Roslindale Congregational Church, UCC

Looking to celebrate Holy Week with a church where everyone is welcome? Join us at Roslindale Congregational Church! We are an Open and Affirming congregation in the United Church of Christ. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at RCC. Check out one of our Holy Week services in person, or attend a Sunday service virtually right here on Facebook.

Tired of giving up chocolate for Lent? Join our Book Study instead!

Ash Wednesday signals the beginning of the season of Lent: a season of confession, penitence and prayer in which we prepare ourselves for the joy and glory of Easter. Our Ash Wednesday worship is a contemplative service of Word and Sacrament featuring the imposition of ashes. In worship, we meditate on our mortality and our shortcomings, while we remember God's gifts of grace and forgiveness. We rededicate our hearts to justice and mercy, love and peace, and strive to bring them more fully into our world.

Ash Wednesday Service begins at 7:30 p.m. on February 14.

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”[a] 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”[b] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. - Luke 1:26-38

Join us this morning at 10 a.m. as we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advant and then at 5 p.m. our Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols.

Join us on Sunday, December 24, at 5 p.m. for a family-friendly service of Lessons and Carols.

Mary’s Song of Praise
46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” - Luke 1:46-55

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

1 The beginning of the good news[a] of Jesus Christ.

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight,’ ”

4 so John the baptizer appeared[e] in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with[f] water, but he will baptize you with[g] the Holy Spirit.” - Mark 1:1-8

Today is the first day of Advent and we light the candle of Hope.

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” Mark 13: 32-37