Order of Service & Announcements
Sunday, January 4, 2026
“Music Sunday: Lessons and Carols”
Prelude “Snowfall” by Claude Thornhill Nathan Hamm
“Church of Trees” by Liz Story
Board Welcome Betsy Smalley
Opening Hymn #226 “People, Look East”
Prelude: “Frosty the Snowman” Peace Pals
Introduction Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley
Conversation from the Heart Jack Holdford
Lesson: Presence
The map you make yourself Gabe McDonald
by Jan Richardson
Chalice Lighting
“Velvet Shoes” Chalice Choir
words by Elinor Wylie, music by Michael Larkin
Lesson: Winter
First Snow by Mary Oliver Amber Scott
“December’s Keep” Spirit of Life Choir
words, arr. Greg Gilpin, music by Frederic Chopin
“Jingle Bells” Peace Pals
by James Pierpont Piano: Roshan Mahdi-Pound
Lesson: Solstice / Yule
Winter Dr. Brandon Moss
by Barbara Mahany
“Deck the Halls” by Ruth Elaine Schram Peace Pals
“Solstice Carole” by Kim Baryluk Small Ensemble
Lesson: Peace
Caring Meditation
If there is to be peace by anonymous Luca Wolfe
“When Angels Sing” Chalice Choir
words by Herb Frombach, music by Mark Miller
Lesson: Christmas
Christmas Comes Whether You’re Ready or Not
by Cynthia Frado Rev. Kelli McNeal
“Hodie Christus Natus Est” Chalice Choir
by Brandon L. Moss
Hymn #241 “In the Bleak Midwinter”
Lesson: Giving
Amid all the noise in our lives Rev. Kelli McNeal
by Tim Haley
Offering-Share the Plate: Ministerial Discretionary Fund
“Give Almes of Thy Goods” Spirit of Life Choir
by Christopher Tye
Lesson: Chanukah
light in the darkness (excerpt) Paisha Thomas
by Rabbi Rachel Barneblat
“The Chanukah Song (We Are Lights)” Spirit of Life Choir
words by Steve Young, music by Stephen Schwartz/arr. Stephens
Lesson: Kwanzaa Don Merrill
Kwanzaa, Freedom, Justice and Peace:
Principles and Practices For A New World (excerpt)
by Dr. Maulana Karenga
“Ujima” by Zanaida Stewart Robles Chalice Choir
Lesson: Renewal / New Year
Closure by Amanda Gorman Clare Fried
“We Toast the Days” Combined Spirit of Life
by Linda Kachelmeier & Chalice Choirs
Hymn #58 “Ring Out, Wild Bells”
Benediction & Extinguishing the Chalice
Postlude “A Moment’s Peace” Nathan Hamm
by Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel
American Sign Language interpretation provided by Heritage Interpreting.
Announcements
for 1/4/2026
Float on over to the Auction Table after service to ask questions, sign up to volunteer, or submit your auction donations.
There’s still time to give to support our Holiday Appeal. Your donations are greatly appreciated! Donate online, write a check, or consider donating via an IRA.
Special Education Volunteers Needed! If you have relevant experience companioning children with special needs? We need more Sunday morning volunteers who can act as aides in our classrooms. References and background check required. Please email Amber!
The next Pathways To Membership class is January 11, 2025, 8:30am – 2pm Register Online to attend. This class will acquaint you with our church and our faith before you consider a commitment of membership to First UU.
UU History & Theology Book Group 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 7pm, starting Jan. 20, featuring Prophetic Sisterhood: Liberal Women Ministers of the Frontier, 1880-1930. Contact Amber for assistance finding a copy of the book, and let Dana Reynolds know that you would like to participate. This will likely be a hybrid group, meeting in-person and over Zoom (or Google Meet).
Last Chance Art Exhibit! Today is the final day of Sharonah Laemmle’s “Internal Necessity: 50 years of Creative Expression.”
Read more about all of these events in This Week’s Friday’s News,
and check our online calendar for upcoming events.