Jesus' presentation in the temple. Jesus' blessing; his parents' amazement.
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Consider this:
In God's name, sigh your big sigh of relief. The world and its p.r. has gone on to something else, namely the celebration of the new year. So, now, we, the church, can be about our business of celebrating the birth of the world's savior. Rejoice!
Ask the people how they plan to celebrate Jesus' birth throughout Christmastide. If they have no idea, offer them some suggestions, mainly, taking time to think about and to act upon this great reality.
Conclude by using a litany developed from John 1, J. B. Phillipps' translation.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Carlyle Marney has suggested that sin is the sum total of acts which we, ourselves, do not commit. We, the church, carry with us a shallow, superficial view of sin. We think that taking the Lord's name in vain is the use of four-letter words. I invite us to think today that our taking the Lord's name in vain is to put the wrong emphases on our observance of the birth of the world's savior. We coo over a baby's birth, we are repulsed by a man's death. We want Christmas without Good Friday.
Give the people a few moments to consider these ideas silently. Then, you may want to invite the people to pray this prayer: "Lord, we celebrate Advent and Christmas with an ill-defined realization of our need. We slip into routine, and we need a rebirth of wonder. We have taken you, and each other, for granted; and we need to rediscover love, your kind of love. We have been discouraged with much of our world, which is also your world, and we need a renewal of hope. We pray that Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, will provide this source of wonder, generosity, joy and love. We pray that the Christ may bring a personal and corporate peace out of which will come new life for all people."
Introduce the act of receiving new life with a poster which shows a dog (God spelled backwards) with that long-dog look who says, "I may not always be right; but I'm always willing to be forgiven."
Print the following litany:
Pastor:
In Jesus Christ, God offers forgiveness, and peace.
Ministers: Our lives have been received, and given hope for the future.
Pastor:
Let's give thanks and share new life with God's world.
Ministers: Indeed we shall. Amen!
(Note: Many bulletins contain the prayer of confession; many do not include the assurance of pardon. If you must leave one out, I invite you to consider leaving out the confession; many never hear the assurance, after hearing the confession.)
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
If someone in the congregation has given birth to a child recently, ask the mother and father to share the experience with the children. Ask them to tie in their excitement and joy with that of Mary and Joseph who brought Jesus to the temple. Then, they can tie those events in with the same feelings that the parents of the children also had/have/will have. Conclude with a prayer of thanksgiving and appreciation.
Proclamation of the Word
Suggestion:
Expand the children's message about the expectations we have for and with our own children. This provides a good time to share the importance of baptism and our responsibility toward those baptized, not only in our local congregation, but throughout the Holy Catholic Church.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
We often ask how much we "should" give. People give a variety of answers: (1) give until it hurts; (2) give until it helps; (3) give until it heals. The real question, however, it this, "How much have I received; how much do I love; how much am I willing to share?
Charge to the Congregation
Consider this:
The cradle is mere sentimentality without the brutality of the cross, the joy of resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit. How will you integrate the whole gospel into your life this day, and beyond?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 111
Psalm 128:1-5
Isaiah 61:10--62:3
Isaiah 45:22-25
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Galatians 4:4-7
Colossians 3:12-21
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
Use Christmastide hymns
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation and Dismissal
Christmas Carols
Response to the Stewardship Thought
"What Child Is This?"
Purvis
Response to the Proclamation
"Angels From the Realms of Glory"
Response to the Benediction
"I'm Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing" Traditional
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
Consider this:
In God's name, sigh your big sigh of relief. The world and its p.r. has gone on to something else, namely the celebration of the new year. So, now, we, the church, can be about our business of celebrating the birth of the world's savior. Rejoice!
Ask the people how they plan to celebrate Jesus' birth throughout Christmastide. If they have no idea, offer them some suggestions, mainly, taking time to think about and to act upon this great reality.
Conclude by using a litany developed from John 1, J. B. Phillipps' translation.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Carlyle Marney has suggested that sin is the sum total of acts which we, ourselves, do not commit. We, the church, carry with us a shallow, superficial view of sin. We think that taking the Lord's name in vain is the use of four-letter words. I invite us to think today that our taking the Lord's name in vain is to put the wrong emphases on our observance of the birth of the world's savior. We coo over a baby's birth, we are repulsed by a man's death. We want Christmas without Good Friday.
Give the people a few moments to consider these ideas silently. Then, you may want to invite the people to pray this prayer: "Lord, we celebrate Advent and Christmas with an ill-defined realization of our need. We slip into routine, and we need a rebirth of wonder. We have taken you, and each other, for granted; and we need to rediscover love, your kind of love. We have been discouraged with much of our world, which is also your world, and we need a renewal of hope. We pray that Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, will provide this source of wonder, generosity, joy and love. We pray that the Christ may bring a personal and corporate peace out of which will come new life for all people."
Introduce the act of receiving new life with a poster which shows a dog (God spelled backwards) with that long-dog look who says, "I may not always be right; but I'm always willing to be forgiven."
Print the following litany:
Pastor:
In Jesus Christ, God offers forgiveness, and peace.
Ministers: Our lives have been received, and given hope for the future.
Pastor:
Let's give thanks and share new life with God's world.
Ministers: Indeed we shall. Amen!
(Note: Many bulletins contain the prayer of confession; many do not include the assurance of pardon. If you must leave one out, I invite you to consider leaving out the confession; many never hear the assurance, after hearing the confession.)
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
If someone in the congregation has given birth to a child recently, ask the mother and father to share the experience with the children. Ask them to tie in their excitement and joy with that of Mary and Joseph who brought Jesus to the temple. Then, they can tie those events in with the same feelings that the parents of the children also had/have/will have. Conclude with a prayer of thanksgiving and appreciation.
Proclamation of the Word
Suggestion:
Expand the children's message about the expectations we have for and with our own children. This provides a good time to share the importance of baptism and our responsibility toward those baptized, not only in our local congregation, but throughout the Holy Catholic Church.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
We often ask how much we "should" give. People give a variety of answers: (1) give until it hurts; (2) give until it helps; (3) give until it heals. The real question, however, it this, "How much have I received; how much do I love; how much am I willing to share?
Charge to the Congregation
Consider this:
The cradle is mere sentimentality without the brutality of the cross, the joy of resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit. How will you integrate the whole gospel into your life this day, and beyond?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 111
Psalm 128:1-5
Isaiah 61:10--62:3
Isaiah 45:22-25
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Galatians 4:4-7
Colossians 3:12-21
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
Use Christmastide hymns
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation and Dismissal
Christmas Carols
Response to the Stewardship Thought
"What Child Is This?"
Purvis
Response to the Proclamation
"Angels From the Realms of Glory"
Response to the Benediction
"I'm Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing" Traditional
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
