The Ward Hill Church Bell Ringer

December 12, 2021 – Third Sunday of Advent

“Blue Christmas” Advent Service of Remembrance and Hope – Wednesday, Dec 15 at 7 pm

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Christ’s Nativity – Friday, Dec 24 at 7 pm

Midweek Meeting for Study and Prayer – Resumes Jan 12

We will resume studying David Teague’s Godly Servants: Discipleship and Spiritual Formation for Missionaries on Wednesday, January 12.

Lord’s Day Schedule–Next Sunday, December 12

8 am – Online Service (Facebook Live)

10 am – In-Person Service

11 am – Christian Education and Fellowship

Upcoming Lord’s Days   * includes celebration of the Lord’s Supper

December 19   Advent IV*

December 26   Christmas Sunday

January 2         Epiphany Sunday*

January 9         Baptism of Christ Sunday

Church Calendar & Lectionary

Season:           Advent – from the Sunday nearest Nov 30 until sundown

on Dec 24 (November 28 – December 24, 2021)

Color:              Purple – for repentance in preparation for Christ’s Advent

This Sunday:   Third Sunday of Advent – Joy

Sun, Dec 19:   Fourth Sunday of Advent – Peace

Lectionary:     Micah 5:2-5a; Ps 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55

Hymns:           196 – Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus; 194 – O Come,

O Come Emmanuel (vv 1&5); 200 – It Came upon the Midnight Clear; 201 – O Little Town of Bethlehem 

Monthly Prayer Focus for December

Local Church Focus:  King of Grace Church, Bradford – Paul Buckley, pastor

Missions Focus: Pregnancy Care Center of Merrimack Valley and Southern NH

Community Resources – Food, Clothing, Shelter, & Other Help

www.communityactioninc.org/phocadownload/resource_guide_english_october_2017.pdf          National Suicide Hotline:  1-800-273-8255

Refugee Ministries: Interserve USA (interserveusa.com); Emmanuel Gospel Center’s Greater Boston Refugee Ministry (http://www.egc.org/refugee)

Global Crisis Help:  World Relief – worldrelief.org

Information on Persecuted Christians: Open Doors USA – opendoorsusa.org

Monthly Scripture Memory for December

John 3:16,17 (ESV) – 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Catechism: An Outline of the Faith

Q.  What do we learn about God as creator from the revelation to Israel?

A.  We learn that there is one God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

Q.  What does this mean?

A.  This means that the universe is good, that it is the work of a single loving God who creates, sustains, and directs it.

Q.  What does this mean about our place in the universe?

A.  It means that the world belongs to its creator; and that we are called to enjoy it and to care for it in accordance with God’s purposes.

Q.  What does this mean about human life?

A.  It means that all people are worthy of respect and honor, because all are created in the image of God, and all can respond to the love of God.