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We Keep Seeking | Matthew 2:1-23

The Magi were seekers. They sought wisdom, they sought the divine, they sought fortunes to tell the future. Their seeking leads them to Jesus, the newborn king of another culture and religion. And yet, their seeking is also what protects them from Herod’s deception and harm. After the Magi go home by another way, Joseph is visited again by an angel in his dream. This time, the angel brings a warning, and like before, Joseph heeds the message. Fleeing from Herod’s massacre, Joseph and Mary seek refuge in Egypt; they remain there, living as immigrants, until Herod dies. Like the Magi, may we seek the divine and be willing to journey closer to God. Like the Holy family, may we seek safety for all families who are under threat. This new year and every year to come, let us keep seeking—wisdom, justice, and a better world.

We will be sharing communion at the chancel rail this morning as well as receiving our star words for the coming year. The service will conclude with the “Letting Go and Letting God” ritual. This is a time when the congregation will be invited to write down on a piece of paper those things which each person wants to let go of from the old year of 2022, receive God’s grace and move into the new year with divine blessing and hope. The dissolving pieces of paper will be placed in a bowl of water at the front of the chancel.

The Senior Choir will be singing.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 am Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the January 1 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a worship service at 8:30 am in historic Trinity Chapel, 10 W Church Street.

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 am Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary or online.

Christmas Day

Today’s service will be a simple Sabbath after all the festivities of the past few weeks. It will be a chance in the quiet of the morning to remember, to rejoice and to respond to grace flowing freely in the humble birth of the God-made-flesh. It is also a chance for our church family to gather as the family of God.

The 10:30 a.m. service will revolve around carols that are familiar and easy to sing and the scriptures assigned for Christmas Day in the Revised Common Lectionary. They both tell the story of love and justice that shapes the meaning of the day.

Adult Education and Children’s Sunday School will not be held, and Nursery Care will not be provided.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 am Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the December 25 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a worship service at 8:30 am in historic Trinity Chapel, 10 W Church Street.

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 am Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary or online.

Fourth Sunday of Advent: We See God in Each Other

This week we return to Mary’s experience. After receiving the news from the angel, she retreats to her cousin Elizabeth’s house. When Mary arrives (perhaps unannounced), Elizabeth doesn’t just welcome her—she is filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks a blessing upon Mary as her own child leaps and kicks within her womb. She sees how God is at work and names it out loud. In this moment of profound solidarity, Mary and Elizabeth see the divine in one another. From generation to generation, we can see how God is at work in our relationships. The way we see the divine in each other impacts how we live and move in the world. When we view every human being as a child of God, we generate a different world.

Today we celebrate our annual lessons and carols service with our college students reading the scriptures. Special music will be shared by our bell choirs. The Senior Choir will be singing.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 am Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the December 18 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a worship service at 8:30 am in the historic Trinity Chapel, 10 W Church Street.

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 am Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary or online.

Third Sunday of Advent: We Can Choose a Better Way
Matthew 1:18-25 | Isaiah 35:1-10

As far as Joseph knows, his new wife has been unfaithful to him and broken their marriage contract. And yet, instead of punishment, he chooses not to publicly disgrace or humiliate her. This interruption in his life becomes a holy invitation when the angel comes to him in a dream and says, “Do not be afraid.” When he awakes, Joseph once again has the courage to choose a better way. He chooses to stay with Mary, to become an adoptive parent. He chooses peace over violence, grace over condemnation. When have our ancestors also chosen a better way, and when have they not? Isaiah 35 is a vision of what happens when we choose a better way: the wilderness blooms, water breaks forth in the desert, eyes are opened, ears are unstopped, sorrow and sadness flee away. A highway shall appear and it will become a holy way.

The Senior Choir will be singing the Cantata.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 am Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the December 11 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a worship service at 8:30 am in the historic Trinity Chapel, 10 W Church Street.

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 am Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary or online.

Second Sunday of Advent: God meets us in our fear

Luke 1:26-38 | Isaiah 11:1-10

When the angel Gabriel comes to Mary, she is perplexed and confused—and no doubt, afraid. And yet, the angel’s news is: “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid. We hear this refrain all throughout the Christmas story and remember it is the most common phrase in all the bible. From generation to generation, God shows up in the midst of our fear and uncertainty and confusion. From generation to generation, faithful people have said “yes” despite apprehension. From generation to generation, our ancestors in faith have accepted the invitation. The prophecy in Isaiah paints a vision of what we work toward when we say “yes”: righteousness and equity reign, the wolf lives with the lamb, no harm or hurt shall destroy the earth, a child shall lead the way.

Spirit will be singing.  Communion will be shared at the chancel rail.

Click here to WATCH the December 4 Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the December 4 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a worship service at 8:30 am in the historic Trinity Chapel, 10 W Church Street.

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 am Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary or online.

Matthew 1:1-17 | Isaiah 2:1-5
Our series begins with Matthew’s genealogy. In that long list of names, we remember the trauma and triumph of those who came before; each name holds a story and their story gives way to Christ’s story. When you zoom in, you may not be able to see how each character propels the story forward, but when you zoom out, you can see how each story is woven together into a larger tapestry. The Isaiah passage illustrates a convergence of opposing groups and identities coming together. Instead of the way of the past—of war—they learn a new way by transforming their weapons into gardening tools. What are the old paths that we’ve followed, and where must we diverge into a new way?

The Senior Choir will be singing.

Click here to WATCH the November 27 Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the November 27 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a worship service at 8:30 am in the historic Trinity Chapel, 10 W Church Street.

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 am Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary or online.

The reign of God, observed on this Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday. The Apostle Paul proclaims the reign of Christ in Colossians 1: 11-20. In our Gospel lesson, Luke 23: 33-43, at the place of the Skull, Jesus is crucified. This morning we will share in healing prayers.

Senior Choir will be singing. Today, we welcome CH (LTC) Craig M. Johnson, Fort Detrick Garrison Chaplain, a minister of the United Church of Christ as our preacher this morning.

Click here to WATCH the November 20th Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the November 20th Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a worship service at 8:30 am in the historic Trinity Chapel, 10 W Church Street.