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Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) Words of Welcome (Emmy Galbraith) Centering (Rev. Josh Pawelek) Prelude "Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella" Traditional French carol Arr. by Mary Bopp Chalice Lighting and Opening Words Excerpt from "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens gently adapted by Rev. Josh Pawelek Opening Hymn "Angels We Have Heard on High" Words by Earl Marlatt Music: French Carol Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o'er the plains And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains Gloria in excelsis Deo Gloria in excelsis Deo Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What glad tidings do you bring Which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria in excelsis Deo Gloria in excelsis Deo See him in a manger laid Whom the choirs of angels praise Mary, Joseph, lend your aid While our hearts in love we raise Gloria in excelsis Deo Gloria in excelsis Deo Reading Luke 2:1 1-14 (New Revised Standard Version) Silence Carol "In the Bleak Midwinter" Words by Christina Rosetti and Andrew Storey Music by Gustav Theodore Holst In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone, snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter long ago. Christ a homeless stranger, so the gospels say, cradled in a manger and a bed of hay; in the bleak midwinter, stable-place sufficed Mary and her baby, Jesus Christ. Once more child and mother weave their magic spell, touching hearts with wonder words can never tell; in the bleak midwinter, in this world of pain, where our hearts are open, love is born again. Story "Santa's God" Neale Donald Walsch Musical Meditation Offering It is our tradition on Christmas Eve to dedicate our offering to the UUSE Minister's Discretionary Fund. This fund is used throughout the year to provide financial support to people in our congregation and in the wider community who have fallen on hard economic times, or who have specific monetary needs they cannot otherwise afford. Offering Music "Christmas Time is Here" Vince Guaraldi Homily (Rev. Josh Pawelek) Silence Music "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" by Mel Torme and Robert Wells Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide carols being sung by a choir And folks bundled up in winter clothes Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe Help to make the season bright Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow Will find it hard to sleep tonight. They know that Santa's on his way He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh And every mother's child is going to spy To see if reindeers really know how to fly And so I'm offering this simple phrase to kids from one to ninety-two Although it's been said many times, many ways Merry Christmas To you. Carols "Joy to the World" Words by Isaac Watts Music attributed to George Frederick Handel Joy to the world! The Lord is come Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing And heaven, and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the world! the Savior reigns Let men their songs employ While fields and floods Rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy Repeat the sounding joy Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love And wonders of His love And wonders and wonders of His love. "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" Words by Edmund Hamilton Sears Music by Richard Storrs Willis It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all-gracious King." The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing. Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled, and still their heavenly music floats o'er all the weary world; above its sad and lowly plains, they bend on hovering wing, and ever o'er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing. And ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow, look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing! For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old, when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing. "Silent Night, Holy Night" Words by Joseph Mohr Music by Franz Xaver Gruber Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia, Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night! Son of God love's pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth Jesus Lord, at Thy birth. 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. Closing Music "Jingle Bells" Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride in a One horse open sleigh Jingle bells, Jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh. Dashing through the snow In a one horse open sleigh Over the hills we go Laughing all the way Bells on bobtails ring Making spirits bright What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight. Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride in a One horse open sleigh Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride in a One horse open sleigh. A day or two ago I thought I'd take a ride And soon Miss Fanny Bright Was sitting by my side The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed its lot We got into a drifted bank And there we got upsot. Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride in a One horse open sleigh Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride in a One horse open sleigh.

Welcome and Announcements Centering Prelude "Edelweiss" by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II Service Introduction Chalice Lighting & Opening Words Chalice Lighting #448 in Singing the Living Tradition by Christine Robinson We gather this hour as people of faith with joys, sorrows, gifts and needs. We light this beacon of hope, Sign of our quest For truth and meaning, In celebration of the life we share together. Opening Hymn "My Life Flows on in Endless Song" #108 in Singing the Living Tradition Words from an Early Quaker Song Music from an American gospel tune 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! Time for All Ages - Our Favorite Things Joys & Concerns Reading "Notes for Radical Living" by Tilda Swinton Make friends with chaos Hold a calm mind Let things shake Forgive human frailty Champion second chances Defy unkindness Reverence fellowship Listen to the quiet Respect the young Seek growth Trust in change Treasure learning Inspire faith in evolution Hold faith in miracles Reach beyond the binary Be wary of the doubtless Honour the brightheaded Grow plants Attend to the weather Be electric Cherish language Celebrate silence Dance daily Bless the handmade Sing into pain Find joy in shadow Challenge assumptions Follow the wind Swoon under clouds Look upwards Face forward Feel your courage Read history Open your ears Drop your shoulders Bend your knees Raise the roof Keep breathing Be trustworthy Take care of yourself Believe in goodness Head for the light Musical Interlude Reflections from Clare DiMaiolo Offering "We do not gather our gifts only for ourselves, but to share with the larger community" Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the month of December will go to three area shelters: McKinney Men's Shelter (Hartford), East Hartford Community Shelter, Cornerstone Shelter (Rockville). Offering Music "The Sound of Music" by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II Reflections from Gianna DiMaiolo Musical Interlude Reflections from Kate Kimmerle Closing Hymn #346 in Singing the Living Tradition "Come, Sing a Song with Me" Words & Music by Carolyn McDade Come, sing a song with me, come, sing a song with me, come, sing a song with me, that I might know your mind. (Chorus) And I'll bring you hope when hope is hard to find, and I'll bring a song of love and a rose in the wintertime. Come, dream a dream with me, come, dream a dream with me, come, dream a dream with me, that I might know your mind. (Chorus) Come, walk in rain with me, come, walk in rain with me, come, walk in rain with me, that I might know your mind. (Chorus) Come, share a rose with me, come, share a rose with me, come, share a rose with me, that I might know your mind. (Chorus) Closing Words #684 Closing Words in Singing the Living Tradition by Duke T. Gray The blessing of truth be upon us, The power of love direct us and sustain us, And may the peace of this community Preserve our going out and coming in, From this time forth, until we Meet again. 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. Postlude "So Long, Farewell" by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

I want to share the words the choir just sang. The piece is “Where the Light Begins” by the choral composer Susan Labarr. The words are a slightly adapted excerpt from a longer poem titled “Where the Light Begins,” [1]  by the Rev. Jan Richardson, an artist, writer and Methodist minister. The poem is from Rev. Richardson’s 2015 collection, Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons. [2] About the light she says:   Perhaps it does not begin. Perhaps it is always. Perhaps it takes a lifetime to open our eyes, to learn to seewhat has forever shimmered in front of us the luminous line of the map in the dark the vigil flame in the house of the heart, the love so searing we cannot keepfrom singing, from crying out. Perhaps this day the light begins in us.            I find these words and the theology implicit within them both comforting and hopeful. I hear in these words the notion that at the heart of everything, at the heart of all existence, there is an essence, a power, a creative spark, a spirit that is – or at least feels – eternal. Richardson muses: “Perhaps it does not begin. Perhaps it is always.” It is peaceful and calm (at least that’s what the music suggests). You may encounter it as the biblical “still small voice,” or as that place inside of you where you may go when you long for comfort and solace. Some might use words like God or Goddess to name it. Some may say ‘love.’ Some may prefer not to name it at all. Richardson calls it light. I find it comforting and hopeful precisely because, if it’s always there, even if I have not yet learned to see it, even if I have not yet learned to see “what has forever / shimmered in front of us,” as the poem says, then there must be ways to access it. When times are hard there is always something I can turn to for the inspiration to keep going, to keep struggling, to keep meeting challenges, to find comfort, to stay hopeful. I might turn to loved-ones, to family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. I might turn to the ancestors—those of blood and those of spirit—who’ve bequeathed this life to me. I might turn to this Unitarian Universalist congregation, to our Unitarian Universalist faith, to our Unitarian Universalist principles and values. I might turn to music, to art, to novels and films. I might turn to the good green earth, to the land, to the solid ground. I might turn to the night sky, to the stars. I imagine all of these particular sources of comfort and hope as manifestations of the light that does not begin, that always is. I suppose this is why we light lights at all times of year, but especially at this time of year when daylight hours are shortest: to remind ourselves of the eternal light, however we understand it, whatever meaning we might attach to it. And to remind ourselves of our sources of hope, to remind ourselves that it is good and right and reasonable to be hopeful. A few weeks ago, Stacy Musulin shared the children’s story “Hope” by Corrinne Averiss  and Sebastien Pelon . I really liked a quote from that story: “Hope is keeping a light on, however dark things seem.” [3]  I like the simplicity of this quote. I like its straightforwardness. I like its universality—virtually anyone can take it to heart. I like the way it invites reflection. In the midst of challenging and difficult times, what light can I keep on? In the midst of unknowing and uncertainty, what light can I keep on? In the midst of loss, grief, sadness, depression, what light can I keep on? In the midst of social, economic and political unrest, what light can I keep on? In the midst of violence and war, what light can I keep on?           I took that story as a reminder that even if there is a light that has always been, a light that has “forever shimmered in front of us,” it is still up to us to access it. It is still up to us to tap into it. It is still up to us to keep “a light on, however dark things may seem.” Where does the light begin? It begins in us.           In this dark season, I urge you to light lights. As you do, I pray that you encounter, as the poem says, the luminous line / of the map in the dark / the vigil flame / in the house / of the heart, / [and a] love / so searing / [you] cannot keep from singing, / from crying out. I   pray that you will find comfort and hope as the light begins in you.           Amen and blessed be. [1]  Richardson, Jan, “Where the Light Begins,” at “This Unlit Light, posted December, 2016. See: https://thisunlitlight.com/2016/12/31/where-the-light-begins/ . [2] Richardson, Jan, Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons (Orlando: Wanton Gospeller Press, 2015). [3]    Averiss , Corrinne and Pelon , Sebastien, Hope (New York: words and pictures, 2019).

< To Upcoming Services Jan 11, 2026 New World Trio “Treasured Trios” Concert Works for piano trio by Enescu, Beethoven, and Dvorak with violinist Anhared Stowe, cellist Peter Zay, and pianist David Ballena. 3 PM on Sunday, January 11, 2026. George Enescu composed his beautiful Serenade Lointaine for piano trio when he was just 21 years old. Although composed in 1903, the trio was discovered only recently. This opening work explores the Romantic side of the piano trio, and the warmness of Enescu’s textures highlight his influences from the Romantic era. In his Trio #1, Op 1, Beethoven places content over form for the first time, creating an unprecedented equality between the instruments. Here, the composer is no longer simply accommodating a listener’s desire for formulaic comfort but is instead leading his audience into his own sensibilities. Beethoven’s brilliance is so compelling that his privileged-class patrons only dimly realize that he has created a pathway for artists to emerge as a significant moral force. Antonin Dvorak’s Dumky Trio is one of the composer’s best-known works, and most original. Of Ukrainian origin, dumky refers to epic, lamenting ballads. During the nineteenth century, Slavic composers began transforming these songs into a classical form. Their brooding, introspective themes are contrasted with lively, cheerful sections. Dvorak’s trio is the most-loved of these legendary ballads. Unitarian Universalist Society East, 153 Vernon Street West, Manchester, CT. Suggested donation $20. For information 860-646-5151, www.newworldtrio.org #JanuaryNewsletter Works for piano trio by Enescu, Beethoven, and Dvorak with violinist Anhared Stowe, cellist Peter Zay, and pianist David Ballena. 3 PM on Sunday, January 11, 2026. George Enescu composed his beautiful Serenade Lointaine for piano trio when he was just 21 years old. Although composed in 1903, the trio was discovered only recently. This opening work explores the Romantic side of the piano trio, and the warmness of Enescu’s textures highlight his influences from the Romantic era. In his Trio #1 , Op 1, Beethoven places content over form for the first time, creating an unprecedented equality between the instruments. Here, the composer is no longer simply accommodating a listener’s desire for formulaic comfort but is instead leading his audience into his own sensibilities. Beethoven’s brilliance is so compelling that his privileged-class patrons only dimly realize that he has created a pathway for artists to emerge as a significant moral force. Antonin Dvorak’s Dumky Trio is one of the composer’s best-known works, and most original. Of Ukrainian origin, dumky refers to epic, lamenting ballads. During the nineteenth century, Slavic composers began transforming these songs into a classical form. Their brooding, introspective themes are contrasted with lively, cheerful sections. Dvorak’s trio is the most-loved of these legendary ballads. Unitarian Universalist Society East, 153 Vernon Street West, Manchester, CT. Suggested donation $20. For information 860-646-5151, www.newworldtrio.org #JanuaryNewsletter OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Jan 11, 2026 New World Trio "Treasured Trios" Concert New World Trio "Treasured Trios" Concert Sunday, January 11th at 3:00 PM Enjoy works for piano trio by Enescu, Beethoven, and Dvorak with violinist Anhared Stowe, cellist Peter Zay and pianist David Ballena. This concert will be held at UUSE on Sunday, January 11 at 3:00 PM. Suggested donation $20. For more information, call 860-646-5151 or visit: www.newworldtrio.org . #eBlast-12-24 New World Trio "Treasured Trios" Concert Sunday, January 11th at 3:00 PM Enjoy works for piano trio by Enescu, Beethoven, and Dvorak with violinist Anhared Stowe, cellist Peter Zay and pianist David Ballena. This concert will be held at UUSE on Sunday, January 11 at 3:00 PM. Suggested donation $20. For more information, call 860-646-5151 or visit: www.newworldtrio.org . #eBlast -12-24 OOS Sermon YouTube

Music plays a key role in our services and in our congregational life. Upcoming Concerts & Musical Events Contact the office for details - email: info@uuse.org phone: 860.646.5151 More...