UPCOMING SERVICES Unless noted otherwise

Preservice Quiet & Prelude at 9:50 am Worship Service and RE Classes at 10 am

Fellowship at 11:15 am 6 pm Soulful Sunday Service on

1st Sunday of the month

Thursday

December 24, 2015

9 pm Christmas Eve Service The Journey of Love Rev. Aaron Payson

December 27, 2015

Walking Toward Trouble Guest Minister Rev. Jennifer Innis

January 4, 2016

Annual Question Box Service 6 pm: Soulful Sundown Service

Rev. Aaron Payson

Welcome to Vespers!

From Merriam-Webster: Main Entry: ves·pers Pronunciation: \’ves-pərz\ Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction Usage: often capitalized Etymology: Anglo-French vespres, from Medieval Latin vesperae, from Latin, plural of vespera evening; akin to Latin vesper evening star 1 : the sixth of the canonical hours that is said or sung in the late afternoon 2 : a service of evening worship

The UUCW Definition: A special evening service before Christmas where we celebrate our special community and connection in the spirit of the holiday season!

Please join us in Fellowship Hall after Vespers for our annual Vespers Tea!

Unitarian

Universalist

Church of

Worcester

ORDER of VESPERS for Sunday December 20, 2015

“Believing in a community that unites all people”

Prelude Seasonal Selections Matt Johnsen, Pianist

Tolling of the Bell and Moment of Silence

Welcome Beau Rivers, Ministerial Intern

Lighting The Holiday Flame The Bejune Family

� Choral Introit & Processional Sing We Now Adult Choir Pageant Part I - Seasons’ Reasons adapted by Rev. Aaron Payson from “A Christmas Window” by the Dovecot Sunday School Songs – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, O Christmas Tree (Choir will sing first in German and then with congregation in English), Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Reading On Santa Claus Rev. Aaron Payson by G.K. Chesterton Choral Anthem Christmastime Is Here arr. L. Mendelsohn & V. Guaraldi

Pageant Part II - Seasons’ Reasons Songs – When All The People of the Earth, Deck the Hall, People Look East

Reading Our Gifts to Our Children Robin Mitzcavitch, by Anonymous Director of Religious Education Offertory Snowman Deb Bonneau, Pianist arr. Howard Blake

Solo Gesu Bambino David Bonneau, Baritone Pastoral Prayer Rev. Cheryl Leshay

Choral Anthem We Three Kings arr. Russell Robinson Pageant Part III - Seasons’ Reasons Songs – Light One Candle. Angels We Have Heard on High

Reading Meditation on Winter Celebrations by Rev. Elizabeth Strong

Choral Anthem Candlelight Carol arr. John Rutter

Pageant Part IV - Seasons’ Reasons

� Candlelighting Ceremony Silent Night / Night of Silence words and music by Daniel Kantor

As the choir sings “Night of Silence”, the candles will be lit. At the signal from the Minister, you are invited to sing verse one of Silent Night. Then hum through once, then sing verse one again. Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.

Benediction Rev. Aaron Payson

Postlude Seasonal Selections � Please stand in body or spirit

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,

you know Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,

But do you recall?

The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Has a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw it

You would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer's

Used to laugh and call him names

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve,

Santa came to say,

Rudolph with your nose so bright,

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?

Then all the reindeer's loved him,

As they shouted out with glee,

Rudolph the red-nose Reindeer

You'll go down in history!

O Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree,

Thy leaves are so unchanging

Not only green when summer's here,

But also when it's cold and drear.

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree,

Thy leaves are so unchanging!

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree,

Such pleasure do you bring me!

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree,

Such pleasure do you bring me!

Deck The Halls Deck the halls with boughs of holly,

Fa la la la la la la la! 'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la la la!

Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la la la la la la! Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la la la la la la!

See the blazing yule before us, Fa la la la la la la la!

Strike the harp and join the chorus, Fa la la la la la la la!

Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la la la la la la!

While I tell of Yuletide treasure, Fa la la la la la la la!

Fast away the old year passes, Fa la la la la la la la! Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,

Fa la la la la la la la! Sing we joyous all together! Fa la la la la la la la!

Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa la la la la la la la!

People Look East

People, look east. The time is near Of the crowning of the year.

Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today:

Love, the guest, is on the way.

Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, One more seed is planted there:

Give up your strength the seed to nourish, That in course the flower may flourish.

People, look east and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim

One more light the bowl shall brim, Shining beyond the frosty weather, Bright as sun and moon together. People, look east and sing today:

Love, the star, is on the way.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

You better watch out

You better not cry

You better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is comin' to town

He's making a list

He's checking it twice

He's gonna find out

Who's naughty or nice

Santa Claus is comin' to town

He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows if you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake

So you better watch out

You better not cry

You better not pout

I'm telling you why Santa Claus is comin' to town

When all the Peoples on This Earth

When all the peoples on this earth

Know deep inside their precious worth,

When every single soul is free,

We’ll earn the name humanity

The choice to be the best we can

Begins the day we say, “I am.”

The unity for which we sigh

Will never come through hate or lie.

The lights of Kwanzaa now proclaim

That when we share our inner flame

And nurture root and branch with pride

We’ll harvest peace both far and wide.

Light One Candle

Light one candle for the Maccabee children Give thanks that their light didn't die!

Light one candle for the pain they endured When their right to exist was denied!

Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice Justice and freedom demand!

And light one candle for the wisdom to know When the peacemaker's time is at hand!

Don't let the light go out!

It's lasted for so many years! Don't let the light go out!

Let it shine through our love and our tears.

Light one candle for the strength we all need To never become our own foe!

And light one candle for those who are suff'ring Pain we learned so long ago!

Light one candle for all we believe in, Let anger not tear us apart!

And light one candle to bind us together With peace as the song in our heart!

Don't let the light go out!

It's lasted for so many years! Don't let the light go out!

Let it shine through our love and our tears.

What is the memory that's valued so highly That we keep it alive in that flame?

What's the commitment to those who have died When we cry out they've not died in vain, We have come this far, always believing

That justice will somehow prevail! This is the burning. This is the promise,

This why we will not fail!

Don't let the light go out! It's lasted for so many years!

Don't let the light go out! Let it shine through our love and our tears.

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o'er the plains,

And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains.

(Chorus)

Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heav'nly song?

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

SERVICE NOTES (Our thanks to these volunteers)

Ushers/Greeters: The Zawielski Family - Joe, Deb, and Kyle May you all have very happy and healthy holidays!

THANK YOU NOTES

We would like to extend our thanks to our wonderful musicians for sharing their talents with us!

Matthew Johnsen, Music Director Deb Bonneau, Pianist

David Bonneau, Baritone Soloist

The UUCW Choir:

David Bonneau Andrea Cruz

Donald DeMarsh Donna Lamura Dianne Mann Kim McCoy

Christopher Paneia Moira Rouse

Joe Ruivo Karen Tobin

SEASON'S REASONS - Play based on “Christmas Window” by the Dovecot Sunday School,

adapted and written by Rev. Aaron Payson and Claire Breyton

Director: Claire Breyton

Holiday Party Actors Mariah Friesz, Morgaine Payson, Cyrus Salmassi, Forrest Homan, Lois Divoll , Alanna Keyo, Miya Cohen , Taeva

Cohen, and Thalia Cohen.,

Decorators Charlie Heffernan, Halo Derr, Simone Billiar, Reid Murphy, George Bejune, Zoe Langlois, Alanna Keyo, Ian McKeag,

KC Johnson Erikson, Davin McGrath

Joseph- Justin Keyo Mary- Ava Bogosian

Shepherds- Ben Long -Bellil, Conrad Homan, Timothy Scholwalter, Jack Munsey Simon Murphy

Sheep- Emma Doyle, Violet Munsey, Neway O'Dell, Naziah Billiar, Lisa Johnson Erikson, and UUCW children Stable Animals- Rebecca Wagner, Sammy Wagner, Cheyanne Martin,

Jack Hastings, Jack Palumbo, Sara Napoleone

Angels- Ciara Derr, Rhea Secor, Rhane Lenahan, Ada McKeag, Lucy Billiar, Joshua Napoleone,

Stage Helpers- Tom Heffernan, Maggie Hastings, Kristin Munsey, Kim Napoleone,, Cori Henry, Lynsey Heffernan.

Poinsettias 2015

Greg and Wendy Aldrich ** ~ In Memory of Art and Polly Pass and Paul Aldrich Ken Basye and ~ In Memory of Larry Napoleone Debbie Merrill** ~ In Memory of Dr. Charles Basye Polly Bluemel ~ In Memory of Van Bluemel Carole Carmicheal ~ In Memory of My Mom Denise Darrigrand** and ~ In Memory of Arthur and Joyce Darrigrand Dan Dougherty ~ In Memory of Dan and Barbara Dougherty Maya Desai ~ In Honor of Sanjay Desai Mary Fitton ** ~ In Memory of Bobbi Mawdsley Nancy Hancock and Birget Patterson ~ In Memory of John Patterson Cristina Heffernan ** ~ In Memory of Lois Allen Lindquist Woll Andy and Sue Hegedus ** ~ In Memory of Clara Hegedus Doris Horgan ** ~ In Memory of Elizabeth Kelley Rachel and Brian Keyo ~ In Memory of Rachel’s Mom Paulette Racine Paul Marr** ~ In Memory of Robert O’Donnell and William Wheildon

Donna Lamura ** ~ In Memory of Donald and Helen Hubbard Joan McGinn ~ In Memory of Agnes and Shawn McGinn Melissa McKeon** and Annie Colby-McKeon ~ In Memory of Madeline McKeon Bernadette and Brian Nelson ** ~ In Honor and Memory of Our Friends and Family Larry and Marge Ohs ** ~ In Honor and Memory of Our Loved Ones Rev. Aaron and Kristen Payson ** ~ In Memory of Rev. Robert Payson and Kenneth Shuman Tom and Rita Pierce ** ~ In Memory of Dorothy Wolf Larry and Marilyn Raymond ~ In Memory of Fran and Joseph Martin Lynn Ritchie ~ In Memory of my Mom and Dad Joyce and Charles Ritchie Peg Stone ~ In Memory of The Stone Family Sharon Templeman ** ~ In Memory of The Templeman and Elton Families

**indicates the purchase of a Poinsettia