Gathering Music (Mary Bopp)
Welcome and Announcements
Centering
Prelude
“Clare De Lune”
by Claude Debussy
performance by Mary Bopp
Chalice Lighting and Opening Words
“Give Us the Spirit of the Child”
By Sara Moores Campbell
Spoken by Rev. Josh Pawelek
Opening Hymn
“My Life Flows On in Endless Song”
Early Quaker song, American gospel tune
#108 in Singing the Living Tradition
My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the real though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing.
It sounds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing!
What though the tempest ’round me roars, I know the truth, it liveth.
What though the darkness ’round me close, songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love prevails in heav’n and earth, how can I keep from singing!
When tyrants tremble as they hear the bells of freedom ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near, how can I keep from singing!
To prison cell and dungeon vile our thoughts to them are winging;
when friends by shame are undefiled, how can I keep from singing!
Meditation
“For So the Children Come”
Words by Sophia Lyon Fahs
Music by Jason Shelton
#1061 in Singing the Journey
Each night a child is born is a holy night:
A time for singing,
A time for wondering,
A time for worshipping,
Each night a child is born is a holy night.
Joys and Concerns
Musical Meditation (Mary Bopp)
Offering
The recipient of our November community outreach offering is Manchester Senior, Adult, and Family Services.
Offering Music
“We Are The World”
by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie
performance by Dorothy Bognar
Sermon
“For So the Children Come”
Rev. Josh Pawelek
Closing Hymn
“People Look East”
Words by Eleanor Farjeon
Music: traditional French carol
#226 in Singing the Living Tradition
People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today: Love, the Guest, is on the way.
Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there.
Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course and flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today: Love, the Rose is on the way.
Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim,
shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together.
People look east and sing today: Love, the Star, is on the way.
Extinguishing the Chalice
Closing Circle
May faith in the spirit of life
And hope for the community of Earth
And love of the light in each other
Be ours now, and in all the days to come.
