Worship Tools

Worship Outline 1

Additional Scriptures 

Psalm 96; Isaiah 9:2–7; Titus 2:11–14 

Preparation 

For the Advent candle lighting and focus, create an arrangement of five candles. This can be in a wreath, mixed with greenery, or other decorations as space allows. Traditional colors for the candles are three purple, one pink (Joy), and one white (Christ); or choose your own colors. Each Sunday the previous candles are lit before the service starts, and one additional candle is lit during the lighting of the Advent Candle. The Christ candle is lit on Christmas Day. For a hybrid service, encourage those watching from home to create their own Advent setting. 

Gather the following supplies for the Focus Moment: scissors, hole punch, glue, markers or crayons (pastels). Each stable will need a sheet of white card stock, four craft sticks, cord or ribbon for hanging the stable, and a small star. Encourage participants to decorate their page with crayons and markers. Place craft stations around the worship space to help expedite the activity. 

Prelude 

Christmas Carol 

“The First Noël” CCS 424 

OR “O Come, All Ye Faithful” CCS 431 

OR “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” CCS 423 

Welcome 

Advent Candle Lighting and Focus Moment

Presider Note: Depending on your context, you may choose to pass out an index card and pen for people to write their responses and then share them aloud from their cards OR you can ask people to share them in real time without writing anything down. 

We proclaim Jesus Christ, and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace. On Christmas Day, we reflect on the kind of conditions that exist when our communities become places full of the light of Christ, God is with us. What does God with us look like in tangible practices where you live: 

When God is with us,  

I feel… 

I smell…

I taste…

I touch…

I hear… 

We light the Christ candle and pray to tend the signals of God with us. May the flickering flame spark courage to notice, nurture, and name the new creation around and within us. 

Light Christ candle.

Amen

Call to Worship: Psalm 96:1–4 

Opening Hymn 

“What Child Is This” CCS 432 

OR “Holy Night, Blessed Night” CCS 410 

OR “Angels, from the Realms of Glory” CCS 436 

Invocation 

Response 

Focus Moment 

Read the story of Jesus’s birth using Luke 2:1–20 with the song “Away in a Manger,” CCS 426, playing quietly behind the reading. Simplify the story from the scriptures or read from a children’s Bible or from a book, such as Where Jesus Slept by Norma Lewis, WorthyKids/Ideals, 2016, ISBN 9780824956790. 

After the story, invite participants to move to a craft table around the worship space to create their own stable pictures from the Nativity story. Use a Nativity printout.

Prayer for Peace 

Song of Peace 

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” CCS 415 

OR “Silent Night! Holy Night!/Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!” CCS 421 

Encourage participants to sing in a language other than their own. 

Confession Responsive Reading

Leader: Celebrate! Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, was born today; leading the walk in the way of truth; showing us how to love and serve one another.

People: We want to come prepared, to love, to serve—but often we are too busy to pay attention.

Leader: Pause today to recognize the great love of God who sent Jesus Christ to Earth.

People: We want to celebrate Jesus’ birth—but too often we are too disengaged to hear the story.

Leader: God calms us and calls us. God helps us hear the story and pay attention; helps us walk in the ways of truth; helps us love; helps us serve one another.

People: We pause,

listen,

hear,

walk,

love, and

serve.

Thanks be to God.

Leader: Thanks be to God who was born today!

Light the peace candle

Prayer

Dear Lord God,

After a year’s journey, we have once again gathered before you to celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ.

As we look back at this passing year, the joy and thanksgiving overflow from our hearts. Some of us that are here may have come through pain and grief. Some may have had a year better than past years. Others of us may have had the happiest and the most fulfilling year. Regardless of the kind of journey we may have had, we are all grateful that you have had us gather before you in this beautiful sanctuary to jointly experience your presence.

Today a joyful noise is being heard in many parts of the world. The children are singing the carols in the choirs. The youths are playing the Christmas pageant at the churches. We see the joy and twinkle in the children’s eyes and happiness glows in their parents’ faces, as they gather by the Christmas tree.

O Lord, we are so grateful for this joy, happiness, and peace we are experiencing. We pray that the children’s eyes will not be clouded by the fears of wars and that the tears of sadness will not be shed on their parents’ faces. Our memories are still so vivid that we cannot forget—the tears of innocent children crying from hunger and thirst, the pains in mothers’ faces with no milk in their bosoms to feed the babies. We have seen scarcity in the midst of affluence. Tragedy in the midst of peace.

We shall remember, O Lord, these cries as those of our own children and these pains as those of our own companions, even in the midst of our celebration. You sent us your Son, because you loved the world, you loved us all, that we all would have life, and not perish. And so today, O Lord, we return our thanks to you in our commitment and service to those who are bruised and afflicted so that they may be freed from bondage.

Bless and guide us as we continue our journey into the new year. We pray these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.                     

—Hiroshi Yamada

Christmas Reflections 

Invite three people to share short Christmas stories from their lives using the prompts below. Weave the stories throughout the singing of CCS 430 “When the Present Holds No Promise,” as a Ministry of Music or Community Hymn. 

“When the Present Holds No Promise” stanza 1 CCS 430 

Story 1 

Reflection on how the present brings challenges and Jesus brings hope. 

“When the Present Holds No Promise” stanza 2 CCS 430 

Story 2 

Reflection on how a past struggle was seen in a new light when comprehended through the understanding of God’s love made visible in Jesus. 

“When the Present Holds No Promise” stanza 3 CCS 430 

Story 3 

Reflection on the how the future is unknown but Jesus promises to be present and bring peace. 

“When the Present Holds No Promise” stanza 4 CCS 430 

Disciples’ Generous Response 

Project or print the questions for all to see. Ask musician to quietly play CCS 609, “Take My Gifts and Let Me Love You” as participants reflect on each question. 

Scripture Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a 

• How is the community generously sharing as Zion? 
• What gifts do you have to share this Christmas morning? 

Scripture Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 165:2f 

• How can you share for the common good? 
• What does that look like in our circumstance as a group? 

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes 

Christmas Challenge 

Based on Luke 2:1-20 

Hymn of Celebration 

“Joy to the World!” CCS 408 

OR “Silvery Star, Precious Star” CCS 419 

OR “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” CCS 433 

Closing Prayer 

Sending Forth: Isaiah 9:2, 6 

Go forth in the name of the Prince of Peace! Amen. 

Postlude 

Worship Outline 2

Additional Scriptures  

Psalm 96; Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14  

Preparation

For the Advent candle lighting and focus, create an arrangement of five candles. This can be in a wreath, mixed with greenery, or other decorations as space allows. Traditional colors for the candles are three purple, one pink (Joy), and one white (Christ); or choose your own colors. Each Sunday the previous candles are lit before the service starts, and one additional candle is lit during the lighting of the Advent Candle. The Christ candle is lit on Christmas Day. For a hybrid service, encourage those watching from home to create their own Advent setting. 

Recruit Three Wise Humans, a Scripture Reader, and a shepherd—any gender, ethnicity, or age. They should rehearse their lines so they can speak the words casually instead of stiffly reading them aloud.  

Prelude  

Welcome, Joys, and Concerns  

Advent Candle Lighting and Focus Moment

Presider Note: Depending on your context, you may choose to pass out an index card and pen for people to write their responses and then share them aloud from their cards OR you can ask people to share them in real time without writing anything down. 

We proclaim Jesus Christ, and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace. On Christmas Day, we reflect on the kind of conditions that exist when our communities become places full of the light of Christ, God is with us. What does God with us look like in tangible practices where you live: 

When God is with us,  

I feel… 

I smell…

I taste…

I touch…

I hear… 

We light the Christ candle and pray to tend the signals of God with us. May the flickering flame spark courage to notice, nurture, and name the new creation around and within us. 

Light Christ candle.

Amen

Prayer for Peace  

Light the peace candle 

Prayer  

Jesus, prince of peace.  

Emmanuel, God with us.  

Pause.  

Love, Joy, Hope, and Peace be with us. Amen.  

Call to Worship  

Wise Human 1: Today is Christmas Day!  

Wise Human 2: Whoo-hoo!  

Wise Human 1: We celebrate the birth of Jesus!  

Wise Human 2: Whoo-hoo!  

Wise Human 1 to 2: Take it down a notch! … We are the Three Wise Humans, and we are here to be wise.  

Wise Human 3 to 1: Really?  

Wise Human 1: We will sing carols and hear scripture to remind us of the sacred night.  

Wise Human 2: Whoo-hoo!  

Welcoming Hymn  

“Joy to the World!” CCS 408  

OR “When the Present Holds No Promise” CCS 430  

Invocation  

Response  

Reading  

Wise Human 3: Romans ruled their world back then. And they said that all the people had to be registered. For many people, it meant traveling.  

Scripture Reader: Luke 2:1-2  

Carol   

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” CCS 415  

OR “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” CCS 394  

Reading  

Wise Human 1: Lots of things happened before all this, though. Mary was pregnant, Joseph was her husband, and they lived in Nazareth.  

Scripture Reader: Luke 2:3-5  

Wise Human 2: What’s really cool about this is that Joseph was descended from King David!  

Wise Human 1: Yep. And after traveling all that way, they couldn’t find any place to stay. But still, it was a holy night, a marvelous night.  

Carol  

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” CCS 434  

OR “Silent Night! Holy Night!” CCS 421  

Encourage participants to sing in a language other than their own. 

Reading  

Wise Human 3: Can you imagine having to give birth to a baby when you’re in a stable?  

Wise Human 2: Lots of people have to have babies in less-than-ideal circumstances.  

Wise Human 1: Yeah, seems like from the beginning, Jesus could relate to the people who aren’t so privileged.  

Scripture Reader: Luke 2:6-7  

Carol  

“Away in a Manager” CCS 426  

OR “What Child Is This” CCS 432  

Reading  

Wise Human 2: Okay, break to the shepherds. They were the servants of the world.  

Wise Human 1: Pretty low class.  

Wise Human 3: We don’t care.  

Wise Human 1: We don’t care. But what an experience!  

Scripture Reader: Luke 2:8  

Carol  

“In the Bleak Midwinter” CCS 422  

OR “Holy Night, Blessed Night” CCS 410  

Reading  

Wise Human 1: I wish I was there to see this!  

Wise Human 2: I’m pretty sure I’d be scared.  

Scripture Reader: Luke 2:9-12  

Carol  

“The First Noël” CCS 424  

OR “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” CCS 409  

Reading  

Wise Human 3: Then the heavens opened up …  

Wise Human 2: Interrupting It rained?  

Wise Human 3: Noooo. They could see a lot of angels!  

Wise Human 2: Wow!  

Scripture Reader: Luke 2:13-14  

Carol  

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” CCS 423  

OR “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming CCS 437  

Reading  

Wise Human 2: I’d probably faint. Do you think they all fainted?  

Wise Human 1: Nope. They did what the angels asked them to do.  

Scripture Reader: Luke 2:15-17  

Carol  

“Angels We Have Heard on High” CCS 427  

OR “Angels, from the Realms of Glory” CCS 436  

Reading  

Scripture Reader: Luke 2:18-19  

Wise Human 2: I think I’ll treasure this too.  

Wise Human 1: Me too.  

Wise Human 3: Me too.  

Disciples’ Generous Response  

Statement  

Through our offerings we can join in making God’s presence visible in the world.  

What will you offer at the manger today?  

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes  

Monologue  

This is about an encounter with Christ resulting in reconciliation. The monologue is optional. 

Character: A teenager or young adult dressed as a shepherd. 

“The Shepherd Witness” 

It was the night I seriously argued with my father. Sure. Maybe it was the usual, but he just didn’t understand. I don’t know if I want to do this, to do what he does. The sheep are all right and I like being a protector. But I didn’t feel like I belonged. Anywhere. I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere. 

You know what that’s like? To feel like you‘re out of place, out of step. To feel clumsy when you’re really not. And it’s like he just didn’t understand. All he saw was me not making my way. I…I just felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. And, frankly, I didn’t like my father very much…because he didn’t understand. It’s like he didn’t care. 

But then that night something happened. I didn‘t see it myself. My father didn‘t either, but his friends did. They said that an angel came to them and there was a kind of light all around them. They said that they were afraid at first, but the angel told them that there‘s no need for fear, but tonight was a night of joy, of wondrous joy. 

That angel said that to us is born a savior in the city of David, Christ the Lord. The messiah. The messiah! And that the shepherds would find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And then right after, the heavens opened up and a whole lot of angels came and said, “Glory to God in the highest. And on earth, peace, goodwill to all.” 

I wish I had seen it. I wish I could have seen it. But I didn’t. His friends asked my father to watch the sheep while they went to find the baby. So, he was going to do that, but he woke me up and told me to go along with them. I was pretty cranky. I mean, it seems like my father is always telling me what to do. And waking up in the middle of the night isn’t exactly my favorite thing, you know. But I went. 

We found the baby. The savior. Jesus. I came back. I came running back to my father and I told him. Well, I tried to. But I couldn’t….It was an experience, you know? I tried…I tried though. I told him I belonged. I saw the child and I belonged. I told him I saw the Messiah. Jesus. He’s right here, right now! Right now! And you know what? He believed me. My father believed me! And he never actually saw any of it! 

He believed in Jesus without actually seeing him. At that moment I saw my father for who he really is. He believed me, he believed in me, and I looked in his eyes and I saw him differently…his compassion…his love. He believed me! I’ll tell you; I couldn’t have a better father. Nobody can. I’m the luckiest kid in the world.                         

—Debra Bruch 

Closing Hymn  

“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” CCS 433  

OR “God’s Love Made Visible!” CCS 411  

Benediction  

Sending Forth  

Read “Silvery Star, Precious Star,” CCS 419, stanza 4.  

End with, “Follow the star’s light. Go in peace.”  

Postlude 

Sacred Space: Small-Group Worship Outline

Gathering

Welcome

Prayer for Peace

Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.

The practice of praying a liturgical prayer is to pray a prayer written by others. Today we will hear the same prayer three times. First as our prayer for peace:

God of glory,
your splendor shines from a manger in Bethlehem,
where the Light of the world is humbly born
into the darkness of human night.
Open our eyes to Christ’s presence in the shadows of our world,
so that we, like him, may become beacons of your justice,
and defenders of all for whom there is no room. Amen.

—Vanderbilt Divinity Library

Spiritual Practice

Praying Liturgical Prayer

Give each person a copy of the prayer. Invite the group to read the prayer aloud with you:

God of glory,
your splendor shines from a manger in Bethlehem,
where the Light of the world is humbly born
into the darkness of human night.
Open our eyes to Christ’s presence in the shadows of our world,
so that we, like him, may become beacons of your justice,
and defenders of all for whom there is no room. Amen.

—Vanderbilt Divinity Library

Sharing Around the Table

Luke 2:1–20 NRSVue

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴ Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵ He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

⁸ Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, ¹⁹ and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.

—Luke 2:1–20 NRSVue

Jesus was born in a stable to poor, unmarried parents in an overcrowded village far from home. The angelic proclamation of Jesus’ birth was not to the rich and powerful, but to shepherds, lowly field hands. Certainly not the obvious choice for such an important message. Yet Luke tells how the shepherds rejoice and share this good news with others.

God surprises us by choosing humble people and circumstances to deliver the Messiah to the world. Through the ministry and message of Jesus, it is made clear that God cares for the poor, the immigrant, the outcast, and the marginalized. The Christmas story reminds us that God acts in unexpected ways.

Questions

1. How does the Christmas story speak hope to the outcast and marginalized of our world?
2. How has God acted unexpectedly in your life?
3. On this Christmas Day, what message can you share with those who are struggling, mourning, and despondent? What good news will cause all to rejoice at the manger?

Sending

Generosity Statement

“Sharing for the common good is the spirit of Zion” (Doctrine and Covenants 165:2f).

We receive God’s grace and generosity. The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing small-group ministries as part of your generous response.

God of Love and Light,

In this season of hope and joy, may the peace of your Son, Jesus, be made real in the world. May our hearts, minds, hands, and resources be useful in the cause of bringing your light where there is darkness and your love where there is despair, anger, fear, and suffering. May our offerings be used toward your purposes we pray. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

CCS 415, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”

Closing Prayer

God of glory,
your splendor shines from a manger in Bethlehem,
where the Light of the world is humbly born
into the darkness of human night.
Open our eyes to Christ’s presence in the shadows of our world,
so that we, like him, may become beacons of your justice,
and defenders of all for whom there is no room. Amen.

—The Revised Common Lectionary

---

Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, was born today; leading the walk in the way of truth; showing us how to love and serve one another. In the birth of Jesus we recognize God’s great love. In the sacramental act of sharing Communion we remember the gift of Jesus Christ to our world.

On this Christmas Day, our experience of being together as we share in Communion is an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community.

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them saying, “Drink from it all, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

—Matthew 26:26–29 NRSV

Invitation to Communion

All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

In preparation let’s sing from Community of Christ Sings 527, “Bread of the World.”

Blessing and serving of the bread and wine.

Thoughts for Children

This Christmas activity continues the Advent activity.

Materials: the large piece of dark-blue poster board with stars from last week, a small (two feet high) Christmas tree or a tree cut from poster board, a large star with Jesus written on it, tape or pins to attach it to the poster board or cloth.

Show the poster with all the stars.

Look at all the stars we have added to our night sky as we have waited for Jesus to come. Now we add the final star, the star of Bethlehem (show star). This star appeared in the sky when Jesus was born (add star to poster board).

Today let’s take the stars from the Advent sky and place them on our Christmas tree. As we do this we will remember all the ways we can help bring hope, peace, love, and joy into the world.

Have adults help smaller children write and tape stars.

Sermon Helps

Exploring the Scripture

This passage details the unremarkable birth of yet another child into poverty, in an overcrowded village. The parents-to-be are directed by Roman decree to leave their hometown of Nazareth and travel to Bethlehem, the ancestral home of the father, to be officially counted and registered. We assume it was a difficult journey for Mary and Joseph, considering Mary’s pregnancy. But as oppressed people, there was little choice; they were required to comply with the decree.

At a deeper level, one objective of this text is for the readers to make the connection between Joseph’s ancestry in the house and lineage of David (centered in Bethlehem) and the prophesied coming of a Messiah (Micah 5:2). Another objective of the beginning of the story is to help us imagine and understand the unjust political environment in which Mary and Joseph are living.

The humble setting of this story continues as shepherds in their fields are overwhelmed by the angel message. Shepherding was considered the lowliest of professions—a curious choice for those who are to witness the newborn Messiah. Besides Mary and Joseph, the circumstances and social standing of the shepherds are suggestions of God’s upside-down kingdom—“the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16).

Within this account, shepherds witness the heavenly event and testify of the importance of what has happened. As witnesses go, shepherds would not have been at the top of the list of those who have credibility or importance. Though all the participants in the Luke text are considered poor and humble, this does not lessen their joy and praise for what God has done. Just like the heavenly host, the shepherds return home, “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (v. 20)—a celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. God breaks in on the usual and expected with an incarnational message delivered by socially unacceptable participants.

The name Emmanuel signals “God with us.” While we know Christ came into the world as Savior for everyone, it appears that God chose to live among the humble, ostracized, and poor of that time and place. This foreshadows Jesus’ ministry, as he will also choose to walk with the poor, marginalized, and outcast. In the person of Jesus, God graces the world with a message of hope and favor not tied to birthrights, education, or worldly success. Jesus is “God’s Love Made Visible!” (Iola Brubeck, Community of Christ Sings 411) for all people.

Central Ideas

1. Mary and Joseph were members of an oppressed people and culture. Shepherds were at the bottom of the social classes.
2. The birth of Jesus shows God choosing to “dwell with” those who are poor, outcast, and marginalized; Emmanuel means “God with us.”
3. Jesus came to bring hope for all people. He is God’s love made visible.

Questions for the Speaker

1. Identify those who are oppressed and marginalized in today’s world. How does God in Christ speak hope to them?
2. How is this text an example of God’s upside-down kingdom?
3. In what ways does this story explain the hymn text: “How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!” (Phillips Brooks, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Community of Christ Sings 434)?
4. Why do you think Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds make powerful participants in the story?
5. On this Christmas Day, what message can you share with those who are struggling, mourning, and despondent? What is the good news that will cause all to rejoice at the manger?

Lessons

Adult Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Luke 2:1–20

Lesson Focus

Disciples proclaim Jesus Christ—God’s love made visible.

Objectives

The learners will…

• share experiences from Advent journeys.
• discuss the birth story in Luke and compare with Matthew’s birth story.
• consider how Christ is being born anew in the lives of individuals, congregations, and communities.

Supplies

• Bible
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)

Notes to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Luke 2:1–20 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: New Testament (with focus on the Gospel according to Matthew), p. 25, available through Herald House.

Gather

Advent Sundays are celebrated every year, but celebrating Christmas Day on Sunday happens less frequently.

As people gather, greet one another with the following statement:

As God is ________ (hope, joy, peace, love)

may you be blessed with ________ (hope, joy, peace, love).

Invite all who would like to share moments of blessing or insight from their Advent journey.

Engage

Read Luke 2:1–20 and discuss the following questions.

• Compare Luke’s birth story with Matthew’s birth story. What are the significant differences between the birth stories?
• What is the author’s emphasis in each birth story?
• What is important for disciples today to understand about each author’s emphasis?

Read the following paragraph. Form three groups or pairs and assign each group one of the themes presented. Discuss the questions following each theme in small groups or pairs and share responses with the larger group. Then make a list of the conditions mentioned in small group discussions and ways your congregation is responding.

As with Matthew’s Gospel, the author of Luke writes from a post-resurrection perspective. The birth story serves as an introduction to the Christ story from the theological perspective of Luke’s author. Luke’s birth story is set amid political power and oppressive taxation. Although they are poor, and the journey to Bethlehem is difficult, Joseph and Mary are obedient to the Roman government.

In Luke’s birth story, the first to receive the news of Jesus’s birth are shepherds. Shepherds represented those who were poor and despised in first-century Palestine. The angels proclaim “good news of great joy for all the people,” which affirms the following themes present throughout Luke’s Gospel:

God’s love, revealed in Jesus, comes to us amid social, political, and personal struggles. The circumstances of Jesus’s conception and birth are not as important as the reality of Jesus being born into the human condition.

• Into what social or political conditions in your community can Christ be born anew?
• How is your congregation or community responding to these conditions?

“No room” for the Messiah goes beyond a physical space. Jesus continues to be displaced by choices of individuals and institutions that reject his message and mission.

• In what ways is Jesus “displaced” in your community?
• How is your congregation or community responding to these conditions?

God chooses to “dwell with” those who are poor, outcast, and marginalized of society. God’s grace is for all people, regardless of status or heritage.

• Who are those who are outcast or marginalized in your community with whom God chooses to dwell?
• How is your congregation or community responding to those who are outcast and marginalized?

Respond

Consider the conditions of your community and congregation responses to these conditions, listed from small group discussions.

• What conditions in your community receive the most time and energy from disciples in your congregation?
• What ministries could your congregation provide to those who are outcast and marginalized in your community?
• What barriers keep your congregation from sharing the hope of God’s love made visible in your community?

Send

Prayerfully consider your response to the following questions. Record responses in writing, share in groups of two or three, or share with the larger group.

• How has Christ Jesus been born anew in your life?
• To whom are you called to make God’s love visible?

Bless

Select a verse or phrase from a favorite Christmas hymn or carol (see Community of Christ Sings 408–437) that best describes God’s love made visible. Share with one another as a closing blessing.

Youth Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Luke 2:1–20

Lesson Focus

Christ’s birth brings joy, hope, love, and peace to our world.

Objectives

The learners will…

• read about the upside-down kingdom that comes with Jesus’s birth.
• go deeper into the story of Jesus’s birth.
• share the joy, hope, love, and peace of the Christmas season.

Supplies

• Bible
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)
• Christmas tree
• Empty, clear ornaments
• Glitter, small funnel
• Puff paint

Note to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Luke 2:1–20 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament (with focus on the Gospel according to Matthew), p. 25, available through Herald House.

Gather

Upside-Down Kingdom

Before class, create an upside-down Christmas tree in the room. It can be a large tree hung on the wall or a small tree placed in the center of a table. Use whatever supplies are available. As group members gather, let them wonder about the tree. Wait to address why it’s upside-down until after the group has read today’s scripture passage.

Read Luke 2:1–20.

The circumstances of Jesus’s birth say a lot about what the kingdom God envisages for us. Jesus is a king, but a king born in a lowly stable, representing those who are oppressed and marginalized. He is the prophesied Messiah, and he came to show us how to make God’s kingdom a reality, but his life is not that of a typical king. The upside-down tree represents how Jesus is not like other kings, and the kingdom he reveals is not a kingdom like other kingdoms. It is an upside-down kingdom—“the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16).

Engage

Compare the story

Compare the story of Jesus’s birth in Luke (Luke 2:1–20) and Matthew (Matthew 1:18–25) and then discuss the questions below noting likenesses and differences.

• What about this story seems upside-down?
• What would you expect with the birth of a king? How does this contrast with Jesus’s birth? (lowly birth, unwed teenage mother, born in a stable)
• How do the circumstances of Jesus’s birth connect with his life and mission?

Going Deeper: Incarnation

“By the mystery of the incarnation, Jesus, born of Mary, came into the world to live and dwell among us to reveal God’s nature and will” (Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, p. 58). The incarnation shapes the story of Mary and Joseph on their faith journeys and sets the stage for Christ’s place in the world. Some people struggle with incarnation and question what that means for Jesus and their faith.

• What is the most important part of Jesus’s birth story? Why?
• If the circumstances of Jesus’s birth were different, would it change the mission and message of Jesus’s life and ministry? Explain.
• How does the Jesus you know change if any part of the story is changed?

It’s all right to wonder about the circumstances of Jesus’s birth. Science and reason make it difficult for us to have faith that something like this is possible. Regardless of the circumstances of Jesus’s birth, Jesus is the Messiah and came to Earth to show us how to make God’s vision of shalom a reality. Today we celebrate Jesus’s birth, and the joy, hope, love, and peace Christ brings to our lives.

Respond

Ornaments of Joy, Hope, Love, and Peace

Today is Christmas, a day we celebrate Jesus’s birth. Create ornaments to hang on the tree to remind us of the feelings of joy, hope, love, and peace we experience during the season of Christmas. Using empty plastic ornaments (can be purchased at a craft store), provide puff paint and glitter for group members to create their ornaments. Different colors of glitter can be put inside the ornaments using a funnel, and the puff paint can be used to write the words, “joy,” “hope,” “love,” and “peace” on the outside of the ornament. If these supplies are not available, ornaments can be made from paper and decorated with markers or paint. Discuss with the group their Advent journey as they create their ornaments.

• How has Advent changed your life as a disciple?
• What was an important discovery during Advent?
• How has Advent prepared you for Christmas?

Send

Jesus’s birth was a symbol of God’s love for the entire world. Ask the group, “How will you make God’s love visible?” Challenge them to live those responses during the week.

Bless

Sing “Leftover People in Leftover Places” CCS 275 to remember those we forget or leave behind, those whom Christ upholds as worthy and loved. Then, encourage group members to write or offer a prayer for someone in their lives represented by the upside-down kingdom.

Children’s Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Luke 2:1–20

Lesson Focus

Jesus came to bring hope for all people.

Objectives

The learners will…

• learn the story of Jesus’s birth.
• compare the information offered in a song about Jesus’s birth to the scripture text.
• discuss the idea of God’s “upside-down” kingdom.
• discuss who would benefit from the good news of Jesus’s birth.

Supplies

• Bible
• Advent wreath and five Advent candles, matches or lighter
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)
• Optical illusion image (following Bless section)
• Optional: Scratch art paper, toothpick, or fork to scratch off coating
• Optional (Homemade scratch art paper): white card stock cut to postcard size, crayons, painter’s tape, small roller brush or paintbrush, black tempera paint, liquid laundry detergent, shallow bowl

Notes to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Luke 2:1–20 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: New Testament, p. 25, available through Herald House.

Gather

Greet each student and welcome them to God’s upside-down kingdom.

Gather around the Advent wreath. Review what each of the four candles represents (hope, joy, peace, and love). As you light each candle, sing together the first four verses of “Hope Is a Light” CCS 398.

Hope is a light…

Joy is a song…

Peace is a prayer…

Love is a gift…

Add the last candle to the center of the wreath. Explain that today you are lighting the Christ candle in honor of Jesus’s birth. As you light the final candle, sing together the last verse of CCS 398:

Jesus is born, (Jesus is born.)

Jesus is born in us today. (Jesus is born in us today.)

Christ, the light of the world. (Christ, the light of the world.)

—Daniel Charles Damon, © 2007 Hope Publishing Company

Note: You might also consider creating a living Advent wreath by having the students sit in a circle and take turns sharing how they can represent the hope, joy, peace, and love of Jesus in the coming week. You could do this in the Gather or Send section of the lesson.

Engage

Provide each child with a copy of the optical illusion image found at the end of this lesson. Read the instructions aloud, then have everyone focus on their copy of the image. Don’t tell them they should see a Jesus image; let this be a surprise. If some do not see the image, let them try again. This time, instruct children to face a light source (window, lamp) when they close their eyes. They should see an image on the back of their eyelids. Discuss the activity.

• What did you see when you first looked at the image?
• What did you see after focusing on the image and then looking away?
• Did you expect to see a Jesus image? What did you expect?
• Today’s scripture story tells of a time when Jesus came unexpected to many.

In our scripture today, Jesus, the Messiah—who was expected by many to be a royal king—came as a baby born in a stable. Angels first announced his birth not to leaders, but to shepherds in a field watching their sheep.

Today’s scripture passage may be a familiar one to most students. Take turns reading Luke 2:1–20 aloud. If your class has enough students to act out the story, give children the opportunity to pick which character they might want to portray as you read the story. Take note of which roles are most requested.

After reading and acting out the story, ask the children who they think is the “star” of the story. Was it Mary? Joseph? Jesus? The angel? Or the shepherds?

In today’s scripture passage, an angel came to share the news that the Messiah had arrived. However, he came to persons many people would not have expected—lowly shepherds on a hillside. Why is this unexpected or upside-down?

When you want to share good news about your day, who do you tell first? Your parents? Your best friend? Your teacher?

If you were the angel sharing good news about Jesus’s birth, who would you talk to first? Would it be your family? The television or newspaper? The President?

Respond

In our scripture passage today, the angel first visited a group of shepherds. In Jesus’s time, shepherds were not rich or powerful. In fact, they were not popular or important. Why do you think the angel visited the shepherds first?

The story of the angel coming to the shepherds shows that Jesus was going to be different from expected. He would eventually minister to poor people, sick people, outcasts, Jews, non-Jews, and many others that some felt were not worth saving or spending time with. Everything Jesus taught was upside-down.

Have students take turns acting out the following scenarios (or some you would like to add) from the life and ministry of Jesus. Ask students how each scenario shows how God’s kingdom is upside-down or unexpected.

• Jesus meets a leper and heals him by touching him.
• Jesus meets an outcast woman at the well and ministers to her.
• Jesus invites fishers to become his disciples.
• Jesus has dinner with a tax collector.
• Jesus teaches that when someone hurts you should forgive them by turning the other cheek.

We learn about Jesus in various ways. One way is through hymns. Read the words of “Star-Child” CCS 420 and make a list of the people the hymn suggests need to hear about Jesus. Are these people you expected to read about? If so, why? If not, why? How can we share the good news of Jesus’s birth with people like this? What other persons would you add to the list?

Optional activity: God’s Love Made Visible Scratch Art

Begin by giving each child a piece of scratch art paper and a pointed utensil such as a toothpick, a fork, or a pencil. Invite the children to scratch a design into the paper that represents God’s upside-down kingdom (a star, an angel, a manger scene, a dove, or an Advent wreath, for example). As they scratch into the black, a colorful design will be revealed. If you use homemade scratch art paper, create it one or two days ahead of time (see instructions below). Have children share their symbol with the class and explain why they chose it.

Homemade Scratch Art Paper

1. Tape a piece of white card stock (approx. 4 x 6 in /10 x 15 cm) to a covered work surface with painter’s tape, creating a .5 in/1.2 cm border, leaving a white surface area about the size of a postcard.
2. Using one or more colors, completely color the white space of the card using wax crayons.
3. Mix the black tempera paint and the liquid detergent in a 1:1 ratio and pour into a shallow bowl. For example, one cup of paint to one cup of detergent.
4. Using a paintbrush or paint roller, paint the entire card. Cover all areas you have colored and taped. Let dry.
5. Repeat step 4 as needed to cover the entire card area.
6. After the paint dries, carefully remove painter’s tape.

Send

Review how each person is part of God’s upside-down kingdom. Have each child share how they are part of God’s upside-down kingdom.

Sing together “Joy to the World!” CCS 408, “Star-Child” CCS 420, or “Hope Is a Light” CCS 398.

Have children complete the following sentence: This week I will share the good news of God’s upside-down kingdom with __________ by _____________________.

Bless

Pray a popcorn prayer of praise and hope. Allow children to share words or sentences of praise and hope as they feel moved and as many times as they would like. End with an amen.