Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-14, Psalm 147:12-20, Ephesians 1:3-4, John 1:1-9, 10-18
A little note: Christmas 2 is the same EVERY year. Not sure why - possibly because it does not show up often,
About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free image from Heartlight. To visit their site, go to my links column on the left hand side of this page.
Upper Right: This is a free clipart image from Hermano Leon with my text. To find his clipart, go to my links column on the left hand side of this page.
Middle Left: This is a free image from Church Galleries. See my link column at left.
Upper Right: This is a free clipart image from Hermano Leon with my text. To find his clipart, go to my links column on the left hand side of this page.
Middle Left: This is a free image from Church Galleries. See my link column at left.
Middle Right: This image comes from another excellent free site: http://www.cruzblanca.org/hermanoleon/. I put the text on to the image.
Lower Left and Right: These are more free images from Heartlight.
Lower Left and Right: These are more free images from Heartlight.
Listening Song: ImmanuelBy Michael Card and found on his CD, Joy in the Journey (pictured at left).
Listening Song: Dies Irae By Robert Prizeman on his album, Libera (pictured at right). This song uses some of the gospel words.
Kid's Talk: Reflecting the Light
A great kid's story and associated puzzle and colouring-in pages based on John 1:6-9 can be found at http://www.sermons4kids.com/reflecting_the_light.htm
Kids' Story: Our GrannyBy Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas, Omnibus Books, 1993, ISBN 1862913501 (pictured at left). This story develops the idea of family and therefore relates to how we are all children of God.
Drama: A Perfect Disgrace
Found in Cloth For the Cradle by the Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 100 (pictured at right).
Drama: Don't You See Me
A lovely moving drama which goes well with the Ephesians reading. If you cannot find the music for the song or do not have a singer, I think that reading the words of the song would work quite well. You can find this drama at http://www.dramatix.org/archive/Issues/dont_you_see_me.html
This Dickens story (pictured at left) runs parallel to the second half of the gospel reading as follows: John 1:10-11:Rejecting Jesus: Scrooge as he is at the beginning of the film. John 1: 12-13: Accepting Jesus: Scrooge as he is when, in the graveyard, he finally realises what it is all about. John 1: 14-18: Reflecting Jesus: Scrooge at the end of the film when he cannot help but spread good cheer, love and generosity. I found all three clips at www.wingclips.com
Film Clip: The Cider House Rules
Show the clip (around 13 minutes in) where Curley is told he is special. This goes very well with the part in the John reading and the Ephesians reading that tells us that we are God's special children.
Story: Not Unless You Take It
This story, based on the John reading, can be found at http://www.preachhim.org/UnClaimedGrace.htm under section 2B.
Story: Point to the Light
Found in The Youth Bible, Word Publishing, 1991, ISBN 0849909252, page 1058 (pictured at left). This story goes well with the gospel reading.
Quote: Madeleine L'Engle
It starts with "cribb'd, cabined and confined" and can be found in in Imaging the Word Volume 2 by Susan A. Blain Sharon Iverson Glouwens, Catherine O'Callaghan, Grant Spradling (Eds.), United Church Press, 1995, ISBN 0829810331, page 105 (pictured at right).
Adult Response:
Challenge everyone with the Reject, Accept, and Reflect challenges found in John 1:10-18. It is interesting to note that in John's view accepting Jesus without reflecting him in your life is pretty much the same as rejecting him. Give people some space and time to think about this.
Also:
By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 680 (pictured at left). This is based on the John reading.
Prayer Exercise: Singing our Prayers
Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 68 (pictured at right). This is based on the Psalm reading.
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 96 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the John reading.
Drama: Heavenly Gift
Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 27. This is based on the John reading.
Service Outline: Jesus for the Whole World
Based on the Isaiah reading this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 74 (pictured at left).
Drama: God in the Real World
Found in Mega Drama 6 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109208, page 89 . This drama goes well with the John reading.
Drama: Prospecting
Found in Mega Drama 6 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109208, page 9 . This drama goes well with the John reading.
Meditation: He Was In The World
Found in He Was in the World by John L. Bell, Wild Goose Publications, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, page 69 and based on the John reading.
Found in He Was in the World by John L. Bell, Wild Goose Publications, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, page 69 and based on the John reading.
Psalm 147
Found in The Psalms: An Artist's Impression by Anneke Kaai and Eugene Peterson, Piquant, 1999, ISBN 0 9535757 0 5, page 50-52.
Christmas Bauble
Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 105. This is based on the John reading.
Seal of Belonging
Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 187-8. This is based on the Ephesians reading.
Opening Response: In Quietness and Darkness
Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 32ff (pictured at right). This is based on the John reading.
Meditation: With God All Things Are Possible
Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 57ff (pictured at right). This is based on the John reading.
Drama: Whose Been Sleeping in MY Manger?
Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 18ff. This is based on the John reading.
Poem and Painting: A Bloke Called Jesus
Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 4. These are based on the John reading.
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 Ephesians reading and found under the heading: December 3rd.
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 Ephesians reading and found under the heading: December 3rd.
Reading:
By Jean Mortimer in Doing December Differently by Nicola Slee and Rosie Miles (Eds.),Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 1 905010 23 0, page 204 and based on the John reading.
Reflection, Poem and Prayer:
By Leith Fisher and found in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 29ff and based on the John reading.
Prayer/Action: Sacred and Secular
Found in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 122 and based on the John reading.
Psalm 147: This Works Around Us
Found in Australian Psalms by Bruce Prewer, Lutheran Publishing House, 1979, page 32.
The Divine Secret
Found in Australian Psalms by Bruce Prewer, Lutheran Publishing House, 1979, page 44 and based on the Ephesians reading. This book is an oldie but a goodie.
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