Christmas Eve/Cristmas Day OPTION 2 Revised Common Lectionary ideas to involve even the youngest.

There are 3 sets of reading for use in Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Check with the Church you are attending or the on-line service you are viewing to find out which one they are following. Or have all three open so that you are ready to share the message of these amazing worship expereinces with the children in your company.

We enter a new Church Season, Christmas, and it’s liturgical colour is WHITE (if you find that choice repressive many are now substituting GOLD)

If worshipping at home you might want to set up a focal point, possibly the Advent Candles,. and maybe a nativity. For Christmas Eve services some people remove the baby, adding him in for Sunday morning services.

CONGREGATIONAL USE: Though parents are the best at sharing their faith with their children, if you are a small congregation where children are a very small, or rare part of your congregational life. Please feel free to make these suggestions available to your congregation. Very happy for you to copy and paste idesa into your own Order of Service.

LET’S BEGIN:

WELCOME: Everyone is welcome here.

SING/LISTEN It’s Christams Time by David MacGregor Today is a great day to let little ones “sing” too by playing soft bells or maracca’s

Colouring in sheets Look for the MERRY CHRISTMAS sheet for today

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

You might like to start with the Lord’s Prayer if at home, or say the Lord’s Prayer within a set place if following along in a service. Here are 4 options

2 with ACTIONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOugEQpcc_k OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjm93ylL2w

A more contemplative version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NuUo-igXDU&fbclid=IwAR2FasYCU-9mP1PaLQDjweXyhyUnJutt4J28KycjzeUEttWSesipX2jmJxE

Or for a more Intergenerational approach try Number 1 on the Table Settings album by Liturgical Folks

I have given you a choice of 2 Christmas day candle liturgies.

SOUTHERN CROSS CHRISTMAS DAY LITURGY

You can print this version of the Southern Cross here

Place a candle on the star. Today I use the brightest star in the constellation. ( You can find more information on the Southern Cross here, including the star names, and some information on how The First peoples understand these stars)

OR if you have a flag or piece of clothing with the Southern Cross on it you might use a torch behind, to shine through the fabric. DO NOT place the material directly on any heat source, electrical, battery or flame.

(actions in italics)

We stand under the Southern Cross (Arms and eyes high)

As the First People have and still do.

God you were always in this land (plant your feet firmly on the ground)

We light our Brightest star (twinkle your fingers)

May Christ guide us to You. (Form the cross with your Body)

Amen

OR

God came into our life,

shining light into the night

We welcome God’s gift

Jesus today

Amen

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Prepare a present (you might like to put a baby doll in the middle present) in advance, wrap as many layers as you want, then each person removes a piece of wrapping and says a prayer. This may be a silent prayer it doesn’t have to be verbal.

If you are in Australia and attending a Uniting Church in Australia, in many cases an Acknowledgment of Country will be said. You can teach your young ones to do this too

FIRST READING: Isaiah 62:6-12

READ: Tea and Sugar Christmas by Jane Jolly If you are a Storybox Library subscriber you can watch it here

PLAY: With Binoculars, magnifying glasses, optical telescope anything that allows you to see something far away up close.

PRAY

Protective God

Keep me looking for you,

Keep me celebrating

the good things you bring

PSALM 97

Psalm 97: Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Rejoice! The Lord is King! (Star Jump beep bow)
Lift up your heart,  (raise your arms high above your head)
lift up your voice; rejoice;  (open your mouth wide)
again I say, rejoice. (Star Jump)

Power! All the forces in the planet (Show your muscles)
are powered by the Lord. (put your hands in the prayer position)
Love! All the love in the universe (Make a love heart with your hands)
flows from the Lord. (Open your hands out)
Joy! All the happiness in the world (Jump)
is given by the Lord. (hands in prayer position)
Thanks! All our thanks we give back to you. (look up hands out wide)

My thanks and Christmas Blessings to Rev Purdie for this rewrite of the Psalm. Actions in Italics are my additions.

DRAW: examples of Power, Love and Joy.

SECOND READING: Titus 3:4-7

READ: You are Mine by Max Lucado

WATCH

DRAW and MAKE: a paper chain of people You can watch a video of how to do that here, or you can sometimes buy a chain of people from a craft store.

Colour each person in, they can be members of your family, or people from church (members of God’s family) or you can draw the nativity, making each person in the chain a different member of the nativity.

PRAY:

Father God,

we are loved by you,

not for what we do,

but because you

love us

Amen.

GOSPEL READING: Luke 2:(1-7)8-20

READ: The Spark Story Bible, Jesus is Born pp.198-203. For the reading outside the brackets start half way down p.200 If you also read the reading inside the brackets NOTE in the picture on p.199 Mary is riding on a donkey but it is not mentioned in the Biblical text.

SING JOY on Seeds of Christmas EP by Seeds Family Worship

MAKE: Your own wooly sheep to take to see the baby. You will need a straw and print out this free download

May you all have a Very Blessed Christmas

Wendy L.

Please check local guidlines before using items that are not mine especially if you are using this page for congregational use. Please acknowedge this page if you find it useful. Thank you.

I am writing this on Wurundjeri land and wish to pay respect to all Elders, past, present and emerging.