Announcing, to Mary, the birth of Jesus
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
The Community Readies Itself For The Coming Messiah
Choral Invitation
The choir which began, three weeks ago, at the rear of the sanctuary, now places itself in the chancel. The choir which began in the chancel places itself at the rear of the sanctuary. The chancel choir sings, with joy and exultation, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"; the other choir sings "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" a little above a whisper. Give thirty seconds of silence.
Pastoral Invitation
Now, I invite you to stop for a while, and ponder the ways of God. (Thirty seconds of silence.)
Declaration of Joyful Expectations (Pastor and Ministers)
P: What have you thought concerning ways of God compared with our ways?
M: Our own ways are complicated.
P: God has shown us the way, God's way.
M: We would like to know it for ourselves.
P: Well, there is one who knows his way, and followed it.
M: Yes, and it took him to a cross.
P: And, always remember that it took him beyond the cross as well.
M: All right, we will take a look at that way.
Advent Hymn of Praise
"Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates," George Weissel, 1642; trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1855. Thomas Williams, 1789; harm. Lowell Mason (1792-1872).
The Community Looks Within
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity (Pastor)
Consider in what ways, and how often, God has called us, invited us, urged us to listen and we have said "no," "later," "not now." "I'm too busy, too tired; I have a family to raise, money to earn, places to go, things to do. Come around when I'm older, settled, ready." In silence, write down your responses. Spend several moments in silence to become aware of your excuses for turning God down. Offer, silently, your prayer of confession, and your resolves to obey, no matter how reluctantly.
Response
" 'Sleepers, Wake!' A Voice Astounds Us," Philipp Nicolai, 1599; trans. Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1982. Attr. Philipp Nicolai; harm. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1731.
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life (Pastor and Ministers)
Mary responded with a "yes," having little idea what was in store for her and her child. She took, literally, the biblical meaning of faith, that is, the willingness to risk. That is our calling, a call not for security, but a call for risk-taking. And we do it as the church, the called-out ones, the ones who have said "yes" to God. Rejoice!
M: Listen! Here is Good News! Jesus the Christ came into the world, our world, to liberate the alienated, rebellious, I-centered, security/comfort-minded ones. In him, the Lord of Life, we are forgiven, reconciled, freed to do his will, no matter what the cost.
P: I hear! We hear! This is Good News indeed! Jesus the Christ came into the world to liberate me, us. In him, I am, we are, forgiven, reconciled, freed to do God's will, freed to be God's person, God's people.
M: And all the people said (your favorite praise word).
The Community Responds To God's Coming In Christ
Message with the Children of All Ages
For these Advent Sundays, we have been hearing the choirs sing two pieces of music at the beginning of worship. Do you remember what they are? (Wait.) Which one brings you the greatest excitement? I would like to know why, if you want to tell me. When I was a child, I couldn't wait for Christmas and all the excitement that went with it. I wasn't a Christian until many years later. I hope that it will be true for you that, as you get older, the "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" song will have less importance; and the coming of Jesus will have greater importance. I have discovered that the longer I am a Christian, the less I need a day called "Christmas."
Response
"Prepare Ye," (use "you"), words and music by Stephen Schwartz, from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.) Teach it to all of the children, no matter what their ages.
Reading from the Scripture
For this dramatization, you will need a reader, an "angel" offstage, and "Mary." This scripture is an easy dialogue to prepare.
Proclamation of the Good News
Consider asking a mother to introduce the message by sharing her thoughts and feelings about giving birth to her firstborn child. Then, somewhere in the message, identify the struggle that we have about saying "yes" to God's call, when, in reality, we prefer our security and comfort.
Stewardship Challenge
Consider the advantage we have when we say "no" to God's call, and therefore, "no" to our stewardship in God's world. (Silence for one minute.) Now, consider the advantage of saying "yes."
Charge to the Congregation
"Advent and Christmas are only days on the calendar, or events in history, until they become realities in our intellect, strength, emotions, will" (WHK).
The Church Scatters For Ministry
Meditation
"A person's biography ought really to begin, not with his/her birth, but with his/her death; it can be written only from the point of view of its end; because only from there can the whole of his/her life in its fullest and its fulfillment be seen" (Joseph Wittig) ("her" added).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Advent hymns.
Hymn of Praise: "Prepare the Way," Frans Mikael Franzen (1771-1847); adapt. Charles P. Price, 1980; alt. 1989; arr. American Lutheran Hymnal, 1930.
Response to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity: "If Only God Would Speak With Us," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Second Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Hymn of Commitment: "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," Charles Wesley, 1747; alt.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Advent hymns.
(Ask the people to stay and listen to the hymns. Point out that these have been chosen to observe the Advent, not the Christmas, season, which begins on Christmas Eve.)
Choral Invitation
The choir which began, three weeks ago, at the rear of the sanctuary, now places itself in the chancel. The choir which began in the chancel places itself at the rear of the sanctuary. The chancel choir sings, with joy and exultation, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"; the other choir sings "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" a little above a whisper. Give thirty seconds of silence.
Pastoral Invitation
Now, I invite you to stop for a while, and ponder the ways of God. (Thirty seconds of silence.)
Declaration of Joyful Expectations (Pastor and Ministers)
P: What have you thought concerning ways of God compared with our ways?
M: Our own ways are complicated.
P: God has shown us the way, God's way.
M: We would like to know it for ourselves.
P: Well, there is one who knows his way, and followed it.
M: Yes, and it took him to a cross.
P: And, always remember that it took him beyond the cross as well.
M: All right, we will take a look at that way.
Advent Hymn of Praise
"Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates," George Weissel, 1642; trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1855. Thomas Williams, 1789; harm. Lowell Mason (1792-1872).
The Community Looks Within
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity (Pastor)
Consider in what ways, and how often, God has called us, invited us, urged us to listen and we have said "no," "later," "not now." "I'm too busy, too tired; I have a family to raise, money to earn, places to go, things to do. Come around when I'm older, settled, ready." In silence, write down your responses. Spend several moments in silence to become aware of your excuses for turning God down. Offer, silently, your prayer of confession, and your resolves to obey, no matter how reluctantly.
Response
" 'Sleepers, Wake!' A Voice Astounds Us," Philipp Nicolai, 1599; trans. Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1982. Attr. Philipp Nicolai; harm. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1731.
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life (Pastor and Ministers)
Mary responded with a "yes," having little idea what was in store for her and her child. She took, literally, the biblical meaning of faith, that is, the willingness to risk. That is our calling, a call not for security, but a call for risk-taking. And we do it as the church, the called-out ones, the ones who have said "yes" to God. Rejoice!
M: Listen! Here is Good News! Jesus the Christ came into the world, our world, to liberate the alienated, rebellious, I-centered, security/comfort-minded ones. In him, the Lord of Life, we are forgiven, reconciled, freed to do his will, no matter what the cost.
P: I hear! We hear! This is Good News indeed! Jesus the Christ came into the world to liberate me, us. In him, I am, we are, forgiven, reconciled, freed to do God's will, freed to be God's person, God's people.
M: And all the people said (your favorite praise word).
The Community Responds To God's Coming In Christ
Message with the Children of All Ages
For these Advent Sundays, we have been hearing the choirs sing two pieces of music at the beginning of worship. Do you remember what they are? (Wait.) Which one brings you the greatest excitement? I would like to know why, if you want to tell me. When I was a child, I couldn't wait for Christmas and all the excitement that went with it. I wasn't a Christian until many years later. I hope that it will be true for you that, as you get older, the "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" song will have less importance; and the coming of Jesus will have greater importance. I have discovered that the longer I am a Christian, the less I need a day called "Christmas."
Response
"Prepare Ye," (use "you"), words and music by Stephen Schwartz, from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.) Teach it to all of the children, no matter what their ages.
Reading from the Scripture
For this dramatization, you will need a reader, an "angel" offstage, and "Mary." This scripture is an easy dialogue to prepare.
Proclamation of the Good News
Consider asking a mother to introduce the message by sharing her thoughts and feelings about giving birth to her firstborn child. Then, somewhere in the message, identify the struggle that we have about saying "yes" to God's call, when, in reality, we prefer our security and comfort.
Stewardship Challenge
Consider the advantage we have when we say "no" to God's call, and therefore, "no" to our stewardship in God's world. (Silence for one minute.) Now, consider the advantage of saying "yes."
Charge to the Congregation
"Advent and Christmas are only days on the calendar, or events in history, until they become realities in our intellect, strength, emotions, will" (WHK).
The Church Scatters For Ministry
Meditation
"A person's biography ought really to begin, not with his/her birth, but with his/her death; it can be written only from the point of view of its end; because only from there can the whole of his/her life in its fullest and its fulfillment be seen" (Joseph Wittig) ("her" added).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Advent hymns.
Hymn of Praise: "Prepare the Way," Frans Mikael Franzen (1771-1847); adapt. Charles P. Price, 1980; alt. 1989; arr. American Lutheran Hymnal, 1930.
Response to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity: "If Only God Would Speak With Us," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Second Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Hymn of Commitment: "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," Charles Wesley, 1747; alt.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Advent hymns.
(Ask the people to stay and listen to the hymns. Point out that these have been chosen to observe the Advent, not the Christmas, season, which begins on Christmas Eve.)
