song, we were

reminded of how Jesus would turn the world upside down. It would be

a revolution, God’s revolution. The Magnificat clearly tells us of God’s

compassion for the economically poor, for the powerless, and for

justice for all.

As R. Alan Culpepper wrote in the New Interpreters’ Bible, “The joy of

the mother would become the job of the son.” That is our comfort and

our hope in this Advent 2023 as we live in a weary world so full of

trouble. Hope and joy, peace, and love will win because of the

revolutionary Jesus and his followers. Let the revolution begin in your

life, and mine!

I look forward to being in worship with you at 5 p.m. Sunday, in

person and on Facebook for our Candlelight service.

A very Merry and Revolutionary Christmas to you!

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Candy

The sympathy of the church is extended to Bennie and Helen Wiley and family. Bennie's mother, Sarah Wiley, 99, passed to life everlasting on 12-12-23.

Bianca's You Better Bee-lieve It Corner

Save the Date!

🎶🌟Save the Date!🎸🎤  Join us for a captivating musical experience as we welcome the incredibly talented Bobby Jo Valentine to our stage on January 28th at 4 pm! 🎵✨

Mark your calendars for an evening of soulful melodies and heartwarming tunes that will lift your spirits and resonate with your soul. Best part? It's a FREE concert for our wonderful community! 🎉

Bobby Jo Valentine's enchanting music has a way of touching hearts and spreading joy. Whether you're a fan of his music or discovering his talent for the first time, this promises to be a memorable event for everyone. 🎶❤️

Spread the word, invite your friends and family, and let's kick off the new year with music, laughter, and shared moments of harmony. See you there! 🎼✨

JUST Pop Tops!

We are collecting pop tops for a special cause. These pop tops will be donated to support the Ronald McDonald Program, aiding children and families in need. Wondering how your pop tops can make a difference? According to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida, these tabs are recycled for dollars that directly support the children and families they serve in their Houses. By contributing, you're playing a part in providing crucial assistance to those in our community who need it most. Let's make this season a time of joy, creativity, and giving!

Join us and be a part of this wonderful initiative—where every pop top collected brings smiles and support to those in our community who can use it most.

12-11-2023

To all my church friends:

Thank you, thank you all for thinking of me on my 100th birthday. I really love and appreciate all you did.

To Pastor Candy, Joan Chandler, Joan Campagna and Fay Gordon who visited and brought the delicious cake, presents and cards, and all who mailed cards with such sweet messages. I will never forget you!

May God bless you and your families always.

I love and miss you all! Take care, stay safe, have fun and keep your faith in God upper most in your lives.

With love always,

Lucille Campbell

Find Us, Like us, Follow Us, and Share Us

on Social Media!

Facebook: Christ Congregational United Church of Christ

Twitter/X: @CCC_UCC

TikTok: @CCC_UCC

YouTube: ChristCongregational-UCC

Instagram: @christcongregationalucc

REMEMBERED IN OUR CONTINUING PRAYERS

Joan Hansen, Maggie McDowell, Carol McCreary, the family and friends of Mary Ellen Prather, Mary and Frank Tirb, Julio Balcells, Jessica Nodarse, Mark, Julie Henkel, Merly Alonso, Bianca and Nina Sarmento and the friends and family of J.J Newby Ketzle, Stone Coram and the family and friends of Brenda Best, Aberas Jober and Leslie Perichak, Paul LeGrand and Cathryn Tagmeyer, Briane Garrison and Theresa Grambell, Vincent Andrews and family, Rodger and Esther and Carol and sons, Brad and Amelia's cousin Dan, Ed Kretchmer, Judith Mekitemba, Kathy Kirsch and the family and friends of Sarah Wiley.



For Pastoral Care Needs, please call Pastor Candy directly at 925-640-9289 or you may call and leave a message with the Church Office, 305-235-9381.

Middle East Conflict

The war in Israel/Palestine declared on October 7, has claimed thousands of lives, and tens of thousands of people have been injured. Approximately one million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced, still within Gaza, as there is nowhere to go. Half are in emergency shelters set up by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). It is increasingly difficult for Gazan Palestinians to find safe space, as even hospitals and a church have sustained damage, killing and injuring hundreds of people. Food, water, fuel, and electricity have been cut off, and supplies are running out. 

Convoys of trucks carrying humanitarian relief await the opportunity to bring much-needed relief into Gaza from Egypt, but the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been damaged by rocket strikes. Other entrances, controlled by Israel, remain closed and the threat of an Israeli ground invasion threatens more lives and livelihoods in the coming days and weeks.

With ecumenical partners, the UCC has offered a public witness that has been unequivocal:

— Condemnation of the violence of Hamas and Israel’s use of force against Palestinians in Gaza

— A call for a cease-fire

— The allowance of the provision of humanitarian aid for Palestinians and an end to collective punishment

— The guarantee of and respect for safe spaces for people to find shelter

— Support for robust diplomatic efforts to resolve the core issues

The UCC is learning from Palestinian Christian partners how they are attempting to respond to the needs of the people of Gaza, even amid steady bombardments.

— In times of calm, the Department of Service for Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) operates medical clinics and trauma therapy classes in Gaza.

— Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, an Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem institution, normally offers a critical and courageous ministry of health care provision (often free of charge) in the most trying circumstances. It has sustained damage in two incidents in the first week and a half. Yet, staff remain committed to their calling to provide care and hope, “delivered in a spirit of love and service.” 

— Other partners, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the YMCA of East Jerusalem, and the YWCA of Palestine, are preparing to respond to the needs of Palestinians.

— These partners and others, bilaterally and through ACT Alliance, are preparing to address immediate and longer-term responses such as food and nutrition needs, physical and psychosocial health care, shelter and rehabilitation, and direct assistance.

Frequent updates are posted here.

“The work of our partners in Palestine, and specifically in Gaza, is inspiring, especially as they cope with conditions and access that are extremely limited. Having visited Gaza, I know the dedication and commitment of our partners’ staffs to serve the whole community and offer a witness of care and service. We mourn the loss of life and pray for the end to violence,” said Peter Makari, who currently serves as Transitional Executive for Wider Church Ministries, and Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe in Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ. “We must walk in solidarity with them in this time of war, accompanying them now and in the future as the impact of this war will be lasting.”

Please advocate for a cease-fire, access for humanitarian assistance, and for the core issues to be addressed.

At the same time, we invite your financial support to undergird the work of our partners with whom we have had a long-standing relationship. Your gifts will make an impact and a difference on those suffering so greatly during these days of lamentation and suffering.

The two actions go hand-in-hand. Thank you for your generosity.

You can also mail a check made payable to the United Church of Christ, PO BOX 71957 Cleveland, OH 44194.

Please be sure to note “Middle East Support” in your check's memo section.

ACTION ITEMS:

• We are all still reeling from the reports of tragic loss of life and continued atrocities taking place in Israel and Gaza. As we mourn, and pray for those who have lost loved ones, we must call on policymakers to support a Just Peace.

Contact Your Legislators

• Urge Congress to call on the administration to expedite protections and critical supports, including visa processing and access to resettlements, for Afghan refugees.

Act Now

• Register to pray for Peace in the Middle East.

Register Here

• Read the letter that was sent to congress.

Read letter

• Contact your State Senators to urge them to defend our democracy by supporting the For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Protect Voting Rights

Global Ministries offers a weekly prayer for one of our global mission partners. This week's prayer is with Greece. To read their mission moment, please click the Global Ministries IMAGE. Below is this week's prayer, united we pray.

Dear God, thank you for your continued presence, protection, and love in our lives and hearts. We bow before you and we lift up our country, Greece, our leaders, and our people in front of your throne, asking to find favor with you. Thank you for the freedom we have to worship and praise you. Please protect our country from evil, injustice, and violence, and open our eyes to see each other the way you see us.

Thank you for the “doors” you have opened to serve those who are in need physically, financially, socially, and spiritually, those who are vulnerable and voiceless, homeless and hopeless, lonely and weak.  

We uplift every person that we serve, refugees, vulnerable locals, members of our community and church, asking for your power to overshadow them and keep them safe.

Dear God, we are your servants and remain to your word to live lives pleasing you.