Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) (Begins at 9:50)
Joy to the World Chorus
by Hoyt Wayne Axton
sung by Jeannine Westbrook
Welcome and Announcements (Sandy Karosi)
Centering (Sandy Karosi)
Chalice Lighting & Opening Words (Marsha Howland)
Prelude
“Feels Like Home”
by Randy Newman
sung by Jeannine Westbrook
Introduction to the Service (Marsha Howland)
First Speaker (Marsha Howland)
Opening Hymn
“Gather the Spirit”
#347 in Singing the Living Tradition
by Jim Scott, c. 1990
led by Jeannine Westbrook
Gather the spirit, harvest the power.
Our sep’rate fires will kindle one flame.
Witness the mystery of this hour.
Our trials in this light appear all the same.
(Chorus)
Gather in peace, gather in thanks.
Gather in sympathy now and then.
Gather in hope, compassion and strength.
Gather to celebrate once again.
Gather the spirit of heart and mind.
Seeds for the sowing are laid in store.
Nurtured in love, and conscience refined,
with body and spirit united once more.
(Chorus)
Gather the spirit growing in all,
drawn by the moon and fed by the sun.
Winter to spring, and summer to fall,
the chorus of life resounding as one.
(Chorus)
Second Speaker (Sandy Karosi)
Musical Response (Mary Bopp)
Joys and Concerns (Sandy Karosi and Marsha Howland)
Musical Response
Offering (Sandy Karosi)
For the month of December our regular community outreach offering will be dedicated to three area shelters: McKinney Men’s Shelter (Hartford), East Hartford Community Shelter, and Cornerstone Shelter (Rockville).
Offering Music
“Clair de Lune”
by Claude Debussy
played by Mary Bopp
Third Speaker (Sid Soderholm)
Fourth Speaker (Benjamin Elzerman)
Joy to the World Chorus
sung by Jeannine Westbrook
Fifth Speaker (Roland Chirico)
Closing Hymn
“Joy to the World” (traditional)
by Isaac Watts, 1719
arr. Lowell Mason, 1848
led by Jeannine Westbrook
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 Saviour reigns
Let all 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, wonders of His love
Extinguishing the Chalice (Marsha Howland)
Closing Song
Joy to the World Chorus
sung by Jeannine Westbrook
Closing Circle (Sandy Karosi)
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 (Mary Bopp)
Virtual Coffee Hour with Breakout Rooms
