Fourth Sunday in Advent

1
Fourth Sunday in Advent December 23rd, 2007 The
Christmas Fund expresses love to those who have
given their presence, their care and their
creativity to churches in the United Church of
Christ by means of pension supplements.
2

• The gospel of Matthew tells us
• Look the virgin shall conceive and
  bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,
  which means God is with us.

3

• We light again the Candle of Hope and remember
  the hopeful ones around us.

4
The Candle of Hope The Christmas Fund offers hope
to active and retired clergy and
active and retired lay employees because they can
receive emergency assistance in time of need.
5

• We light again the Candle of Peace
  and remember peacemakers and peacekeepers.

6
The Candle of Peace The Christmas Funds health
supplementation brings peace of mind and spirit
to many retired pastors, musicians, sextons and
administrators.
7

• We light again the Candle of Joy and celebrate
  that our church is a place of festivity,
  tenderness and justice.

8
The Candle of Joy The Christmas Fund sends
Christmas gift checks that bring joy to retired
clergy and lay workers this year more than 24
of whom are one hundred years old or older.
9

• God is with us. This is the Candle of Love.
  God has loved us so deeply, so wisely, so
  intimately that Christ came to us in
  a human baby who lay in a manger under
  starlight. In the presence of this
  story, each one of us finds ourselves loved by
  God and able to love one
  another.

10
The Candle of Love The Christmas Fund expresses
love to those who have given their presence,
their care and their creativity to churches in
the United Church of Christ by means of pension
supplements.
11

• This is our response to the virgin who
  conceives a child we love one another.
  Somebody is hoping for room in the inn of our
  heart somebody is waiting for the song of
  peace somebody needs a gift of golden joy.
  Please pause to remember those who need hope,
  peace, joy or the assurance that they are worthy
  of love.
• (Silence, In some churches people may feel
  free to softly voice names for intercessory
  prayer.)

12

• (Let us pray)
• Emmanuel, God with us, as Advent waiting comes
  to an end and we anticipate the birth of Christ,
  shine on the spirits of all who brought us the
  story shepherds who watched over us, angels
  who sang to us, wise people who pointed us to the
  Star of your love. Amen.