The theme for the 2016 Christmas Fund Offering is God's Love Colors Everything. These worship resources have been developed around that theme using the Revised Common Lectionary readings for this year’s Advent/Christmas season. Ready-to-use PowerPoint presentations, bulletin inserts, information on how the funds are used, and an archive of previous years’ worship resources are available at www.christmasfund.org.
The song accompanying the Advent candle lighting liturgies, “Shine a Candle,” is found http://re-worshipsongs.blogspot.com/2012/11/advent-song-shine-candle.html. Note that the words change each week to reflect each Sunday's theme.
We thank you for your willingness to use these worship resources and promote the important ministry that happens through the Christmas Fund!

ADVENT III – JOY
Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 1:46b-55

Lighting the Third Advent Candle

One:	There are some blessings that are only revealed to us when the day is darkest.
Many:	There are some mercies that only shine when the shadows are deepest. 
One:	There are some graces that are only glimpsed when the night is the longest.
Many:	O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel. 
	The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, 
	the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 
	it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.
One:	In Advent, we remember the darkest days 
Many:	and await the brilliant light of hope. 

(The candle of Hope is lit)

One:	In Advent, we remember the thirsty days 
Many:	and await the quenching light of peace. 
(The candle of Peace is lit)

One:	In Advent, we remember the silent days
Many:	and await the singing light of joy. 
(The candle of Joy is lit)

One:	Say to those who are of a fearful heart, 
	"Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God...who will come and save you.”
Many:	Our souls magnify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God, our Savior. 
(The congregation sings:)

Shine a candle in the darkness, breathe new joy into our lives.
Wind your blessed peace around us till the day when Christ arrives.
Shine a candle in the darkness.
Wind your blessed peace around us.
Shine a candle in the darkness, breathe new joy into our lives.
Wind your blessed peace around us till the day when Christ arrives.

Call to the Offering
(for those churches receiving the offering on December 11) 

If we could have a conversation with Mary today, I imagine she would tell us that answering God’s call to be a servant is terrifying and exhilarating and heartbreaking and life changing…and nothing could have ever given her greater joy. I imagine that most of those who have served in ministry in our churches might say something similar about their answer to God’s call. So today, in this joy-filled hour of worship, we take a moment to honor those who said yes to God’s call to ministry in its many forms by supporting the Christmas Fund of the United Church of Christ. This Special Mission Offering assists ministers and lay employees with financial support during retirement or in times of crisis or need. God has richly blessed us through the ministry of God’s servants; let us offer our gifts with rejoicing!

Prayer of Dedication

God of the lowly and blessed, we thank you for the many ways we have been blessed by those who, like Mary, said yes to your invitation to participate in bringing your love to birth in our world. We are especially grateful for those servants who have given their gifts in our faith communities as ministers and lay employees. We dedicate these offerings in celebration of their service and for their continued journeys. Bless these offerings and us, that they and we might be used to turn the world upside down with your love. May each of us rejoice in our opportunities to play our role in the drama of redeeming love. Amen. 

Copyright © 2016 The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Inc.

Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved. 

Writers for the Christmas Fund liturgical resources for 2016 are part of the Pacific School of Religion (PSR), community.  PSR, a seminary of the United Church of Christ, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.  It is a “progressive, multidenominational seminary and center for social justice that prepares spiritually rooted leaders to work for the well-being of all.”  To learn more, visit www.psr.edu .

Tom Emanuel wears many hats: poet, playwright, performer, preacher, pedagogue…even a
few that don’t begin with the letter “P”!  Born and raised in the Black Hills of South Dakota, he is currently in the third year of his Master of Divinity program at PSR. He also serves as co-director of the Mythic Theater, a radical worship arts collective based out of Berkeley, California, and as Minister-in-Training at Mira Vista UCC in El Cerrito, California.

Schmian Evans is a “bridge builder” who uses her gifts and skills in service of those most marginalized. She is a minister at City of Refuge, UCC in Oakland, California and holds a Master of Divinity degree and Certificate in Sexuality and Religion from PSR and a B.A. in Gender Studies from California State University Stanislaus. Schmian has served as an advocate for those living on the outer edges for several years, as an educator, mentor, and organizational leader. She continues the important work of bridge building through research, teaching, activism, and public speaking.

Todd Whitley is a second-year Master of Divinity student at PSR. He is from Texas, where he is a member of Cathedral of Hope UCC and guided the church’s associated social justice organization before beginning seminary. Todd is a father of four, grandfather of two, and partner to Miguel Atkins who introduced him to the United Church of Christ.

Sharon Fennema is the Assistant Professor of Christian Worship and Director of Worship Life at PSR, where she is also the Director of the Certificate in Sexuality and Religion program. She earned her Ph.D. in liturgical studies from the Graduate Theological Union, and also holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from St. Olaf College and a Masters of Arts in Religion degree from Yale University Divinity School and Institute of Sacred Music. Prior to her post at PSR, she spent two years as a Lecturer on Ritual, Liturgy and Preaching at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.