Welcome Each week I compile a number of resources to help you contemplate the RCL readings. While designed to be used during a Sunday service at church or by zoom, these readings can also be used during the week to help you remember and build on what you experienced on Sundays. My objective is for faith to be a lived experience and for children to learn how to worship and explore the Bible and pray by participating in Worship with you. The goal here is not for them to learn names or facts though they may want to do that for themselves, but rather to find ways of connecting with the text and sharing that with others. The ideal is to form a life long love of Christ, for the Word of God and to participate in Worship.
If you are worshipping from home you may like to set up a worship area and define it with a PURPLE/BLUE placemat, or ribbons, If you have an Advent Candle holder now is the time to set it up, you can either place all 4 candles in the holder now and light one each week, or add a candle each week. If you do not have an Advent Candle holder or you would like something more personal you might like to make these light holders. Note each week of Advent has a different theme and this weeks theme is PEACE.
If able to worship in the Church buildings pack a special backpack, as well as filling, it with your Covid Safe equipment, add the books or materials required to help your young ones relate to today’s readings.
For adults and older students, you might like to use a journal with which to record anything that grabs your attention during the service. This could be a special, bound book or use your ipad or iphone. You could write a precis of the message (traditional words or pictures), draw, keep a record of emotions and hymns that you did or did not like. You could use a template like this free download. Remember, this is for you, you do not have to show anyone what is in it unless you want to, and you feel safe to do so.
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. I am very happy for you to copy and paste ideas from here into your own Order of Service or for you to supply a link to this page. An acknoledgement though is always appreciated.
CANDLE LITURGY Week 3 of Advent
We come to you God to find JOY (find an action or a facial expression that says joy for you)
JOY for others (point away from yourself)
JOY for our families, (make a circle by clasping your fingers together)
JOY for ourselves (point to yourself)
We search in You for JOY (find an action or a facial expression that says joy for you)
Amen (one clap)
You might also like to sing/Listen to David MacGregor’s More than Dream (Peace be our living)
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
INTRODUCTORY SONG The Joy of Following Jesus by Colin Buchanan on the King of the Jungle album
FIRST READING: Isaiah 35:1-10
READ: Winter Train by Susanna Isern
A Storypath suggestion
DRAW or MAKE a place where everyone could be happy together.
PRAY
Creator God,
build your peaceful world,
start with me
Amen
PSALMS (this week there is a choice from 2)
Psalm 146:5-10
You made all things (open arms out wide)
everything we can see (shade your eyes with your hands)
everything we can’t see –(close your eyes)
earth and sea and sky (stamp your feet, move your hands like a wave, then look up)
and all that lives –(take a deep breath)
You keep faith with us forever. (grip your hands together)
You are at work in the world – (pretend to hammer)
you set things right –(stand tall)
food for the hungry (Pretend to eat)
sight for the blind (point to your eyes)
welcome for the stranger (wave)
care for the poor. (hug yourself)
Make these be true for me today (point to yourself)
as I live in you and you in me. (point away from yourself then point to yourself)
Be Lord of this day and every day.
Yes! Be praised!
The last 2 verses of God at work by Rev. Purdie actions by me.
How does the Psalm make you feel?
Describe that feeling, or draw it, or point out an emoji that shows it.
OR Luke 1:46b-55
LISTEN/WATCH Magnificat by Liturgical Folk
God picked Mary and Mary said YES
How does Mary sound?
What makes you happy? draw it, or show it?
SECOND READING: James 5:7-10
READ: Sprout, Seed, Sprout By Annika Dunklee
as suggested Storypath
ACTION: What are you waiting for? Draw it, share about the difficulties of waiting
ACTIVITY: Grow something, it can be as simple as a carrot top, some sprouts or plant a pant in the garden or a pot. Record how you feel as you you watch and wait? Are there any other Bible verses that come to mind that might help you.
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 11:2-11
Play with road signs
Or Make signs that point you around the Sanctuary. ie This way to the cross, or the piano or the toilets etc. (for the very young a drawing of the object is all that’s needed.) Orif worshipping at home make signs for people visiting your home.
PRAY
Help me follow the signs to You GOD
Amen
LEAVING SONG YOU SHALL GO OUT WITH JOY
Blessings
Wendy L.
Please check local guidlines before using items that are not mine especially if you are using this page for congregational use. If you find this page useful an acknowledgment is always appreciated. Thank you.
I am writing this on Wurundjeri land and wish to pay respect to all Elders, past, present and emerging.
The Cross in My Backyard 