Join us for a moving message, beautiful music and community at the center of Manchester by the Sea, 10 AM Sunday. First Parish Church Manchester by the Sea Worship, Advent, Sunday Dec.10, 2023, 10 Central St and streamed on Facebook, FirstParishChurchManchesterMa.

Bulletin Dec 10 2023

Worship Leader, *Rev. Rick Spalding “With Us”

Music led by Dr. Herman Weiss and the First Parish Choir, soloists Marsha Johnson and Rebecca Shrimpton

Pastoral Symphony (from ‘The Messiah’) – G. F. Handel (1685 – 1759)

There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field/Glory to God (from ‘The Messiah’) – G. F. Handel  Rejoice Greatly (from ‘The Messiah’) – G.F. Handel

Then Shall the Eyes/He Shall Feed His Flock/Come Unto Him (from ‘The Messiah’) – G. F. Handel

God Be with You – Ralph Vaughn Williams (1872-1958)

Hymns My Soul Gives Glory to My God, Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear

Scripture Matthew 1:18-25 Jeff Bodmer-Turner

Deacons are John Feuerbach and Janet Groth

Lighting of the Advent Candle Henry and Penny Lapham and daughter, Becca Calandra

*Our Preacher today is Rick Spalding. Rick retired in 2018 after nearly 20 years of service as Chaplain at Williams College in western Massachusetts – where his work included encouraging spiritual life and inter-faith collaboration among students representing most of the world’s great religious traditions.  He had previously served congregations in Boston, New York City, and Albany, and taught at Harvard Divinity School, Andover-Newton Theological School, and Trinity School in NYC.

Since retiring, Rick has served as Interim Senior Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, Michigan and at Old South Church in Boston.  He and his partner Peter Bubriski now live in Ipswich and feel very much at home on the North Shore – perhaps partly because Rick’s grandfather grew up on Bridge Street here in Manchester.