“Light in the Forest” our stunning chapel is reflective of our mission – simplicity, inclusivity, beauty & light. The work of the church happens collaboratively.
This Sunday: December 22, 2024
SERMON
This Sunday: “Love: Welcoming the Goodness of God”
Bible Study Leader: The Reverend Ken Feske
Bible Study Topic: Luke 1: 39-45
Bible Passages: Micah 5: 2-5a; Psalm 80: 1, 17-19; Luke 1: 39-45
Lector: Tom Rusert
Crucifer: Darren Peterie
Ushers: Peggy Pfeifer
Fellowship: Marge Moore and Rae Janzen
Prelude
9:45 a.m.
Jody Lee, soprano
Jubal Joslyn, tenor
Cathryn Wilkinson, piano
Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion! from Messiah……….Handel
In the Bleak Midwinter……….Gustav Holst, arr. Hayes
Love Came Down at Christmas……….Wade, arr. DeCesare
“Alleluia, Alleluia” from Exsultate Jubilate………..Mozart
Offertory
Lute-Book Lullaby……….John Butler
Jody Lee, soprano and Jubal Joslyn, tenor
Postlude
In Dulci Jubilo……….German folksong, arr. J. S. Bach
Story of a Carol
In 1865, not long after an end to the Civil War had been reached, Phillips Brooks wrote the words, “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.” Brooks was rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, and had recently spent time traveling in Israel, riding on horseback through the fields around Bethlehem. He was in Bethlehem for Christmas and attended the Church of the Nativity on Christmas Eve. The text for “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was probably inspired by this journey, but Brooks did not complete the hymn until three years later. He commissioned a tune from his church organist, Lewis Redner. Redner delayed composing the tune until the night before it was to be sung for the first time, on December 27, 1868. Redner later wrote, “Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868.” The version we sing today was published in 1894 and has been included in hundreds of hymnals in the succeeding years. Excerpt from www.hymnary.org by Tiffany Shomsky
Jody Lee, soprano
Jody enjoys performing with Madregalia, Carmel Bach Festival, Central Coast Chamber Choir, Choral Artists of Carmel and Voices of Silicon Valley in the Bay Area. She also leads small ensemble music, most recently with Musikiwest’s production of Ballad of the Brown King. She holds a B. Mus. from Brock University (Canada) and was active as a soloist, adjudicator, vocal coach and chorister throughout Southern Ontario, Canada. As Assistant Choirmaster/Soprano soloist at St. George’s Anglican (St. Catharines), she worked extensively with composer John Butler, and appeared regularly with Niagara Vocal Ensemble and Opera Ontario, and with Carmina, Inc. after emigrating to the US in 2009. Jody is a soloist at All Saints Episcopal, the Unitarian Universalist church and Church of the Wayfarer, and works in allied health services.
Last Sunday’s Service
The Rev. Ken Feske
Pastor's Letter
“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So, God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.”
I have sung this line countless times during the Christmas season. Taken from the 3rd verse of “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” this line evokes in me both wonder and awe. The greatest gift God ever gave to humanity came when no one was looking. It came in a tiny, occupied country of the mighty Roman Empire and in an obscure town in that country. It came without human prompting or negotiation, without pomp and splendor, it came without fanfare or crowds, without spotlights or ads. It came in the most unlikely of places hidden from everyone.
It came before the internet, before cell phone, the Son of God came in silence.
Another one of our well-known Christmas hymns puts it this way:
It seems that God does His best work in silence.
But the world of humanity is one of noise. It is filled with hustle and bustle, phone calls and meetings, striving and jostling. Add to that the interior noise of the mind: the competing and comparing, the worrying and scheming. I would hope that the Christmas season would help matters, but I know this is not the case. If anything, the noise level gets turned up to a deafening roar with year-end deadlines and traffic jams. To push back against this seems like a herculean task. Is it even worth it?
I think it is. God still does His best work in silence just as God did that first Christmas. In silence, we set aside the exterior noise of the world. In silence, we seek to quiet the interior noise in our minds. As the silence deepens, we become aware of God’s presence, listening for God’s voice. We sense the love that sent that Son to Bethlehem, the love that calls us sons and daughters.
If you can find some space and time to be silent during Advent, it will be the best Christmas gift you can receive. It will evoke both wonder and awe.
This is the best work God does, and God does it in silence.
See you in worship this last Sunday of Advent,
Ken
Small Groups & Bible Study
Small Groups
These are gatherings where CitF members and friends can explore faith and deepen fellowship.
Small Group Bible Study
The Sunday Small Group Bible Study meets each Sunday Morning at 9:00 am in the Multipurpose Room, where the topic is the sermon Bible lesson of the day.
Men’s Small Group Bible Study
Men’s Bible Study will resume on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. on Zoom only. We will again be studying John’s gospel. For more information contact Bob Axley at rjaxley@icloud.com
Women’s Bible Study
Women’s insight on Faith meets on the third Thursday of each month at 4:00 pm at Mia Jarick’s home. Anyone interested in joining can contact Mia Jarick at 831-917-3202 or miajarick1@yahoo.com.