Christmas 1 B ( December 31): Overjoyed

 

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.

Responsive Reading: Gathering

Found in Ideas for Worship, July - December 1996, JBCE, page 54 (pictured at right).

Listening Song: Overjoyed

By Jars of Clay on their album, Much Afraid (pictured at left).

Film Clip: The Blue Butterfly

 (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?

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

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.

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:

Meditation: Freedom

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.

Various Ideas: The Message in Person - Jesus

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 (pictured at left). 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 (pictured at right).

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 (pictured at left) with lots of other great Christmas stuff.

Poem: Nunc Dimittis

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 82 (pictured at right).  This poem is based on the Luke reading.  

Useful Stuff: Growing into Freedom

Found in Galatians: Experiencing Freedom in Jesus by Groups Biblesense, Group, 2007, ISBN 13 978 0 7644 3244 6, page 38 Pictured at left)

Mediation: Behold the Lamb of God

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 21ff (pictured at right).  This is based on the Luke reading.

Mediation: 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.

Drama: Candles in the Bin

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 51ff.  This is based on the Luke reading.

Poem: Coming Home

Found in Outback Christmas by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Lutheran Publishing House, 1990, ISBN 0859105628, page 46 (pictured above right). This is based on the Luke reading.

Call to Worship: Galatians 4:4-7

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 28

Service:  Remembering With Mary

Found in Hay and Stardust by Ruth Burgess, Wild Goose Publications 2005, ISBN 1 905010 00 1, page 100 with lots of other great Christmas stuff. This service uses different readings but suits the date.

A Series of Responses

Found in Hay and Stardust by Ruth Burgess, Wild Goose Publications 2005, ISBN 1 905010 00 1, pages 174 with lots of other great Christmas stuff.

Reflection and Prayer:

By David Coleman and Zam Walker and found in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 47ff and based on the Luke reading. 

Christmas Day B: Glorious Light

 

Bible Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7, Hebrews 1:1-4, 5-12, Luke 2:1-20, Psalm 98

About the Images

Upper Left: Winter sunrise, Swan Reach, Victoria, Australia (for more info visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Reach,_Victoria). This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Upper Right: This is a Corel free clipart with text from the Michael Card song, Immanuel.

Middle Left: Decoration in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. This is my image so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.

Middle Right: This is a free image from Heartlight (see my links column at left) 

Lower Left: This is a free image from Heartlight (see my links column at left). 

Lower Right: This is a typical first century house in Bethlehem: two stories with the upper story with a guest room and a living area and the lower story for cooking and for the animals.  Because of the census the guest room would have been full so Mary and Joseph would have taken up the offer of a bit of space in the lower room with the animals.  This is my image so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.    

Proclamation: They Have Heard It On the Hills

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 97 (pictured at right).

Listening Song: Gaudete

By Cantillation on the compilation CD, Peace on Earth (pictured at left).

Listening Song: Immanuel

By Michael Card on his album, The Final Word (pictured at right).

Kid's Story: The Fox's Story

By Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen, Marshal Pickering, 1988, ISBN 0551015802; (pictured at left).

Kids: The Grumpy Shepherd

By Paddy Devon, Scripture Union, 1995, ISBN 1859993265 (pictured at right).

Kids: Jed and Roy McCoy

by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep, 2007 ISNB 9781921229121. Visit lostsheep.com.au for downloads of this book (pictured at left).

Kids: Tonight in the Palace

This is another brilliant book  by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2016 (pictured at right). This goes with the Luke reading.  The great thing about these books is that they only around $A7 and for a further $A12 (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.

Film Clip: Meet all of us/Hope

Film Clip: Bethlehemian Rhapsody

Film Clip: The Journey of the Shepherds

From the amazing Bethlehem Bible College

https://youtu.be/dVWIP3uWatA

Drama: A Special Baby

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 111ff (pictured above).

Drama: The Incarnation

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 86ff (pictured above).

Story: I Did

By Adrian Plass in The Growing Up Pains of Adrian Plass, Harper Collins,1986, ISBN 0551013850, page 7ff (pictured at right).

Story: Out and About

There was once a European monarch who worried his court by often disappearing and walking incognito amongst his people. When he was asked not to do this for security reasons, he said, “I cannot rule my people unless I know how they live". I cannot source this tiny story but it is found in a number of places on the web.

Story: Come Home
Found in Still More Hot Illustrations For Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1999, ISBN 0310224640, page 125ff (pictured at left).

Story: Dian Fossey and Gorillas in the Mist
Find this story at www.elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+1446

Story: With Skin On!

Find this story at www.elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+1445. This site seems to be closed at the moment so here is the story:

We read of a father putting his four-year-old son to bed. Having finished prayers, stories, and all the little bedtime things, he kissed his son and turned the light off. His son started sobbing, "Don't leave me. I'm scared and don't want to stay here alone." The father tried to encourage the little boy by reminding him of God's presence and reminding him that they had just prayed together.

The little boy said, "I want somebody with skin on." 

Poem and Prayer : leaving the fields

Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 70 (pictured at left). These are based on the Luke reading.

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 above).

Responsive Reading: A Boy Has Been Born to Us

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 114 (pictured above).

Responsive reading: Light Looked Down

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 82 (pictured above).

Responsive Reading: Litany of the Incarnation

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 91 (pictured above).

Response Activity: Candy Canes
Give everyone a red and white striped candy cane and tell the congregation the meaning of the shape, the stripes, the flavour, etc. For information, see http://ww2.netnitco.net/~legend01/candycane.htm

Also:

Meditation: Quiet Remembering

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

Drama: Heavenly Revelry

Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 83. This is based on the Luke reading.  

Drama: Knock Knock

Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 89. 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 25-37.

Drama: The News

A dialogue between two excited shepherds  based on the gospel reading and found in Let's Make a Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1995, page 21.

Drama: I shouldn't Complain.........

Found in Let's Make A Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing, 1991, ISBN 085910608, page 72. This drama is linked to the Luke reading.

Christmas Day Resources

Found in Hay and Stardust by Ruth Burgess, Wild Goose Publications 2005, ISBN 1 905010 00 1, pages 15-22.

Drama: Where's the Baby?

Found in Let's Make a Scene for..... by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 101 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Luke 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 Luke reading.

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)

Call to Worship: Luke 2

By Ann B Day 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 23

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 Psalm and found under the heading: December 1st.

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 Luke reading and found under the heading: December 25th.