Advent 2011 at First Church Guilford

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• Parent Category: News
• Published on Wednesday, 23 November 2011 17:21

O Come, All Ye Faithful!




The Season of Advent 2011

Worship & Programs
Opportunities for Giving and Sharing


First Congregational Church
An Open and Affirming Congregation
122 Broad Street
Guilford, Connecticut
203.453.5249
office @ firstchurchguilford.org
www.firstchurchguilford.org

ADVENT WORSHIP AND PROGRAMS

Sunday, November 27:  First Sunday in Advent - Candle of Peace
8:30 and 10:00am  Worship- Rev. Kendrick Norris preaching,  Nursery care &optional mixed-age program for PreK – Gr. 4 at 10am.
7:00-9:00pm Pilgrim Fellowship

Saturday, December 3:
9:00 – 11:30am  Breakfast with Santa - Fellowship Hall hosted by Pilgrim Fellowship (children $3, adults $5, photos $7)

Sunday, December 4: Second Sunday in Advent - Candle of Hope
8:30 & 10:00am -Communion; Rev. Clare Robert preaching,
New Members received, Church School and nursery care at 10am
11:15am Coffee Hour & Harvest Fair Mini-Fair in Fellowship Hall
3:00-6:00pm  Caroling & Advent Family Supper- Come one, come all and meet in Fellowship Hall.  Groups will carol and bring cheer to homebound members of our church family and to those at the Gables.  Returning to church we’ll share a hearty meal of pasta, salad, bread & desserts hosted by the Bd of Christian Education.  Enjoy music by the Cherub Choir and a brief Advent Happening after the meal.  All ages welcome!
7:00-9:00pm Pilgrim Fellowship

Sunday, Dec.  11:  Third Sunday in Advent - Candle of Joy
Invite a Neighbor to Church Sunday
8:30 and 10:00am Worship– Rev. Kendrick Norris preaching
Church School and nursery care at 10am
5:00pm  Service of Lessons and Carols - Sanctuary
A traditional candlelit service featuring Bible lessons and music of the season with special anthems by the Senior Choir, Junior Choir, and Handbell Choir, with soloists and instrumentalists.  Childcare is available.
6:00-7:30pm  Soup and Bread Supper – Fellowship Hall.  
Hosted by the Pilgrim Fellowship  immediately after the Carol service.  Tickets ($8) will be sold in the narthex on Sunday mornings.

Wednesday, December 14:
7:00pm  Service of Prayer and Healing - Sanctuary - A special time of music, scripture, prayer, and reflection.  The laying on of hands and anointing with oil is offered for those who choose.

Saturday, December 17:
9:30 – 11:00am  Christmas Pageant Rehearsal - Sanctuary
Children who want to participate in the Christmas Eve Pageant should plan to attend this rehearsal in the Sanctuary.  Costumes & parts will be given out at this time with a quick rehearsal.  Some older teens & adults are needed to help. All are welcome!   Please contact Chris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to help with this beloved First Church tradition.

Sunday, Dec. 18:  Fourth Sunday in Advent - Candle of Love
8:30am Chapel Service & 10:00am Christmas Festival Service
Rev. Clare Robert preaching, Church School & nursery care at 10am
11:00am Pilgrim Fellowship Cookie Walk in Fellowship Hall
7:00-9:00pm Pilgrim Fellowship

Saturday, December 24:  Christmas Eve
5:00pm  Christmas Pageant
A retelling of the Christmas Story by the children of our church with music by the Cherub and Junior Choirs and instrumentalists.
10:00pm  Candlelight Communion, Rev. Kendrick Norris preaching

Sunday, December 25:  Christmas Day
10:00am  Worship - Rev. Clare Robert preaching  (No 8:30 Service)
Family Service: no Nursery care; no Church School.

Sunday, January 1: New Year’s Day
10:00am Worship-  Rev. Carolyn Johns preaching     (No 8:30 Service)
No Nursery care; no Church School.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING AND SHARING

1. Hat & Mitten Tree is our Christmas tree and it stands in the Sanctuary beginning Dec. 11th where you can hang the gifts of gloves, mittens, scarves & hats.  Also we’ll collect new adult-sized socks & underwear (esp. XL sizes) for Columbus House, to leave beneath the tree.  Non-perishable food & grocery items may be left there also.  Donations distributed through Christian Community Action, Covenant to Care, Fair Haven Parents Ministry, and Columbus House.

2. Poinsettias given in memory of loved ones decorate the Sanctuary during Advent.  The plants are then given to bring cheer to those who are home-bound, grieving or ill.  $12 each; please order by Dec. 5th using the form in the December Landmark.

3. The Giving Tree provides for families in our community.  Again this year we will sponsor 5 families through Guilford Social Services.  However, this year they are asking for gift certificates or gift cards to various stores.  The time frame is very different.  We will need the cards back by December 4 so that the families will be able to do their own shopping.  Call Jeanie Cacopardo, 203-453-6981.

4.The Giving Alternative -  For friends and loved ones who have “everything,” consider making a donation or gift in their names to a worthy charitable organization.  Acknowledgement cards can be mailed to you or to the recipient. Below  is a list of charities that the The Giving Alternative has worked with in the past.  (You may also designate any other organization of your choice.)
--Christian Community  Action provides food, advocacy, and temporary shelter for homeless families in New Haven.
--Church World Service helps refugees who have fled their homeland, victims of natural disasters, and farmers who need support services.  They have a special catalog suggesting items for alternative giving.
--Columbus House provides food, referrals, and evening health services for homeless people in New Haven.
--The Cove provides programs to help children and families work through grief due to the death of someone significant in their lives.
--Guilford Food Bank provides food for Guilford people in need.
--Guilford Fuel Fund helps Guilford families in need heat their homes.
--Guilford Interfaith  Ministries offers three services:  Meals on Wheels for Guilford residents who are homebound, Friendly Visiting for those who are homebound or lonely, and Charlie’s Closet, which provides medical equipment for those in need.
--Heifer Project International provides livestock and agricultural assistance to needy families all over the world.  They have a special catalog suggesting items for alternative giving.

To participate in THE GIVING ALTERNATIVE, send a check made payable to each organization you have selected to:  The Giving Alternative, c/o First Congregational Church, 122 Broad St., Guilford, CT 06437. For your convenience, you may use the form in the December Landmark. Please have your checks arrive at the church at least a week before the holiday so that we can distribute the checks and send out the cards on time.