News for December 19, 2023

This Sunday, Dec 24: In-person service at 8pm

This Sunday is Christmas Eve! There will be no morning service; instead, we will have our traditional Service of Lessons and Carols at 8pm. Let Polly know if you'd like to be a Reader. Come before choir practice (like at 6pm) if you want to help set up the altar. All the red candles come out, along with the nativity figures made by CHC children many years ago. The choir will sing, and we always end the service with "Silent Night" in a circle with our individual candles lit. Hope we see you there.

Instant Choir rehearses at 6:30 pm.

The Giving Sunday offering for December is for the UCC's Christmas Fund, helping active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ.

Recent sermons

Check out our YouTube page to see recent sermons. Go to our archive of slides to see bulletins and slides used during recent services.

Starting in Sept 2023, recordings of our Taize services are also on the YouTube page.

Due to a technical glitch, Polly's sermon on "The Hard Work of Peace" didn't get recorded. You can read the text here.

Pepe Doyle's sermon on "My Search for Joy" is posted, though not publicly. Contact the office for the link.

Upcoming services and events

• Worship & Arts: Sun, Jan 7 after worship. Come help us plan the worship calendar for the near future.

• Taize Service: Fri, Jan 12 (7:30 pm). A contemplative service of chanting, prayer and silence. In-person, and also available on Zoom.

• Weds discussion group: Jan 10 (7 pm), Zoom

"Basic Bible Stories", meeting the main characters of the Old Testament. After the holidays, we'll move on to the story of Solomon.

• Book Group: Sun, Jan 28 (7 pm), Zoom

Al Hasse is still going to lead the Book Group! The next discussion won't be until after their move and the holidays, which will give you plenty of time to prepare your arguments, pro and con, on Sam Harris' "Free Will".

Links and resources

• "Hallelujah Chorus" performed by silent monks!

• Heartwarming airport story by Arab American poet Naomi Shihab Nye.

Quote of the week

God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change,

the courage to change the one I can,

and the wisdom to know it’s me.

-- adaptation of Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer

Weekly events

• Meditation group: Wednesdays at 7:30 am

In person at the church building.

• Sunday worship: 10 am