# St. John's United Church of Christ **Chambersburg, PA** **December 21, 2025** --- ## Liturgical Context ### Christian Liturgical Calendar **Season**: Advent **Week**: Fourth Sunday of Advent **Lectionary Year**: C **Liturgical Color**: Purple (or Rose, as some traditions use rose for the fourth candle representing Love) **Christian Observances Today**: - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Lighting of the Love Candle - Winter Solstice Eve (December 21) - St. Thomas the Apostle (traditional calendar, transferred) ### Jewish Calendar **Hebrew Date**: 1 Tevet 5786 **Month**: Tevet (beginning of the 10th month of the Hebrew calendar) **Jewish Observances**: - **Hanukkah** (Day 7 of 8) - The Festival of Lights continues, celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple - **Rosh Chodesh Tevet** - The new moon marking the beginning of the month of Tevet - The seventh candle of the Hanukkiah is lit this evening ### Ecumenical & Global Observances No major ecumenical observances this Sunday. However, many churches worldwide observe "O Antiphon" week, with today being "O Oriens" (O Dayspring/O Rising Sun) in the ancient Advent tradition. ### Lectionary Readings (Revised Common Lectionary) **Hebrew Bible/Old Testament**: Micah 5:2-5a **Psalm**: Luke 1:46b-55 (Magnificat) or Psalm 80:1-7 **Epistle/New Testament**: Hebrews 10:5-10 **Gospel**: Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) _Note: Today's service uses Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 and Luke 1:57-80 (the Benedictus/Zechariah's Song), which extends beyond the standard lectionary to include the birth of John the Baptist._ ### Connection to Today's Message The Fourth Sunday of Advent focuses on love—merciful love that reaches across boundaries. As we light all four Advent candles (hope, peace, joy, and love), we prepare our hearts for Christ's imminent arrival. The Benedictus (Luke 1:57-80) proclaims God's tender mercy and the dawn from on high that will guide our feet into the way of peace. Remarkably, this Sunday falls during Hanukkah, when Jewish communities also celebrate light conquering darkness. Both traditions this week kindle flames of hope in the darkest time of year, pointing toward divine deliverance and the faithfulness of God across generations. --- ## Worship Order ### Gathering #### Gathering Song _"This is the Day"_ #### Unison Welcome "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here" #### Announcements #### Chiming of the Trinity & Prelude ### Call to Worship _from "The Will to Dream"_ We gather together in this place: > **prophets and dreamers, singers and poets,** we who dare to imagine a world renewed; > **we who dare to dream God's dream.** We speak out with Zechariah. > **God's name be blessed forever!** For God has remembered us in mercy, > **and remained faithful to us in love.** Because of God's tender compassion, > **the dawn from on high will rise over us.** Come and worship, all you who dream and wait. > **We have come to wonder and praise.** ### Hymn #90 _"People, Look East"_ **Verse 1:** 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. **Verse 2:** Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there. Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Rose, is on the way. **Verse 3:** Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth. Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way. _WORDS: Eleanor Farjeon, 1928_ _MUSIC: French folk melody; harm. Shelby Trapp, 2008_ _BESANÇON 8.7.9.8.8.7_ _Words © 1960 David Higham Assoc., Ltd. Harm. © 2010 Celebrating Grace, Inc._ ### Lighting of the Advent Candles The birth of Jesus has been told and retold a thousand times in a thousand ways. Its impact cannot be contained in any one perspective. But who is telling the story changes how we hear it, how we imagine it, how we experience it. We light the candle of hope because hope creates a path for a new, unknown story to unfold. We light the candle of peace because peace requires us to pay attention to the needs of those around us. And we light the candle of joy because joy sustains us in the midst of uncertainty. (Various) (All): Today, we also light the candle of love because love makes the impossible possible. ### Prayer of the Day _from "The Will to Dream"_ God of liberation, your love reaches beyond all boundaries of prejudice and fear. Your tenderness is offered no only to the powerful or deserving, but to all people, according to your infinite compassion. Teach us to love widely and boldly, honoring the dignity of all and trusting your promise that the way of love is the way of life. Amen. ### Passing of the Peace _from "The Will to Dream"_ Where two or three are gathered, the prophetic Spirit is among us, inspiring our imagination and creating peace in our midst. Greet your fellow travelers now with the peace of Christ, and let these small doses of repair and reconciliation ripple out into a world in need of transformation. May the peace of Christ be with you. **And also with you.** ### Scripture Reading Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 ### Reception of New Members _(please follow along on the screen)_ Rosemary Elder and Courtney Robertson ### Anthem _"Christians All, Your Lord is Coming"_ ### Children's Message Roxanne Davenport _Children's Corner will be offered following the Children's Message_ --- ## Scripture and Sermon ### Scripture Reading Luke 1:57-80 > [Insert Luke 1:57-80 NRSVue here] ### Additional Scripture Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 > [Insert Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 NRSVue here] ### Responsive Reading _Call to Worship from "The Will to Dream"_ We gather together in this place: > **prophets and dreamers, singers and poets,** we who dare to imagine a world renewed; > **we who dare to dream God's dream.** We speak out with Zechariah. > **God's name be blessed forever!** For God has remembered us in mercy, > **and remained faithful to us in love.** Because of God's tender compassion, > **the dawn from on high will rise over us.** Come and worship, all you who dream and wait. > **We have come to wonder and praise.** ### Sermon **Preacher**: Rev. Caroline E. Saxton **Title**: [I'll add title here] **Theme**: Merciful Love #### Sermon Notes ##### Introduction ##### Main Points ###### Point 1: ###### Point 2: ###### Point 3: ##### Illustrations/Stories ##### Scripture Connections ##### Key Quotes #### Personal Reflections ##### What spoke to me: ##### Questions raised: ##### Challenges/Convictions: ##### Liturgical Context Reflections: How does today's liturgical season/observance deepen my understanding of the message? _Consider: Fourth Sunday of Advent focuses on love; Zechariah's Benedictus speaks of God's tender mercy; Hanukkah's Festival of Lights overlaps with our Advent journey toward the Light of the World._ #### Applications ##### This week I will: - [ ] - [ ] - [ ] ##### People to pray for: ##### Follow-up study: #### Connections _Links to other sermons, books, or notes_ --- ## Response ### Sharing of Joys and Concerns ### Prayers of the People and the Lord's Prayer (Debts) ### Invitation to Giving ### Offertory ### Offertory Response _from Touch Holiness: Resources for Worship_ Hope in the God who reigns above, who holds us all in steadfast love; whose spirit blows across the earth, preparing us for second birth. Amen. ### Prayer of Dedication _from "The Will to Dream"_ Holy God, we bring our gifts and offerings to you because the voices of the prophets remind us of something bigger, something greater than any system this world offers us. We believe when we trust you with our resources, the kin(g)dom of God comes much closer to reality on earth. Help us steward these gifts to create abundant life and love. Amen. ### Hymn #723 (insert) _"Canticle of the Turning"_ **Verse 1:** My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, And my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait. You fixed your sight on your servant's plight, and my weakness you did not spurn, So from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn? **Refrain:** My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn! **Verse 2:** Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me, And your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be. Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn, You will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn. _(Refrain)_ **Verse 3:** From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone. Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne. The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn; There are tables spread, every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn. _(Refrain)_ **Verse 4:** Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast: God's mercy must deliver us from the conqueror's crushing grasp. This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound, 'Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around. _(Refrain)_ _Text: Luke 1:46-58; Rory Cooney, b.1952_ _Tune: STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN; Irish traditional; arr. by Rory Cooney, b.1952_ _© 1990, GIA Publications, Inc._ ### Affirmation of Love _from "The Will to Dream" (on screen)_ ### Charge & Benediction _from "The Will to Dream"_ ### Postlude (seated) _Please join us for coffee hour after worship!_ --- ## Leadership ### Worship Participants |Role|Name| |---|---| |Pastor|Rev. Caroline E. Saxton| |Organist|Barbara Motichka| |Deacon in Charge|Cathy Kinton| |Lector|Erin Hartman| |Children's Corner|Scot and Melinda Orndorff| |Media Coordinators|Calvin Frantz, Neath Ham, Heidi Ramos| |Bulletin cover|John (traqair57) on flickr| ### Flowers at the Foot of the Cross Given in memory of Charles W. Karper and Hazel Karper Rumler given by Sandy Lewis and Cookie Miller and families. ### Birthdays This Week - 12/22 Gloria Crum - 12/23 MaryLee Yaukey - 12/24 Michael Brechbill - 12/26 Holly Hoover - 12/27 Connie Evans --- ## Vision & Mission ### St. John's Vision We are called to love, to learn, to worship and to witness in Christ as a congregation that welcomes everyone, and seeks service that will advance God's realm on earth. ### St. John's Mission To grow in love of God and neighbor --- ## Worship Resources _"The Will to Dream" Advent liturgy © 2025 Illustrated Ministry_ _Touch Holiness: Resources for Worship, edited by Ruth C. Duck and Maren C. Tirabassi_ --- ## News & Announcements ### This Week at St. John's #### Today - Sunday, December 21 - 3:00 pm - CMC Blue Christmas Worship – St. John's Sanctuary #### Monday, December 22 - New Fire Alarm System and Smoke Detectors being installed - 10:00 am - Chi Gong/Zazen silent body energy and soulful meditation – Parlor Room 104 - 1:30 pm - **NO** Monday Afternoon Book Study – will resume January 12 - 7:00 pm - **NO** Boy Scouts – will resume January 5th #### Tuesday, December 23 - New Fire Alarm and Smoke Detectors being installed - 5:30 pm - Yoga – Room 202 - 6:00 pm - **NO** Ladies' Bible Study – will resume Jan 6 - 6:30 pm - Cub Scouts – Fellowship Hall/then break into smaller groups #### Wednesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve - 6:15 pm - Christmas Eve Prelude – Sanctuary - 6:30 pm - Christmas Eve Service – Sanctuary (Reverse Advent Calendar boxes dedicated) #### Thursday, December 25 & Friday, December 26 - Church Office Closed – Christmas Holidays #### Sunday, December 28 - 8:45 am - Godly Play Class – Room 119 - 8:45 am - SPARK! Elementary Church School Class – Room 115 - 8:45 am - Teen Discussion Class – Room 206 - 8:45 am - Wired Word Church School Class – Room 116 - 10:00 am - Sunday Worship – Sanctuary - 11:00 am - Fellowship Meal to follow after worship – Fellowship Hall ### Upcoming Events & Information #### Christmas Eve Worship Christmas Eve Worship will be at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 24 in the Sanctuary. The musical prelude featuring the choir and Bells of St. John's will begin at 6:15 pm. #### Fellowship Meal A potluck "fellowship meal" will be held after worship on Sunday, December 28 in Fellowship Hall. A sign up is located at the Welcome Center. We hope you'll join us! #### Blue Christmas This service aims to provide a space for quiet, contemplative worship for us to bring our sorrow, pain, or loneliness to a place where we can recognize that this holiday season can bring grief as well as joy, despair as well as hope. At Blue Christmas, we come where we can share our burdens, sadness, and fears, and gather courage to move onward and forward. The service aims to help us experience hope and healing in the midst of darkness. This year's Conococheague Mission Cooperative (CMC) Blue Christmas service will be Sunday, December 21, 3:00 pm here at St. John's UCC. Loretta McClure, CLM South Mountain Charge, will be speaking. #### Sunday Night Bible Study Will be on hiatus until after the holidays. We will resume with Acts chapter 25 on Sunday, January 11, 2026. #### Monday Afternoon Book Study Finished "A People's History of Christianity" on 12/15. We will start our next book ("Love's Braided Dance" by Norman Wirzba) on Monday, January 12, 2026. #### Little Free Pantry Located by parking lot B to help feed those in our neighborhood who are hungry. Donations of cash and/or nonperishable food items can be dropped off at the church office. Due to the cold temperatures, dry goods are preferable to canned goods. To learn more, please see the article in the January Spirit. #### Church Directory Update As we work to finalize our new photo directory, we need your updated contact information. If your address, phone number or email address has changed, please share this with the church office. If you have not yet submitted a photo or would like to have your picture taken, please contact the church office. Thank you! #### December First Fruits Will go to support Salvation Army and continuing their work of helping those in our community who are struggling. Thank you for your generosity in supporting the Angel Tree and the many other ways they serve children and families in Chambersburg. #### United Way Winter Warmth Drive Currently underway. Among the requested items to donate are healthy food and winter gear. A full listing of desired items can be found in the December Spirit. St. John's is a collection site; donation boxes are in both lobbies. Thank you for your support of these efforts to care for our neighbors, feeding the hungry and clothing the cold. #### January/February Upper Room Devotionals are currently available at the Welcome Center. We suggest a donation of $1 for small print/$2 for large print copies. If you would like to have a copy mailed to you, please contact the church office. #### Pastoral Coverage Pastor Caroline will be on vacation December 25-January 5. Ernie Welch will give the sermon on Sunday, December 28. Rev. Peter Emig will preach and preside on Sunday, January 4. In the event of a pastoral emergency, please contact the church office and they will get your message to the pastor on call. Pastor Caroline will return on January 6, 2026. #### Want to Stay in Touch? Contact the Church Office to be added to our email list! You can sign up to receive our regular weekly emails, Diana's Devotionals, and/or be part of the Prayer Chain. #### Birthday Balloons We will honor those who celebrated a birthday in December as part of the Fellowship Meal after worship on Sunday, December 28. ### Nursery & Children The "Nursery Nook in the Narthex" quiet area and infant/toddler space in the Parlor are available for children and families to use during worship. Age-appropriate activity bags are also available. See the deacon for assistance. --- ## Council Congregational Questionnaire _Greetings! As we look toward the future, we want to be responsive to the needs of our congregation. A short 3-question questionnaire has been developed by the Church Council to help garner YOUR feedback in three areas of our ministry together: Community Engagement, Congregational Care, and Spiritual Life. Please, review the descriptions/responsibilities of each standing committee and the question they pose (this sheet is doubled sided to provide more space to respond to each question; please feel free to attach additional sheets if needed). Your ideas and feedback are incredibly valuable as we move forward and guide our future together. Please return this questionnaire to the church office (or reply to the email version) by December 30, 2025. -The Council of St. John's UCC and Pastor Caroline_ **Current Council Members are**: Harold Collier, Tom (Echo) Harrison, Diana Kongkeattikul, Jill Miller, Eileen Shaffer, Dale Myers, and Harold Wissinger ### (A) Community Engagement The Community Engagement Committee is responsible for building relationships and maintaining engagement with our community, overseeing outreach to our local and global communities, and partnering with other churches and organizations as we remain faithful to our mission to grow in love of God and neighbor. **With many options and great needs in our community, where are the needs of our community most apparent to you? Who are the community partners, churches and/or organizations we may include in our efforts?** _Questions re: Community Engagement can be directed to Harold Collier, Peg Bryner, or Tom (Echo) Harrison_ ### (B) Congregational Care The Congregational Care Committee works to nurture and promote a loving and caring culture to ensure a healthy and supportive congregation and live into our vision as a Christian church. **What kind of support do you need from your church family?** _Questions re: Congregational Care can be directed to Eileen Shaffer, Jill Miller, or Connie Morrill-Hair_ ### (C) Spiritual Life The Spiritual Life Committee, with the help of the Worship Support Team, is responsible for worship, education, spiritual formation, and communion. The Spiritual Life Committee ensures our congregation establishes and lives a covenantal relationship with one another while nurturing a welcoming culture for visitors and members of the community. **Beyond the classes currently being offered, what adult Christian education/faith formation opportunities would you like to see, and participate in, if offered at St. John's?** _Questions re: Spiritual Life can be directed to Dale Myers, Diana Kongkeattikul, or Lloyd Beers_ --- ## Staff Contact Information - **The Rev. Caroline E. Saxton** - [email protected] | (641) 260-1868 (cell) - **Tonya Schwartz, Office Administrator** - [email protected] | (717) 263-8593 (office) - **Gary Crum** - Music Director - **Barbara Motichka** - Organist - **Roxanne Davenport** - Director of Children & Youth - **The Rev. Stephen W. Hoffman** - Pastor Emeritus --- ## Personal Notes _Space for additional reflections, prayers, or notes from worship:_