Carol Sing this SundayCome to the Sanctuary at 10:30 am

this Sunday to sing Christmas carols, led and accompanied by Derek Tam and Elizabeth Forsyth.

Calling all Cookie Bakers! We would love some home-baked

cookies for the Advent Cookie Fest this Sunday, December 20 and on Christmas Eve after the 10 pm service.

We also need people who can receive and plate the cookies this Sunday, December 20, 8:30–9 am and Thursday, December 24, 9 pm.

Please respond to Mary-Ellis Adams, Ministry of Care, Fellowship & Invitation.

No Carillon Published Next Week

The Carillon will be taking a week off between Christmas and New Years. The next issue will be on Sunday, January 3, 2016.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENTLuke 1:39-558:30–11:00First Church Café, Small Assembly9:00Worship, Phil Porter, preaching; Amar Khalsa, pianist; Derek Tam, music director, Large AssemblyMusical Highlights, “Christmas Medley”; Holly Coates-Bash, harp; Nancy Knop, flute; “Celtic Advent Carol,” Songs of the Soul; “Annunciation” by Phil Porter; Laura Burkhauser, singer; Derek Tam, piano10:00 Christmas Cookie Fest, Sm. Assembly10:30 Christmas Carol Sing, Led by Derek Tam and Elizabeth Forsyth, Sanctuary11:00 Worship, Kit Novotny, preaching; Elizabeth Forsyth, organist; Derek Tam, music director, SanctuaryMusical Highlights, See 9 am Worship12:00Christmas Cookie Fest, Sm. Assembly

DECEMBER 27 ONE SERVICE ONLY AT 11 AMLuke 3:3-2211:00Worship, Sonny Graves, preaching; Music Director Derek Tam, Sanctuary12:00 Refreshments & Conversation, Sm. Assembly

December 20, 2015 • Vol. 69 • No. 47

INSIDE

1 Carol Sing this Sunday

2 Tree of Life

3 Amazing Family Orchestra

4 Friday Book Group Lineup

Preaching ScheduleDecember 27 11 am: Sonny Graves, Sanctuary

(NO 9 AM SERVICE)

January 3 11 am: Phil Porter, Sanctuary

(NO 9 AM SERVICE)

Christmas Eve Worship

Join us in our Sanctuary on Thurs., December 24 for an Intergenerational Service at 5 pm, featuring the Amazing Family Orchestra, Songs of the Soul and presentational music from Derek Tam, sights and sounds, and opportunities to relive the excitement of events leading up to the birth of Jesus. There will be costumes for kids (and grown-ups!) to dress up in as part of the impromptu manger scene.

Then at 10 pm in the Sanctuary we will have a Candlelight Service (with special organ and string quartet music starting at 9:30 pm). Prepare to be transported by inspiring music, powerful preaching and the sounds of familiar carols surrounded by the gentle light of candles. Musical highlights include Songs of the Soul, a duet with Alex Bonte and Derek Tam and two pieces by the Christmas Choir. Cookies and fellowship will follow the service in the Large Assembly.

The View from HereRachel BaumanMinister of Community Life

Dear friends,It is almost Christmas Day! It is almost

time to celebrate again the incarnation of Love, Peace, Justice and Joy into the world. As we wait together for the miracle of Christmas, I offer this prayer. I invite you, as I will, to say it aloud as you light candles at your tables on Christmas Eve. May the wonder of Jesus’ birth fill you anew with the magnitude of God’s love for you and may this love inspire us all to share it boldly and extravagantly with the world.

Merry Christmas!

Gracious and loving God,

We are so ready to greet the one who has been promised: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.

Yet even as we wait in holy wonder and dream of silent nights, we know all is not still or silent in our world. There is not yet peace on earth nor good will towards all.

Even in this most holy season it is sometimes hard to feel your presence or find your light in the darkness.

And yet it was such a time as this when you appeared to those shepherds on that hillside. It was into a world like ours, weary with want and war, that you came — not as a mighty conquering hero, but as a tiny baby needing love and care.

So holy God, help us not be so distracted by our desire for heavenly hosts, bright lights and big pronouncements that we miss how you are already here among us, between us, within us.

You are right where you have always been: in the midst of this vulnerable, messy and imperfect world and in our own very human hearts.

As we light the candles of Christmas, may they be for us a reminder that your light has come! May they be for us an invitation to let the light you have given us shine forth from our lives and into your world so that all might know love, joy and peace.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

THE CARILLON DECEMBER 20, 2015 PAGE 2

THE CARILLONMargaret Copeland, EditorPhil Porter, Minister of Art & Communication Weekly deadline: 9 am Friday Email submissions to: mcopeland@fccb.org All submissions are subject to editing.

First Congregational Church of BerkeleyUnited Church of Christ2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704510/848-3696

Tree of Life

Continued prayers for Liz Ratcliffe who is in hospice. Continued prayers for Janette Snyder who is in hospice.

Christmas OfferingThe Ministry of Outreach, Mission and Service

has chosen seven organizations to receive the Christmas offering. They are:

1. YEAH! (Youth Engagement, Advocacy and Housing)

2. GRIP (Greater Richmond Interfaith Program)

3. East Bay Sanctuary Covenant’s Community Development and Education Program

4. Save the Bay 5. TGI Justice Project

6. The Christmas Fund of the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ

7. Ethiopian Village Schools Foundation

To learn about the specific ways that your offering will help these organizations, go to the FCCB website.

The Christmas offering will be received this Sunday, December 20 and on Christmas Eve. You can also donate online. To contribute please use a Christmas offering envelope or mark your check or online donation for “Christmas.”

Videos from Sunday, December 13To see videos from the 9 & 11 am worship services, go to www.fccb.org/inspired-worship/past-sunday-webcasts.

THE CARILLON DECEMBER 20, 2015 PAGE 3

Christmas Eve Family ServiceFri., December 24, 5 pm

Christmas Eve Candlelight ServiceFri., December 24, 9:30 musical pre-lude; 10 pm worship

141st Annual MeetingSun., February 7, after 10 am service (one service only)

Resonance Concert: Talking with SpiritualsSat., February 13, 7:30 pm, Loper Chapel

More news at www.fccb.org

Coming Up!

Did You Know...?In Solidarity Against Islamophobia Event

On Thursday, Dec. 17, all are invited to join members of the communities of Pacific School of Religion, Graduate Theological Union, Zaytuna College and beyond* for an afternoon of action, conversation, prayer and commitment to standing up as a community against hate and fear.

• Panel discussion: 3-5 pm, Pacific School of Religion chapel

• Community-wide multi-faith prayer vigil: 5 pm, Holy Hill, between PSR & Zaytuna

• An event about Islam: 6 pm, with the founders of Zaytuna College (at Zaytuna, 2401 LeConte Ave)For more information visit www.

igniteatpsr.com/solidarity, or contact Kit Novotny (knovotny@fccb.org).* The Center of Islamic Studies, the Center for Jewish Studies, the Center for Dharma Studies, American Baptist School of the West, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology, Ignite Institute at PSR, Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, Starr King School for the Ministry and the United Religions Initiative.

Join the Advent Choir Join the Advent Choir as we explore

the music of the season! Rehearsals are on Thursday, Dec. 17 and Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7–9 pm. We will sing at the 11 am worship on Sunday, Dec. 20 and also at the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 10 pm. If interested, email Derek Tam (dtam@fccb.org).

Amazing Family OrchestraThe First Church Amazing Family

Orchestra is rolling back into town for our 5 pm Intergenerational Christmas Eve service. We will be dividing into several small groups of three to five musicians which will accompany a couple of carols, rather than all of them. To participate, e-mail Derek Tam at dtam@fccb.org; he will find a group suitable for you, provide music and set up a rehearsal time before and on Christmas Eve.

…that the children’s Bible Class is reading Psalms through Advent and reflecting on the authors’ feelings towards God, and writing their own

Advent poems about their feelings towards God during this season?

…that included in the FCCB Library collection is The Muslim

Next Door: The Qur’an, the Media, and that Veil Thing by Sumbul Ali-Karamali? Author Reza Aslan writes: “A beautiful book. For anyone who

truly wants to know what Muslims believe, this is the perfect book.”

Gun ControlLast weekend was Gun Violence

Prevention Sabbath Weekend. This interfaith initiative encouraged religious communities across the country to lift up issues of gun violence, especially in the wake of the recent shootings in San Bernadino.

Rev. Matthew Crebbin, a son of this congregation and senior pastor at Newtown Congregational Church (UCC) in Newtown, CT, where the Sandy Hook shootings took place, was among those calling other UCC churches to participate. You can read his article at http://tinyurl.com/jrbpxjx.

Phil Porter has created a resource, “The Politics of Gun Control in the United States,” with information on the political landscape surrounding gun control advocacy, including a list of national organizations working on these issues. He also identifies key strategies for change and ways to understand the current climate. You may download the resource at http://tinyurl.com/jjjputo.

SAVE THE DATE! Annual Meeting

Sunday, February 7(Following 10 am service

— one service only)

New Senior Minister Molly Phinney Baskette will be visiting and

preaching at the 10 am service!

Love Kids and Arts & Crafts?

The Ministry of Families, Children & Youth (FamChY) is looking for two paid facilitators: one to facilitate an art or craft-based activity and conversation around “Who is Jesus?” for grades K-2, and another to facilitate an art or craft-based activity and discussion around “Who

is Jesus and what does he have to do with my life?” for grades 3-5. These events will take place during the Diverse Families Project Dialogue Series: Raising an “out and proud” Christian family in the Bay Area — Challenges and Rewards. It will be on January 10 from 4:30-6 pm. Contact Emma Savo if you’re interested.

Deckers Christmas PartyJoin the Deckers for a Christmas

party, 6:30 pm, Friday, December 18, at the home of Kathy & Bob Helliesen, 398 Vassar Avenue, Berkeley.

RSVP to Kathy or Bob with what you’d like to bring to dinner.

As in past years, the group is gifting YEAH with movie tickets. Cash or checks made out to Kathy Helliesen may be given or sent to Annis Kukulan.

Cellar Thrift Shop NewsThe Cellar Thrift Shop’s last day

open in 2015 is Saturday, Dec. 19. Their first day open in 2016 is Wednesday, Jan. 6. Clean up day is Tuesday, Jan. 5.

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CA Weekly Calendar

Sunday December 20CAFÉ8:30 am, Sm. AssemblyWORSHIP9 am, Lg. AssemblyTHE CELLAR THRIFT SHOPClosedCHRISTMAS COOKIE FEST10 am, Sm. AssemblyCHRISTMAS CAROL SING10:30 am, SanctuaryWORSHIP11 am, SanctuaryCHRISTMAS COOKIE FEST10 am, Sm. AssemblyMonday 21MINDFULNESS MEDITATION6:30 pm, Loper ChapelTuesday 22STAFF MEETING10:30 am, Durant House MainADVENT CHOIR REHEARSAL7 pm, Loper ChapelWednesday 23BIBLE STUDY7 pm, Durant House MainThursday 24INTERGENERATIONAL CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE5 pm, SanctuarySPECIAL CHRISTMAS MUSIC9:30 pm, SanctuaryCANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE10 pm, SanctuaryFriday 25CHURCH OFFICE CLOSEDMerry Christmas!Sunday 27WORSHIP11 am, SanctuaryREFRESHMENTS AND CONVERSATION12 pm, Sm. AssemblyWednesday 30BIBLE STUDY7 pm, Durant House MainMEN’S GROUP7:30 pm, LibraryThursday 31CHURCH OFFICE CLOSEDHappy New Year’s Eve!Friday January 1CHURCH OFFICE CLOSEDHappy New Year!

Young Adult News• Sat., Dec 19 evening: Pop-Up

Advent Small Group Gathering • Open Chapel is now on Meetup.

com!For more info, contact Kit Novotny at knovotny@fccb.org

Bits and Pieces

Friday Book Group LineupFor the January 8

meeting, led by Judy Norberg, we will read Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

For the February 19 meeting (note change

of date to accommodate Women’s Retreat previous weekend) we will read Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Kathy Keller will lead.

March finds us reading Just Mercy. Our leader is Mary Fuji.

All are welcome even if you haven’t read the book. Questions? Contact Helen Wadman or Katie Brookes.

Young adults took time out of their busy schedules to volunteer at the Berkeley Food Pantry last week. Thank you!