Christmas Eve B (December 24): Rejoice/Light of the World

 

THERE IS AN UPDATED 2023 VERSION OF THIS BLOG ENTRY  - SEE MY ARCHIVE LIST AT LEFT.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20, Psalm 97, Titus, John 1:1-14

About the Images: 
Upper Left: I am pretty sure this is mine - somebody tell me if it is not.
Upper Right: This photo was taken at Nazareth Village (http://www.nazarethvillage.com - well worth a visit in person if not on line) where permission was given for us to take photos. Please only use for worship or related activities.
Middle Left: This is a free Microsoft clipart image
Middle Right: This image comes from www.sundaygraphx.blogspot.com. This site no longer updates (you will see the sad reason why when you visit) however the artist, Don da Silva, has left a legacy of wonderful images and templates via the site archives.
Lower Left and Right: More free Heartlight images - see my link column at left

Decor: 
White and gold cloth and floating tea lights in clear glass bowls.

Call to Worship/Proclamation: This, Tonight is the Meeting Place

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 83 (pictured below). We read this while playing Anthem Part 3 from the CD Powaqquatsi (pictured at right) in the background.

Listening Song: Hope
Found on Jonathan Elias's compilation album, Prayer Cycle (pictured at left).

Listening Song: A Holy Night
By Point of Grace on the album, WOW Christmas (pictured at right).

Listening Song: Mary, Did You Know?
By Kathy Mattea on the album, WOW Christmas (pictured at right). One year we used this song as the framework for the whole Christmas eve service.

Listening Song: Life Uncommon
By Jewel on her album, Spirit (pictured at left). 

Listening Song: Gaudete
By Cantillation on the compilation CD, Peace on Earth (pictured at right).

Listening Song: The First Noel/Mary Mary
by Sarah McLachlan on the compilation album, So Fresh: Songs For Christmas 2007. 

Film Clip: Hallelujah
This is an amazing little film clip by Chris Monson.  The trumpeter is Chris Botti and the music is, of course, by the great Leonard Cohen

Kids: Bethlehem Town

This is another brilliant book  by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2016. This goes with the Luke reading.  The great thing about these books is that they only around $A5 and for a further $A10 (or instead of) you can buy on line the story in any format you need to project the pictures in church.  There are also free activity sheets and for a cost activity books for both teachers and children.  Visit www.lostsheep.com.au to check out all the excellent resources.

Drama: In their Shoes
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 98 (pictured at left).

Drama: The Incarnation
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 86ff (pictured at right). 

Stories/Sermon: Four Shoes For the Nativity
By Roddy Hamilton and found on his blog, Mucky Paws (see link at left) in his December 2005 archive.

Story/Sermon: Good King Wenceslas
Use this carol as a parable. A great source for this is Good King Wenceslas by John Mason Neale and Christopher Manson, North South Books, 1994, ISBN 1558583211 (pictured at left).

Story: Take Hold of Love
By Henry Carter in Christmas Stories of the Heart by Alice Gray (Ed.) Multnomah Books, 1997, ISBN 1576731847, page 28. 

Poems: From Outback Christmas
By Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Lutheran Publishing House, 1990, ISBN 0859105628, page 32. If you want to give your service a real Australian flavour the following poems and their corresponding artwork go very well with the Luke reading for today: The Ride to Bethlehem (vs1-5), Jesus' Birth (6), The Bethlehem Pub (7), The Stockmens' Story (8-14), Report of the Stockmen (15-20)

Poem: Mary's Song
By Lucy Shaw. I used the words of this poem with images and played Psalmus Ode by Vangelis from his CD, Reprise as a backing. I can't remember which of her books this poem comes from but you can find the poem at

http://maggidawn.typepad.com/maggidawn/2006/12/poems_for_chris_2.html. 

Meditation: Image of the Invisible God
By Adrian Plass in his book And Jesus Will Be Born, Zondervan, 2003, ISBN 0007130511, page 123ff. I matched each line with an image and played Aeterna Lux by Libera on their self titled album, as backing.

Meditation: Comfort My People
By Roddy Hamilton and found on his blog, Mucky Paws (see link at left) in his December 2005 archive.

Prayer for Others: In the Face of the Gospel
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 115 (pictured in an earlier blog). 

Response Activity: Four Corners
By Roddy Hamilton on his site Mucky Paws (see my links column at left) archived under December 2010. This is suitable for any part of the service. Roddy also suggests using the Sarah McLachlan song mentioned above. 

Response Activity:
It would not be a Christmas Eve Service at our church if we did not light the Christ Candle on the stroke of midnight, light out tapers from it and then sing Joy to the World together in the candle light. 

A Covid19 Variation

Due to the dangers of large masses of people gathering together we are doing a Stations of the Manger with 12 station which tell the Christmas story.  Each station has a child's activity as well.  People will come in one door of the church, travel around the building to the 12 stations in order and leave via another door.  This means there are no limits on numbers, hand can be sanitised at each station and masks can be worn if needed.  People are kept safe. 

Also:

Meditation: Quiet Remembering

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 16.

Drama: Christmas Is?

Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 95. This is based on the John reading.  

Advent 4 B (December 20): Love

 

THERE IS AN UPDATED 2023 VERSION OF THIS BLOG ENTRY WITH MORE STUFF  - SEE MY ARCHIVE LIST AT LEFT.

Bible readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:47-55 or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38.

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free microsoft clipart with text.
Upper Right: This is my image with text. It is of a sunset about ten minutes by slow boat from my place on the Gippsland Lakes (for more info on this area please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gippsland_Lakes). Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities.
Middle Left: An image from Heartlight (see my link column at left).
Middle Right: An image from Cerrezo Barredo's page (see my link column at left)
Lower Left: This is a free Imagebank  image - see my link column at left.

Lower Right: Another image from Heartlight (see my link column at left).

Film Clip:


Film Clip: My Soul Rejoices
  

Film Clip: We are Bethlehem

A visual benediction by Alana Levandoski found on the Work of the People site and well worth paying the little they ask.  See my link column at left. 

Drama: The Village Gossips
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 58ff (pictured at left).

Drama: Mary and the Angel
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 42ff. (pictured at left).

Reading: Mary Pondering
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 47 (pictured at left).

Discussion: On Luke readings
1. When is it hardest for us to say yes to God?
2. What makes Mary able to say it?
3. How can we follow her example?
4. What is one way we can show God's love this Christmas?

Story: Gabriel's Questions

Found in When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado, Word, 1996, ISBN 0849913241, page 58 (pictured at right). This goes with the gospel reading.

Story: The Hornbill
Found in The Manger is Empty: Stories in Time by Walter Wangerin, Hodder and Stoughton, 1989, ISBN 0340555548, page 21 (pictured at left). This goes exceptionally well with the gospel reading. 

Poem: Mary's Fear
Found in Outback Christmas by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Lutheran Publishing House, 1990, ISBN 0859105628, page 14 (pictured at right)

Meditation: Sightings 
By Kathy Galloway in Dandelions and Thistles: Biblical Meditations from the Iona Community by Jan Sutch Pickard (ed.) Wild Goose Publications, 1999, ISBN 1901557146, page 44ff (pictured at left). This is based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: The Hornbill
Print some of the questions from the last part of this story on to cards for people to take home.

Response Activity:
Give everyone the following prayer, a pen or pencil, and a silent space to write their response:
Lord, help me to marvel at Gabriel's message when I am.............................
Lord, give me courage like Mary to tell you about........................................
to ask questions when I feel.................................................................... and to confidently give you my ................................................................
Help me to see the Christmas story with new eyes and to thank you for........................................................................................................
Amen.

Also:

Drama: Thinking Outside the Box

Found in All Age Sketches for the Christian Year by Peter Shaw, Bible Reading fellowship, 2006, ISBN 101841014583, pages11ff (pictured at left). This is an advent 4 drama based on the gospel reading. 

Adult Response: My Soul Gives Glory to my God
Found in Bringing the Word to Life Together Year B by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, 2011, ISBN 9781921945038, page 20ff (pictured at right). This is based on the gospel reading. 

Poem and prayer: nothing will be impossible.

Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 68 (pictured at left).  These are based on the gospel reading.

Lots of Useful Stuff
Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual 2014 by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2013, page 263ff 

Service Outline: Gifts Galore

Based on the Luke reading this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 78 (pictured at right).

Service Starter: David: A King Forever

Based on the Matthew reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 44.

Meditation: Disciples of Christ

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 76ff (pictured at right).  This is based on the Luke reading.

Meditation: I Sang For Him

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 78ff (pictured at right).  This is based on the Luke reading.

Advent notes: Thinking Outside the Box

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 11ff.  This is based on the Luke reading.

Prayer: The Annunciation

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 8 and based on the Luke reading.

Advent 1 B (November 29): Waiting/Hoping/Anticipation

 

There is an 2023 updated version of this post - see archive at left.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with text.
Upper Right:This is my photo of Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, Australia (for more info visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SouthernCrossrailwaystation,Melbourne). Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities. 
Middle left: This free clipart with my text comes from http://www.scripturepics.org - a useful site which seems to have been in recess for some time.
Middle Right: I am very careful to save copyright info for everything on my blog but I have slipped up badly on this one.  I am pretty sure it comes from the same site as the middle left image but I cannot access the site at the moment.  I have just spent a considerable time coasting around all my free image sites and  cannot find it anywhere else.  If somebody can verify where this image comes from I would very much appreciate it. 
Lower Left and right: Free images from the Heartlight site - see my link column at left. 

Candle Lighting Liturgy
Found in Ideas For Worship, July to December 1996, JBCE (pictured at left).

Kids' Talk
One enjoyable thing to do for the four Sundays of Advent is to turn the whole Christmas story into a serial telling a small part of the story each week - or act it out (see below). Start this week with the story of Mary and the Angel.

Drama: Mary and the Angel
From Cloth From the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 42ff (pictured at right) 

Discussion: On the Isaiah reading
1. What was Isaiah hoping and waiting for?
2. What are you hoping and waiting for: for yourself? for your church? for the community in which you live? for the world?

Story: God's Answer
There is a story told about a faithful old deacon whose oft repeated prayer expression was, "O Lord, touch the unsaved with Thy finger." One prayer meeting night he was leading in prayer when as he intoned this petition, as he so often did, he abruptly stopped praying. Supposing he had been taken suddenly ill, someone went to him and asked if there was anything wrong, if he were ill. "No," he replied, "I’m not ill. But something seemed to say to me, ’Thou art the finger’."
I cannot find a specific copyright for this story (please let me know if you know) but if you google the first line it pops up all over the place on the net and can be found in the now out of print Bible Illustrator under the above title. 

Meditation: Waiting
From Cloth From the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 20ff (pictured above) 

Adult Response:
Give everyone a marking pen (or access to one) and a 2" (5cm) wide strip of green cloth,. Ask them to write on the strip one of the things that they hope for. These can be displayed in any number of ways. If you do a similar activity each week of advent (connecting the writing and the colour with the theme of each week), you will have the resources to finish in Advent 4 with the symbolic action Cloth for the Cradle found in Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 74ff (pictured above).

Adult Response: Wilderness and Return
From Bringing the Word to Life Together Year B by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, 2011, ISBN 9781921945038, page 13ff (pictured at left).

Blessing: One Day at a Time 
From Advent, Christmas and Epiphany by Brian Wren, Westminster John Knox Press, 2008, ISBN 978066423309, page 56 (pictured at right).

Also:

Poem/Meditation: The Cup
By Ruth Burgess in Dandelions and Thistles: Biblical Meditations from the Iona Community by Jan Sutch Pickard (ed.) Wild Goose Publications, 1999, ISBN 1901557146, page 38 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Isaiah reading.

Drama: Just Like Lightening 

Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 48 (pictured at right). This is based on the gospel reading.  

Four Advent Mediations:

Found in In this Hour by Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Desbooks, 2001, ISBN 094982433X, page 46ff. 

Proper 23 A (October 11): Invitation/True Worship

 

There is an 2023 updated version of this post - see archive at left.

Bible Readings: Exodus 32:1-14, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free Imagebank image with a quote from William H. Willimon. You can find more great images from the Imagebank site by visiting them through my links column at left. 
Upper Right: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with my text. 
Middle Left: This is a free clipart from Cerezo Barredo - see my link Column at left.
Middle Right: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with my text.

Lower Left: This is a free image from the Heartlight site - see my link column at left. 

Listening Song: Douchas (Hope)
By The Crossing on their album, Douchas (pictured at left)

Kids' Story: The Golden Calf

Tell the story in your own words and illustrate it with images from the Brick Testament - http://www.thebricktestament.com/exodus/the_golden_calf.html. You have no idea how much enjoyment the adults derive from this as well!!

Film Clip: Meet the Parents
Show the clip where Jack (father) asks Greg to say grace.

Discussion: Meet the Parents 
1. Why do you think that Greg is uncomfortable praying?
2. What does it mean to be religious?
3. What does it mean to have a relationship with God?
4. What is the difference between the two?

Film Clip: The Almighty Exodus
Found at Max 7 website, this is a great short summary of the Exodus which can be used for any part of the story as an overview or as an introduction for either children or adults. Go to
http://www.max7.org/resource.aspx?id=3cebfde1-6458-4ed6-807c-446671dc63ef

Film Clip: The Parable of the Great Banquet

Also found at the brilliant Max 7 site: A Bollywood version of the Parable.  The congregation - not just the kids - loved it. Go to http://www.max7.org/en/resource/ParableGreatBanquet

Drama: The Mystery of the Missing Athletes
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 58 (pictured at left). This is the gospel story with athletes replacing the wedding guests.

Drama: The Feast
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 20 (pictured at right). This is a conversation between two of the King's servants. 

Drama: On The Subject of Prayer
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 38 and based on the Philippians reading. 

Story: Choosing Mary
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 64 (pictured at left). This story is based on the idea that God chooses/invites us. 

Group Activity: Matthew 22:1-14
Give everyone a copy of the gospel reading. Divide the congregation into six groups. Give each of the groups a character or a group of characters out of the Matthew story: the king, the son, the servants, the first guests, the second guests, the people who were not dressed properly. Give each group the same questions to discuss:
1. Who are you? (just to make sure everybody in the group is on the same page)
2. What part do you play in the story?
3. Who do you think you might represent?
4. Why do you do what you do in the story?
5. How do you think you might feel about what happens in the story?
N.B. If you have heaps of people you may have to have multiples of each group.

Prayer for Others:
Ask everyone to think of a person or a place that God wants to invite to his party. Then have a time of silence when people can pray for that person or place.

Adult Response: Change

Screen the words of the poem Change by Charles Singer. I found it in in Imaging the Word Volume 3 by Susan A Blain, Sharon Iverson Gouwens, Catherine O'Callagan and Grant Spradling, (Eds.), United Church Press, 1996, ISBN 0829801862, page 49 (pictured at right). I put images with each line and played reflective music in the background. Missing by Vangelis on his album, Odyssey would work well for the music (pictured at left). Towards the end, I projected the following words: "Which piece of clothing do you have in short supply?" and passed around cards with the various lines from the poem printed on them. People were asked to take the card they needed the most. This was followed by a time of silent prayer.

Also:

Story Plus Other Stuff: Big Al's Banquet

Found in Wally the Dodgy Trolley and other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 85 (pictured at left). This is based on the gospel reading.

Kids: Let the Celebrations Begin

By Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas, Box Press,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 55 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Phillipians reading.

Taize Service: Don't Worry, Have Peace

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 12 (pictured at right). This is based on the Philippians reading.

Prayer Exercise: Centering Prayer

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 60 (pictured at left) .  This is based on the Philippians reading.

All Sorts of Useful Stuff: Party People

By Ian Birkinshaw in Multi-Sensory Parables, Scripture Union, 2006, ISBN 9781844272310, page 36 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Gospel. 

Poem: The Faithful Are Fearless

Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (found in the Winter section) and based on the Philippians reading.