Christmas Eve A (24th December 2025): Peace on earth/Hope for the Future

 

Under construction ....

Bible Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20

About the Images:
Upper Left: A free microsoft clipart with text from the Bible

Upper Right: Found at http://www.gwpda.org/photos/greatwar.ht It is an actual picture of two soldiers with Christmas trees during the Christmas Truce on the Western Front.

Middle Left: A free clipart with text from the Bible.

Middle Right: This free image comes from www.sundaygraphx.blogspot.com
Lower Left: This is a free image from the Hermano Leon website - see my link column at left.

Lower Right: The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem at night.  This is my image so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities

Call To Worship: This, Tonight, is the Meeting Place

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 83. (pictured below at left).

Listening Song: Christe Elieson
By Michelle Tumes on her album, Centre of My Universe (pictured at left).

Listening Song: Emmanuel

By Michael W. Smith on WOW Christmas or on his album, Christmas Time (pictured at right).

Listening song: I Still Pray
By Casey Chambers on The Spirit of Christmas 2001 (pictured at left)

Listening Song: Blessed is...
By The Cafe of the Gate of Salvation on their album, A Window in Heaven (pictured at right) 

Reading: The Journey of Jesus

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 84 (pictured at left below).

Film Clip: He Came Down

Drama (Monologue): The Shepherd
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 94 (pictured at left).

Story: Two Babies in the Manger
Author unknown but it can be found in many places on the net by googling the title. It is the story of a little orphan boy called Misha and is set in the early 1990's.

Story: The Christmas Truce on the Western Front

The web has lots of pictures and accounts of this amazing truce which occurred on Christmas Eve 1914. Just google the title. Wikipedia is as good a source as any. However if you are really stuck, The Lion Christmas Book by Mary Batchelor (ed.), Lion Publishing, 1986, ISBN 0745912206 (pictured at right) has the story on page 69.

Film Clip: Joyeux Noel
This is the film (pictured at left) of the above story.

Listening Song: Belleau Wood
By Garth Brooks on his album, Sevens (pictured at right). This is a song about the Christmas truce. I turned the sound off the documentary above and played this song as the backing for silent scenes of the soldiers coming out of their trenches to make their peace with each other.

Film Clip: Belleau Wood

This puts original photos, paintings and modern film stills together with Garth Brooks' song - it may not be available anymore. It is a youtube clip. 

Story: The Christmas Troll

By Eugene H Peterson and Will Terry, Navpress,2004, ISBN 1576836819 (pictured at right)

Meditation: The People Who Walked

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 24 (pictured above left).

Meditation: How Can I Keep from Singing
Show a series of images of the nativity and play How can I Keep from Singing (by Enya on her singles album, Silent Night - pictured at left) in the background.

Responsive Prayer: A Boy Has Been Born For Us
From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 114 (pictured above left).

Prayer for Others: When The World Was Dark

From Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 92 (pictured above left).

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 above left).

Response Activity: Candle Lighting and Offering at 12 midnight:
Works as follows:
Our offering tonight is for......fill in the blanks but not your own church - someone else instead. Please come forward and place your offering in the bowl provided and take a taper. If you have not brought anything with you, don't worry, just come and take a taper. Form a large circle around the church instead of returning to your seat. (This can be done with just about any number of people). Jesus said "I am the light of the world". (Light the Christ candle, light your taper off the Christ candle and light the tapers of the people on each side of you. Encourage them to light the taper of the person next to them and so on). As Jesus' light travels around the circle, we pray that God's love will be in everyone's hearts tonight and always.

Response Activity: Jesus the Light of the World
At some point in the service (where it fits) ask people to take a tea light, light it and place it around a small wooden feed box (with or with out baby) to represent Jesus as the light of the world. If your service ends at midnight, turn the lights off completely at this point so that only the manger is highlighted.

Also:

Meditation: Quiet Remembering

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

Drama: Unto You

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 90. This drama is based on the Isaiah reading.

Drama: Men In White

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 91. This drama 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)

Blue Christmas A (for any time in Advent): A service for those who find Christmas to be a difficult time

 

 

Bible Readings: Luke 2:1-7, Luke 6:17-23, Psalm 22:1-11, Matthew 11:28-29, Romans 8:35, 38-39

A Note:

Blue Christmas's are not lectionary based services - here below are a few ideas which vary from those I have put up in previous years - look up Blue Christmas years B and C in my archives if you would like to see more resources

About the images:
Above left: This is a free microsoft clipart image - it connects well with a particular age and gender for whom blue Christmas services are particularly applicable.
Above Right: Taken by Mrs Julia Walker - please feel free to use it for worship and related activities. Grief and loss are experienced by all ages.

Middle Left:  This is a free Heartlight image: see my links column on the left.

Middle Right: This free image comes from www.sundaygraphx.blogspot.com. It makes a great background slide. 

Lower Left: This free image, based on the Matthew reading, comes from Cerrezo Barredo. See my link column at left.

Lower Right and Bottom Left: Free Creative Commons images.

Listening Song: Mary Did You Know
By Kathy Mattea on her album Good News (pictured at left) or on WOW Christmas.

Story: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.

By Susan Wojciechowski and P. J. Lynch, Walker Books, 1995, ISBN 0744554020 (pictured at right). This is a breathtakingly beautiful children's book which speaks to all ages about loss, grief and Christmas.

Story: Piccola

By Mala Powers and found in The Lion Christmas Book by Mary Batchelor (ed.), Lion Publishing, 1986, ISBN 0745912206, page 24-25, (pictured at left).

Advent 4 A (21 December 2025): A Life Uncommon/Courage/Love

 

Bible Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7,17-19, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free microsoft clipart image with a line of text from the song 'Life Uncommon' by Jewel.
Upper right: The Dream of St Joseph by Rembrandt. Public domain. Found at http://www.consciouslivingfoundation.org/photo_gallery.fineart.htm

Middle Left:  This is a free Hermano Leon image.  Please note that this site no longer seems to be in operation.

Middle Right: This is a free slide from Church Galleries - see my link in the column at left. The site is not operating at present. 
Lower Left: This is a free image from Cerezo Barredo - see my link column at left.

Lower Right and Bottom Left: These free images are from the Sundaygraphx website. See my link column at left. 

Kid's Story: An "Ordinary" Christmas?
Found in Fun Group Devotions for Children's Ministry by various authors, Group Publishing 1993 ISBN 1559451610, page 31 (pictured at left). This is based on the Matthew reading.

 

Kid's Time: Jesus' Family Tree

Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 93 (pictured at right). There are the most amazing and colourful characters in Jesus' family tree and this little story makes the most of them all.  Lots of fun if you get the whole congregation to participate with the kids.

Drama: The Diaries of Joseph and Theodore

Found in Cloth For the Cradle by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 68 (pictured at left). This is based on the Matthew reading.

Drama: The Village Gossips
Found in Cloth For the Cradle by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997, ISBN 1901557014, page 58 (pictured at left). This drama is also based on the Matthew reading.

Discussion:
How would Joseph have felt?
How would Mary have felt?
In what way does Immanuel (God with us) make a difference to you?

Listening Song: Immanuel

By Michael Card on his album, The Final Word (pictured at right). This goes well with the gospel reading but, as you can tell from the title, it goes well with Christmas in general.

Listening Song: Life Uncommon
By Jewel on her album, Spirit (pictured at left). This goes well with the Christmas story and relates well to those ordinary people, like Mary and Joseph, who did indeed live a life uncommon.

Listening song: So This is Christmas 

By John Lennon on his album, Lennon Legend (pictured at right). This song, an oldie but a goodie, challenges us to think about the implications of Christmas. 

Story: A Stranger At the Door

Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth by Wayne Rice, Zondervan 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 25 (see illustration above right).

Story: Taking a Stand
Found in The New Century Version Youth Bible, Word, 1991, ISBN 0849909252, page 907 (pictured at left).

Response Activity: Christmas Haiku
Give everyone a small piece of paper or card and a pen or pencil. Give them step by step instructions on how to write a five line haiku as follows: 1. Choose a character from the Christmas story 2. Two feelings your character experienced 3. Three words which describe your character 4. Four or more words to describe something your character did that you admire 5. One word that describes how you would like to be like your chosen character. To conclude, one option is then to collect them all and laminate them and return them - another is to put them all in a photo album and leave the album where everybody has access to it.

Quote: St Hildegard of Bingen

This makes a great benediction/blessing:
    Be not lax in celebrating.
    Be not lazy in the festive service of God. 

    And be ablaze with enthusiasm. 

Also:

Taize Service: The Greatest Story Ever Told

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 40 (pictured at left). This is based on the Matthew reading.

Service Outline: Gifts Galore

Based on the Matthew reading this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 78 

Service Starter: Of Royal Descent

Based on the Matthew reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 21 

Drama: I Don't Belong

Found in Let's Make a Scene for..... by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 25 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Romans reading. 

Drama: What's Jesus Got to Do With Christmas

Found in Let's Make a Scene for..... by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 86 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Matthew reading. 

Poem: Superstar

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 80 (pictured at right).  This poem is based on the Matthew reading.  

Drama: Engaged

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 88 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the Matthew reading.

Brilliant Comments on the Gospel

Found in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, SPCK, 2008, ISBN 9780281059751, pages 38-47 (pictured at right).

Messy Christmas

Found in Lucy Moore, Messy Church, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 978 1 84101 503 3, page 131ff

Drama: Three Become One

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page131ff.  This is based on the Romans reading.

Discussion Questions: The Birth of Jesus

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 121. These are based on the Matthew 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 Isaiah reading and found under the heading: December 18th.

Brilliant Pre-Reading: Generations

Found in The First Advent in Palestine by Kelley Nikondeha, Broadleaf Books, 2022, pages 109ff. Based on the gospel reading. 

Listening Song: Psalm 80: Restore Us

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