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Why Are You Searching?

December 29, 2024
First Sunday After Christmas
“Why Are You Searching?”
Luke 2:41-52
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Why Are You Searching?”.  We will be reading from Luke 2:41-52, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 148.   

Call to Worship, Psalm 148:1-6, 13

Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens;

People: Praise him in the heights!

Leader: Praise him, all his angels;

People: Praise him, all his host!

Leader: Praise him, sun and moon;

People: Praise him, all you shining stars!

Leader: Praise him, you highest heavens,

People: And you waters above the heavens! Leader: Let them praise the name of the Lord,

People: For he commanded and they were created.

Leader: He established them forever and ever;

People: He fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

Leader: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted;

People: His glory is above earth and heaven.

December 29 bulletinDownload
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Name Above All Names

Christmas Eve Service 2024
“Name Above All Names”
Philippians 2:5-11
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

Christmas Eve Service, 2024

Lighting the Christ Candle
Leader: It was on this night, two thousand years ago,
People: That the world changed forever.
Leader: A young couple arrived in Bethlehem.
People: They were looking for a place to stay.
Leader: The time was coming for their child to be born.
People: But no one had room for them.
Leader: Finally, they were led to a cave.
People: A night spent among the animals.
Leader: And Mary gave birth to her first-born son.
People: She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger.
Leader: The Light of the World came and dwelled among us.
People: We had no room for him, but he has always made room for us.
Leader: That first Christmas changed everything.
People: Thanks be to God!

May God bless each and every one of you with a joyous and very Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve 2024 Bulletin Download
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Christ in You

December 22, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Advent
“Christ in You”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines
Romans 8:1-11

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. On this Forth Sunday of Advent, we will light the Candle of Love. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message titled, “Christ in You”. We will be reading from Romans 8:1-11 and our Call to worship comes from Psalm 119:33-40.

Call to Worship Psalm 119:33-40
Leader: Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
People: And I will observe it to the end.
Leader: Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
People: And observe it with my whole heart.
Leader: Lead me in the path of your commandments,
People: For I delight in it.
Leader: Turn my heart to you decrees,
People: And not to selfish gain.
Leader: Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
People: Give me life in your ways.
Leader: Confirm to your servant your promise,
People: Which is for those who fear you.
Leader: Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
People: For your ordinances are good.
Leader: See, I have longed for your precepts;
People: In your righteousness give me life.

Lighting the Candle of Love
Leader: We know the love of God is great,
People: Greater than anything we could imagine.
Leader: It spans continents,
People: It perseveres through eternity.
Leader: But two thousand years ago,
People: Everything changed.
Leader: God took on flesh.
People: God came to walk among the people.
Leader: And so we know God loves us,
People: Because God came and lived among us.
Leader: May we feel the love of Christ this Advent.
People: May we make his love known to others.

December 22, 2024 Bulletin Download

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Firstborn

December 08, 2024
Second Sunday of Advent
“Firstborn”
Colossians 1:15-23
Rev. Benjamin Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. On this Second Sunday of Advent, we will light the Peace Candle.  We will be reading from Colossians 1:15-23, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 15.  Pastor Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Firstborn”.

Call to Worship
Psalm 15
Leader: O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
People: Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Leader: Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
People: And speak the truth from their heart;
Leader: Who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends,
People: Nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
Leader: In whose eyes the wicked are despised,
People: But who honor those who fear the Lord
Leader: Who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
People: Who do not lend money at interest,
Leader: And do not take a bribe against the innocent.
People: Those who do these things shall never be moved.

Lighting the Candle of Peace
Leader: God, you have called us to be still,
People: To know that you are God.
Leader: Yet we rush to pick up weapons of war,
People: That should be beaten into plowshares.
Leader: Remind us that all people bear your image,
People: That all people are our neighbors.
Leader: Teach us to set aside differences,
People: And strive for peace.
Leader: As we light this candle,
People: We pray that your peace would reign.
Leader: May the peace of Christ be with us.
People: May the peace of Christ stay with us.

December 8, 2024 BulletinDownload
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Rebirth and Renewal

December 01, 2024
First Sunday of Advent
The Hanging of the Greens
Rebirth and Renewal
Titus 3:4-7
Rev. Benjamin Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. This is a special day, as it marks the Beginning of the Season of Advent.  At our 11:00AM Service, we will decorate the Sanctuary as part of the annual Hanging of the Greens.  We will be reading from Titus 3:4-7, and Pastor Ben Wines will share the homily titled “Rebirth and Renewal”.

As a reminder, you can also find our services online at the HVBC YouTube channel (at any time!).

Lighting the Candle of HOPE

Leader: Come, Lord Jesus!

People: Today we begin the journey of Advent. Let us pray that we may be ready and able to welcome the Christ Child into our lives again.

Leader: May this Advent season inspire our hearts and lives.

People: Come, Lord Jesus!

Leader: May this Advent wreath remind us to prepare for Christ’s coming.

People: Come, Lord Jesus!

Leader: The first candle is the candle of HOPE. It was hope that gave people the courage to go on, and it was hope that directed their prayers toward the Messiah.

People: Because of our trust in what God has already done for us, we are bold to hope for what He will yet do with us.

Leader: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

People: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” May our lights so shine before others that they will give glory to our Father in heaven and discover the hope brought by the Christ Child! Amen.

December 1, 2024 – BulletinDownload
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Advent Schedule 2024

Brothers and sisters,

I wanted to write to you all this week and give you a quick run-down of everything happening at our church during the Advent season—cause there’s a lot!

First, on Sunday, December 1st, we will be having our usual Hanging of the Greens service during morning worship. The Hanging of the Greens is a traditional service that acts as the official beginning of Advent. During the service, we will reflect on what the symbols of Advent mean and how they connect to the story of Jesus’ birth. This is always a beautiful service with lots of participation from the congregation, so come and bring in the Advent season with us!

Then, on December 7th, from 3:00-5:00, Frances Smith and others will be leading an Advent Craft Workshop. There is an announcement with more details in this newsletter, so be sure to read through it. If you have any questions, be sure to contact Frances. Everyone is invited to come and participate in this event! Come on out and make something for Christmas!

On December 8th, we will have our usual Sunday morning worship, but we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper this Sunday.

Next, on December 15th during morning worship, we will have our Christmas musical service, “The Candles of Christmas”, with a reception in the Fellowship Hall after-ward. If you have not been to one of these musical services in the past, I highly recommend you come! The music is beautiful, the readings are inspiring, and the food is delicious! Do yourself a favor and mark your calendar for this one!

Finally, we will have our Christmas Eve Communion and Candlelight Service on Tuesday, December 24th at 5:00 PM in the sanctuary. After all the hustle and bustle that comes with the Christmas season, this service always serves as a time of respite. At this service, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus, remember his sacrifice, and ponder the great mystery of Immanuel, “God with us.” This service always ends with us singing “Silent Night” by the light of candles—a perfect way to finish the season of Advent.

I look forward to seeing you all at each of these events!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Ben

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The Last Lecture

November 24, 2024
The Last Lecture
Guest Speaker – Dr. Garry Crites
2 Samuel 23:1-7

Call to Worship
Psalm 93
Leader: The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty;
People: The Lord is robed, he is girded with strength.
Leader: He has established the world;
People: It shall never be moved;
Leader: Your throne is established from of old;
People: You are from everlasting.
Leader: The floods have lifted up,
People: O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice;
Leader: The floods lift up their roaring.
People: More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
Leader: More majestic than the waves of the sea,
People: Majestic on high is the Lord!
Leader: Your decrees are very sure;
People: Holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Today’s sermon is titled, “The Last Lecture”. We will be reading from 2 Samuel 23:1-7. Our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 93. Our guest speaker is Dr. Garry Crites. Dr. Crites is an ordained minister within the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. After many years in the pastorate, he returned to grad school and received a PhD in Early and Medieval Church History from Duke University. He is currently the Church and Community Engagement Manager at World Relief Durham, a Christian refugee resettlement agency.

November 24 bulletin Download
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Hannah’s Prayer

November 17, 2024
Hannah’s Prayer
Rev. Benjamin Wines
1 Samuel 2:1-10

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. You can also find our services online at the HVBC YouTube Channel. Today’s sermon is titled, “Hannah’s Prayer”. We will be reading from 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11.

Call to Worship
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11
Leader: Protect me, O God,
People: For in you I take refuge.
Leader: I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
People: I have no good apart from you.”
Leader: The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
People: You hold my lot.
Leader: I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
People: In the night also my heart instructs me.
Leader: I keep the Lord always before me;
People: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Leader: Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
People: My body also rests secure.
Leader: For you do not give me up to Sheol,
People: Or let your faithful one see the Pit.
Leader: You show me the path of life.
People: In your presence there is fullness of joy;
All: In your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Questions for Further Reflection:
Hannah’s prayer is both intimate and cosmic in its scope.
How do her words provide comfort to you as an individual?
How do her words provide hope for our world?

November 17 BulletinDownload
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An In-Between Month

Brothers and sisters,
November is a unique time of the year—in my opinion. It’s a month that so often gets overshadowed by its neighbors. October dominates the beginning of fall with fairs and football and, of course, Halloween. December then dominates the end of the year with, obviously, Christ-mas taking up a tremendous amount of our attention before ceding some ground to New Year’s Eve. November does have Thanksgiving, but if you put Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in a popularity contest—I couldn’t tell you who’d win first, but I could tell you who’d win third.

That being said, November offers this interesting opportunity for us all to rest. It feels almost like taking a deep breath. The mischief and mayhem of Halloween has passed. The joyful busyness of Christmas has yet to set in. And in between those two is this month where the temperatures begin to drop more consistently, the sun goes down earlier, and we’re all encouraged to begin settling in for a cozy, comfy winter. I like the change of pace November offers.

A couple of Illuminators ago, I argued that part of the reason we were putting on something like the Fall Festival was because God exists in a state of joy and celebration. I believe that. But I also believe that God recognizes the limitations we human beings have. We cannot constantly celebrate. We cannot constantly go from party to party. Nor can we constantly go from mission to mission to mission. Instead, we have to take time to rest, to be with the people who fill us up, to do the things that give us life. There’s scripture to back that.

Remember that in Mark’s gospel, Jesus sent his disciples out two by two in order to spread the good news of the gospel. He gave them authority that they might heal the people they met. After that ministry came to an end, the disciples gathered around Jesus and began to tell them all about what they’d done. Jesus, hearing it all, says this to the disciples, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31). Jesus recognized that the disciples needed a moment to catch their breath, to recharge their batteries. They needed time to just be together.

So, this November, do the things that bring you life. Meet up with the people that fill you up. Take some time to rest and enjoy this time of the year. The temperatures will be pleasant. The leaves will be beautiful. The football will be good. And in all of it, give thanks to God.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben