Advent 1 B (29th November 2026): Hoping/Waiting/Anticipation

  

UNDER CONSTRUCTION.....

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: A good hymn to sing today would be There's a Light Upon The Mountain... this image is of the light on a snowy day at Danny's Lookout near Mt Hotham. Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities.
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 For the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 42ff (pictured at right) 

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

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 Meditations:

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

Drama: Up, Up and Away

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 113ff (pictured at right).  This is based on the Mark reading.

Prayer: Pray Dough

Found in Multi-Sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 19 (Pictured at left) and based on the Isaiah reading.

Call to Worship: Isaiah 64:1-9

By Maria I. Tirrabassi and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 6

Reflection and Prayer: 
Found in Advent Readings from Iona by Brian Woodcock and Jan Sutch Pickard, Wild Goose Publications, 2005, ISBN 1901557332 (pictured at right). These are based on the Isaiah and found under the heading: November 28. 

Listening Song: Psalm 80: Restore Us

By Sons of Korah on their album, Resurrection, Wordsong Artists, 2005 (pictured at right). 

Advent Candle Liturgy:

Found in Celtic Daily Prayer Book 2: Farther Up and Farther In, William Collins 2015, ISBN 978 0 00 8100019 3, pages 987ff (pictured at left). 

Christ the King A (22nd November 2026): How Shall We Live?

 

 

N.B.  You will find a search engine to the left if you do not follow the Revised Common Lectionary. Just pop in a Bible reference or a topic and it will take you to a relevant post. 

Bible Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Psalm 100, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46  

About the Images:
Top Left: This is my photo taken near Chambers Pillar in Central Australia (for more info on this area please visit http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/chamberspillar.html) with Nathan Nettleton's translation of Psalm 100:4a.
Top Right: This is my photo of the walkway beside the railway line at Sawtell in New South Wales, Australia (for
more info on this area please visit http://www.sawtellnsw.com.au/).
You may use either of these images for worship and related activities.
Upper Left and Right : These are free Heartlight images - see my link column at left.

Middle Left:  A free clipart from the Hermano Leon site - see my link column at left. 

Middle Right: a free image from Cerezo Barredo

Lower Left: Another free image from Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú

Listening Song: Above All 
By Michael W. Smith on his album, The Second Decade, or on WOW 2003 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Ephesians reading.

Kid's Story: Popa Panov
By Leo Tostoy - a classic and found in innumerable publications.

Story: Kindness

Based on the Matthew reading; Story No. 355 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers edited by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured at right). 

Story:
The legend is told of a desert wanderer who found a crystal spring of unsurpassed freshness. The water was so pure he decided to bring some to his king. Barely satisfying his own thirst, he filled a leather bottle with the clear liquid and carried it many days beneath the desert sun before he reached the palace. When he finally laid his offering at the feet of his sovereign, the water had become stale and rank due to the old container in which it had been stored. But the king would not let his  faithful subject even imagine that it was unfit for use. He tasted it with expressions of gratitude and delight, and sent away the loyal heart filled with gladness. After he had gone, others sampled it and expressed their surprise that the king had even pretended to enjoy it. "Ah!" said he, "it was not the water I tasted, but the love that prompted the offering." Many times our service is marked by multiple imperfections, but the Master looks at our motives and says "It is good." 
This story is found at http://associate.com/library/www.christianlibrary.org/authors/Grady_Scott/makemeservant.htm 
Copyright 2000 by Grady Scott may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others. 

Meditation/Prayer: As You Did to the Least of These, My Brethren
by Robert W Castle 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 66ff (pictured at left). I put images with these words. Musical suggestion to back it:  Pie Jesu by Sarah Brightman and Paul Miles-Kingston on Andrew Llyod Webber's album, Gold (pictured at right )

Mediation: How Was I To Know?                            

Based on the Matthew reading and found in Ideas for Worship, July - December 1996, JBCE, page 44 (pictured at left).

Also:

Meditation: Worship                          

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 19 (pictured at right).This goes well with the Psalm. 

Meditation: The Shepherd and the Sheep 

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 66 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Ezekiel reading.

Kids: Oi Get Off Our Train

By John Burningham, Random House,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 42 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Matthew reading.

Taize Service: Loving the Least

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 14 (pictured at right). This is based on the Matthew reading.

Worship Activity: On Your Knees

By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 38 (pictured at left).  This is based on the Psalm.

Worship Activity: Power Praying

By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 42 (pictured at left).  This is based on the Ephesians reading.

Service Starter: Sheep and Goats

Based on the Matthew reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 37 (pictured at right).

Drama: The Final Judgement

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 25 (pictured at left) This is based on the gospel reading.

Poem: I thirst

Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (pictured at right) in the Summer section.

Poem: A Prayer to the Trinity
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170411, page 112 (pictured at left) and based on the Ephesians reading. 

Drama: The Complaints Department

Found in Let's Make a Scene for..... by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 63 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Psalm reading. 

Drama: Coffee Break?
Found in Let's Make A Scene For...by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 10 (pictured at right). This drama is based on Psalm 100.

Meditation: The Day of Judgement

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 209ff.  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Poem: Ash Sitter

By Maria I. Tirrabassi and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 48. Based on the Matthew reading.

A Time to Care

By Maria I. Tirrabassi and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 52. Based on the Matthew reading.

Poem and Comment: Nation

Found in Disturbing Complacency by Lisa Bodenheim, Wild Goose Publications, 2007, ISBN 978 1 905010 37 0, found under the third Thursday of Advent.  This is a Christmas preparation book, but is very useful for other times of the year as well. This entry is based on the Matthew reading.  

Intercession: A Word So Harsh

Found in Worship Resources: Life Overflowing by Ian Price (Ed.), The Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, 2012, page 33. This is linked to the Ezekiel reading. 

Proper 28 A (15th November 2026): Encouragement/Risk/Gifts

 

N.B.  You will find a search engine to the left if you do not follow the Revised Common Lectionary. Just pop in a Bible reference or a topic and it will take you to a relevant post. 

Bible readings: Judges 4:1-7. Psalm 123, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30

About the Images:

Top Left: This is a free microsoft clipart image onto which I placed text.
Top Right: This is my photo taken in the Simpson Desert in Central Australia (for more info on this area visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimpsonDesert) with a bit of a line from the meditation below. Please feel free to us this image for worship or related activities. 
Upper Left: This is an istock image with words from the dc Talk song below.
Upper Right: Another free image from the excellent Heartlight site - see my link column at left

Middle Left: A free clipart with wikicommons copyright attached. 

Middle Right: another ripper free illustration from Cerezo Barredo.

Lower Left: Another free image from Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.

Call to Worship:
Talk about taking risks. Then ask for people who have never taken an up front part in a service before to volunteer to do some of the things in your service on the spot eg take up the collection, do the Bible readings, pray, take part in a drama, whatever. Make sure they have plenty of instructions and help eg print the bible readings out in large print, have a prayer that can be read, print out the dramas with each actors parts clearly highlighted. Emphasise to the rest of the congregation that these people are taking a bigger risk than usual and that understanding is needed and that they are not "performing" but worshipping. You may have to word up the people on the roster that you will not need them this week.

Listening Song: Fearless
By dc Talk on their album, Supernatural (pictured at left).

Film Clip: Dead Poets Society 

(pictured at right) Show the clip below where Robin Williams character encourages his students to seize the day. 

Film Clip: Lord of the Rings 1
(pictured at left) Show the clip below where Frodo and Sam have not long started out on their quest. Sam stops and Frodo walks on. When Frodo asks Sam what he is doing, Sam replies that he is standing at the farthest point from home that he has ever stood without turning round and going back home. and that his next step will take him into the unknown. Frodo has to encourage Sam to keep going. 

Discussion: Lord of the Rings 1
1. Why do you think people are afraid to take risks?
2. How can we be like Frodo encouraging Sam, and encourage each other to go further in our walk with God?

Drama: The Ringmaster's Gift

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 48 (pictured at right). This is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: The Talents
Found in Let's Make a Scene by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, page 49ff (pictured at left).  This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama : Using our Gifts
Narrator and three people to mime plus others.
Narrator: God has given us certain gifts - things we are good at, or things that we have the potential to be good at, if only we step out and be a bit courageous with Him.
1st person (with others):
Narrator: (points to Bill or whoever) It's like this guy here is good at cooking. (Bill pretends to cook a meal). His mother was a great cook and he is too. He could even make the pizza for tonight except that we have already ordered it. He has continued to use this gift of preparing and cooking food, and he now helps with the Secondary College breakfasts and is always helping with the catering at the church.
2nd person mimes with others:
Narrator: This guy here (name) is really good at helping others - especially listening to people if they have a problem. He is also part of the prayer team. He doesn't always have the answers, but people feel better for talking to him.
3rd person (by himself)
This person here is great at selling things in a nice way without being pushy. He would be the ideal person to work in retail or to help out in our Op shop. But somehow over time, he didn’t use this special gift God had given him. He couldn’t be bothered making any effort to use his talent. But it’s not too late…..
Narrator sums up (all stop and listen) You see God gives us time, gifts and other resources according to our abilities, and he expects us to use them wisely until he returns. We are responsible to use what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have but how well we use what we have.
Copyright: Prue Taylor 

Story: The Survey
A survey was taken recently of people who are over 95. The people were asked one question. It was an open ended question they could answer any way they wished. The question was: If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently? Among all the different answers, these three answers came back most frequently:
1. If I could live my life over again, I would reflect more.
2. I would risk more.
3. I would do more things that would live on after I'm dead.
Found at http://www.cvillechurch.com/BibleClasses/DanielLesson4RebuildSoYourEffortsWillLast.pdf

Group Discussion: The Survey
What are some of the things which stop us doing what the surveyed elderly think are important?
What are some of our excuses?
What do we need to know or do so that we do grab the opportunities that God gives us?
What can we do for each other?

Poem: Risk
As far as I know the author is unknown although more than one person on the net claims to be. Find the poem at http://www.coolfunnypoems.com/inspirational-poems/risk/

Meditation/Poem: Our Deepest Fear
Found 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 72 (pictured at left). You could put images with these words and back them with the following music: End Titles from the Sound Track of Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude (pictured at right). 

Adult Response
Before the service I laid out large numbers of cards depicting different gifts and abilities which people may have. I made them slightly bigger than a business card and used clip art picture - the possibilities and variety are therefore endless. I made four per person (making a rough guess as to how many people would turn up) and then asked people as they arrived to take three which best described their gifts. I asked people to consider the cards they had chosen during my sermon on the parable of the talents and then at the end I asked people to get in to groups of four or five and share why they had chosen the cards that they had. Then they discussed the following:
Which talents in your group would be useful for
* developing a welcoming church community
* being involved in leading the worship service
* sharing God's Good News in the wider community.

Also:

Kids: The Pig in the Pond

By Martin Waddell and Jill Barton, Walker Books,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 35 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Matthew reading.

All Sorts of Useful Stuff: Active Service

By Ian Birkinshaw in Multi-Sensory Parables, Scripture Union, 2006, ISBN 9781844272310, page 65 (pictured at right) .  This is based on the Gospel. 

Service Starter: Talents

Based on the Matthew reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 36 (pictured at left).

Confession and Assurance

By Wesley Brian Jamison and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 108 (pictured at right). Based on the Psalm reading.

Listening Song: Olive Plants
By Sons of Korah on their album, Shelter, Wordsong Artists, Belmont, Victoria, 2002 (pictured at left).  This song uses the words of Psalm 123.