The Second Week of Advent

 

December 6, 2009

 

 

Before the service: Older children can help with much of the set-up, so get them involved! Decide where you will have your worship service. Make a sacred space by using fabric, a Bible, and other objects with special meaning. You can set up a small table as an altar for the objects, and lay out a blanket for everyone to sit on. Gather two candles and a lighter. These may be two purple candles as part of your advent wreath if you have one, but any two candles will do. Bring a pitcher of water, a towel and a large reflective (metal) bowl.

 

For Communion: Choose a food such as bread, pastry or crackers for Communion, and place on a plate or basket in your worship space. Add cups of juice or other drinks for each person. It is such a gift that in the United Church of Christ, any church member is empowered to administer Holy Communion when there is no ordained clergy present.

 

Ideas for involving young children in setting up the worship space: ask your kids to make some art for worship. Perhaps a play-doh sculpture or coloring a picture. Ribbons tied around the juice glasses can make them look more special. Would they like to collect a basket of instruments to be used during worship?

 

Gathering

Listen to a song on CD, have one of you sing a solo, or sing a song together.

Song idea: This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made.

 

Prayer (different family members can say each phrase): Prepare us; Open us; Teach us; Renew us; Heal us. Amen.

 

A Call to Peace

Light two candles, saying, “We wait in hope and peace with all your people through the ages and into tomorrow. Amen.” (The first candle represents hope, and the second represents peace). What are some ways that you can have more peace in your family? What are some ways to bring about peace in the world? Explore these questions through conversation, making art, or reading a picture book on the subject.

 

Bible Reading

Song idea: The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E

 

Luke 3:1-6, paraphrase

 

There was a big crowd, down by the Jordan River. What was happening? Something exciting? The children wriggled to the front to see.

But all they saw was a man talking! (Show a picture of what John might have looked like from a story Bible.) He wore thick hairy clothes, with a belt round his middle. “Who is he?” the children wondered.

“That’s John,” one of the grownups said. “John lives alone in the desert. He is the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Now John has come to talk to us. He says he has a message from God. Shh. We want to hear what John has to say.”

And so the children quietly sat down near the front of the crowd to listen, too.

John was speaking quite loudly. “I have some good news to tell you,” John shouted.

“Good news! God loves us all. Jesus is coming soon to show God's love. He will give us a fresh start in our lives. Hooray!” (invite kids to use their instruments in celebration).

 

Ritual

Many of us have a longing for a clean start in some area of our lives. Water is an important element for renewal, whether in the baptismal font or a hot bath. Invite your family to consider areas of their lives in which they are praying for a new start.

Slowly pour water from a glass pitcher into a reflective large bowl. Each person is invited to slowly dip their hands into the water in the bowl. Have towel nearby with which they can dry their hands.

 

Songs during ritual:

Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a right Spirit within me.2x

Cast me not away from your presence, O God, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and renew a right spirit within me. Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a right Spirit within me.

 

Deep and wide Deep and wide, there's a fountain flowing deep and wide. Deep and wide, deep and wide, there's a fountain flowing deep and wide.

 

Assurance of our renewal:

Take heart, for we can be sure of at least one thing:

the One who began the work

of transformation and renewal within us

is loving and faithful

and will bring it to completion.

 

Take turns peering into the bowl of water. Invite each one to name the things they see reflected in the reflective bowl. As God’s children, we are like a reflective bowl reflecting God’s love to those around us. What are some ways we reflect or show God’s love?

 

 

Offering

What can members of your family contribute to the offering basket? Food that can be brought to Helpline? A toy or other item that can be given away to someone in need? Money for the church or other organization?

 

 

Family Communion

The bread is pure and fresh,

the water is cool and clear.

Lord of all life, be near.

--African prayer

 

We thank you God, for coming to us in the person of Jesus Christ. We feel the excitement of the season, and ask that you would remind us why we celebrate. Thank you for loving us. Amen.

We remember that on the night that Jesus shared a meal with his friends, when one of his friends turned against him, that Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave a piece to each of them. He told them that the bread represented his own body and his love for them. They enjoyed the bread together. Then Jesus poured wine into a cup, blessed it, and poured it for the others. The cup reminds us of the grace of God, the brave way Jesus gave his life for those he loved, and the blessings we share as the family of God.  As often as we drink it, we do so in remembrance of Jesus.

 

Share the bread and cup. Offer the elements to one another. It need not be a solemn meal! Kids do a great job reminding us that Sacraments are a joyful celebration of God's love.

 

Thank you, prayer:

Thank you God for taking care of us, for filling our bellies with food and filling our hearts with love.

 

Closing Blessing:

We are renewed!

We are refreshed!

May we live in the love of God,

gift all with the peace of Christ,

and do the good work of the Spirit.

 

Closing Song:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel;

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

 

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.