![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVkieR8969BL1FBMZAm2lzZdnTVyhHOfikTwaHUyyfEsTzvuZHxEH5oUMRFBVlNGr7d6hTFVFMV0g6FIA6x2oW0FWLdZ8qfiOOm2SeZc89PvR7ax52vSuJWk48Ou3ohljIXfKCQ/w299-h225/B+Christmas+1+Galatians+04_06a.jpg)
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Bible Readings: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 148, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40.About the images:
Upper Left: This is a microsoft free clip art image with my text. I apologise to all the font police out there who hate comic sans but I made this slide way before I knew it was such a graphic crime to use this particular font :)
Upper Right: This figure is from the Hermano Leon free clip art site (see my links column at left).
Middle Left: This is a Microsoft free clip art image and goes well with Galatians 4:4 - "when the time was right...."
Middle Right: Simeon in the Temple by Rembrandt. The copyright note with this image from Wikipedia Commons states: This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The official position taken by the Wikimedia Foundation is that "faithful reproductions of two-dimensional public domain works of art are public domain". This photographic reproduction is therefore also considered to be in the public domain.
Lower Left and Right: These are free Heartlight images - see my link column at left.
Lower Left and Right: These are free Heartlight images - see my link column at left.
Found in Ideas for Worship, July - December 1996, JBCE, page 54 (pictured at right).
By Jars of Clay on their album, Much Afraid (pictured at left).
(pictured at right) There is a great clip in this film where Pete and a young girl have a discussion about the meaning of the word "miracle".
Discussion: The Blue Butterfly
1. What does the girl try to teach Pete about his understanding of a miracle?
2. How can we turn Christmas from a one day miracle into a year round miracle?
2. How can we turn Christmas from a one day miracle into a year round miracle?
Drama: Anna and Simeon
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 116ff (pictured at left).
Discussion: On the Galatians reading.
What are the promises to us given in these verses?
Discussion: On the Luke reading
1. What is a God moment/"God stuff"?
2. How do we remind ourselves that Jesus walks with us?
3. How do we encourage each other to notice the "God stuff" in our lives?
4. How do we encourage each other to respond to the "God stuff"?
Poem: Mary's Gift![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYakCOgDjbbKCgZn3j-r4iEgvLsqcbt5kdQAtlkRl6H1SCRAOYxc4pOSPBO85aVRVUNkqnPyMcnP5lS69c3I49XSs4zpGCWVsGn1SiGIk_FCrjP7D2yupvuNWX8ctaSZTkREFC/s200/outback+christmas.jpg)
4. How do we encourage each other to respond to the "God stuff"?
Poem: Mary's Gift
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYakCOgDjbbKCgZn3j-r4iEgvLsqcbt5kdQAtlkRl6H1SCRAOYxc4pOSPBO85aVRVUNkqnPyMcnP5lS69c3I49XSs4zpGCWVsGn1SiGIk_FCrjP7D2yupvuNWX8ctaSZTkREFC/s200/outback+christmas.jpg)
Found in Outback Christmas by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Lutheran Publishing House, 1990, ISBN 0859105628, page 30 (pictured at right). This is based on the Luke reading
Poem: Simeon's Farewell
Found in Outback Christmas by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Lutheran Publishing House, 1990, ISBN 0859105628, page 32 (pictured at right). This is based on the Luke reading
Poem: Anna'a Song
Found in Outback Christmas by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Lutheran Publishing House, 1990, ISBN 0859105628, page 34 (pictured above right).This is based on the Luke reading
Story: Cleaning up the Mess
Found at http://broadwayunitedmethodist.com/node/86 - second paragraph.
Found at http://broadwayunitedmethodist.com/node/86 - second paragraph.
Story: Grandfather Listens to God
Story by Helen Flexner found in Imaging the Word Volume 3 edited by Susan A Blain, Sharon Iverson Gouwens, Catherine O'Callagan, and Grant Spradling, United Church Press, 1996, ISBN 0829810862, page 104 (pictured at right).
Response Activity:
Give everyone a short piece of tinsel or a tree decoration of some sort to take home as a reminder that the God stuff/moments can be found on any day of the year, not just Christmas day. An extra option would be to give each person a small white card on which they could write a few words to remind them of the miracle of Christmas which could them be attached to the tinsel or ornament.
Also:
Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 71 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Galatians reading.
Story by Helen Flexner found in Imaging the Word Volume 3 edited by Susan A Blain, Sharon Iverson Gouwens, Catherine O'Callagan, and Grant Spradling, United Church Press, 1996, ISBN 0829810862, page 104 (pictured at right).
Response Activity:
Give everyone a short piece of tinsel or a tree decoration of some sort to take home as a reminder that the God stuff/moments can be found on any day of the year, not just Christmas day. An extra option would be to give each person a small white card on which they could write a few words to remind them of the miracle of Christmas which could them be attached to the tinsel or ornament.
Also:
Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 71 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Galatians reading.
Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 21 (pictured at right). This is well connected with the Luke reading.
Drama: Anna
Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 99. This is based on the Luke reading.
Brilliant Comments on the Gospel
Found in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, SPCK, 2008, ISBN 9780281059751, pages 56-64.
Reading: How Old Were the Angels
Found in Hay and Stardust by Ruth Burgess, Wild Goose Publications 2005, ISBN 1 905010 00 1, pages 21.
Poem: Nunc Dimittis
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 82. This poem is based on the Luke reading.