Bible Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3: 7-18
About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a Microsoft free clipart image on to which I put the text.
Upper Right: This is a free image from www.heartlight.com - a great site for worship images - you will find a link to them in my links column on the left of this page.
Middle Left and Right: These are two slides from the excellent resources found at Church Galleries - see my link column at left.
Lower Left: This is another free image from www.heartlight.com - see above for details.
Lower Right: Once when we were in the midst of bushfires, Jenee from textweek.com reminded me that Advent is about waiting in hope and preparing. I took the photo as the fire front was approaching Omeo a number of years ago when I was working up there as a pastoral visitor to fire beseiged families. I think anyone who can put their washing out to dry in the face of an oncoming fire shows great hope - also the clothes prop shapes a cross in the middle of the image.
Listening Song; When You say Nothing At AllBy Ronan Keating on his album, When You Say Nothing At All (pictured at left). This goes very well with the Zephaniah reading where it says that God "silently shows us his love".
Listening Song: If this Thing Should Spill by Born in the Flood
This video clip is the song put to pictures by www.threadschurch.org. The song goes beautifully with the Philippians reading and is a great introduction to the response activity below - how do these things (particularly peace in the song but also gentleness, rejoicing and prayer are evident too) spill out into the community around us and how do they impinge on our own lives. Thanks to Singing the Lectionary -see my link column at left - for this song suggestion.
Kid's Story: Wombat Divine
By Mem Fox and Kerry Argent, Omnibus Books, 1995, ISBN 1862913021 (pictured at right). Brilliant!!!! Everyone has a role to play when it comes to Christmas in in God's scheme of things.
Film Clips: Paperless Christmas
www.paperlesschristmas.com has the greatest set of short films for use in church based on a modern look at the Christmas story. A brilliant effort!
Drama: A Publicity Photo
Found in Mega Drama 6 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109208, page 79 (pictured at left). This drama goes well with the gospel reading.
Quote/Story: Leonard Bernstein
Scroll down to the third story at http://net.bible.org/illustration.php?topic=756. This goes well with the gospel reading.
Scroll down to the third story at http://net.bible.org/illustration.php?topic=756. This goes well with the gospel reading.
Story: Safe Under the Falls
Story: Even Now The Taste
Found in The Speaker's Source Book of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley, Word Publishing, 1995, ISBN 0849936756, page 38 (pictured at left). This story fits in well with Phillippians 4:6.
Story: Pillsbury Doughboy Wanted for Attempted Murder
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes by Jim Burns and Greg Mckinnon (eds.), Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 41 (pictured at right). This story fits in well with Philippians 4:6.
Poem: The Faithful Are Fearless
Found In Due Season by Herbert F. Brokering, Augsburg Publishing House, 1966 (pictured at left) in the winter section. Based on Philippians 4:7.
Poem: First Coming
By Madeleine L'Engle in Imaging the Word, Volume 1, United Church Press, 1994, ISBN 082980716, page 85 (pictured at right). This connects well with the Philippians reading.
Response Activity:
Give each person a small card with the words: rejoicing, gentleness, prayer and peace written on one side. Ask people to write the name of a person they would like to share the message of Christmas with on the blank side of the card. Ask them to turn the card over and look at the four words and then ask: How can you share the Good News of Christmas best with the person you named; is it through rejoicing, through gentleness, through prayer, through peaceful words or actions. Give time for silent prayer.
Also:
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. This goes well with the Philippians reading.
Taize Service: Don't Worry; Have Peace
Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 12. This is based on the Philippians reading.
Worship Activity: Melodramatic Reading
By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 41. 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. This is based on the Philippians reading.
Creative Ideas: John the Baptist: The Prophet from the wilderness
Found in Multi-Sensory Prophets by Mike Law, Scripture Union, 2007, ISBN 9781844272587, page 50. This is based on the Luke reading.
Poem: Yes
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (pictured at right) in the Summer section.
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (pictured at right) in the Summer section.
Confession and Assurance of Grace
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 55. Based on the Isaiah reading.
Prayer/Action: Resolutions/Making Decisions
Found in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 114 and based on the Philippians reading.
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