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December Week 1
page 1 Advent Begins
picture from: http://www.first-school.ws/t/xmas/24g_advent_wreath.htm
pages 2-4 Advent wreath
The circle has long been a symbol of God. The evergreen boughs symbolizes eternal life. The candle light symbolize God’s light given to us in the life, teachings, and experience of Jesus. At home you might place three purple and one pink candle in a circle on your dinner table. Each evening you can light the candle and talk about it’s meaning.
First Sunday of Advent : Hope
light one purple candle to symbolize Hope
Prayer: Holy Light fill this place
Give us hope. Give us grace
Make our hearts ready, too
That our homes may welcome you. Amen
Read Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Second Sunday : Peace
Light two purple candles - Hope and Peace
Prayer: Holy Light fill this place
Give us peace. Give us grace
Make our hearts ready, too
That our homes may welcome you. Amen
Read John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Third Sunday : Joy
Light three purple candles (Hope and Peace) and one pink to symbolize Joy
Prayer: Holy Light fill this place
Give us joy. Give us grace
Make our hearts ready, too
That our homes may welcome you. Amen
Read Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Fourth Sunday: Love
light all four candles - Hope, Peace, Joy and Love
Prayer: Holy Light fill this place
Give us love. Give us grace
Make our hearts ready, too
That our homes may welcome you. Amen
Read 1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Christmas Eve
After Sunset, light all four candles and add the fifth white candle (the Christ candle)
Prayer
Holy Light fill this place
Give us hope, peace, joy, love and grace
Make our hearts ready, too
That our homes may welcome you. Amen
Read Luke 2:1-20
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
(End of handout)
Materials needed:
A barn/stable set up in the front
In a bag or near you have a cow , some sheep, a shepherd, a donkey, the Magi and at least one camel, and Mary and Joseph. ( Hide the Baby Jesus and the angel )
An Advent Wreath set up where the children can see it.
Also, set up four stations around the sanctuary or four places in the Sunday school room where Mary, Joseph and the donkey can move one each week as they get closer to Bethlehem.
Lesson
Read Romans 5:1-5, the passage for the candle of hope.
Today, we celebrate the beginning of a new Christian year. The words we read from our Bible were from a man named Paul. He knew in his heart that even though the world seemed to have a lot of trouble, even though he knew of many bad things happening, he was certain that God was in this world with him and all who believe in God. Paul had hope.
So, we lit a candle on our Advent wreath for hope. And here we have our stable. Does anyone know why? ( wait) Here is a strange thing about our Jesus. When God came to the world in the person of Jesus, God chose to experience whatever life would bring. God could have chosen a nice, warm, clean place to be born. But on the night when Jesus was born, says the Gospel of Luke, there was only a stable, a barn, that had room for the little family. God did not make the life of Jesus easy. The troubles of life came to him as they come to everyone. So, here is our Advent wreath with four candles that remind us that it is just four weeks until Christmas. And here is our stable in Bethlehem. Now, there is still some decorating we need to do. (Pick up the shepherd and one or more sheep. ) I have a shepherd who needs a field to watch his sheep. Where shall we pretend our field is? ( have the children point to some place in the sanctuary. Have two children help put the Shepherd and the sheep in that place. Let’s see, I have a cow ( and maybe a chicken or another sheep). This (these) will need to go in the barn/stable. Who will help her /them? ( again children help). Here I have Mary, Joseph and their donkey. They are on their way to Bethlehem. They will travel one place closer during each week of Advent. I need helpers to place them where they are to begin. ( children place the figures). And here are the Magi and their camel. They will arrive to see the baby Jesus after he is born. They need to be further away. Where shall they begin their journey. ( Have the children help place the figures) Ok, is that everyone? Hey, where is the baby Jesus? (wait for their answers) He is in Mary’s womb. He is not born until Christmas.
So, let’s sing our song about Mary’s baby.
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