{"id":1897,"date":"2020-12-27T14:12:14","date_gmt":"2020-12-27T14:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/?p=1897"},"modified":"2020-12-27T14:12:19","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T14:12:19","slug":"worship-for-the-first-sunday-after-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2020\/12\/27\/worship-for-the-first-sunday-after-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Worship for the First Sunday After Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady<br \/>\nWorship for the First Sunday After Christmas<\/h1>\n<h2>December 27, 2020<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Page-2-Image-2-2.png\"><\/p>\n<h2>Getting Centered<\/h2>\n<p>It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God&#8217;s presence with you during the time of worship.  You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.<\/p>\n<h3>Breath Prayer<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cLove come down, we savor you.\u201d<br \/>\n<em>Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.<br \/>\nYou may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Prelude<\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u201cCarol of the Bells\u201d by Mykola Leontovych<\/strong><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Concerto per campanelli di Sarah Juhasz\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oFBgiCCe1mo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Call to Worship<\/h3>\n<p>One: Love comes down at Christmas,<br \/>\n<strong>Many: Love is born at Christmas.<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: Hope comes down at Christmas.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: Hope is born at Christmas.<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: In these days, we celebrate God with us.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: Thank you, God, for being with us!<\/strong><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Page-3-Image-3-1.png\"><\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #218: <em>It Came Upon a Midnight Clear<\/em><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear, Traditional Choir with lyrics, Best Version (Phil Orchestra Chorus)\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LgV3x7aNH7c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/page\/fetch\/UMH\/218\/low\/218\"><\/p>\n<h2>Connecting in Prayer<\/h2>\n<h3>Shared Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nEmbodied Love,<br \/>\nWe seek you today, as we seek you all days.<br \/>\nIn this Holy Season, we expect to find you.<br \/>\nMay joy be with those who seek and find.<br \/>\nMay hope and patience be with those who seek without finding.<br \/>\nAmen<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Silent Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Page-4-Image-4-1.png\"><\/p>\n<h3>Pastoral Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><em>You are welcome to read this out-loud or silently.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\nEmbodied Love,<br \/>\nWe bring to you very embodied struggles: illnesses and injuries, grief, broken hearts, sore backs, exhaustion, and a hunger for something more.<br \/>\nThank goodness you care about bodies. May your love, strength, and peace be found in abundance in this world, and most fully<br \/>\nwith those who need them most.<br \/>\nWe also bring to you embodied joys: people we love being vaccinated (YAY!), watching dear ones open presents, elongating days, a bright \u201cstar,\u201d birthdays, books, help when we need it, new life, new joy, new hopes.<br \/>\nWe are grateful for all the joys, and we are savoring them as well as we can.<br \/>\nHelp us with patience, dear one.<br \/>\nHelp us show love.<br \/>\nHelp us!<br \/>\nAmen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>The Lord&#8217;s Prayer<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>\nHallowed be thy name.<br \/>\nThy kingdom come.<br \/>\nThy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.<br \/>\nGive us this day our daily bread.<br \/>\nAnd forgive us our trespasses,<br \/>\nas we forgive those who trespass against us.<br \/>\nAnd lead us not into temptation,<br \/>\nbut deliver us from evil:<br \/>\nFor thine is the kingdom, and the power,<br \/>\nand the glory, for ever. Amen.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Word and Reflection<\/h2>\n<h3>Choir Anthem<\/h3>\n<p><em>Noel, Noel<\/em> by Carol Schalk<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kapelle - Noel Noel.wmv\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jYISYg8ekNc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Scripture: Isaiah 61:10-62:3<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Isaiah 61:10-62:3\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rwyjnu7kzGY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Mission Moment<\/h3>\n<p><strong>The Gift of Central Park &#8211; Barbara Armstrong<\/strong><br \/>\nAs this is Christmas time, I think that it is appropriate for me to talk about this wonderful gift present in the heart of the City of Schenectady. It is a place that I go to frequently to find serenity in this disruptive time. It\u2019s hard for me to wrap my brain around the fore-thinking that went into the formation of this park so long ago. I wonder if those folks would have dreamt the extent to which this beautiful park would benefit so many people along the way.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Page-5-Image-5-1.png\"><br \/>\nThe original thoughts behind the formation of the park system came at a time when the city was rapidly growing and areas in the city were becoming dumpsites that were becoming eye sores. Mayor George Lunn, a pastor who was elected on the Socialist ticket, believed that the \u2018common man\u2019 needed a place to relax from their busy work week and put this on the top of his list for tasks that he wanted to accomplish during his time in office. A park\u2019s commission was formed and three areas in the city were identified for development. The history of this is present in Bill Buell\u2019s book <em>George Lunn-The 1912 Socialist Victory in Schenectady<\/em>.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Page-5-Image-6-1.png\"><br \/>\nThe original size of the park was 120 acres and was purchased from three different families. The largest purchase was made from the DeForest family. Henry DeForest was an ex-congressman and was mayor of the city twice. Unfortunately, he died before realizing the benefits of the park, however his wife was responsible for the building of the brick entrance opposite the end of Wright Street, which was considered the grand entrance to<br \/>\nthe park. Central Park was named not for its location in the city but because this park was easily accessed by the surrounding neighborhoods and was accessible by the trolley line.<br \/>\nIn the original construction of the park, there were roads cut to travel around and through the park, the dredging of marshland that became the Iroquois Lake and clay tennis courts put in where the current Rose Garden now sits. Over the years, additional land purchases were made to increase the size of the park to 470 acres. Some of this purchase has allowed the city to have a municipal golf course, a soccer field, basketball courts and a beautiful baseball diamond. Currently there is an area of the park that allows for bike treks through the woods, expanded nature trails, competitive disc Frisbee course, and a cooperative gardens area. The cooperative garden center is composed of four greenhouses and a heated outbuilding and serves many different programs including the Roots and Wisdom program, Master Gardener program, Youth Agricultural program and the 4H<br \/>\nprogram. There is rumor that parts of Charles Steinmetz\u2019s greenhouse were used in the construction of the greenhouses within the park.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Page-6-Image-8-1.png\"><br \/>\nI could write on about this special place, but want to conclude this as it is already too long. My favorite place in the park has to be the rose garden. This area was established in the late fifties and continued through the seventies at which time it had deteriorated and was no longer cared for and was abandoned. In 1995, a small group of volunteers decided to revive this space<br \/>\nto its full glory, what you see today. I often park my car along the adjacent street and enter and exit the park though this pristine spot. I\u2019ve witnessed weddings in this area, graduates and families posing for special photographs and even recently, a woman dressed in a prom-style gown dredging through the snow and sitting in the snow for a beautiful photo shot.<br \/>\nIn conclusion, I think one of the great gifts of this city and why I call it my home, is the people who live here. They give their gift of time to serve this city, either through its food pantries, the library system through the Friends of the Library, working as ushers or bartenders to support our beautiful Proctor\u2019s Theater or through the planting of a garden for its beauty or its nourishment. So I encourage you to take a walk or drive your car around the park and thank those who were responsible for creating this beautiful place that has endured through the years.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Page-6-Image-7-1.png\"><\/p>\n<h3>Children&#8217;s Time<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"First Sunday of Christmas Children&#039;s Time\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H-Nnzyo4M2I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Passing of the Peace<\/h3>\n<p><em>If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.<br \/>\nWhether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God&#8217;s peace within, and then to share it with the world. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.<\/em><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Page-7-Image-10-1.png\"><\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #242: Love Came Down at Christmas<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Love Came Down at Christmas, Traditional Irish tune\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wl4k8dGpyTs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/page\/fetch\/HTLG2017\/87\/low\"><\/p>\n<h3>Scripture Reading &#8211; Luke 2:22-40<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Luke 2:22-40\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xq3V8OlGbV8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Sermon &#8211; Rev. Sara Baron<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"&quot;Consolation&quot;\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MBxKx-hmLO0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Responding<\/h2>\n<h3>Offering<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Page-7-Image-8.png\"><br \/>\nPhoto by Alice Nash<br \/>\nIf you wish, you are welcome to use this time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eservicepayments.com\/cgi-bin\/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=3_CMn6vY3gbXWj2GvkW32xVh5LubqSJdgKX6KHFre1VuMdS3Q8kj_eIJXGJN8RG-0gmHZvX_Lw1ha8ZXgn-54Krv7ImQMfM68o70RRXIZtDlvXRu7Icp8meYpri-7vHbdSHJK5fST8PKv5rD7H0pV4u2FYADh6CtWzBcTpjLo9qDxBXK0S3J8MPHZwZCFVXkDJkCUTrur4Wm694FEfvylg==&amp;ver=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">make a donation to the church online<\/a>, or to put a check in the mail.<br \/>\nThe time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?<\/p>\n<h3>Offertory Anthem: Before the Marvel of This Night by Carl Schalk<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Before the Marvel of This Night\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H52Rgn-Khj4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Prayer of Presentation<\/h3>\n<p>Embodied love,<br \/>\nWith the gifts we give, we seen to be embodiments of your love.<br \/>\nMay all that we offer be received for the building of your kindom,<br \/>\nand the spreading of your hope.<br \/>\nAmen<\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #249: There&#8217;s a Song in the Air<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"There\u2019s a Song in the Air\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y_2B-yeV7p8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/page\/fetch\/UMH\/252\/low\/249\"><\/p>\n<h3>Benediction<\/h3>\n<p>God offers you comfort, consolation, rest, and hope. May you receive it well. Amen<\/p>\n<h3>Postlude<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cChristmas Carol Medley\u201d<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"HD Joy to the World Christmas Hymns BPMC Hand Bell Choir \ubd80\ud3c9\uad50\ud68c\ud578\ub4dc\ubca8\ucc2c\uc591\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pmZCS8aLbos?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Page-8-Image-11.png\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady Worship for the First Sunday After Christmas December 27, 2020 Getting Centered It may &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2020\/12\/27\/worship-for-the-first-sunday-after-christmas\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Worship for the First Sunday After Christmas<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1894,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-worship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1897"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1898,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1897\/revisions\/1898"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}