NOVEMBER 28, 2021 • 10 A.M.

Our Mission:

to be a visible and prophetic presence in the church and in the world, to steadfastly proclaim the radically inclusive love of God, to be open to, and celebrate differences; to honor thinking for oneself, to faithfully work for the inclusion of, and justice for all people, regardless of

age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, race or national origin, or any particular element of a person’s total humanity, and for all of God’s creation.

Please join in where words are shown in bold type. Please stand if you are able for items with an asterisk*.

Centering ourselves with the sound of the chime and the Land Acknowledgement

Prelude Prelude on “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Dr. Marc Dickey by Hal H. Hopson Advent Wreath Lighting

A voice: The days lengthen and the night thickens. In this season of darkness, we come longing for light and possibility. Way before any of us can remember, there was a people waiting for someone – for a light bearer, a hope bringer, a cloud rider and a weaver of miracles.

(Sung: O Come, O Come Emmanuel)

One: O Come, Thou Dayspring, from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

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Choir: Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight.

All: (sung) Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Spoken: (As the candle is lit) This is the light of the world. Hope in the darkness. This tiny flame

signifies this: “Nothing is ever lost and we are not alone.” Something is coming with the dawn.

All: (sung) Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Prayer of Invocation Rev. Emanuel *Gathering Song People Look East

See page 7 *Welcome and Passing of the Peace Rev. Hoffmann Welcome Song

Angels we have heard on high welcome all to joyous strains Who or where or how you are is just enough for this refrain Glo------ria in excelsis Deo, Glo------ria in excelsis Deo.

Time with the Children Rev. Emanuel Anthem Comfort, Comfort, O My People Genevan Psalter, 1551; arr. C. Heard Sanctuary Choir words at Hymn #101 Contemporary Reading The Coming Steve Crow by R. S. Thomas (Welsh priest)

And God held in his hand A small globe. Look, he said. The son looked. Far off, As through water, he saw A scorched land of fierce Colour. The light burned

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There; crusted buildings Cast their shadows; a bright Serpent, a river Uncoiled itself, radiant With slime.

On a bare Hill a bare tree saddened The sky. Many people Held out their thin arms To it, as though waiting For a vanished April To return to its crossed Boughs. The Son watched Them. Let me go there, he said.

Scripture John 1:1-5 Rev. Hoffmann & Rev. Emanuel A New New Testament, Hal Taussig

In the beginning the Word was; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. The Word was in the beginning with God; through the Word all things came into being and nothing came into being apart from the Word. That which came into being in the Word was life and the life was the light of humanity; and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overpowered it. Special Music Something's Coming, from West Side Story words by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein Charlie Carlos, tenor Marc Dickey, piano Sermon What Myth Is This? Rev. Hoffmann Prayers of the People Rev. Emanuel

Prayer Response: “God of Mercy, Hold Us in Love” by Marty Haugen

See next page

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Leader: In peace, in peace we pray to you …

Leader: Help us, comfort us all of our days… Our Common Prayer

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the people of the earth! With the bread we need today, feed us. For the hurts we inflict on one another, forgive us. In the time of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For your reign is in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

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Offering

The Invitation Rev. Hoffmann

Offertory Chorale Prelude on “Behold, a Rose Breaks into Bloom” Dr. Dickey by Johannes Brahms

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*Doxology: Old Hundredth (Hymn No. 7) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God with all the hosts above; Praise God in wonder, joy and love.

*Prayer of Thanksgiving Rev. Hoffmann Introduction to Sending Song Rev. Hoffmann *Sending Song #103 Watcher, Tell Us of the Night See page 8 *Benediction Rev. Hoffmann Choral Response Postlude Chorale Improvisation: “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying” Dr. Dickey by Paul Manz Community Life Announcements

See the announcement playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEBlwzL0DlLYFdhyVgdkqhVViSl4chwp_

The sanctuary flowers today are provided by Maria Alarcon in memory of her mother, Maria Gomez Alarcon, whose birthday would have been November 22.

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Parish Concerns

Please remember Richard Grauman on the death of his mother; Heather Chambers; Julie Francis, long-time friend of Pat Green; Mark Hill and his family upon the death of his mother, Dottie Hill; and Mark Hill’s brother.

Birthdays This Week

28 Jacksden Elizarraraz, Chuck Fowler, Allison King 29 David McMillin, Yvonne SaMarion 4 Alex Balin

To submit joys and concerns for inclusion in the bulletin and the newsletter or to subscribe to the newsletter, contact the office: office@firstchurchlb.org.

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This Week at First Church

Sunday, November 28 8:45 am Adult Education – Pownall Room & Zoom 10 am Service of Celebration – Sanctuary & YouTube.com/1stChurch 11:30 am Fair Trade Holiday Market – Kilsby Courtyard Christmas Decorating – Sanctuary, Narthex, Koinonia Room Welcome Ministry Team Meeting – Pownall Room Beloved Bells – Patterson Hall 1:30 pm Urban Community Outreach Drop-In Center – on-site

Tuesday, November 30 4 pm DAYS Tutoring – Klar 1, 2, 3

Thursday, December 2 4 pm DAYS Tutoring – Klar 1, 2, 3 5 pm Jubellance Rehearsal – Youth Music Room 6 pm Bellissimo Rehearsal – Youth Music Room DAYS Leaders Long Beach – Klar 1, 2, 3 7:30 pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal – Sanctuary

Saturday, December 4 4 & 8 pm CSULB Winter Festival Concerts – tickets for these concerts are

available only from the CSULB box office 6 pm Women’s Book Group – Zoom

Sunday, December 5 8:45 am Adult Education – Pownall Room & Zoom 10 am Service of Celebration – Sanctuary & YouTube.com/1stChurch 11:30 am Fair Trade Holiday Market – Kilsby Courtyard Board of Parish Life Meeting – Pownall Room DAYS Gift Wrapping – Klar 2 & 3 Beloved Bells – Patterson Hall 12:15 pm Board of Stewardship & Finance Meeting – Zoom 12:30 pm Board of Christian Education Meeting – Zoom 1 pm Board of Social Justice & Outreach – Zoom 1:30 pm Diaconate Board Meeting – Zoom Urban Community Outreach Drop-In Center – on-site 2 pm Women’s Group – Zoom 4 pm CSULB Winter Festival Concert, followed by Sparkling Reception –

tickets available at days.org/winterfest 5:30 pm Youth Group – Seeing the lights on Naples

CHURCH OFFICERS

Christopher Bobo

Moderator

Sara Schoenfelder

Vice Moderator

Steve Crow

Treasurer

Ruth Keller

Secretary

BOARD CHAIRS

Board of Christian Education:

Cynthia King

Board of Cultural Arts:

Melody O’Keefe

Diaconate Board: Clarence Dendy

Board of Parish Life:

Randall Goddard

Board of Social Justice and Outreach:

Sebastian Jobin-Reyes

Board of Stewardship and Finance:

Randy King and Pamela Chapin

AT-LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS

Kathleen O’Neal, Kirsten Pickus,

Harold Sutherland

POET-IN-RESIDENCE

Tina Datsko de Sánchez

COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE

Curtis Heard

HISTORIAN

Kathy Young

CLERGY

Anne Hoffmann, Interim Minister

Tom Emanuel, Associate Minister

CLERGY IN OUR COMMUNITY

Jerry Stinson, Senior Minister

Emeritus

Katy Hyman, Program Coordinator for

Palliative Care, Long Beach Memorial

Medical Center

Laverne R. Joseph, Retired from

Retirement Housing Foundation

MUSIC STAFF

Curtis Heard, Director of Music

Tracy Halter-Balin, Associate

Director of Music and Youth

Marc Dickey, Organist

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Tracy Halter-Balin, Interim Christian

Education Director

Eric Peterson, Business Manager

Ruth Warkentin, Office Manager

Preston Andres, Custodian

Melody O’Keefe or Heather

Chambers at Heather R. Chambers,

CPA, Inc., Bookkeeper

241 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 • www.firstchurchlb.org

562-436-2256 • office@firstchurchlb.org