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Williston Federated Church

United Methodist Church and United Church of Christ – Federated 1899

An Open and Affirming, Reconciling Congregation

Mission Statement

Our church is a community which seeks, welcomes and gathers people to share the Gospel of God’s love, enables people

to find fullness of life through Jesus Christ, goes into the world to live lovingly and justly as servants of Christ, and

responds actively to human need.

Open and Affirming, Reconciling Pledge

We, the Williston Federated Church, declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming, Reconciling

congregation. With God’s grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing

differences of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, as well as

racial, ethnic, or social-economic background. We welcome all to share in the life and leadership,

ministry, and fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and blessings of participation in our

congregation.

Welcome To All Who Worship Here!

Third Sunday of Advent – December 13, 2020, 9:30 A.M.

GATHERING MUSIC

Gathering Music by Carol Schein

O Little Town of Bethlehem, by Lewis H. Redner, Arr. by Joel Raney

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Thirteenth Century Plainsong, Arr. by Cindy Berry

The Center of Grace (with Amazing Grace), by Heather Sorenson

GREETING

CALL TO WORSHIP Ashley Dubois, Lay Leader

Williston Federated Church

One: Lord of impending Light,

All: We rejoice in your compassion for us.

One: You send us your light and your healing love

VYO ALUMS

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All: So that we may become better representatives of you in this

world which cries for justice and peace. Amen.

WELCOME Pastor Paul Eyer

LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE

SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES led by Bob Driver

O Holy One, this day we light three candles: for hope and peace and joy.

And we delight in their sparkle which serves as an outrageous reminder

to “rejoice”! Let their flame cast light into shadowy places and show where work

is to be done. Let joy find a home in our hearts, and make space for your presence

there, as we work for justice and peace in the service of love.

HYMN "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

Hymnal #196

(sing verse one)

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ANTHEM "Goin' to Bethlehem" by Jay Althouse.

Recorded by the WFC Senior Choir on 12/24/07

SCRIPTURE Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Logan or Lauren Vaughan

The Good News of Deliverance

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and release to the prisoners;

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a garland instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

4 They shall build up the ancient ruins,

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

8 For I the Lord love justice,

I hate robbery and wrongdoing;[a]

I will faithfully give them their recompense,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

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9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations,

and their offspring among the peoples;

all who see them shall acknowledge

that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

my whole being shall exult in my God;

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,

so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

to spring up before all the nations.

VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Organized by Heather Lewis, Jenny Rousseau, and the Christian Education

Committee

CELEBRATIONS AND CONCERNS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Pastor: Lord of Life and Love,

Congregation: Hear our prayer.

SILENT MEDITATION

LORD’S PRAYER

CALL TO OFFERING

OFFERING

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If you’re interested in setting up automatic online withdrawals, please contact Matt Bliss who can invite

you to set up an account with our online church membership software, Realm. When logged in, select the

"Giving" menu on the left hand side and the "+ Give" button on the next screen. Then, enter your giving

details and payment information to set up automatic withdrawals from your bank account. Select one of

the pledge accounts (e.g., Pledge Jul 2020 to Jun 2021). Frequency should be set to monthly on the

15th. You can follow the same process to make one time contributions too. If you have any questions,

contact Matt Bliss at blisswm@comcast.net. Or you can complete a hard-copy registration form

(posted on the church Facebook page) and mail it to Matt Bliss at the church.

Credit card contributions can be made on the church website at steeple.org.

OFFERTORY Ballad of the Kings (We Three Kings),

by John H. Hopkins, Arr. by Kevin R. Olson

Performed by Carol Schein

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison)

Lord, you have blessed our lives in so many ways. Receive these tokens of our

blessings that they may help love and joy overcome despair in our world.

AMEN.

LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH

--“Virtual” coffee hour via Zoom immediately following worship today

--Williston Federated Youth (grades 6-12) gather via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. today

--Trustee Meeting meets Monday, December 14th at 7:00 pm via Zoom

--Vitality Team will meet Tuesday, December, 15th at 7:00 pm via ZOOM

--“Longest Night” service online on Wednesday, December 16th at 6:30 p.m., live-

streamed to Facebook.com/WillistonFederatedChurch

--Centering Prayer group meets on Thursday, December 17th at 9:00 a.m. via

Zoom

--How We Respond to Racism conversation on December 17th at 4:00 and 8:00 pm

via Zoom

--online Sunday worship service via Facebook, (followed by virtual coffee hour via

Zoom) on Sunday, December 20th, at 9:30 a.m.

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HYMN "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

Hymnal #196

(sing verse one)

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BENEDICTION/BLESSING

POSTLUDE Tidings of Comfort and Joy

(God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen),

Traditional English, Arr. by Kevin R. Olson

Performed by Carol Schein

Liturgical resources: The Call to Worship, Opening Prayer, and Prayer of Dedication were

adapted from a liturgy by Nancy C. Townley on Ministry Matters website found at

https://www.ministrymatters.com. The Advent Candle litany was adapted from “Service Prayers

for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year B: December 13, 2020” for “Worship Ways on the United

Church of Christ website, found at https://www.ucc.org/advent_3_december_13.

This Week and Beyond at WFC

In addition to prayers offered during our worship services, prayer requests may still be sent to Pastor

Paul via email at pastoreyer.gmail.com. These prayers will then be lifted in prayer by the pastor

throughout the week. (If you would like to submit prayer requests to be shared during our online

worship service, please send those requests to WillistonFederatedYouth@gmail.com or post them as

chat comments during our video live-stream of our worship service on Facebook Live on Sunday.)

APPRECIATION - HEART FELT THANK YOU.

It is often said that the only difference between the Methodists and the

Congregationalists is the quality of their cooking. However, there was no

difference recognized by the Skiffs upon the receipt of many meals during this

time when we are bowed in sadness by the death of our blond, blue-eyed

grandson.

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The tenderness and warmth showed through every single dish and left us with a

very deep broken-hearted appreciation of those ties which bind us together. We

offer enduring thanks to all. Bill and Ruth Skiff

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Christmas Eve Sing Along

Everyone is invited to sing Christmas carols together on Christmas Eve. Martin is

putting together virtual choir/congregation presentations of many of the carols to

be sung in the Christmas Eve service. The process involves each participant

recording themselves singing the carols using a PC or a Mac computer while

listening to pre-recorded accompaniment with earbuds or headphones. If you

can Zoom on your PC or Mac then you can do this. The PC/Mac records video and

audio which will be used to create a composite video of all participants singing

together (at least together in the video). If this is something that you might like to

do, please send Martin an email at mhainvt@gmail.com and he will send you

more detailed instructions. The deadline for submissions is the end of the day on

Sunday, 12/20. Everyone is invited to contribute, young or old and in between.

The more participants, the better.

PLEASE CLICK ON PDF BELOW IN ORDER TO PRINT THIS YEARS ADVENT

CALENDAR. 2020adventcalendar.pdf

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Christmas Pageant 2020

Narrator – Cody Potter

Flute – Jake Potter Readers – Delainey LeBlanc, Robert Nesbit, Lauren Vaughan, Will Wannop, Tory Wannop

Joseph – JJ Garcia Innkeepers – David Nesbit, Henri Rousseau, Jonah Wayman Mary – Lucy McCoy Barn Animals – Leo Flamini, Trevor Lewis, Ruby McCoy, Henri Rousseau, Posey Wannop Angels – Daniella D’Agnostino, Mika Flamini, Heather Rivera Shepherds – Andy Meisenzahl, Charlie Meisenzahl, Martin Rivera, Sebby Wayman Kings – Luca D’Agnostino, Ezra Dickin, Connor Lewis Donkey – Max Flamini Special appearance by Dylan LeBlanc

Thank you to Susan Lamb, Heather Lewis, Charlie Magill, Jenny Rousseau, Pastor

Paul, The WFC Youth and Sunday School Kids and their families for making this

year’s Christmas pageant possible!

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Giving Tree reminder!

Thank you one and all for your support of our Giving Tree. We have received

most of the gift cards, but there are still a few out there. We need to deliver the gift

cards to Williston Central School early next week. So if you have not yet mailed

them, please contact Carol Wyatt: brucecarol@gmail.com, 802-876-7950, 971-

241-8489 and we can make some arrangement to get them.

~~~~~~~~~~ PREPARE THE WAY… Our Advent Stewardship program continues!

Who? All of us who value the mission and ministries of Williston Federated

Church.

What? A drive to secure the funds to fulfill church programs and outreach

through June 30, 2021.

When? Through Advent, and to the end of December.

Where? From the comfort of our own homes.

Why? Because we cherish Williston Federated Church and all it does for our

families, our community, and the wider world.

How? See the information in the bulletin under “Offertory” for details on how to

give. Letters will also be sent to members and friends next week. If you don’t

receive one, contact Barb Bristol, Financial Secretary, at fbbristol@gmail.com.

Please join us today with a new gift commitment to support the church's critically

important mission as we work harder than ever in preparing the way towards

greater acceptance, understanding and unity in our lives and in our world. And

know that your contribution has a direct and deeply meaningful impact in our

community and beyond. Thank you!

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A GoFundMe Page has been started for Eric & Sylvia Love, community members

& former WFC members. Eric fell in the road last week and re injured his brain. A

gofundme page has been started to help this family with ongoing medical

expenses and lost income.

It's beginning to look a a lot like Christmas!! We've been waiting.....waiting for

the election results to finalized ....waiting for a COVID vaccine.....waiting for life to

get back to “normal”. Advent is a time of waiting. And God does not disappoint!

To celebrate the season of “Emmanuel” the Music & Worship Committee is

decorating the outside of the church. Although we won't be together inside, we

are also blessed that Ursula, again this year, is decorating our Advent Wreath,

which you will see virtually during worship. Celebrate with us!

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Youth group online gathering

The Williston Federated Youth Group (aimed at those in the 6th through 12th

grades) gathers each Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Email Ashley at

WillistonFederatedYouth@gmail.com for the link to this “virtual” time of

connection.

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Virtual Bulletin Board

We are happy to share that we have created a virtual Bulletin Board for

announcements and sign ups that will be accessible through our website. We

have also created a tutorial video to guide you through using the bulletin board.

Both the tutorial and bulletin board can be found on our website.

Access to church building – please note NEW INFORMATION

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Access to the church to building is now allowed subject to the requirements listed

in "Opening the Church Building for Prayer, Group Meetings and Limited Special

Services". If you would like a copy of this document, please contact Martin Hain

at mhainvt@gmail.com. All visits to the building must be scheduled and approved

in advance. You can schedule a visit by contacting Tony Lamb at 802-343-1544 or

stolat36@gmail.com, Martin Hain at 802-598-6611 or mhainvt@gmail.com, or

Mike Moran at 802-343-9427 or mpmoran1a@yahoo.com. All people entering

the building must wear a face mask and must social distance. Please see the

document listed above for other requirements.

Remember that the building is closed but the Church is open, carrying out

ministry in support of God’s work in the world.

Thursday morning prayer: This Thursday morning at 9am there will be a zoom

gathering for silent prayer and Bible discussion. The session begins with a brief

reading and then 20 minutes of silence. A picture and participants will appear on

the screen. After 20 minutes a bell will ring 3 times. Then the Bible passage of

the day will be read three times. Participants will talk of the part of the passage

that touched them or had questions or special meaning. The gathering will end at

about 10am with the Lord’s Prayer also known as the Our Father. The code is

395 928 9957. Questions call Donna Fellinger 802 355 1700.

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Dismas House Dinners

Thank you to each and all very Friendly Volunteer Cooks in our community who

have contributed so willingly to our longstanding commitment to Dismas House in

Burlington, providing a meal to the House, every 3rd Tuesday of the month. We

have been fortunate to have had no interruption, thank you again to one and all.

The 3rd Tuesday of December, December 15, 2020, will be the last for this

interesting, often strange, year.

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We potentially have an offer for the main course of the meal. We are therefore

hoping for offers for a vegetable side and a sweet treat to end off the meal.

For more detail regarding this opportunity, please contact Peet Grobler at

📲:(802)881-9007 or 📧: peetgrobler@aol.com.

The first date in 2021 for this monthly event will be January 19, 2021.

Thank you for considering.

Blessings, as we enter the beautiful season of Advent.

Your Missions and Social Concerns Committee.

Thank you one and all for your support of our Giving Tree. There are only a few

more slots to fill. If you have not yet signed up for a child, now is your

opportunity: The Giving Tree

Remember we need to deliver the gift cards to Williston Central School by

December 14 so our families will have time to shop for their children.

So please remember to pop those cards in the mail and send them to: Williston

Federated Church, Attention: Carol Wyatt, 44 North Williston Road, Williston, VT

05495.

If you have any questions or difficulties with the process, please contact:

Carol Wyatt@brucecarol@gmail.com, 802-876-7950.

We are incredible grateful for your generosity and abundant spirit. Merry

Christmas from the Missions and Social Concerns Committee.

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January-March Class on Small Groups

Through-out Christian history small groups have been effective ways to help

people grow in their faith. Would you like to experience what makes small groups

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effective, why they were key to the early Methodist movement and how we can

offer effective small groups today?

Retired UMC elder Kim Hornung-Marcy will be teaching a Zoom class on this

topic starting the week of Jan. 10th and running 10 weeks through the week of

March 14th. We will determine the hour and a half class dates/times based on

what works for students. To learn more email Kim at: khmarcy@comcast.net or

phone her at 802-651-0803. Kim is happy to coach you on using Zoom with your

computer or phone. It is easy.