Jasmine's Special Christmas Present
Children's Liturgy and Story
Call to Worship:
Christmas is nearly here! In our worship today let us reflect the joy and happiness of Mary in the way in which we too greet the birth of our Saviour.
Invitation to Confession:
Lord Jesus, we are longing for your birth.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we wait to greet you with clean hearts.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we welcome you -- make us right with you.
Lord, have mercy
Reading:
Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, [40] where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. [41] When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit [42] and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. [43] And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? [44] For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. [45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."
Story:
Christmas is nearly here and children will be unable to contain their excitement! This is such a good way to welcome our Lord, so today's story takes that theme of anticipation and excitement.
Jasmine's Special Christmas Present.
Jasmine was so excited. Tonight was Christmas Eve and she was sure Father Christmas would be visiting.
For once, Jasmine couldn't wait to go to bed. Usually she made a big fuss and managed to drag out bedtime for at least half an hour, but tonight was different. Tonight there was magic in the air and the sooner she got to sleep, the sooner Santa would come and leave lots of brilliant presents for her.
Jasmine refused the offer of a bedtime story. She lay down and squeezed her eyes tight shut. Usually she was alseep the instant her eyes closed, but tonight, however hard she tried to relax, she found that she was restless. Sleep refused to come.
Jasmine got up and wandered downstairs for a drink of water. She could hear her favourite Christmas carol, "Away in a manger", being played on the television and she paused for a moment to listen.
Then she opened the kitchen door to fetch her drink, but discovered something amazing.
The kitchen had quite disappeared. Instead, she found herself in a kind of cave. She could hear the sound of animals. A lone cow was quietly mooing and a sheep was bleating. The floor was covered in loose straw and the most beautiful lady Jasmine had ever seen was sitting by a cow trough. A man was collecting armfuls of straw and placing them in the trough.
Jasmine edged nearer to see what was happening. The lady glanced up and smiled at her, and it seemed as though her whole face lit up with that smile. Jasmine smiled back and moved nearer.
Then she peeped over the edge of the trough and found the tiniest baby she had ever seen, lying asleep on the straw.
"Is this your baby?" Jasmine asked the lady. The lady smiled and nodded.
"He's so pretty," breathed Jasmine. "May I touch him?"
The lady smiled and nodded again, so Jasmine put her little finger into the baby's tiny hand. His fingers curled tightly around her finger and Jasmine felt her whole being flood with love. She'd never felt anything like it before and it took her breath away. Then the baby opened his eyes and looked at her and gurgled, and Jasmine felt filled with peace and happiness.
Without thinking what she was doing, she climbed into the feeding trough and lay down beside the baby. She fell asleep immediately.
When Jasmine woke up, it was Christmas morning. She was in her own bed and her Christmas stocking was bulging with presents. She was so excited that she wanted to open them all at once, but then she remembered the baby in the feeding trough and how wonderful it had felt to be with him.
So before she started on her day she whispered a quiet prayer. 'Thank you, Jesus,' she murmured. 'I hope you have a brilliant birthday.'
Activities:
Activity:
(N.B. Remind all children about the Crib Service and remind them to come to the service dressed as angels or shepherds. You could also select two children to dress up as Mary and Joseph.)
Finish the Jesse Tree. This week all the symbols should represent Jesus. You could have a baby, a crib, a cross or crucifix, a fish, a Greek chi-rho, or anything else which represents Jesus to your group. Hang your symbols on the top branches of your Jesse Tree.
A prayer for the hanging of the symbols:
Lord Jesus, we welcome you into our world and into our hearts this Christmas. Bless our Jesse Tree so that all who see it are reminded afresh of God's divine plan for the world, culminating in your birth as our Saviour at Christmas.
Light again the first, second and third candles on the Advent Wreath, and light the fourth candle. The fourth candle represents the Virgin Mary.
A prayer for lighting the Advent candle:
We light this candle to thank God for Mary, who was willing to become the mother of Jesus. Thank you God, for choosing Mary to be the mother of your dear son. Like her, may we learn to trust you so much that we do whatever you ask. Amen.
Intercession:
God of creation, thank you for Christmas and for all that it means to the Church. Thank you for the birth of the Saviour of the world on Christmas Day and for the many gifts you give to your Church. May we use those gifts in your service.
God of creation, we pray for peace on earth and goodwill amongst all people. At this special season of the year, soften hard hearts and open mean minds so that all can enjoy the birth of Christ.
God of creation, as we celebrate this special birthday, help us to remember all who need our love and prayers. Make us generous and willing so that we share our happiness with others.
God of creation, we pray for all who find this season difficult. We remember before you those who are unable to rejoice, those who have lost a loved one, those whose lives are empty and without love, and those who are too sick to celebrate. Hold them all in your arms and pour your love into them.
Blessing
May God fill you with his love
Surround you with his strength
Protect you with his mighty power
And keep you close to himself.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you,
Be in your homes and in your families,
With those you love
and those for whom you pray,
both now and always. Amen.
Christmas is nearly here! In our worship today let us reflect the joy and happiness of Mary in the way in which we too greet the birth of our Saviour.
Invitation to Confession:
Lord Jesus, we are longing for your birth.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we wait to greet you with clean hearts.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we welcome you -- make us right with you.
Lord, have mercy
Reading:
Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, [40] where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. [41] When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit [42] and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. [43] And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? [44] For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. [45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."
Story:
Christmas is nearly here and children will be unable to contain their excitement! This is such a good way to welcome our Lord, so today's story takes that theme of anticipation and excitement.
Jasmine's Special Christmas Present.
Jasmine was so excited. Tonight was Christmas Eve and she was sure Father Christmas would be visiting.
For once, Jasmine couldn't wait to go to bed. Usually she made a big fuss and managed to drag out bedtime for at least half an hour, but tonight was different. Tonight there was magic in the air and the sooner she got to sleep, the sooner Santa would come and leave lots of brilliant presents for her.
Jasmine refused the offer of a bedtime story. She lay down and squeezed her eyes tight shut. Usually she was alseep the instant her eyes closed, but tonight, however hard she tried to relax, she found that she was restless. Sleep refused to come.
Jasmine got up and wandered downstairs for a drink of water. She could hear her favourite Christmas carol, "Away in a manger", being played on the television and she paused for a moment to listen.
Then she opened the kitchen door to fetch her drink, but discovered something amazing.
The kitchen had quite disappeared. Instead, she found herself in a kind of cave. She could hear the sound of animals. A lone cow was quietly mooing and a sheep was bleating. The floor was covered in loose straw and the most beautiful lady Jasmine had ever seen was sitting by a cow trough. A man was collecting armfuls of straw and placing them in the trough.
Jasmine edged nearer to see what was happening. The lady glanced up and smiled at her, and it seemed as though her whole face lit up with that smile. Jasmine smiled back and moved nearer.
Then she peeped over the edge of the trough and found the tiniest baby she had ever seen, lying asleep on the straw.
"Is this your baby?" Jasmine asked the lady. The lady smiled and nodded.
"He's so pretty," breathed Jasmine. "May I touch him?"
The lady smiled and nodded again, so Jasmine put her little finger into the baby's tiny hand. His fingers curled tightly around her finger and Jasmine felt her whole being flood with love. She'd never felt anything like it before and it took her breath away. Then the baby opened his eyes and looked at her and gurgled, and Jasmine felt filled with peace and happiness.
Without thinking what she was doing, she climbed into the feeding trough and lay down beside the baby. She fell asleep immediately.
When Jasmine woke up, it was Christmas morning. She was in her own bed and her Christmas stocking was bulging with presents. She was so excited that she wanted to open them all at once, but then she remembered the baby in the feeding trough and how wonderful it had felt to be with him.
So before she started on her day she whispered a quiet prayer. 'Thank you, Jesus,' she murmured. 'I hope you have a brilliant birthday.'
Activities:
Activity:
(N.B. Remind all children about the Crib Service and remind them to come to the service dressed as angels or shepherds. You could also select two children to dress up as Mary and Joseph.)
Finish the Jesse Tree. This week all the symbols should represent Jesus. You could have a baby, a crib, a cross or crucifix, a fish, a Greek chi-rho, or anything else which represents Jesus to your group. Hang your symbols on the top branches of your Jesse Tree.
A prayer for the hanging of the symbols:
Lord Jesus, we welcome you into our world and into our hearts this Christmas. Bless our Jesse Tree so that all who see it are reminded afresh of God's divine plan for the world, culminating in your birth as our Saviour at Christmas.
Light again the first, second and third candles on the Advent Wreath, and light the fourth candle. The fourth candle represents the Virgin Mary.
A prayer for lighting the Advent candle:
We light this candle to thank God for Mary, who was willing to become the mother of Jesus. Thank you God, for choosing Mary to be the mother of your dear son. Like her, may we learn to trust you so much that we do whatever you ask. Amen.
Intercession:
God of creation, thank you for Christmas and for all that it means to the Church. Thank you for the birth of the Saviour of the world on Christmas Day and for the many gifts you give to your Church. May we use those gifts in your service.
God of creation, we pray for peace on earth and goodwill amongst all people. At this special season of the year, soften hard hearts and open mean minds so that all can enjoy the birth of Christ.
God of creation, as we celebrate this special birthday, help us to remember all who need our love and prayers. Make us generous and willing so that we share our happiness with others.
God of creation, we pray for all who find this season difficult. We remember before you those who are unable to rejoice, those who have lost a loved one, those whose lives are empty and without love, and those who are too sick to celebrate. Hold them all in your arms and pour your love into them.
Blessing
May God fill you with his love
Surround you with his strength
Protect you with his mighty power
And keep you close to himself.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you,
Be in your homes and in your families,
With those you love
and those for whom you pray,
both now and always. Amen.
