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December 9, 2018 ! Second Sunday of AdventMessage: “Can you hear me?? Can you hear me now??”
Rev. Steve Torrence
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.Luke 3:4
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GATHERING SONG“All Are Welcome” by Marty Haugen
Let us build a house where love can dwellAnd all can safely liveA place where saints and children tellHow hearts learn to forgiveBuilt of hopes and dreams and visionsRock of Faith and vault of GraceHere the love of Christ shall end divisionsAll are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING HYMN “We Hail You God’s Anointed (#104)
GREETING ONE ANOTHER IN COMMUNITY
WE FOCUS IN PRAYERAs The Deer Panteth For the Water, by Martin Nystrom
As the deer panteth for the waterSo my soul longeth after TheeYou alone are my heart’s desireAnd I long to worship TheeYou alone are my strength, my shield To You alone may my spirit yield You alone are my heart’s desire And I long to worship Thee
A CONTEMPORARY READING: Finley Peter Dunne John Brady
GOSPEL: Luke 3:1-6
SUNG RESPONSE: “Lead Us from Death to Life” (#581, chorus only)Lead us from death to life, from false-hood to truth, from despair to hope, from fear to trust.Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace;Let peace fill our hearts, Let peace fill our world, Let peace fill our universe.
HYMN OF PREPARATION Now is the Time Approaching (#609)
Message: “Can you hear me?? Can you hear me now??” Rev. Steve Torrence
Lighting the Advent WreathNow the light is coming, running like liquid beneath the heavy shadows of night, slipping in from the cracks and
crevices of life, restoring the dry and empty places, bringing new life to the barren hope of years long past, until the brightness cannot be contained, but spills out, pours out, to surround your heart with love, to bring you alive once more in an old promise fulfilled. Open your eyes, do not be afraid any longer, for now the light is coming, coming
quickly, coming to you, and nothing, not even death, will be able to stop it.
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Finley Peter Dunne (1867- 1936)American Journalist
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iTHE CANDLE OF HOPE The Candle of Hope is lit each week for those challenged by HIV/AIDS, cancer and all illnesses, and for all who are suffering and in need of hope.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: We pray for those on our prayer list and for those we hold silently in our hearts.
OFFERING Ruth Cahoon
PRAYER OF PERSONAL REFLECTION (unison)Birther of Our Lives, in this time of preparing, we struggle to make time for your coming. When there are presents to get, we forget your presence among us. With “so much” to do, we forget the mystery of your Being and the miracle of our being avenues of your grace. Slow us down. Loosen us up. Let us laugh at ourselves more freely and love each other more generously. In the midst of the tinsel and the bustle, help us to see and hear the twinkling joy of Your Love. In the name of the One Whose Being Blesses Humanity, Amen.
BLESSING AND ASSURANCEBeloved, hear these words of grace. The glory of God shone around the shepherds on a “normal” night. The angel telling them not to fear spoke in the middle of a regular work week. John the Baptist’s declaration and Divine encounter likewise came as part of his living out his calling. Expected and anticipated yet totally unscheduled. Love comes to us that our lives may become God-stained with Light and Love, right on time – Divine time. Let us rejoice, truly believing we are forgiven. Amen
5Celebration of Holy Communion
SURSUM CORDA (We Lift Up Our Hearts)One: God be with you. All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to God.
One: Let us give thanks to God. All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
One: We give you thanks and praise, O God, the source of true hope. In every age, from the beginning of time, throughout all creation, you have provided signs of your presence to your people to give them hope. You have made yourself known to your people, and sent to us your Child, Jesus, the Christ, who came as one of us. Born into a world of chaos and confusion, he came as a baby and grew into adulthood, speaking words of hope to the hopeless, teaching and showing the way of life and liberation. We thank you that through your Spirit, those words and signs of hope echo through the ages to your prophets and poets, restoring hope to people of faith in all times and places. Together with them, we praise you.
HYMN OF PRAISE Sanctus (#793)Holy, Holy, Holy, My heart, my heart adores you!My Heart knows how to say to you: “Holy are you, Lord!”Santo, santo, santo, mi corazón te adoraMi corazÓn te sabe decir, santo eres Dios.
Rachel Benton & family, on the loss of her husband, WarrenEdgardo Alvarado-Vázquez
Steve MasonSandee CarlileKelly Sumers
Jonathan JacoxPeggy Parker
George Meshew
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WORDS OF INSTITUTIONPRAYER OF CONSECRATION INVITATION TO THE FEAST MCC Key West celebrates an open communion. We understand the sharing of the bread and the cup in Jesus’ name to be a representation of an ancient vision of God’s feast for all peoples. We don’t require you to be a member of this church, or any church, to participate with us in this feast of grace. Simply come forward, alone or with friends and loved ones, following the ushers’ direction. Your server will dip a piece of bread in the grape juice, place it on your tongue, and offer a brief blessing. If you prefer only the blessing, or only the elements, just let your server know.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNIONWe thank you that you have blessed us with this meal, God, and given us your good gifts, and that, in Christ, you are always calling and coming to us. In this meal, you have sent us your Spirit to strengthen us for these days of our Advent adventure, to restore your hope that never dies away. Amen
SONG AFTER COMMUNION: “I Will Change Your Name” by D. J. ButlerI will change your name; you shall no longer be calledWounded, Outcast, Lonely or Afraid.
I will change your name; your new name shall beConfidence, Joyfulness, Overcoming One,Faithfulness, Friend of God, One Who Seeks My Face.
CLOSING HYMN “Let There Be Peace on Earth” (insert)
Our Worship Has Ended, Let Our Service BeginOur Worship Leaders TodayMessage: Rev. Steve Torrence
Liturgist: Becky LoveJohn Brady, Ruth Cahoon, John Holder, Mark Lenker, Lynn Obringer, Stephen Aubé
Music: Allison Millwood
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Message and Music This MonthDATE December 2 December 9 December 16 December 23 December 30SPEAKER Rev. Steve Torrence Rev. Steve Torrence Rev. Steve Torrence Rev. Steve Torrence Rev. Steve Torrence
LITURGIST John Johnson Becky Love Roberta Isleib Cathy Stentzel Gail Hinand
MUSIC Allison Millwood Allison Millwood Allison Millwood Allison Millwood Allison Millwood
Christmas EveMessage: Rev. Steve Torrence; Liturgist: Jarrett Nyschick; Usher: Ruth Cahoon; Offering: Joan Higgs;
Server: Cathy Stentzel; Holders: Stephen Aubé, John Brady; Greeter: John HolderReaders: Members of the Congregation
Musicians: Frank Wood, Becky Love, various soloists
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Our Readings for TodayContemporary Reading by Finley Peter Dunne
Comfort the disturbed, disturb the comfortable.As a society, it’s our responsibility to comfort the disturbed through working to reduce inequality and by providing good education, universal health care, good social safety nets and so on. And it’s in our interest to disturb the comfortable through questioning privilege, reducing inequality, curbing the influence of corporations and the wealthy on politics and policies, creating a deeper democracy, and building a society – locally and globally – that works for all and not just a few. This is also a good pointer for how I relate to myself. When parts of me are disturbed, I can invite them to find comfort – through being present with them, relating to them with kindness and respect, see their value, gently explore, see more of what’s really going on, and invite in healing for these parts of me. And when parts of me are falsely comfortable, I can shake them out of their complacency – by noticing what’s really going on and what’s more true and real to me than my initial beliefs and viewpoints.
Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
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More Holiday events in Key West
On Sunday, December 9th, beginning at 4pm, the Christmas Stroll on Eaton will begin with a short choral concert at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Duval, followed by “Larry Smith and Friends” at the Key West Theatre on Eaton and
then another choral presentation at the Methodist Church at Eaton and Simonton. Tickets are $25.00 and available ONLY at Tropic Cinema. TSKW will present A
Christmas Extravaganza” performed by the KWHS Drama Club.
$Our Holiday Season at MCCKW
Please speak to Allison if you are interested in participating in special music for the holidays
Holly Jolly Christmas Party & Trolley Ride December 12th 6pm. Fred and Cherre 1423 Washington St ~ 305-293-6097
Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols 7pm
[Please speak to Allison if you are interested in participating in special music for the holidays]
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Our Outreach ProgramsCooking With Love serves about 300 hot, home-cooked meals to seniors and the homebound every Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM. Volunteer to help cooking, delivering or cleaning up, or Sponsor a week for $250 by calling Cherre Marchak, 305-293-6097.
Year to dateover 14,700
Mutter Hubbard’s Cupboard/Miss Kitty’s Pantry provides about 80 grocery bags per week to Cooking With Love clients and others who have cooking facilities but limited resources to purchase or shop for food. You may bring nonperishable foods to the church on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Year to dateover 3,920
KISS AA meets in our Social Hall daily Sunday, 5:30 PM; Monday through Saturday, 8 PMTai Chi for seniors meets in our social hall Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall
News Announcements Events
December BirthdaysRichard Dennison, 12/7; Arthur Riorden, 12/10; Janine Seibert, 12/13;
Stephen Aube, 12/15; Gregory Reeder, 12/16; George Fernandez, 12/17; Joe Petrick, 12/25; Janice Clements, 12/29;
Sebastian Collazo, 12/29; Marge Pittaro, 12/31December Anniversary
Joe Petrick & Lynn Obringer, 12/30
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING COOKING WITH LOVE
painting by William Welch
MCC Key West’s Mission Statement: As the island’s home for liberating spirituality, MCC Key West’s mission
is to witness God’s inclusive and transforming love in the world.
A Different Kind of Church That Makes a Difference
Metropolitan Community Church Key West1215 Petronia St., Key West, FL 33040
Website: www.mcckeywest.net • MCC Global Website: www.MCCchurch.org Phone: 305-294-8912 • Fax: 305-294-6198
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
MCC Key West is a uniquely progressive Church. We are “culturally Christian” but “spiritually unlimited.” That means while we are inheritors of the Christian tradition and scriptures, and we look to Jesus of Nazareth as our primary model of faithful living, we are open to insights from Science, Psychology, the Arts, Nature, and the various noble Religions of the world. We celebrate the sacraments, but Communion is presented as a feast of unconditional love that is open to all people regardless of belief or church
membership, and baptism is presented as being immersed in the life of the community, which one may or may not choose to celebrate with a public water ritual. We practice positive thinking, we lift up LBGT people and their allies, and we teach that no one is ever excluded from divine Love for any reason. We declare that all people have sacred value. We are a non-dogmatic, inclusive, spiritual community. We are “progressive, positive, and practical.” MCC Key West is a different kind of church where what happens here changes our world. Welcome home!
Our LeadershipPastor: Rev. Steve Torrence,
305-797-8178 • e-mail: [email protected] of Directors Volunteer Team LeadersSteve Torrence Moderator 305-797-8178 Joan Higgs Outreach Services 305-296-2292Joan Higgs Vice-moderator 305-296-2292 Cherre Marchak Cooking With Love 305-293-6097Scott Fuhriman Secretary 305-587-1870 Sheri Lohr Communications [email protected]
305-304-6090Jan Marie Weatherhead
Treasurer; Lay Delegate
305-395-2840 Allison Millwood
Music Ministry [email protected]
John Holder Member-at-large 305-294-8172 Gail Hinand Worship Team; [email protected]
John Johnson Member-at-large 305-304-7188 Steve Mason Office Admin. (305) 731-6194
Sylvia Kelley Member-at-large 305-296-6054Stephen Aubé Member-at-large 305-766-9176
