ORUCC Worship Resources for December 18 Advent 4

Orchard Ridge UCC on December 17, 2022

Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
Advent Worship Resources 12.18.2022
Lighting the Candles of Hope, Peace, Joy & Love
Join us for Advent 4
Sunday,
Dec. 18th
9:00 am Sunday School for Children / Java & Jesus for Adults (scroll down)
10:00 am Worship
Rev. Dr. Julia Burkey preaching — “Dreaming with Joseph & the Stars“
Special Music: ORUCC Choir & Solos by Children and Teens
Join our Worship virtually
on YouTube any time after 10 am:
You will need to refresh the page after 10 am if you have opened it before
Sunday, Dec. 18
Children and Youth involved in music for the 4pm Christmas Eve Service will rehearse with Julie Mazer beginning promptly at 10am.
Nursery Care opens at 8:30 am. Antonia and Lily are ready to play with your little one(s). 
Sunday School at 9 am — Kindergarten-5th grade will begin their Advent study. This week, they will hear the classic story of the Prophets, the Holy Family, the Shepherds, and the Magi. We will also arrive at the white, Christ candle. Following the stories, the children will have an opportunity to make a card for a church elder. Paul Vash, Sally Allen, and Jill Westberg will lead them through the experience. 
Looking Ahead….NO SUNDAY SCHOOL 12/24 and 1/1.
Sunday School Resumes on 1/8 with a special Epiphany lesson. 
Java & Jesus
Sunday, Dec. 18th, at 9 am
Attend in-person at the church in the
Alfred Swan Room, or attend remotely by Zoom
Barbie Jackson facilitating
All are welcome!
Please join us even if this is your first time!
As we continue our advent journey together, we will turn to the stories leading up to the birth of Jesus as found in the first chapter of Luke. A portion of those stories was beautifully shared by Pastor Julia last Sunday. We will explore these and additional stories from various perspectives.
In this chapter of Luke, stories tell of the angel Gabriel’s visits to Zacharias and Mary to announce the births of John and Jesus. We will explore the different reactions (highlighted in gold) by Zacharias and Mary and what meaning we might derive from each. We will continue with Mary and Elizabeth’s beloved declarations (highlighted in blue) of faith and acceptance, blessings, joy and dedication and will then turn to Mary and Zacharias declarations of prophesy (highlighted in purple).
What do each of these mean to us as we read, reflect, and meditate on these stories?
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Or paste the following into your browser:  
To join Zoom discussion by phone: 1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 836 4943 6657
Passcode: 315584
If you have difficulty accessing the Zoom discussion,
phone Ken Pennings at 608-556-2371 

December Compassion Offering
National UCC Christmas Fund
United Church of Christ retired clergy, servants of the church, have spent lifetimes baptizing and blessing, teaching and preaching, marrying and burying, and comforting and empowering God’s people. The UCC Christmas Fund for Veterans of the Cross gives us the opportunity to sustain and empower them. Gifts to the fund help retired clergy, church staff, and their families supplement pension benefits, pay bills, maintain health insurance, supplement health benefits, and meet emergency needs. In 2021, gifts to the Christmas Fund enabled pension supplementation for 231 retired clergy and lay employees, health benefit supplementation for 87 retired clergy and lay employees, emergency grants for 53 individuals and families, and Christmas “thank you” gift checks to 509 retired clergy and lay employees. Gifts to the Christmas fund in 2022 will make a real difference in the lives of retired clergy church staff, and their families, easing the anxiety of constant financial worries. 
You can make a donation by check, on the memo line, please write “compassion” and mail to ORUCC, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711, or donate online from our website. The link is https://orucc.org/contribute/support/

Office Manager Julie Wombacher
Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am -12:30 pm
608-271-7212 or EMAIL
Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Julia Burkey
518-542-6915 EMAIL
Associate Pastor: Rev. Ken Pennings
608-556-2371 EMAIL

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Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice, 1501 Gilbert Road, Madison, WI 53711