WHAT IS ADVENT?
Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year begins. Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving; yet, the world as we know it spins madly on. In many ways, pregnant Mary was surrounded by endings—large and small, personal and political. But Mary proclaimed hope in a God who was and is making all things new. Christ’s birth offered a beautiful new beginning for shepherds and Magi alike—all the while, King Herod tried to bring Christ’s story to an end. When we ourselves navigate seasons filled with endings and beginnings, we need reminders. We need words that can feel like steady ground, like a path for our feet to find as we step forward into the unknown.
We have crafted an Advent series filled with blessings, with the scriptures and reminders we need to hear again and again as we begin a new season. These reminders root us in the fundamental truths of our faith. Many of them are life lessons we teach to children—lessons that adults continue to learn and relearn. They may resemble the blessings we impart to loved ones during special ceremonies like weddings, graduations, or baptisms. And so, we invite you to move through this Advent season as if you are entering a sacred new chapter, holding fast to the reminders that will bolster you for the journey ahead. As you journey through this season, may you find words for belovedness and hope. May you find words for beginning again. For no matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, love is your beginning.
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Advent Devotional Available NOW!
Read, look, and sing your way thru this devotional at your own pace this Advent season. Each week (beginning with Advent and concluding with Epiphany) offers art, reflections, poetry, and hymns to give you strength, courage, and grace. As you journey through this season, may you find words for belovedness and hope. Printed copies are available in the narthex/foyer just outside the sanctuary. You can access it online here: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/811735764/ |
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1st Sunday in Advent Worship
You Are a Blessing 12/1 @ 10am, on-site & online via Zoom at http://zoom.us/j/907548568 When the angel appears to Mary to invite her into God’s plan for salvation, they tell her she is blessed. What a radical way to begin a conversation! How amazing would it be to receive that word of blessing in our lives, that no matter what the world tells us, no matter what those little voices inside tell ourselves, no matter who we are or where we are on life’s journey, we are blessed, loved, cherished by God. Because we are. Because you are. |
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Hanging of the Greens
12/1 @ 11:11am after worship in the sanctuary When the angel appears to Mary to invite her into God’s plan for salvation, they tell her she is blessed. What a radical way to begin a conversation! How amazing would it be to receive that word of blessing in our lives, that no matter what the world tells us, no matter what those little voices inside tell ourselves, no matter who we are or where we are on life’s journey, we are blessed, loved, cherished by God. Because we are. Because you are. |
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2nd Sunday in Advent Worship
We Can't Go Alone: A SermonCraft Sunday 12/8 @ 10am, on-site & online via Zoom at http://zoom.us/j/907548568 Worship on 12/8 will be an All-Ages Hands-On SermonCraft Event. Instead of the usual sermon, the heart of our worship will be an opportunity to come together around tables and work with our hands and hearts to share signs of this Advent season. If you plan to worship with us online that day and would like a craft-along kit to share at home while others are in the sanctuary, please let Rev. John know by 12/2 at [email protected] |
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Christmas Concert: The Joys of Christmas
Sunday 12/8 @ 4pm, on-site ONLY As blessed Auntie Mame once said, "We need a little Christmas, right this very minute!" Friends, that couldn't be truer than this year. So join us for "The Joys of Christmas," a 100% concert of joyful Christmas classics old and new for choir and chimes, Sunday, 12/8 @ 4pm at The Congregational church of Needham, UCC, 1154 Great Plain Ave (with plenty of parking behind off Linden St). A donation will be gratefully received, but yes, it is 100% free. And if your child can't last the whole hour, we're glad to welcome you for however long they can without any shame or dirty looks. There will be a reception with light receptions to follow. Come and ENJOY! Note: The concert will be recorded and made available via a link on our website at www.NeedhamUCC.org |
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3rd Sunday in Advent Worship
Do the Good That Is Yours to Do 12/15 @ 10am, on-site & online via Zoom at http://zoom.us/j/907548568 We welcome our guest preacher, The Very Nearly Reverend Rene Slataper, back to the pulpit to share a word with us. Rene is a Member in Discernment (someone seeking ordination) in the United Church of Christ. Rev. John and Rene met and became friends when they were both living and pastoring in Austin, Texas. Since then, Rene has moved to Brooklyn, NY to escape the rising tide of hate being aimed at transgender folk and their families. He is a national sought-after speaker, not just in LGBTQ+ affirmation and trans rights, but also ways the church can adapt for ministry in our rapidly changing world. |
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Spread the Cheer!
Christmas Flower Delivery Sunday, 12/15 after worship Once again this year we will deliver Christmas flowers to folks members of our church family who may need an extra reminder they aren’t alone in this holiday season. Save the date and make plans to volunteer as an elf, er, delivery driver. |
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For when the holidays are hard
On This Longest Night Saturday, 12/21 @ 7pm ONLINE ONLY at http://zoom.us/j/907548568 The Christmas Season is primarily known for hope and joy, focused on community and familial gatherings of celebration and thanksgiving. However, for some, the winter holiday season may be difficult due to personal loss and grief. Please join us for a special opportunity for prayer and reflection in which we acknowledge pain and mourning during the holiday season trusting that God “is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). |
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4th Sunday in Advent Worship
Hope Is Worth the Risk 12/22 @ 10am, on-site & online via Zoom at http://zoom.us/j/907548568 Good news is good, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy… or safe. Whenever we decided to follow God to swim upstream toward justice, peace, and compassion against the currents of this world, we take a risk, just like Jesus did. and just like his parents, Mary and Joseph, did, too. But they hoped their choices would help bring about a new and better world, not just for themselves, but for everyone. And they believed that kind of hope is worth any risk. |
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Same Old Story, New Christmas Pageant
NEW! No-Stress Christmas Pageant Christmas Eve, 12/24 @ 4pm, on-site & online via Zoom at http://zoom.us/j/907548568 Join us to share a new, no-stress, anyone-can-play-along Christmas Pageant for Christmas Eve with plenty of music, fun, and wonder to go around--without the time commitment of rehearsals and learning lines during an already hectic holiday season. Here’s how it will work: ANY CHILD who shows up Christmas Eve can pick a costume to be a shepherd, angel, or wise person. When your part of the story is read, you come forward (with your parent, if you want) to take your place around the stable in Bethlehem. IF YOUR CHILD WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PAGEANT VIA ZOOM, please let Rev. John know right away at [email protected] |
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Worship for 5 Golden Rings Sunday 12/29, ONLINE-ONLY, available via YouTube. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org No matter where you are on life’s journey, you can continue the Christmas season with the help of this online worship service available for you to download anytime via Youtube. The link will be sent via email and published on our website. |
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Epiphany Sunday
The Road Isn't Straight Sunday 1/5 @ 10am, on-site & online via Zoom at http://zoom.us/j/907548568 Epiphany Sunday is usually when we tell the story of those magi, those wise, Gentile visitors from afar who followed the star to discover the new King of the Jews they were looking for was a actually a baby, born into poverty. But Epiphany is also a reminder of all kinds of other discoveries, revelations, not just about who God is, but who we are, as well, what roles we’re really playing in the story of the world, and who we can become with God’s reign of justice, peace, and compassion. (Isaiah 60:1-6, 11) This will be an online-only service. We will celebrate holy communion on January 8. |