Hingham Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

Hingham, Massachusetts

An Open and Affirming Congregation

November 29, 2020

10 a.m.

Welcoming Covenant

In the name of God and Jesus Christ, the Hingham Congregational Church welcomes all who seek to know and worship God, and invites everyone to join in our mission through participation and leadership of the congregation.

As a community of faith, we take seriously the biblical call to love God and our neighbors as ourselves, and recognize that, although we are many members, we are one.

❖  We celebrate the uniqueness of everyone.

❖  We rejoice in our diversity of views and understandings of our shared faith.

❖  We affirm relationships based on love, commitment, and mutual respect.

❖  As is stated in our by-laws, we strive for righteousness, justice and peace.

It is with this spirit and the love of God that we openly welcome all persons, inclusive of every race, ethnicity, class, age, gender, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and inclusive of any others, to journey with us as we move forward with the work of this church in the world.

Sunday Morning Bulletin

Hingham Congregational Church,

United Church of Christ

November 29, 2020  

10 a.m.

First Sunday in Advent

Prelude Prelude:                           Forest Green        (Traditional English Melody)

                                                                          Arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams

Welcome                                                                         

Introit                                               The Chimes               John Thompson

                                            Eamon Pint, piano

Lighting the Advent Candle of Hope

Opening Prayer and Lord’s Prayer:

God of hope, who brings love into this world, you are the love that dwells among us. God of hope, who brings peace into this world, you are the peace that dwells among us. Good of hope, who brings joy into this world, you are the joy that dwells among us. God of hope, our rock and our rescuer, we come to you in this hour overflowing with praise.

Our Father* who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

*HCC recognizes the power of language, while also respecting traditional practices. We acknowledge a God that transcends all human ideas of genders, identities, and abilities. Please pray in whatever way is most comfortable to you.

Hymn                              O Come, O Come, Emmanuel            PH (red) #110

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive

Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Un-

til the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Em-

manuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Day-Spring, Come and cheer Our spirits by thine

advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And

death’s dark shadows put to fight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Em-

manuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Wisdom from on high, And order all things,

far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show, And

cause us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Em-

manuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one

heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; Fill

the whole world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Em-

manuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Message for Children                                       

Prayer                                                              Daryl Denelle, Ministry Intern 

Special Music       Zion Hears the Watchmen Calling, BWV 140.4,    J.S. Bach

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37

The Coming of the Son of Man

‘But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,

   and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from heaven,

   and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Necessity for Watchfulness

‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

Sermon                                           “Keep Awake”                 Rev. Dr. Peter Allen  

Benediction

Postlude    Veni, Veni Emmanuel  C. Callahan