Advent 4 A (December 18): A Life Uncommon/Courage

Note: 
There is an updated 2022 version of this post with more stuff.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7,17-19, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free microsoft clipart image with a line of text from the song 'Life Uncommon' by Jewel.
Upper right: The Dream of St Joseph by Rembrandt. Public domain. Found at http://www.consciouslivingfoundation.org/photo_gallery.fineart.htm
Lower Left:  This is a free Hermano Leon image.  Please visit their site via my link column at left.
Lower Right: This is a slide from Church Galleries - see my link in the column at left

Kid's Story: An "Ordinary" Christmas?
Found in Fun Group Devotions for Children's Ministry by various authors, Group Publishing 1993 ISBN 1559451610, page 31 (pictured at left). This is based on the Matthew reading.
 
Kid's Time: Jesus' Family Tree
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 93 (pictured at right). There are the most amazing and colourful characters in Jesus' family tree and this little story makes the most of them all.  Lots of fun if you get the whole congregation to participate with the kids.

Drama: The Diaries of Joseph and Theodore
Found in Cloth For the Cradle by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 68 (pictured at right). This is based on the Matthew reading.

Drama: The Village Gossips
Found in Cloth For the Cradle by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 58 (pictured at right). This drama is also based on the Matthew reading.

Discussion:
How would Joseph have felt?
How would Mary have felt?
In what way does Immanuel (God with us) make a difference to you?

Listening Song: Immanuel
By Michael Card on his album, The Final Word.(pictured at right). This goes well with the gospel reading but, as you can tell from the title, it goes well with Christmas in general.

Listening Song: Life Uncommon
By Jewel on her album, Spirit (pictured at left). This goes well with the Christmas story and relates well to those ordinary people, like Mary and Joseph, who did indeed live a life uncommon.

Listening song: So This is Christmas
By John Lennon on his album, Lennon Legend (pictured at right). This song, an oldie but a goodie, challenges us to think about the implications of Christmas.

Story: A Stranger At the Door
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 25 (see illustration above right).


Story: Taking a Stand
Found in The New Century Version Youth Bible, Word, 1991, ISBN 0849909252, page 907 (pictured at left).

Response Activity: Christmas Haiku
Give everyone a small piece of paper or card and a pen or pencil. Give them step by step instructions on how to write a five line haiku as follows: 1. Choose a character from the Christmas story 2. Two feelings your character experienced 3. Three words which describe your character 4. Four or more words to describe something your character did that you admire 5. One word that describes how you would like to be like your chosen character. To conclude, one option is then to collect them all and laminate them and return them - another is to put them all in a photo album and leave the album where everybody has access to it.

Quote: St Hildegard of Bingen
This makes a great benediction/blessing.
Be not lax in celebrating.
Be not lazy in the festive service of God.

And be ablaze with enthusiasm. 

Also:

Taize Service: The Greatest Story Ever Told

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 40. This is based on the Matthew reading.