Order of Service

Date  Sunday, December 3, 2023

Worship Leader   Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker

Liturgist Robert Piemme

Music Ellen Gozion, piano. Maddy Izzo, flute.

Tech   Emily Sweeny and Andrew Papale

Song leaders  Bill Collinge and Ioulia Kornberg

Prelude Pastorale by Thom Ritter George

Welcome  Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker

Lighting the Chalice, the Advent Wreath and Call to Worship   Rev. Walker and Robert Piemme

Opening Hymn   #226 People, Look East

Story for All   Story of Jingle Bells   Rev. Kate 

Singing For Our Children  

Jingle Bells (see insert)

Share the Plate Krista Brolley, EECM Pantry Manager*

Offering  Robert

Donations by check may be mailed to the church office.  Electronic donations may be made online on the church website or by texting “give” to 412-435-1050 and following the instructions.

Share the Plate for December is East End Community Ministries (EECM)

Offertory Music  Fantasia No. 4 in Bb: Andante and Presto by Georg Philip Telemann (1681-1767)

Sharing Joys & Sorrows  Rev. Kate

Meditation, silence, and prayer            

Sung Response  #55 Dark of Winter

Reading  By Mark Ward, excerpt from Humanist Voices in Unitarian Universalism

Sermon  The Ever-Changing Story, Rev. Kate    

Closing Song  #198 God of Many Names

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame           

We extinguish this flame but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment: these we carry in our hearts until we are together again

Benediction  Rev. Kate

Postlude  Fantasia No. 4 in Bb, Allegro by G. P. Telemann

To donate to Share the Plate 

– by check mailed to the church office, please include STP on the memo line 

– online on the church website, use the drop down to select Plate.

– by texting “Give” to 412-435-1050 following the directions with the word share or pledge after the donation amount as appropriate.

To make a pledge payment 

-by check, please put pledge in the memo line 

– online on the church website, keep the default General Fund 2023 option 

*East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM) was founded in 1970 as a collective response to changes in the East End community, born when local faith communities recognized that the troubles of the community were too great for any one of them to address alone. EECM was initially envisioned to serve the young, the elderly, and the poor of the area, as well as to promote interfaith events. Throughout its 50 years, EECM has continued to respond to changing community needs through its many programs and services.

“Thirsty for Water” Khasi Hills Faithify Special Appeal: Our church is leading this UUA global crowdsourcing effort to raise $19,500 for a Rainwater Harvesting facility for the school that our church has been sponsoring since 2003, the Annie Margaret Barr Higher Secondary School. Currently children do not have water with each meal during the dry season which is getting worse due to climate change. This is a special one-time appeal to give beyond the money that we raise each year for the salary of two teachers. For more information and to give: https://www.faithify.org/campaign/279/water-for-Unitarian-school