December 25, 2016                                                                                                                             Christmas Day

*Gathering Hymn                                   #392 Hineh Mah Tov                               Psalm 133:1, from the Hebrew Bible

                                                                  Hineh mah tov umah nayim, shevet aheem gam yahad. (x2)

                                                                  Hineh mah tov, shevet aheem gam yahad. (x2)

                                                                  Translation: How good it is for people to dwell in peace together.

 

Prelude                                                   Carol of the Bells                                              Leontovych; arr. Daniel Gledhill

 

Welcome

 

Chalice Lighting

 

*Opening Hymn                                     #246 O Little Town of Bethlehem

 

*Covenant                                               Love is the doctrine of this church.

                                                                  The quest for truth is its sacrament,

                                                                  And service is its prayer.

                                                                  To dwell together in peace,

                                                                  To seek knowledge in freedom,

                                                                  To serve humankind in fellowship,

                                                                  Thus do we covenant with each other.

 

*Hymn of Praise                                      From all that dwell below the skies

                                                                   Let songs of hope and faith arise

                                                                   Let peace, goodwill on earth be sung

                                                                   Through every land, by every tongue.

 

Offering for the Westside Food Bank

 

Time for All Ages                                    Who is Maryam?

 

Song of Blessing                                    #409 Sleep, My Child                                                                       verses 1 & 3

                                                                  Sleep, my child, and peace attend you, all through the night.

                                                                  I who love you shall be near you, all through the night.

                                                                  Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, hill and vale in slumber sleeping,

                                                                  I my loving vigil keeping, all through the night.

 

                                                                  While the moon her watch is keeping, all through the night;

                                                                  While one-half the world is sleeping, all through the night.

                                                                  Even while the sun comes stealing, visions of the day revealing,

                                                                  Breathes a pure and holy feeling, all through the night.

 

Life Together

 

Offering                                                   It’s the Most Wonderful Time                        Pola & Wyle; arr. Daniel Gledhill

 

Devotional Time

 

Silence

 

Sung Response                                  Peace, Salaam, Shalom                                  Pat Humphries & Sandy Opatow

                                                               Peace, salaam, shalom...

                                                               We believe in peace...

                                                               We will work for peace...

                                                               We can live in peace...

                                                               Peace, salaam, shalom...

 

Readings                                             Matthew 1:18-25, from the Christian Bible

                                                              Surah Maryam 19:16-27, from the Qur’an

 

Music for the Morning                        O Holy Night                                                   Adolphe Adam; arr. Daniel Gledhill

 

Reflection                                           The Story of Maryam                                                  Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur

 

*Closing Hymn                                  #240 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

 

*Benediction

 

Musical Response                             Umoja                                                       Dr. Zanaida Robles, arr. Daniel Gledhill

 

*Please stand in body or in spirit

 

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

 

Greeters:                                              Michael Young & Steve Young

Ushers:                                                 Nina Emerson & Tom Foretich

Coffee:                                                 Jimmy Hogue & Sylvia Young

Welcome Table:                                 Carol Ring

Bookstore:                                           Sarah Harper

 

One hundred percent of our offering will go to the Ocean Park Community Center, (OPCC). OPCC

empowers people to rebuild their lives, with the goal of ending-- not simply managing -- human

suffering. OPCC is an independent, community-supported organization in which staff, volunteers and

clients work with mutual respect to address the effects of poverty, abuse, neglect and discrimination.

The agency's programs are designed to remove barriers to access the resources individuals need to

ensure their survival, end their victimization and improve their quality of life.

 

If you would like to make an additional gift to the church, please designate UU Santa Monica on your

check or mark UU Santa Monica on one of the small envelopes provided. You can also make a

one-time or monthly gift to the church at archive.uusm.org/make-a-donation.