Women Bearing Gifts
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"Women Bearing Gifts" may be used in two ways to celebrate the Advent Season:
1) As a mid-week Advent worship;
2) As a women's or intergenerational Advent or Christmas program.
This worship service includes six participants: a worship leader and five narrators (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary).
Outline Of The Service
1. The Gift Of Worship: Invocation and carol.
2. The Gift Of Adoration: A litany based on Psalm 76.
3. The Gift Of Confession: Call to confess, silent confession, and the Lord's Prayer.
4. Women Bearing Gifts: Each section is introduced by the leader. Each woman reads the passage and then her part. The Gift of Righteousness - Tamar, The Gift of Trust - Rahab, The Gift of Unselfish Love - Ruth, The Gift of Repentance - Bathsheba, and The Gift of Obedience - Mary. Each section closes with a hymn.
5. Bring Your Gifts To The Manger: Insert in the bulletin slips of paper addressed to Jesus (Example: To Jesus, I present the gift of ___________________). During a special musical presentation, the participants will write a gift they wish to present to Christ and sign their papers. As the offering is taken, they will include these papers with it. An offertory prayer is made.
*Option: At this point, if there is a purpose statement to the women's organization, this may be inserted and said together.
A benediction is said, and the worship closes with a carol.
Verses of musical selections may be added or deleted as wished.
Program
An Advent/Christmas Celebration
The Gift Of Worship
*Invocation"
L: We call upon the Lord God to be present as we join our hearts in celebration. Pour forth your Spirit, O Holy One, that we might honor the Christ Child with our gifts of love and praise.
C: ACCEPT OUR OFFERING OF WORSHIP. AMEN.
*Opening Carol: "What Child Is This?"
The Gift Of Adoration
(A Litany Based on Psalm 76)
L: In Judah God is known, his name is great in Israel.
C: YOUR NAME IS GREAT, ALL MIGHTY GOD. WE BEAR THE NAME CHRISTIAN AS YOUR GIFT.
L: Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains.
C: YOUR MAJESTY IS ABOVE THE HEAVENS, ALL GLORIOUS GOD. WE ARE IN AWE OF THE GIFT OF CREATION.
L: But you indeed are awesome! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?
C: YOUR FORGIVENESS IS WELCOMED, ALL MERCIFUL GOD. WE REJOICE IN THE GIFT OF GRACE.
L: Make vows to the Lord your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome.
C: OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD WHO SENT US THE GIFT OF SALVATION. WE CELEBRATE THE CHRIST CHILD THIS NIGHT BY OFFERING GOD OUR GIFT OF WORSHIP. AMEN.
The Gift Of Confession
L: As we gather in this special time of celebration, we recognize the gift that God sent to the world as a child. Jesus emptied himself of his glory in heaven and entered our world, taking the form of a slave and being born in human likeness. He shared with us the gifts of humility and obedience which cost him his life, given as salvation for the world. Because of that gift, God has exalted him. We honor Christ's name, bending our knee in adoration and with tongues confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
C: WE CONFESS OUR SINS TO YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD, AND CONFESS OUR NEED OF THE SAVIOR.
(Silent confession)
Leader:
Receive pardon and forgiveness from the Child of Bethlehem. Let us pray the prayer that binds us in that grace.
*The Lord's Prayer
Women Bearing Gifts
Leader:
Tonight we will hear from the women of the past who bring to the manger gifts which honor the Son of God. As you listen to them, ponder if you can bring that gift to Jesus this season. Let us hear from our first woman, Tamar, who brings the Gift of Righteousness.
The Gift Of Righteousness As Presented By Tamar
Reading: 2 Timothy 2:19-26
Tamar: Righteousness - that's what I was looking to Judah to give me as a gift. Instead I had to resort to trickery to be made right. I wasn't a wicked woman, but I certainly had things happen to me that made me question. My first husband, Er, was a brute and did not treat me right. When he died, as was our custom, I was given to his brother to ensure an heir. Now Onan wasn't much better. So when he died, I lived childless and a widow for some time. The last brother, Shelah, was too young for me, but I think Judah, my father-in-law, was really worried that Shelah would end up dead like his brothers if he entered my bed. What a reputation I had in our community, and I had done nothing wrong! So, I didn't feel one bit guilty about tricking Judah into laying with me in order to conceive a child. Shelah had grown up, but Judah had not given me to him as his wife. So, after taking Judah's seal and cord as a pledge, I slept with my father-in-law. Of course, when he found out I was pregnant, he was irate. But pulling out his pledge, I showed him that he was the father of my child. Judah then recognized my gift, declaring me more righteous than himself. When it came time for me to deliver, twins came forth - a double blessing. A scarlet thread was tied on the hand of the first, Zerah, but he drew back to let his brother, Perez, come forth. It is from Perez that the line of the Messiah came. God made things right for me in my situation. God made the selection right of a descendant of Christ. The scarlet thread reminds us of the blood of Christ tied to each of us as we become heirs to the promise of becoming children of righteousness. God made things right with the death of Jesus. He calls us through that righteousness to present to him upright lives. And so, we come to the manger and bear that gift - holy lives - lives made right by Christ's gift to us. Our hope rests in Christ, his oath, his covenant, his blood. Judah recognized my righteousness and clothed me in his name to bear my children. I recognize the righteousness I have to offer is not my own, but a gift from God. Join me in declaring that gift through song.
Hymn: "My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less" (v. 1)
Leader:
As Tamar brought her gift to God and in return became part of the ancestry of Jesus, let us hear from another of that line, Rahab, who brings the Gift of Trust.
The Gift Of Trust As Presented By Rahab
Reading: Psalm 9:1-10
Rahab: The psalm that I just read was written after my time by King David, but he and I have a lot in common. Enemies surrounded us. Now for me, it was that nation called Israel that had come up from out of Egypt, an enemy I had heard plenty about. These people had put their trust in a God who brought them out of slavery. Yet they had rebelled against that God in the wilderness and found themselves wandering about for 40 years. But even then their God was with them. Now they had crossed the Jordan, trusting in that same God to give them this Promised Land. Well, here they were standing before the gates of my city, Jericho. I had to make a choice - trust in my city's forces to defend me, trust in myself and the profession of harlot to endear me to the enemy, or throw myself on the mercy of this God and his people and trust that my household would be saved. I had nothing to offer this God. My city was very ungodly. My profession was not very pure. The people I lived with were hopelessly depraved. Trusting in them to defend me was really laughable. Why shouldn't this God destroy this city? They were only interested in pursuing pleasure and indulging in sin. When those spies came to my house, I saw my chance. I offered them the gift of secrecy and protection in exchange for sparing my family. They commanded me to tie a scarlet cord in my window as a sign to their forces to spare me. Standing before you in your time, I see clearly God's hand in choosing to save me. I was the most unlikely candidate for this gift of salvation. Yet, by putting my trust in this God I did not know, I was blessed. I believed God would destroy Jericho and trusted in that scarlet cord and the gift I offered God's people. Because of that trust, I was saved and became an ancestor to the Child you honor tonight. Jesus' own blood became the scarlet cord which binds us together in faith. So bring your Gift of Trust to the manger this night and declare your faith in Christ to save. My town was sinful and fell to judgment. Join me in singing of the town where salvation was born as you declare your trust in God to deliver.
Carol: "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" (v. 1)
Leader:
Tamar and Rahab, women bearing gifts to the Christ Child of Bethlehem. There is another from that line who brought a Gift of Unselfish Love. Let us hear from our third visitor, Ruth.
The Gift Of Unselfish Love As Presented By Ruth
Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Ruth: I never thought of myself in the way this passage describes love. I just loved. My mother-in-law needed me. She faced a lonely life without her husband and sons. I do not hold it against my sister-in-law for returning to her people. I just couldn't abandon Naomi. I chose to let her people be my people and her God become mine also. I only heard about him as I listened to the scriptures read around our table and witnessed of him as I lived in that community. I gave my love to Naomi because she was family. I did not question her desire to give me to Boaz and allow him to become my kinsman-redeemer. I respected her wishes and trusted in this God who was caring for us. Bethlehem became not only my home as a widow, but my home as a wife. What a celebration that city had as Boaz and I were wed! How we rejoiced as I gave birth to a son, Obed! Little did I know then that he would be the father of Jesse, who would be the father of King David, from whom Jesus would come. I was honored by God to be part of this plan. As a Gentile, I see now God's plan of salvation for all people. As we offer the world the Gift of Unselfish Love we have found in Jesus, all nations will hail him as king and sing the wonders of his love. Join me now in declaring the joy we have as we bring to the manger the Gift of Unselfish Love.
Carol: "Joy To The World" (vv. 1 and 2)
Leader:
Our next visitor is referred to in the genealogy of Jesus as Uriah's wife. We know this woman to be Bathsheba. She brings to the manger the Gift of Repentance. Let us hear her story.
The Gift Of Repentance As Presented By Bathsheba
Reading: John 8:3-11
Bathsheba: It wasn't my fault, and yet I was part of the temptation that led David to sin. I should have been more careful that night as I took my bath. I was beautiful, and at times I flaunted that beauty. Little did I know that the king would be gazing down upon me from his rooftop. When the soldiers came to take me to him, I could have resisted, but pride got in my way. I was flattered to be sought by the king for the night. I could have reminded him that we were sinning with our action, but again, I let my flesh get in the way. If I had been honest with Uriah and told him everything in a letter, he might be alive today. He may have forgiven David and charged him, but I compounded our sin by my silence. After Uriah's death, David took me as his wife, but our joy soon turned into grief when our child died. We were heartbroken, but both of us received God's grace as we turned to him in repentance. Nathan reminded David of his action, and the king threw himself on the mercy of God. I followed suit, unable to bear the weight of guilt alone. God was so good in flooding my soul with peace and planting life anew with another son, Solomon. His name means "loved by the Lord." When we bring our Gift of Repentance to the Christ Child, we know what it means to be loved by the Lord. As we gaze upon Jesus, the Son God so loved, we know what it cost the Father for our sins. And so, we offer to Jesus the Gift of Repentance and embrace the gift of God's forgiveness. I found that gift when I turned to God and received his love. Join me now in declaring the Father's love for each of us, his repentant and now faithful children.
Carol: "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful" (v. 1)
Leader:
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Uriah's wife, all listed in Jesus' lineage from Matthew. The last woman mentioned there is Mary, the mother of our Lord and Savior, who brings to us tonight the Gift of Obedience. Let us hear from our final woman who bears us a special gift.
The Gift Of Obedience As Presented By Mary
Reading: Matthew 12:46-50
Mary: When the angel came to me and told me I would be the mother of the Messiah, I was awestruck. Every Hebrew maiden found the prospect of being the Savior's mother something to be desired. What a wonderful thing to be so highly favored in God's eyes! Yet how could it be? I was a virgin. How the tongues would wag! And Joseph, my beloved, what would he think of me? All these thoughts bounced around in my mind as I listened to the angel tell me I would have a son who would be given the throne of his father David. My child, he declared, would reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom would never end. Yet even with this promise, I still wondered how this could happen. The angel reminded me that with God nothing is impossible. Therefore, I gave my Gift of Obedience consenting to God's will. All who hear God and obey do the Father's will. Often we hear God but choose not to follow through on his direction. Sometimes we doubt God is able to do what has been promised. Remember me then. God is faithful, and as we obey him, we find favor in his sight. As I gazed at my son, born that night in a stable, I rejoiced in the Gift of Obedience that allowed me to give my consent to God for his will to be done. May you surrender your will to Jesus that you may be his brother, his sister, his mother. Give Christ the Gift of Obedience this Christmas. I heard the angel and believed. Hear the angels from on high, and join me in singing praises to the newborn king.
Carol: "Angels We Have Heard On High"
Bring Your Gifts To The Manger
Leader:
Included in your bulletin is a slip of paper. Take this time now to reflect on the gifts that have been spoken of tonight. Remember the women who bore them: Tamar and the Gift of Righteousness, Rahab and the Gift of Trust, Ruth and the Gift of Unselfish Love, Bathsheba and the Gift of Repentance, Mary and the Gift of Obedience. Think of God's greatest gift, Jesus, the Gift of Salvation. Then write down the gift you would bring to the manger this night and place it with your offering in the plate which will be passed around.
(Time for reflection)
Special Musical Gift And Offering
*Offertory Prayer
Leader:
All Loving Father, we offer up to you our gifts knowing that you will take them as but tokens of the love we bear your Son, Jesus. Before the manger of the Christ Child we bow and give thanks to you for the opportunity to return but a portion of all that you have blessed us with. Receive this offering in the name of the Babe of Bethlehem, through whom we pray.
All: Amen.
*Benediction
Leader: Go forth in love as children of God, bearing gifts to the world in Jesus' name and be a blessing to all nations. In the name of the Father, who sent the Son, Jesus, who gave us his Spirit to sing forth our nods.
*Closing Carol: "The First Noel"
"Women Bearing Gifts" may be used in two ways to celebrate the Advent Season:
1) As a mid-week Advent worship;
2) As a women's or intergenerational Advent or Christmas program.
This worship service includes six participants: a worship leader and five narrators (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary).
Outline Of The Service
1. The Gift Of Worship: Invocation and carol.
2. The Gift Of Adoration: A litany based on Psalm 76.
3. The Gift Of Confession: Call to confess, silent confession, and the Lord's Prayer.
4. Women Bearing Gifts: Each section is introduced by the leader. Each woman reads the passage and then her part. The Gift of Righteousness - Tamar, The Gift of Trust - Rahab, The Gift of Unselfish Love - Ruth, The Gift of Repentance - Bathsheba, and The Gift of Obedience - Mary. Each section closes with a hymn.
5. Bring Your Gifts To The Manger: Insert in the bulletin slips of paper addressed to Jesus (Example: To Jesus, I present the gift of ___________________). During a special musical presentation, the participants will write a gift they wish to present to Christ and sign their papers. As the offering is taken, they will include these papers with it. An offertory prayer is made.
*Option: At this point, if there is a purpose statement to the women's organization, this may be inserted and said together.
A benediction is said, and the worship closes with a carol.
Verses of musical selections may be added or deleted as wished.
Program
An Advent/Christmas Celebration
The Gift Of Worship
*Invocation"
L: We call upon the Lord God to be present as we join our hearts in celebration. Pour forth your Spirit, O Holy One, that we might honor the Christ Child with our gifts of love and praise.
C: ACCEPT OUR OFFERING OF WORSHIP. AMEN.
*Opening Carol: "What Child Is This?"
The Gift Of Adoration
(A Litany Based on Psalm 76)
L: In Judah God is known, his name is great in Israel.
C: YOUR NAME IS GREAT, ALL MIGHTY GOD. WE BEAR THE NAME CHRISTIAN AS YOUR GIFT.
L: Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains.
C: YOUR MAJESTY IS ABOVE THE HEAVENS, ALL GLORIOUS GOD. WE ARE IN AWE OF THE GIFT OF CREATION.
L: But you indeed are awesome! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?
C: YOUR FORGIVENESS IS WELCOMED, ALL MERCIFUL GOD. WE REJOICE IN THE GIFT OF GRACE.
L: Make vows to the Lord your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome.
C: OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD WHO SENT US THE GIFT OF SALVATION. WE CELEBRATE THE CHRIST CHILD THIS NIGHT BY OFFERING GOD OUR GIFT OF WORSHIP. AMEN.
The Gift Of Confession
L: As we gather in this special time of celebration, we recognize the gift that God sent to the world as a child. Jesus emptied himself of his glory in heaven and entered our world, taking the form of a slave and being born in human likeness. He shared with us the gifts of humility and obedience which cost him his life, given as salvation for the world. Because of that gift, God has exalted him. We honor Christ's name, bending our knee in adoration and with tongues confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
C: WE CONFESS OUR SINS TO YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD, AND CONFESS OUR NEED OF THE SAVIOR.
(Silent confession)
Leader:
Receive pardon and forgiveness from the Child of Bethlehem. Let us pray the prayer that binds us in that grace.
*The Lord's Prayer
Women Bearing Gifts
Leader:
Tonight we will hear from the women of the past who bring to the manger gifts which honor the Son of God. As you listen to them, ponder if you can bring that gift to Jesus this season. Let us hear from our first woman, Tamar, who brings the Gift of Righteousness.
The Gift Of Righteousness As Presented By Tamar
Reading: 2 Timothy 2:19-26
Tamar: Righteousness - that's what I was looking to Judah to give me as a gift. Instead I had to resort to trickery to be made right. I wasn't a wicked woman, but I certainly had things happen to me that made me question. My first husband, Er, was a brute and did not treat me right. When he died, as was our custom, I was given to his brother to ensure an heir. Now Onan wasn't much better. So when he died, I lived childless and a widow for some time. The last brother, Shelah, was too young for me, but I think Judah, my father-in-law, was really worried that Shelah would end up dead like his brothers if he entered my bed. What a reputation I had in our community, and I had done nothing wrong! So, I didn't feel one bit guilty about tricking Judah into laying with me in order to conceive a child. Shelah had grown up, but Judah had not given me to him as his wife. So, after taking Judah's seal and cord as a pledge, I slept with my father-in-law. Of course, when he found out I was pregnant, he was irate. But pulling out his pledge, I showed him that he was the father of my child. Judah then recognized my gift, declaring me more righteous than himself. When it came time for me to deliver, twins came forth - a double blessing. A scarlet thread was tied on the hand of the first, Zerah, but he drew back to let his brother, Perez, come forth. It is from Perez that the line of the Messiah came. God made things right for me in my situation. God made the selection right of a descendant of Christ. The scarlet thread reminds us of the blood of Christ tied to each of us as we become heirs to the promise of becoming children of righteousness. God made things right with the death of Jesus. He calls us through that righteousness to present to him upright lives. And so, we come to the manger and bear that gift - holy lives - lives made right by Christ's gift to us. Our hope rests in Christ, his oath, his covenant, his blood. Judah recognized my righteousness and clothed me in his name to bear my children. I recognize the righteousness I have to offer is not my own, but a gift from God. Join me in declaring that gift through song.
Hymn: "My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less" (v. 1)
Leader:
As Tamar brought her gift to God and in return became part of the ancestry of Jesus, let us hear from another of that line, Rahab, who brings the Gift of Trust.
The Gift Of Trust As Presented By Rahab
Reading: Psalm 9:1-10
Rahab: The psalm that I just read was written after my time by King David, but he and I have a lot in common. Enemies surrounded us. Now for me, it was that nation called Israel that had come up from out of Egypt, an enemy I had heard plenty about. These people had put their trust in a God who brought them out of slavery. Yet they had rebelled against that God in the wilderness and found themselves wandering about for 40 years. But even then their God was with them. Now they had crossed the Jordan, trusting in that same God to give them this Promised Land. Well, here they were standing before the gates of my city, Jericho. I had to make a choice - trust in my city's forces to defend me, trust in myself and the profession of harlot to endear me to the enemy, or throw myself on the mercy of this God and his people and trust that my household would be saved. I had nothing to offer this God. My city was very ungodly. My profession was not very pure. The people I lived with were hopelessly depraved. Trusting in them to defend me was really laughable. Why shouldn't this God destroy this city? They were only interested in pursuing pleasure and indulging in sin. When those spies came to my house, I saw my chance. I offered them the gift of secrecy and protection in exchange for sparing my family. They commanded me to tie a scarlet cord in my window as a sign to their forces to spare me. Standing before you in your time, I see clearly God's hand in choosing to save me. I was the most unlikely candidate for this gift of salvation. Yet, by putting my trust in this God I did not know, I was blessed. I believed God would destroy Jericho and trusted in that scarlet cord and the gift I offered God's people. Because of that trust, I was saved and became an ancestor to the Child you honor tonight. Jesus' own blood became the scarlet cord which binds us together in faith. So bring your Gift of Trust to the manger this night and declare your faith in Christ to save. My town was sinful and fell to judgment. Join me in singing of the town where salvation was born as you declare your trust in God to deliver.
Carol: "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" (v. 1)
Leader:
Tamar and Rahab, women bearing gifts to the Christ Child of Bethlehem. There is another from that line who brought a Gift of Unselfish Love. Let us hear from our third visitor, Ruth.
The Gift Of Unselfish Love As Presented By Ruth
Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Ruth: I never thought of myself in the way this passage describes love. I just loved. My mother-in-law needed me. She faced a lonely life without her husband and sons. I do not hold it against my sister-in-law for returning to her people. I just couldn't abandon Naomi. I chose to let her people be my people and her God become mine also. I only heard about him as I listened to the scriptures read around our table and witnessed of him as I lived in that community. I gave my love to Naomi because she was family. I did not question her desire to give me to Boaz and allow him to become my kinsman-redeemer. I respected her wishes and trusted in this God who was caring for us. Bethlehem became not only my home as a widow, but my home as a wife. What a celebration that city had as Boaz and I were wed! How we rejoiced as I gave birth to a son, Obed! Little did I know then that he would be the father of Jesse, who would be the father of King David, from whom Jesus would come. I was honored by God to be part of this plan. As a Gentile, I see now God's plan of salvation for all people. As we offer the world the Gift of Unselfish Love we have found in Jesus, all nations will hail him as king and sing the wonders of his love. Join me now in declaring the joy we have as we bring to the manger the Gift of Unselfish Love.
Carol: "Joy To The World" (vv. 1 and 2)
Leader:
Our next visitor is referred to in the genealogy of Jesus as Uriah's wife. We know this woman to be Bathsheba. She brings to the manger the Gift of Repentance. Let us hear her story.
The Gift Of Repentance As Presented By Bathsheba
Reading: John 8:3-11
Bathsheba: It wasn't my fault, and yet I was part of the temptation that led David to sin. I should have been more careful that night as I took my bath. I was beautiful, and at times I flaunted that beauty. Little did I know that the king would be gazing down upon me from his rooftop. When the soldiers came to take me to him, I could have resisted, but pride got in my way. I was flattered to be sought by the king for the night. I could have reminded him that we were sinning with our action, but again, I let my flesh get in the way. If I had been honest with Uriah and told him everything in a letter, he might be alive today. He may have forgiven David and charged him, but I compounded our sin by my silence. After Uriah's death, David took me as his wife, but our joy soon turned into grief when our child died. We were heartbroken, but both of us received God's grace as we turned to him in repentance. Nathan reminded David of his action, and the king threw himself on the mercy of God. I followed suit, unable to bear the weight of guilt alone. God was so good in flooding my soul with peace and planting life anew with another son, Solomon. His name means "loved by the Lord." When we bring our Gift of Repentance to the Christ Child, we know what it means to be loved by the Lord. As we gaze upon Jesus, the Son God so loved, we know what it cost the Father for our sins. And so, we offer to Jesus the Gift of Repentance and embrace the gift of God's forgiveness. I found that gift when I turned to God and received his love. Join me now in declaring the Father's love for each of us, his repentant and now faithful children.
Carol: "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful" (v. 1)
Leader:
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Uriah's wife, all listed in Jesus' lineage from Matthew. The last woman mentioned there is Mary, the mother of our Lord and Savior, who brings to us tonight the Gift of Obedience. Let us hear from our final woman who bears us a special gift.
The Gift Of Obedience As Presented By Mary
Reading: Matthew 12:46-50
Mary: When the angel came to me and told me I would be the mother of the Messiah, I was awestruck. Every Hebrew maiden found the prospect of being the Savior's mother something to be desired. What a wonderful thing to be so highly favored in God's eyes! Yet how could it be? I was a virgin. How the tongues would wag! And Joseph, my beloved, what would he think of me? All these thoughts bounced around in my mind as I listened to the angel tell me I would have a son who would be given the throne of his father David. My child, he declared, would reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom would never end. Yet even with this promise, I still wondered how this could happen. The angel reminded me that with God nothing is impossible. Therefore, I gave my Gift of Obedience consenting to God's will. All who hear God and obey do the Father's will. Often we hear God but choose not to follow through on his direction. Sometimes we doubt God is able to do what has been promised. Remember me then. God is faithful, and as we obey him, we find favor in his sight. As I gazed at my son, born that night in a stable, I rejoiced in the Gift of Obedience that allowed me to give my consent to God for his will to be done. May you surrender your will to Jesus that you may be his brother, his sister, his mother. Give Christ the Gift of Obedience this Christmas. I heard the angel and believed. Hear the angels from on high, and join me in singing praises to the newborn king.
Carol: "Angels We Have Heard On High"
Bring Your Gifts To The Manger
Leader:
Included in your bulletin is a slip of paper. Take this time now to reflect on the gifts that have been spoken of tonight. Remember the women who bore them: Tamar and the Gift of Righteousness, Rahab and the Gift of Trust, Ruth and the Gift of Unselfish Love, Bathsheba and the Gift of Repentance, Mary and the Gift of Obedience. Think of God's greatest gift, Jesus, the Gift of Salvation. Then write down the gift you would bring to the manger this night and place it with your offering in the plate which will be passed around.
(Time for reflection)
Special Musical Gift And Offering
*Offertory Prayer
Leader:
All Loving Father, we offer up to you our gifts knowing that you will take them as but tokens of the love we bear your Son, Jesus. Before the manger of the Christ Child we bow and give thanks to you for the opportunity to return but a portion of all that you have blessed us with. Receive this offering in the name of the Babe of Bethlehem, through whom we pray.
All: Amen.
*Benediction
Leader: Go forth in love as children of God, bearing gifts to the world in Jesus' name and be a blessing to all nations. In the name of the Father, who sent the Son, Jesus, who gave us his Spirit to sing forth our nods.
*Closing Carol: "The First Noel"
