Worship Tools

Worship Outline 1

Additional Scriptures  

2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16; Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25–27

Worship Setting 

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. 

Prelude  

Centering Hymn  

“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” CCS 405  

Welcome  

Invitation to Worship  

Lift up your head and be of good cheer, for the time is at hand. I come into the world, to show that I will fulfill all which I have spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.  

—3 Nephi 1:12–13, adapted  

Opening Hymn  

“Angels, from the Realms of Glory” CCS 436  

OR “O Little Town of Bethlehem” CCS 434  

Invocation  

Sung Response  

“Gloria” CCS 122  

Consider playing the vocal recording of this song from Community of Christ Sings Audio Recordings available from Herald House and ask people to sing along.  

Statement of Confession  

Project or print this paragraph for all to see.  

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.  

—1979 Book of Common Prayer  

Moment of Silent Reflection  

Advent Candle Lighting and Focus Moment

Love

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. This Advent, we reflect on the kinds of conditions that exist when our communities become places where LOVE  is a signal of God’s new creation dawning. Imagine love as a tangible practice where you live: 

When God’s love is dawning, 

I feel… 

I smell…

I taste…

I touch…

I hear… 

We light the advent candle of LOVE and pray to tend the signals of God’s love dawning among us. May the flickering flame spark courage to notice, nurture, and name the new creation around and within us. 

Light candle. 

Amen

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26–38  

Ministry of Music or Community Hymn  

“How Far Is It to Bethlehem?” CCS 417  

OR “From a Far-off Land (De tierra lejana venimos)” CCS 440/441 

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

Sermon  

Based on Luke 1:26–38  

Hymn of Celebration  

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” CCS 423  

OR “Tell Me the Story of Jesus” stanza 1 and refrain CCS 623  

Disciples’ Generous Response  

Statement 

We are called to pursue our mission to “proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace” through life-changing, church-changing, and world-changing Mission Initiatives. 

Because we have been so greatly blessed by God’s generous grace, we can’t help but generously share our witness, resources, ministries, and sacraments in return. 

Through the Pursue Peace on Earth Mission Initiative, we are called to live Christ’s peace and generously share his peace with others. 

Generosity Song  

“Jesus, Our Brother, Kind and Good” CCS 412  

Use projected pictures or flannelgraph figures to illustrate the “givers” in this song. Sing with guitar, if possible.  

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes  

Prayer for Peace  

Light the peace candle 

Prayer 

Giving God, 

As we look back at this passing year, joy and thanksgiving overflow from our hearts. Some of us may have come through pain and grief. Some may have had a better year. Regardless of the kind of journey we have had, we are all grateful that your presence surrounds us during these moments of praying for peace.

In this Advent Season, we are filled with gratitude for the joy, hope, love, and peace we experience. At the same time, we have seen scarcity in the midst of affluence, tragedy in the midst of peace. 

We pray that children’s eyes will not be clouded by the fears of wars and conflict. This year we will remember, O Lord, the cries of the world’s children even in the midst of our celebrations. May we help them find and experience some measure of your peace. 

Bless and guide us as we continue our journeys into peace. Amen.

                                                —based on a prayer by Hiroshi Yamada

Song of Peace  

“Peace Child” CCS 402 

OR  “Peace Among Earth’s Peoples”  CCS 448 

Sending Forth  

Follow Christ in the way that leads to God’s peace and discover the blessings of all the dimensions of salvation. You are called to create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to be relationally and culturally incarnate. Pursue peace.  

—Doctrine and Covenants 163:2–3, adapted  

Postlude  

Worship Outline 2

Additional Scriptures 

2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16; Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26; Romans 16:25–27 

Worship Setting 

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. 

Prelude 

Welcome and Invitation to Worship 

I will sing of your steadfast love forever;

With my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord.                 

—Psalm 89:1–2, 5, adapted

OR

Lift up your heads and be of good cheer, for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night the sign shall be given, and on the morrow I come into the world, to show to the world that I will fulfill all that which has been spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.     

—3 Nephi 1:12b–13, adapted

Hymn of Anticipation 

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” CCS 431 

Invocation 

Response 

Testimony 

Ask a teacher or a parent to give a short testimony reflecting on love. 

Advent Candle Lighting and Focus Moment

Love

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. This Advent, we reflect on the kinds of conditions that exist when our communities become places where LOVE  is a signal of God’s new creation dawning. Imagine love as a tangible practice where you live: 

When God’s love is dawning, 

I feel… 

I smell…

I taste…

I touch…

I hear… 

We light the advent candle of LOVE and pray to tend the signals of God’s love dawning among us. May the flickering flame spark courage to notice, nurture, and name the new creation around and within us. 

Light candle. 

Amen

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26–38 

Ministry of Music or Community Hymn 

“What Child Is This” CCS 432 

OR “Star-Child” CCS 420 

Advent Message 

Based on Luke 1:26–38 

Prayer for Peace 

Peace Hymn 

“Joseph, Kind Joseph” CCS 414 

OR “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” CCS 416 

Light the peace candle 

Prayer 

Our loving God, we pause at this quiet time to offer a prayer for peace. During this Advent season, we are particularly grateful for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. He came into a world of conflict, hatred, and distrust to sow seeds of peace and justice. Through him, your gospel of peace and redemption became flesh, lived out in the life of one who was like us, yet also divine.

We are aware of injustice and oppression in our world, leading to a lack of peace, a hungering and thirsting for peace. We ask for your loving presence to redeem moments of violence, oppression, and injustice. May we find the seeds of peace that you have placed into our most difficult moments and situations.

We are also aware that we are often not at peace within ourselves. May our lives be directed more fully toward you. May we be guided by your Spirit, and may we be at peace as we move through a world that seems to be in so much need.

We ask your blessing on all the peoples of the earth today. May we all be agents and recipients of your peace. This is our prayer, O God, in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Disciples’ Generous Response 

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 165:1c–d 

Statement 

How have you received God’s gifts this week?

Andrew Bolton wrote in the October 2015 Herald, “We proclaim Jesus Christ… Jesus is key. Jesus is our model of a kingdom life. His interactions are about restoring dignity and wholeness. His parables of the kingdom and teachings are vital for zionic living. Jesus is about changing people through his love.

“…and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace. Jesus also changes communities. He proclaimed the kingdom of God. We are about changing neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, and nations. We do not have a small vision. We have a God-sized vision of a better world.”

Jesus proclaims God’s unconditional love and grace for all. Our mission statement shares the Community of Christ story from the beginning, proclaiming a Living Christ and a stubborn hope of Zion. We are called to see a God-sized vision of a better world, and more than that, we are called into action.

How will you choose to respond this day?

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes

Hymn of Celebration 

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” CCS 423 

OR “Angels We Have Heard on High” CCS 427 

Benediction 

Sung Response 

“Angels We Have Heard on High” refrain only CCS 427 

Sending Forth 

Leader: Shepherds in the fields were keeping watch over their flocks during the night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

People: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news!

Left: A Savior is born to you this day, the Messiah!

Right: You will find the child wrapped in cloth lying in a manger.”

Leader: Then a multitude of angels appeared, saying,

People: “Glory to God and on Earth peace among those whom he favors!”

—Luke 2:8–14, adapted

Postlude 

Worship Outline 3

Additional Scriptures 

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27

Worship Setting 

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. 

Prelude 

Carol of the Season 

“Angels, from the Realms of Glory” CCS 436 

Welcome 

Welcome in the name of the one who is Love. We gather on this fourth Sunday of Advent as one of many worshipping communities from around the world. Our voices lift in harmonious praise for the coming Christ. We find love in the anticipation of the Christ Child as well as the transformation that is being born within us. May the fruits of this journey be an endless blessing. Welcome! 

Call to Worship 

Two readers share the reading of stanzas 1 and 2 of “Canticle of the Turning,” CCS 404, followed by the refrain. Alternate reading by sentences or phrases within the stanzas. Both readers say in unison, “the world is about to turn” each time it appears. 

Song of Seasonal Praise 

“Angels We Have Heard on High” CCS 427 

OR “O Come, All Ye Faithful” CCS 431 

Invocation 

Response 

Advent Candle Lighting and Focus Moment

Love

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. This Advent, we reflect on the kinds of conditions that exist when our communities become places where LOVE  is a signal of God’s new creation dawning. Imagine love as a tangible practice where you live: 

When God’s love is dawning, 

I feel… 

I smell…

I taste…

I touch…

I hear… 

We light the advent candle of LOVE and pray to tend the signals of God’s love dawning among us. May the flickering flame spark courage to notice, nurture, and name the new creation around and within us. 

Light candle. 

Amen

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38 

Song of Anticipation 

“Canticle of the Turning”  stanzas 3 and 4 CCS 404 

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

Message 

Based on Luke 1:26-38 

We Assemble the Images for Christmas 

“Jesus, Our Brother, Kind and Good”  CCS 412  

Ask a soloist or ensemble to prepare this song, preferably with guitar. Have the group turn to the song and follow along. Project pictures of the animals as their stanza is sung OR use flannelgraph animals OR place animal figurines in the Nativity Scene. Involve the children in identifying and perhaps placing the animals. At the end of the song, add other pieces to complete the manger scene. 

OR 

Song of Reflection 

“Joseph, Kind Joseph” CCS 414 

OR “No Obvious Angels” CCS 418 

Prayer for Peace 

Light of the peace candle 

Prayer 

Giver of True Joy,

We come with gratitude in our hearts for your generosity. As we have journeyed through this Advent season, we are keenly aware of your presence. You have steadied our feet along sure paths and assured us of the joy that is lived through you. Many in our world do not know this joy. Their world is darkened by the circumstances of their days.

Remind us to shine the light of your love and compassion. Empower us to share our stories so that others may begin to see the sun’s rays shining through their dense forests. Ignite their souls with the knowledge of your light within them so that their hearts be filled with joy. We pray in the name of your greatest light, Jesus. Amen.

Disciples’ Generous Response 

Reading of Generosity: “In the Bleak Midwinter,” CCS 422, Stanza 4 

Ask an adult and child to share the reading of this stanza and then answer the questions they read: What do we give? What do we bring him? 

Statement 

Consider what moments of love you have experienced in your life. Turn to a neighbor and share about your experiences. 

When we understand God’s love and grace are given freely to us, we respond out of gratitude and are liberated to share freely in return. May Advent love be apparent in our giving this day. 

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes 

Advent Hymn

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” CCS 423 

OR “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” CCS 433 

Benediction 

Sung Response 

“Hope Is a Light” Stanza 4 sing twice CCS 398 

Each phrase sung first by a song leader and then repeated by the group.  

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own. 

Sending Forth: Doctrine and Covenants 161:7 

Postlude 

Worship Outline 4

Additional Scriptures  

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Psalms 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27 

Worship Setting 

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. 

Prelude  

Carol of the Season  

“Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” CCS 416  

Welcome  

Call to Worship  

Organize a diverse group to read the text of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” Community of Christ Sings 394, dividing the stanzas and then reading the refrain in unison. Perhaps place the readers around the worship space.  

Advent Hymn

“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”  CCS 433 

Invocation 

Sung Response 

“Wait for the Lord” sing twice CCS 399 

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own. 

Translations into Spanish and French for this hymn can be found online.

Invocation  

Advent Candle Lighting and Focus Moment

Love

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. This Advent, we reflect on the kinds of conditions that exist when our communities become places where LOVE  is a signal of God’s new creation dawning. Imagine love as a tangible practice where you live: 

When God’s love is dawning, 

I feel… 

I smell…

I taste…

I touch…

I hear… 

We light the advent candle of LOVE and pray to tend the signals of God’s love dawning among us. May the flickering flame spark courage to notice, nurture, and name the new creation around and within us. 

Light candle. 

Amen

Sung Response  

“Wait on the Lord”  sing twice   CCS 399 

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own. 

Translations into Spanish and French for this hymn can be found online.

Prayer for Peace  

Light the peace candle 

Prayer  

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, provide for all seeking refuge from famine. God of Hagar, Joseph, and Moses, liberate all seeking refuge from slavery. God of Esther, Naomi, and Ruth, strengthen all seeking refuge as families. God of David, Elijah, and Jeremiah, protect all seeking refuge from conflict. God of Ezekiel, Ezra and Nehemiah, comfort all who are longing for home. God of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. journey with all seeking refuge today. In the name of the One who was both refuge and refugee. Amen.  

—Christian Aid, 2016  

Ministry of Music OR Community Hymn of Peace  

“The People Walk/Un pueblo que camina” CCS 292  

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

OR “Peace Child” CCS 402  

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38  

Ministry of Music OR Community Hymn  

“Joseph, Kind Joseph” CCS 414  

OR “Star-Child” CCS 420  

OR “Tomorrow Christ Is Coming” CCS 406  

Morning Message  

Based on Luke 1:26-38  

OR Video  

A “Witness the Word” Advent sermon by Robin Linkhart is available online.

Disciples’ Generous Response  

Scripture Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 163:9  

Story  

Ask someone to share about a time they experienced an advent of love in their life.  

Statement  

Let us be joyful givers this day! 

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes  

Closing Hymn  

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” CCS 423  

OR “Angels We Have Heard on High” CCS 427  

OR “The First Noël” CCS 424 

Benediction  

Response  

Postlude 

Sacred Space: Small-Group Worship Outline

Gathering

Welcome

Advent is a season of waiting in expectation for the coming of light into a darkened world in the form of the infant Jesus. Advent is spent anticipating and spiritually preparing for the arrival of the Christ-child. Scriptures, symbols, and hymns help make Advent a time of expectation for Christ’s birth, rather than a frenzy of holiday tasks.

The Advent season begins four Sundays before Christmas and is observed each Sunday until Christmas Day. An Advent wreath with four candles and one Christ candle in the center often is used to observe the weeks of Advent. One candle is lit each week until all are burning brightly on Christmas Day.

Prayer for Peace

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

Our loving God, We pause at this quiet time to offer a prayer for peace. During this Advent season, we are particularly grateful for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. He came into a world of conflict, hatred, and distrust to sow seeds of peace and justice. Through him, your gospel of peace and redemption became flesh, lived in the life of One who was like us, yet also Divine.

We are aware of injustice and oppression in our world, leading to a lack of peace, a hungering and thirsting for peace. We ask for your loving presence to redeem moments of violence, oppression, and injustice. May we find the seeds of peace that you have placed into our most difficult moments and situations.

We also are aware that we often are not at peace within ourselves. May our lives be directed more fully toward you. May we be guided by your Spirit, and may we be at peace as we move through a world that seems to be in so much need.

We ask your blessing on all the peoples of the Earth today. May we all be agents and recipients of your peace. This is our prayer, O God, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Practice

Holding in the Light – Love

Light the fourth candle of Advent and say:

Today we light the fourth candle of Advent. This candle represents love. May the lighting of this candle remind us to share our light and love with the world. 

Place a lit candle in the center of the group. Spend a few moments in silence to become quiet inside and out.

1. Ask each person to share about a person or circumstance in need of God’s love. (Write down each one.)
2. Invite people into a period of prayer, placing these specific people and needs in God’s loving, healing care.
3. Read aloud:

As we focus on the candle’s light, imagine the people for whom we pray being surrounded by God’s light.

After I read each name, we will spend a moment engaged in silent prayer.

We trust God to know the needs of each person or circumstance, and we compassionately hold them in the restorative, healing light of God.

Offer a brief prayer of thanks to close your experience.

Sharing Around the Table

Luke 1:26–38 NRSVue

²⁶ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”^[a]29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”^[b] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born^[c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶ And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

—Luke 1:26–38 NRSVue

Today is the fourth and last Sunday of Advent, the period of preparation for and expectation of the coming of a Messiah. Interestingly enough, today’s scripture is the foretelling of the birth of Jesus.

The angel Gabriel visits an ordinary young woman in an insignificant province of the Roman Empire. The woman, Mary, is engaged, but not yet married, to Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Gabriel tells Mary she is favored by God and will give birth to a child named Jesus, who will be called “Son of the Most High” (v. 32). As one might expect, Mary does not receive this news well, at least at first. She is not yet married, what will Joseph think of all this?

The angel tells Mary not to be afraid because what is about to happen to her is God’s doing. Her baby will be born of the Holy Spirit. Gabriel goes on to tell Mary that her relative, Elizabeth, who is well past childbearing age, is expecting a child also. The angel closes with the affirmation that nothing is impossible with God.

Miraculously, Mary accepts the astounding news (v. 38). She hardly has time to hear what the angel said, let alone consider its implications, and yet she agrees. In this acceptance, Mary models what it is to receive the guidance and gift of the Spirit.

God is always surprising people, disrupting our lives just when we think we have everything planned. Even in this season of Advent, when God is so wanting us to be ready to receive the most wonderful gift of all, we too often are so busy—our lives too full—to find room for Jesus. Our waiting and expectation have become cluttered with all that we think we need to get done to be ready for Christmas. The world tells us there are just a few more shopping days left. But God tells us there are a few days to slow down and make room in our lives for God’s presence.

Questions

1. When has God surprised you and disrupted your “peaceful” life?
2. When have you opened yourself to the Spirit’s guidance? How has this affected your life?
3. How can you slow down and make room for God’s presence?

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.

The offering prayer for Advent is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:

Reconciling God, Be present with us as we plan our spending. May we use our resources in ways that build healthy, happy relationships with you, with others, and with the Earth. May we remember the teachings of Jesus that challenge us to make lifestyle choices that are counter to our culture of accumulation and excess. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

CCS 404, “Canticle of the Turning”

Closing Prayer

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Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lords Supper

We come together in this time of Advent waiting to share in the Lord’s Supper “as a visible witness of loving Christian fellowship and shared remembrance of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection” (Doctrine and Covenants 164:4a).

Choose one scripture to read from this selection: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–39.

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.

This Advent season, our experience of being together as we share in Communion is an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community.

In preparation let’s sing Community of Christ Sings hymn 519, “In the Singing.”

Thoughts for Children

You will need:

• Large poster board with a Christmas-tree cutout
• Small hearts cut from construction paper
• Writing supplies
• Tape or glue

Say: Today is the fourth Sunday in Advent. Advent is a time of waiting and preparing. Just like people awaited Jesus’s birth, the coming of the Messiah, we await God’s preferred future. Waiting, however, doesn’t mean we don’t do anything. In fact, while we wait, it is important to prepare for what is to come and help bring it into the world.

Each week of Advent, we are going to practice waiting. We will sit together, quieting our minds and bodies as we wait. While we wait, we also will prepare by focusing on one word and seeing where that word takes our thoughts and feelings. When our time of waiting begins, we will use our breathing to help us focus on the word. When we breathe in, we will say the word in our heads. When we breathe out, we will say “prepare me” in our heads. You will continue to do this until our time of waiting is done, letting your thoughts and feelings help you better understand the word.

Our word for today is love.

Invite participants into a time of waiting. For this time, try for five minutes. If participants become too restless, close sooner. After the time of waiting, give all participants a paper heart and something to write with. Invite them to write or draw what their time of waiting was like on the heart. After they have had time to write or draw, invite them to attach their heart to the posterboard tree, using tape or glue.

Sermon Helps

Exploring the Scripture

Today is the fourth and last Sunday of Advent, the period of preparation for and expectation of the coming of a Messiah. Interestingly enough, though, today’s text is not the account of Jesus’ birth as we might expect; rather, it is the foretelling of that birth. We must not jump ahead too quickly to Christmas; we are still in Advent.

Several key features are found in today’s text from Luke. The angel Gabriel visits an ordinary young woman in an out-of-the-way town (Nazareth), in an insignificant province of the Roman Empire. The woman, Mary, is engaged, but not yet married, to Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Gabriel tells Mary she is favored by God and will give birth to a child named Jesus who will be called “Son of the Most High” (v. 32). As one might expect, Mary does not receive this news well, at least at first. She is not yet married and is still a virgin. And what will Joseph think of all this?

The angel tells Mary not to be afraid because what is about to happen to her is God’s doing. Her baby will be born of the Holy Spirit. We might assume, however, that Mary is not easily convinced. This is a major shock and might easily upset her preparations for her marriage to Joseph. Gabriel goes on to tell Mary that her relative Elizabeth who is well past childbearing age is expecting a child also and closes with the affirmation that nothing is impossible with God.

Miraculously, Mary accepts the astounding news (v. 38). She hardly has time to hear what the angel said, let alone consider its implications, and yet she agrees. In this acceptance, Mary models for us how to receive the most wonderful of all gifts. Her answer is “Yes,” and this yes forever changes the world.

Luke is always talking about the Spirit. He starts with today’s promise from the angel that Mary’s child is born of the Spirit of God. Later chapters describe the Spirit’s presence and role in key events in Jesus’ life and ministry, including his baptism, temptation in the wilderness, early ministry in Galilee, and announcement of his mission in the Nazareth synagogue. Just as Jesus allowed himself to be led and directed by the Spirit, the same Spirit seeks acceptance and recognition in the life of each person. This Spirit keeps our lives focused on Jesus, whose mission we claim as our own. When we ask ourselves, or others ask us, what gives focus to our lives, may we always reply in word and deed, “His name is Jesus!”

Our text for today reminds us God is always surprising people, disrupting our lives just when we think we have everything planned. Even in this season of Advent, when God is so wanting us to be ready to receive the most wonderful gift of all, we are too often so busy—our lives too full—to find room for Jesus. Our waiting and expectation has become cluttered with all that we think we need to get done to be ready for Christmas. The world tells us there are just a few more shopping days left. But God tells us there are a few days to slow down and make room in our lives for the Savior.

Central Ideas

1. Advent is a time of preparation and expectation.
2. God is constantly surprising people, disrupting their plans.
3. Nothing will be impossible with God.
4. God’s Spirit is present from the beginning.
5. The focus of our lives is Jesus.

Questions for the Speaker

1. What are the most important features of this scripture text that you must include when you preach today?
2. When has God surprised you and disrupted your “peaceful” life?
3. When have you opened yourself to the Spirit’s guidance? How has this affected your life?
4. How will you use the remaining days of Advent? How will you invite the congregation to use them?

Lessons

Adult Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Luke 1:26–38

Lesson Focus

The birth of Jesus is foretold.

Objectives

The learners will…

• visit anew the calling of Mary to be the mother of Jesus.
• examine the prophecy of the angel Gabriel concerning Jesus.
• experience the Advent of Joy.

Supplies

• Bible
• Paper and pens or pencils
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Luke 1:26–38 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament, p. 23, available through Herald House.

Gather

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Advent of Joy. We come together today, the day before Christmas, to remember the joy we have in this great gift God gave us: Jesus, the Christ.

Sit quietly a few moments, reminding yourselves of how this gift has changed your lives. Read or sing the first stanza of “Joy to the World” CCS 408. Share with the class or a neighbor the phrases in this stanza that are meaningful to you.

Engage

Today our scripture passage is part of the story of the Nativity. Because it is familiar to many, we may neglect the depth of the meaning in it. If you are hearing this story for the first time or hundredth time, listen prayerfully.

Read Luke 1:26–38, the calling of Mary to be the mother of Jesus. Pause silently for a moment and reflect on what you have read or heard.

After a couple of minutes of silence, read it again. Listen for a word or phrase you have not noticed before or one that captures your attention. Hold it in your mind. If another word or phrase speaks to you, hold it in your mind as well. When finished, sit silently, thinking about the words or phrases that captured your attention.

Sit quietly as the passage is read once more. Listen again for the words or phrases that touch your mind and heart. When you feel ready, write or depict these words or phrases. As you write, pray about why these are speaking to you today. Note any insights you receive. Spend four to five minutes with this exercise.

If you are comfortable doing so, share your thoughts with the class or a neighbor.

Respond

In our scripture passage today, we find an example of the Enduring Principle All Are Called as a young peasant girl in the small town of Nazareth is called to be the mother of the Son of God.

All Are Called

• God graciously gives people gifts and opportunities to do good and to share in God’s purposes.
• Jesus Christ invites people to follow him by becoming disciples who share his life and ministry.
• Some disciples are called and ordained to particular priesthood responsibilities and ministries for the sake of the community, the congregation, and the world.
• We respond faithfully, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to our best understanding of God’s call.

—Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, pp. 29–30

Discuss: What do you think Mary felt? Share with the class your thoughts.

This may remind you of a call you received. Maybe it was a call that startled you or made you question your ability to respond. This may have been a call to a priesthood office or a responsibility you had not anticipated or felt you did not have the qualifications to handle. Maybe you are in such a situation right now. How did or will you handle that call? Did or will you accept? If so, what influenced you? If not, why? Would you decide differently today? If you are comfortable doing so, share your insights with the class or a neighbor.

One of the Basic Beliefs of the church is that revelation continues today. The calling of Mary to be the mother of Jesus fits the church’s vision of what constitutes revelation. The Basic Belief of Revelation says,

We affirm the Living God is ever self-revealing. God is revealed to the world in the testimony of Israel, and above all in Jesus Christ. By the Holy Spirit, we continue to hear God speaking today. The church is called to listen together for what the Spirit is saying and then faithfully respond.

—Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, p. 36

Sit quietly for a moment reflecting on these statements. How have you experienced the movement of God through the Holy Spirit in your life? Share with the class as you feel comfortable doing so.

Send

Today is the Advent of Joy. For many this is a time for joy. For others, it will be a reminder of loved ones who are no longer with them for various reasons, and so an occasion for sorrow. Others will be lonely.

Take a moment to think of someone who may need a place to be for Christmas. Pray for God’s guidance in bringing someone to mind. Think about how you can share the joy of Christ with those who are longing for a spiritual home.

Bless

Join hands in a circle. Beginning with the leader and moving around the circle, share with the class a word or statement of praise about Christmas that gives you joy. If you do not wish to share, simply squeeze the hand of the next person to signal you are finished. Ending with the leader, sing or read again the first stanza of “Joy to the World” CCS 408.

Youth Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Luke 1:26–38

Lesson Focus

Joy is spending time with God.

Objectives

The learners will…

• discover the meaning and importance of Advent.
• learn of the transformation of Mary from peasant to prophet.
• find similarities between Joseph Smith Jr.’s grove experience and Mary’s annunciation.
• define their “grove” in which they connect to God.
• find additional ways to connect and spend time with God and deepen their discipleship.

Supplies

• Glass jar (big enough to hold a candle)
• Candle
• Mod Podge
• Words and pictures from various sources (magazines, newspapers, internet, and others as desired)
• Foam brushes
• Scissors
• 8½ x 11 inches (A4) paper
• Pens or pencils
• Marker board, chalkboard, or poster/chart paper
• Markers
• Bible
• The Annunciation of Mary True/False activity (following the Bless section)

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Luke 1:26–38 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament, p. 23, available through Herald House.

Before class, copy and cut up the Annunciation of Mary True/False activity sheet—one set per student or one class set—whatever works best for your group. Give the students time to sort statements as True/False as a prediction for today’s scripture. (You might want to keep an uncut copy for yourself as a reference.)

As you work through the lesson, have the students check their choices and reposition their strips to correct any misconceptions.

Gather

Today is the fourth Sunday in the Advent season. During Advent, we prepare our hearts for Jesus’ arrival. Each Sunday in Advent, we focus on a different theme. During Advent, people often light candles in a wreath to represent each week’s theme. Advent wreaths have five candles even though there are only four Sundays in Advent. The four candles around the outside represent joy, hope, love, and peace and the fifth candle sits in the middle to represent Jesus.

Note: This is part of a series and is optional. Explain that during Advent, the class will be creating a modern-day representation of an Advent wreath. Each week, they will work together to decorate a glass candle holder with words and pictures from various sources that answer the week’s reflection question. Once a variety of words and pictures have been chosen by class members, use Mod Podge to attach them to a glass jar and place a candle inside. By the end of Advent, you will have four different glass jars representing joy, hope, love, and peace.

This week, we focus on joy. Invite students to find words and pictures that respond to the following question: Where do you find joy?

Engage

Read Luke 1:26–38.

Have students fix any errors on their True/False activity sheet—discuss the misconceptions.

Note: The phrases on the activity sheet are in the correct columns. The errors in the “False” statements are as follows:

• The annunciation is only in Luke’s Gospel.
• The town was Nazareth.
• Mary did not have to say yes.
• Mary was not married to Joseph but engaged.
• The names are from Isaiah; Gabriel does not use them in this scripture.
• Elizabeth does not send a letter to Mary in our scripture.

Give a bit of attention to Trinity in verse 35. (Some students may be unfamiliar with the concept of the triune God. A quick and easy way to help is by referring to Saint Patrick and the use of the three-leaf clover—three leaves create one clover [Father, Son, Holy Spirit], but the clover is incomplete if one leaf is missing [God].)

Notice that Mary begins as a peasant who is an insignificant person in her culture. She’s an unmarried girl, and she doesn’t understand or believe in what Gabriel is telling her. However, by the end of the passage her decision to “let it be with me according to your word” makes her a prophet, a mother of God, and she makes the choice of discipleship.

Mary transforms from who she thinks she is (how she is labeled in her society) to what God is calling her to be.

Respond

Born in 1805, Joseph Smith Jr. was the founder of our movement. His story began as a teenage boy kneeling in the woods in upstate New York, praying for answers to religious questions that had divided his family and neighbors. He went alone to a grove of trees when he was concerned about being a disciple of Jesus Christ. He wanted to pray and listen to God. The guidance he received in the grove began a lifelong journey with God that brought both exhilarating joy and heartache to Joseph and his family.

—“A Journey People,” www.CofChrist.org/history

Ask: Based on what you know of this experience of Joseph Smith Jr., what similarities does the grove story have with the annunciation of Mary? (age, economic status, free will or agency, decision to follow God’s will instead of ignoring the call to discipleship, listening for God and having connection to the divine)

Have students read each point below to the class or copy each point on a paper and post on the wall as you read it.

• Mary had a visit from the angel Gabriel, and Joseph’s experience in the grove with the Holy Spirit started his path in a new direction of discipleship.
• Discipleship is a whole-life commitment we willingly make in response to God’s enormous generosity… all we are and have is a gift from God. If we devote ourselves fully to God, Christ’s mission, and to God’s people, we will give to our true capacity. Our true capacity includes how we generously share our whole selves.

—Of Water and Spirit, p. 85

• Prophet-President Emeritus Stephen M. Veazey offered this guidance:

We respond to God’s grace, especially as revealed in Jesus Christ, by giving generously and by graciously receiving the generosity of others. This is a deeply spiritual principle that arises from the nature of God. We are called, according to God’s eternal purposes, to grow spiritually throughout our lives in grace and generosity.

—Of Water and Spirit, p. 86

• Advent reminds us to pause long enough to consider what all this “progress” is for. I enjoy modern conveniences as much as the next person, but I am beginning to pay closer attention to the habits I am forming and how they are forming me…like reaching for my phone in any moment of unoccupied time. I am wondering about the space that is being lost for the human heart simply to wander, to dream and discover, without the constant lure of a flashing screen. What ideas are never given time to rise to the surface of the soul? What inner transformation prompting outward healing action is being subdued in constant mind-numbing immediacy?

—Katie Harmon-McLaughlin,
A Surprising Hope—Seeking Wisdom in the Advent Night: A Spiritual Retreat, p. 10

Discuss:

• Katie Harmon-McLaughlin writes about filling time by reaching for the phone. Could you be losing dreams and discovery?
• Do you have a space at home you would consider a “grove”? Would you consider creating a space if you have one?
• What would you include in your “grove” space to make it special to you?

Invite the group to take turns describing some of the experiences they have had in their special “grove” places.

Send

Ask: How have your actions or choices changed by taking time to go into your personal “grove” to speak to and listen for God?

—Signal Communities…Live Christ’s Mission: Lessons for All Ages Together, p. 6

Bless

In the days and weeks to come, visit your grove or create a new one to spend time with God.

Be open to new ways of seeing and hearing God. Be willing to let the Holy Spirit inspire you and help you understand God’s revelation.

Stand together as you pray this prayer or one of your own:

O Lord, we praise you for continually revealing your loving nature.

Help us listen for your voice and give us courage to be bold in our response.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

—Signal Communities…Live Christ’s Mission: Lessons for All Ages Together, p. 7

The Annunciation of Mary
True	False
Teacher, cut the strips below and mix up. Students place on the True/False mat above. They are placed in the correct columns below, so the teacher will have to do the cutting prior to class.
The angel Gabriel talks about the Holy Trinity—God the father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit.	The annunciation of Mary is only found in Matthew and Luke.
Mary doesn’t believe what she is hearing from the angel Gabriel.	The angel Gabriel was sent to Bethlehem in Galilee to speak to Mary.
Mary doesn’t say much when Gabriel first appears to her.	Mary had to say yes to the angel.
Mary’s relative, named Elizabeth, is also pregnant with a boy even though she is older than Mary.	Since Mary is Joseph’s wife, and Joseph is from the House of David, then Jesus will be from the house of David, too.
Mary is told that her son will reign forever and of his kingdom there will be no end.	Gabriel tells Mary her son will be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Gabriel advised Mary to not be afraid.	Elizabeth, Mary’s relative, sends a letter to Mary with the good news of her pregnancy so Mary decides to offer herself as the servant of the Lord.

Children’s Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Luke 1:26–38

Lesson Focus

God is constantly surprising people, disrupting their plans, but God’s Spirit is present with us. With God, nothing is impossible.

Objectives

The learners will…

• discuss the disruption God’s call sometimes makes.
• think about the gifts they can give to God.

Supplies

• Bible or Lectionary Story Bible, Year B, by Ralph Milton, illustrated by Margaret Kyle (Wood Lake Publishing, 2008, ISBN 9781551455648)
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)
• Star and angel Christmas tree toppers
• Christmas tree handout, one for each child
• Crayons, markers, pencils, glue
• (Optional) star and angel stickers
• Construction paper cut into approximately 1 x 2 in (2.54 x 5.08 cm) strips. Cut enough for each great for younger children) child to have 3–5 strips.

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Luke 1:26–38 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament, p. 23, available through Herald House.

Gather

Welcome children to the group and gather them in a circle. Ask if anyone knows what the word Advent means. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means “arrival” or “to come.” Discuss whose arrival we are waiting for.

Remind them that each week during Advent, as you wait for the arrival of the Christ child, we focus on joy, hope, love, or peace. Today our focus is on joy. Sing together “Hope Is a Light” CCS 398, stanza three. This song works well as a call and response. The teacher can sing a line and have the children repeat it.

Engage

Ask the children “Who is excited about Christmas?” Tell them you understand that Christmas is so close, but it is still Advent. We are still waiting for the birth of the Christ child. Hold up two Christmas tree toppers, a star and an angel. Ask if they know what these are used for. Discuss what their families have at the top of their trees. Ask if the children know why a star and an angel are used as symbols of Christmas. Discuss the star that rose in the east to guide the wise men or magi to Bethlehem. Ask if anyone knows of a Christmas scripture that talks about angels. Some may remember the angels appearing to the shepherds. Let the students know that today’s scripture passage also talks about an angel that was part of the Christmas story.

They might think that today’s scripture story should be about the nativity, but in fact this story happened much earlier. Tell the students that in today’s scripture story they are going to learn about a very special messenger who came to visit Mary.

Read “Mary Learns about Her Baby,” based on Luke 1:26−38, from the Lectionary Story Bible, Year B, pp. 26−27.

• How do you think Mary felt when the angel came to visit her? How would you feel?
• God asked Mary to do something that was difficult to do. She worried about what other people would think and say. Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do something difficult? Did you ever worry about what others would think?
• When Mary said “Yes!” to God, it was a gift. Think about the gift Mary’s life became. How was being a mother to Jesus a gift to God?

Respond

Give students the Christmas tree handout and a few construction paper strips. Have the children fold the construction paper strips in half to create squares. Ask the children to think about what gifts they could give to God this week. (be kind to siblings, help clean the house, or give to someone in need) Invite the children to write what they want to give on the inside of the folded piece of paper. Have students glue their gifts under the tree on the handout so the flap can be opened to reveal their gift. Allow time for students to color and decorate their trees. Ask them to add a star or angel to the top of their tree when they are finished. Have stickers available or have students draw their own.

Send

Tell the students that Mary was a regular person like me and you, but because she said “Yes!” to God, her life became an amazing gift. Ordinary, regular people have amazing gifts to give. Invite each student to share at least one of the gifts to God they plan to give this week.

Bless

Read or sing “No Obvious Angels” CCS 418 as your final blessing.