Author: Ron Hall

Highwater Congregational United Church of Christ
1213 Dutch Lane Rd, Newark, Ohio 43055 740-745-1281
highchurch@windstream.net http://www.highwaterchurch.org
December 10th, 2017
“Highwater Congregational United Church of Christ, will be an active family of faith in North Central Licking County, dedicated to building awareness of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit through meaningful worship, diverse service, and genuine fellowship.” - Mission Statement

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.”
Helen Keller, The Story of My Life

Rev. Scott Schieber, Pastor
Joyce Oyler, Licensed Associate Pastor
Mark McKimmins, Moderator
Debbie Smetts, Office Administrator / Newsletter Editor
Congregation, Ministers All
Pianist: 8:30a Sue Steele 10:30a Judy Grace
Liturgist: 8:30a Danny Steele 10:30a Steve Barna
(Please note: If able, Lay Reader takes up offering weekly, and will help with communion if signed up for 1st Sunday. Greeters and Ushers will help with Communion the 1st Sunday. Thank you)

December 10th Second Sunday in Advent - PEACE
8:30a.m. & 10:30a.m. Service
* = stand if you are able † = 10:30 a.m. service only †† = 8:30 a.m. service only

Proclamation of Praise
Prelude † Carol of the Bells Highwater Chimes
Acolytes / Ringing of the Bell
Welcome / Announcements
* Hymn of Praise Hark! the Herald Angels Sing # 133 Gray
Call to Worship
Leader: The God who speaks comfort to us calls us here.
People: Our God who addresses us with tenderness meets us here.
Leader: The God who guides us with gentleness cares for us here.
People: We come to prepare a way for the Lord.
Leader: We come to ready ourselves for the transformation of our lives.
People: For the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it.
Prayer of Invocation
Advent Candle Liturgy
Leader: In a world where peace seems to be so far away, we call upon you, Prince of Peace, to come. In this season of Advent, we wait for the coming of Peace into our world. We await the birth of Emmanuel, God with us, who comes into our lives in a new way.
People: We are a people who seek peace. We know that God has told us to turn our weapons of war into instruments that benefit all humanity. In the name of that Child who was born long ago to become the Prince of Peace, we now light the Candle of Peace.
Children’s Message † Children Dismissed for Sunday School /Pageant Practice
Old Testament Text Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Leader This is the Word of the Lord! People Thanks be to God!

* Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
PEACE Video Presentation
Joys and Concerns / Pastoral Prayer /Lord’s Prayer
Candle Dedication: In Celebration of Ned and Cindy Campbell’s Anniversary.
Prayers for Our UCC Congregations: Westerville Community UCC
Sharing of our Tithes and Offerings / Offertory
* Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen
* Offertory Prayer
* Hymn It Came upon the Midnight Clear # 128 Gray
Old Testament Text Isaiah 40:1-11 (NRSV)
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
Homily on Isaiah 40:1-11 Pastor Scott Schieber
* Hymn I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day # 152 Gray
* Benediction / Response - Let There be Peace on Earth
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow. To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally, let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Postlude

If you have children…
-Newborn – pre-school A Cry Room is available for your use during the worship service. It is located above the Sanctuary. You can use the stairs located through the door directly to the left as you exit the main doors of the Sanctuary. You can hear and see the service from this room..
-Pre-K – K (pre-K means that your child will start kindergarten in the upcoming school year)…your child is invited to Sunday School with our BUGs (Born Under God’s Sun), which meets in the Lower Level Learning Center. To get to the LLLC, exit the sanctuary, go down the steps, and turn left and find the doorway which leads to the steps leading into the LLLC. The BUGS receive a Biblical lesson, usually the same scriptures we discover in our worship service and do some activities around the scripture lesson. Sunday School ends shortly after our worship service ends.
-1st Grade – 6th Grade…your child is invited to Sunday School with our TIGERs (Trusting In God for Every Reason), which meets in the Lower Level Learning Center. To get to the LLLC, exit the sanctuary, go down the steps, and turn left and find the doorway which leads to the steps leading into the LLLC. The TIGERs receive a Biblical lesson, usually the same scriptures we discover in our worship service and do some activities around the scripture lesson. Sunday School ends shortly after our worship service ends.
Sunday School
Teaching the BUGS in December, (Pre-K and K)
Kathy Preston and Janine Shipley
Pageant Practice TIGERs
December 3rd, 10th at 10:30a
Dress Rehearsal for all Children
December 17th at 11:30a
(TIGERs will remain in Sanctuary for Music Sunday on the 17th)
9:30a Worship Service on the 24th No Sunday School
9:30a Worship Service on the 31st No Sunday School
If you are visiting…
Welcome! We pray that you’ll find our worship service meaningful and uplifting, and our congregation welcoming and friendly. We know that coming to a new church can be a little uncomfortable. If we can assist you in any way, please let us know! During the worship service, please be sure to provide contact information on our pew pads so Pastor Scott can reach out and thank you for attending.
Thank You for Serving …...
Greeters and Ushers for December 10th - Open
† (Please note: If able, Greeters take up offering weekly, and help with communion on 1st Sunday. Thank you.)

Announcements and Information
Monday Noon Bible Study - Through December. Advent Study: Faithful Christians through the eyes of Joseph (Hamilton).
Choir /Chimes Practice - Chimes will play on Sunday December 10th and our Choir will sing on Sunday December 17th. December 10th Chimes at 9:30a, Choir at 9:50a. And December 17th Choir Practice 9:30a.
Christmas Pageant / Family Lasagna Nite- Wednesday, December 20th. Please sign up to bring desserts and salads or bread. We will have dinner at 6p and the Pageant will follow at 6:45p
Advent Series - Wednesday nights:
Be Still, a Time for Quiet Devotion and Discussion - Wednesday, December 13th Devotion from 7-7:45p.
WISH Christmas Progressive Dinner- Monday, December 11th beginning with appetizers at 6p at Debbie Smetts’s Home, 7p Dinner at Janet Goodman’s Home, 8p Dessert and Sock Exchange at Cindy Campbell’s Home. Ladies, please see sign-up sheet outside library for details.
Council Gathering - Thursday, December 14th at 6:30p at Kathy Preston’s home. 3787 Dry Creek Rd .
UCC Christmas Fund - For 116 years, the Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund has been a tangible expression of God’s love and light in the world. One of the four Special Mission Offerings of the United Church of Christ, the Christmas Fund provides UCC congregations and members an opportunity to reach out in kindheartedness to those who have faithfully shepherded our Church and who now find themselves facing unexpected financial needs. In 2016, UCC congregations and members generously contributed $1,562,260 to the Offering. This enabled the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance, the charitable arm of the Pension Boards, to provide, on behalf of the whole Church, Supplementation of Small Annuities, Retiree Health Premium Supplementation, Emergency Grants, and Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks to individuals and families in need. The theme of the 2017 Christmas Fund Offering is Shepherding the Light, and our goal is to raise $1.7 million to help support these ministries of light and love. The recipients of these gifts have faithfully served the church and now, in their time of need, we can be the church to them. We invite and encourage you to shepherd God’s light and support this year’s appeal. Please read the inserts for personal stories. We will collect for this special offering on Christmas Eve Nite.

Highwater Congregational United Church of Christ Prayer List
Prayer Concerns within our Family of Faith:
Betty Nash Gayle Gibson Bob Tucker Dave Nash Larry Steele Larry Smetts
Susan Hatch Ned Campbell Rev. Ed Lopeman Laurie Garno
Prayers for our Shut-ins:
JoAnn Gault, Bruce & Carolyn Claggett, Goldie Campbell, Rosie Shipley
Prayers for Our UCC Congregations: Westerville Community UCC
Prayers for Our Greater Church Family: (This list to start over every month)

John Stout
Sharon Mummey
Mark Frick
Carl Richards
Marsha King
Genene Gerhart
Evajean Greenlun
Stewart Krulikoski & Family
Theresa Gonda
Marge Davis
Norman Burgel
Bill Spray
Joy Robertson
Sherry Gibson
Shirlie Cannon

Kathy Barch
Ellen Alheim
Darrell Rinker
Sarah Kaiser
Abby Combs
Donald Davis

Samantha Buchanan
Jim Buyer
Chris Bradley
Emmy Green

Continued prayers for all the troops that protect and serve this country and prayers of comfort for their
families as they wait for their safe return. Holly McKimmins and Tanner MacLachlan.

Help is needed as we prepare to leave
Pilgrim Hills and transition to Templed Hills. Can we assemble a Highwater workgroup to donate a Saturday at camp? If you are interested, please email Pastor Joyce at oylerjl@gmail.com. Once we have a group identified, we will
determine a date that works well for camp and for us.

Pastor Scott / Available / Noon Bible Study / In Library / Happy Birthday / Molly Keller / Happy / Anniversary / Ned & Cindy / Campbell	Pastor Scott / Available / Happy Birthday / Nick Garno / Happy / Anniversary / Troy & Kristi / Burgess	Pastor Scott / Available / 7a-1p / Debbie in Church / Office / 7p / Advent / Devotion / Series / In Church Narthex / Happy Birthday Gene Branstool	Pastor Scott / Available / 7a-10a / Debbie in Church / Office / 6:30p / Council at / Kathy Preston’s / Happy Birthday / Pastor / Scott Schieber / Nancy Karam / Happy / Anniversary / Tom & Jane Lake	Happy / Anniversary / Jim & Patsy Farmer	Happy Birthday / Storm VanWey	8:30a / Worship Service / 9:30a / Choir Practice / 10:30a / Worship Service / 11:30a / Pageant Practice / Happy / Anniversary / Drew & Cathy Bero

This Week at Highwater, December 11th —December 17th

Monday 11	Tuesday 12	Wednesday 13	Thursday 14	Friday 15	Saturday 16	Sunday 17

Pastor Scott (c) 614 - 226 -1314
Pastor Joyce (c) 614 - 595- 4771

Scripture for December 17th
Advent III—Love
Isaiah 40:1-11 John 16:20-33

Internet Access In Sanctuary:
Network: Highwater_almond
Password: Highwater1