Christ Church Santa Fe! Advent Worship and Reflection Guide 2014

Transcription

1 Lord Jesus Christ, We come, We cry, We watch, We wait, We look, We long For You Christ Church Santa Fe Advent Worship and Reflection Guide 2014 Christ Church Santa Fe is located on the corner of Don Gaspar Ave & Cordova Rd. in Santa Fe Advent 2014 at CCSF Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us prepare for the coming, or advent, of Christ at Christmas. The word advent comes from the Latin word that means coming. In this season, we put ourselves back into the shoes (well, sandals) of the Jewish people who longed for the coming of the Messiah. At the same time, we remember that we are also awaiting the second advent of Jesus, when his kingdom will fill the earth. Thus, Advent is a serious time of getting in touch with our hope and yearning. Yet, it is also a joyous time because we know that Christmas is coming and that the Savior was indeed born among us. We hope this worship and reflection guide is nourishing to your soul this Christmas season. Do yourself good and set aside time during Advent to meet with God. Read, sing, pray. God bless you all this Advent Season. Godspeed, Martin Ban, Sr. Pastor 1

2 Key Dates During Advent at Christ Church Santa Fe Micah-Good News Coming Home An Advent scripture study for adults at the CCSF Plaza. (Thursdays Dec. 4-18, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM) La Posada & Gifts For The King A unique Santa Fe communion: common posole and uncommon generosity. Dec. 14, 4:45 PM La Posada, 5:15 PM Gifts For The King, 6:00 PM Community feast of posole The Best Christmas Pageant Ever A live theatre-upside down, disruptive and surprising Christmas Story for all ages. (Sagrado Theatre) Premier: Friday Dec. 19 at 7:00 PM Matinees: Dec. 20, 21 and Christmas Eve at 2:00 PM Oh Holy Night Christmas Eve Services Christ Church Santa Fe Celebrative candlelight services at 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Come early for good parking. AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, ROOMMATES Advent and Christmas is an excellent time of the year to create community traditions and cultivate a culture of worship at home. Family worship can be wonderfully informal. For families with younger children, try observing family worship thirty minutes before bedtime teeth are brushed, pajamas are on. And depending on circumstances, attentiveness of the children, etc. plan on anywhere from minutes. Perhaps you might light the Advent candle saying, Jesus is the light of the world. Sing favorite Advent and Christmas songs. Read and discuss the Scripture lesson. Pray together. TO USE THIS GUIDE You ll need an Advent wreath and five candles. You can purchase Advent wreath sets online or at stores, but it s also easy to make your own Advent wreath. In fact, making a wreath can be part of the fun. Be creative as you design/buy your wreath, perhaps twisting fir branches around a circular wire frame. You ll want four candles on the circle of the wreath and one candle in the middle. On the Sundays of Advent, light the outside candles; and on Christmas Eve, light the Christ candle in the middle. Set aside time during the four Sundays prior to Christmas for using this devotional guide. The first Sunday in Advent this year is November 30. The worship time in this guide is about ten minutes, though you can add personal elements if you wish. If you can t make time on a Sunday, it s fine to light the candles on another day. The point isn t following all the rules when and where. It s focusing on the advent of our Lord and Savior, preparing our hearts to welcome him in a fresh way. Wishing you God s richest blessings as you prepare for Christ s coming 2

3 What Do You Need to Have? Sunday Services 8:45 AM and 10:45 AM * One circular base made out of nonflammable material such as wire or clay. It should be large enough to fit five candles (four around the outer edge and one in the center.) This base is a suggestion. * Three purple candles, one rose or pink candle and one white candle (all with holders). There are a total of 5 candles. You can also have any color for the 4 outside candles and have the inside candle white * Evergreen or nonflammable/artificial greenery also looks nice as a wreath around the candles. What Do The Candles and Wreath Symbolize? The Candles: Each candle has a specific meaning associated with different aspects of the Advent story, all preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. The light of the candles represents Christ, the Light of the world. The four outer candles represent the time of waiting. As each candle is lit in progression each Sunday, the light increases symbolizing the pushing back of darkness with Christ in the center. The Wreath: Circular to represent God s eternity and the everlasting life found in Christ. The Greens: The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. WE COME IN HOPE THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2014 PREPARATION: Prepare your Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Light the first purple candle. Open the Bible to today s passage: Isaiah 9:1-7 PRAY: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the light of The Lord. We worship You. READ: Isaiah 9:1-7 REFLECT: What is our hope in Christ Jesus? Is He truly the light of our life? WORSHIP NOTE: This candle is purple and represents expectation or hope. It is sometimes called the prophet s candle, and is to remind us of the hope of Jesus s arrival. ASK: What do you think the light of this candle represents? (Jesus) WORSHIP NOTE: The light of these candles represent Jesus. The birth of Jesus is the fulfillment of God s promise to come to us as the light of the world. OPEN THE BIBLE: Read Isaiah 9:2 followed by a moment of silence. 3

4 ASK: What do you think the darkness is? (Take answers). ASK: Has everyone seen the Great Light? (Take answers) Does everyone know He is with us? (Take answers) Note to Parents: Remember, the youngest in your families will often have the deepest and most open response... listen and take note. PRAY: Father God, thank you for the season of Advent and for the opportunity to prepare our hearts for you. Thank you for sending us Jesus, the light of the world. Extinguish the flame. Optional: Sing a favorite worship song, it does not have to be a Christmas carol. Scripture Readings for Advent Week 1 Christ Church Santa Fe Sunday: Mark 13:33-37 Monday: Isaiah 2:1-5 Tuesday: Isaiah 11:1-10 Wednesday: Jeremiah 33:14-16 Thursday: Romans 13:11-14 Friday: Matthew 9:27-30 Saturday: Isaiah 40:1-5 4

5 PARABLE ORNAMENTS (Fun optional activities during all weeks of Advent) Making parable ornaments during Christmas is another way of listening to Scripture and remembering the real message behind our celebration of Advent. Each week an ornament is made that reflects a parable from the Bible. If you want, hang these ornaments on your Christmas Tree after each activity. Supplies for Parable Ornaments * Clear plastic ornaments for each person participating, times 4 weeks * Salt (2 tbsp. each person) * Mustard seeds (2 tbsp. each person) * 10 goldfish crackers for each * 8x8 netting and 6 inches purple yarn for each * Sunflower seeds (2 tbsp. each person) * 1 purple permanent marker Week 1 Pour salt into each of the clear ornaments Read aloud: Matthew 5:13 Ask: What do you think Jesus means in this verse? (Take answers) Ask: How can we be salt to our friends and neighbors during Christmas? Write the verse on each ornament: Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. Week 2 Pour mustard seeds into the clear ball ornaments Read aloud: Matthew 17:20 Ask: What do you think Jesus means in this verse? (Take answers) Read aloud: Matthew 17:20 again Say: Listen to the words and what Jesus was saying to you and me. Do: Talk about different ways it sometimes feels like you may not have very much faith or about ways Jesus has helped you when you didn t know what to do. Put the Scripture Mt. 17:20 5

6 on the ornament. Week 3 Give each participant 10 goldfish crackers, a netting square and 1 piece of yarn Read aloud: Matthew 13:47-48 Ask: What do you think Jesus means in this verse? (Take answers) Who are the fish? What is the net? Do: Put goldfish into the netting and tie the top with the yarn. If you want, type up the verse and insert within the netting. Read aloud again: Matthew 13:47-48 Do: Put the Scripture on the ornament: Mt. 13:47-48 Week 4 Put 2 tbsp. of sunflower seeds into each clear, empty ornament Read Aloud: Matthew 13:37 Ask: What do you think Jesus means in this verse? (Take answers) Ask: Who is the Son of Man? (Take answers) Do: Put the Scripture on the ornament with a permanent marker: Mt. 13:37 WE CRY, WE WATCH IN FAITH THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014 PREPARATION: Gather your family, friends, Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Light the first purple candle for Hope and the second purple candle for Faith. Open the Bible to today s passage: Luke 1:26-38 Invite someone to open up your time together in prayer. REFLECT: What does faith mean? What kind of faith does it take to say yes to Jesus? WORSHIP NOTE: Today s candle represents faith... the faith to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He loves us, and wants us to know and trust Him. Today s passage is about Mary. Mary was a young woman chosen by God to be the mother of His son, Jesus. Jesus is both truly human and truly divine. Mary had a choice to say yes or no to God s request. Let s read today s Scripture. But when you READ: Luke 1:26-38 listen try to think about how Mary must have felt? ASK: God spoke to Mary through the angel Gabriel. Was Mary scared at first? (Take answers) Did Mary question the angel? (How and why?) Was the angel gentle and understanding or mean and gruff? (Take answers) 6

7 What was Mary s answer to having God s baby? (Take answers) then read vs. 38. ASK: When we feel God asks us to do something do we argue, ignore Him or do we put our trust in Him, even though it may not make sense? (Discuss) SAY: Let s read v. 38 one more time together, I am the Lord s servant, Mary answered, May it be to me as you have said. Let s take a moment to be quiet and listen to find out if the Lord has anything He wants from us that we should say yes. ASK: Are there any situations or things that you feel like the Lord is asking you to do, give up or to say yes? Let's talk about it... PRAY: Invite someone to lead in the closing prayer. Optional Prayer: "Dear Lord, thank you for loving us so much that you have given us choice. Thank you for also giving us an amazing example of faith in the person of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Please help us to have the faith to say yes when you ask something of us." Extinguish the flame. Optional: Sing a favorite worship song; it does not have to be a Christmas carol. SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR ADVENT WEEK 2 CHRIST CHURCH SANTA FE Sunday: Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Monday: Isaiah 35:1-4 Tuesday: Ephesians 5:6-14 Wednesday: Matthew 11:25-30 Thursday: Psalm 24:7-10 Friday: 2 Peter 3:8-16 Saturday: Isaiah 61:1-11 7

8 WE WAIT, WE LOOK FOR JOY THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT PREPARATION: SUNDAY, DECEMBER, Gather your family, friends, Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Light the first candle for Hope, the second for Faith and this third candle is for joy. This candle for joy can be pink or rose. Open the Bible to today s passage: Luke 2:8-14 Invite someone to open up your time together in prayer. REFLECT: What does it mean to be joyful? What are some things that you are joyful about? What are some things about Jesus that give you joy? READ: Luke 2:8-14 followed by a moment of silence. SAY: Today s candle represents joy... the angels joyous message that Jesus, our Savior, was born. SAY: Imagine what it must have been like for the shepherds that night when the angel appeared. (Discuss) What does the Bible say the angel looked like? (Discuss) SAY: The good news the angel spoke to the shepherds was of the promised savior. Let s read vs. 10 & 11 again. While the verses are read, listen to the angels words and think about what the shepherds must have felt or thought. Think about what God wanted them to know. ASK: Do you think the shepherds would have been joyful? How do you think they felt when suddenly a huge heavenly choir of angels started praising God together? What do you think God is telling you about being joyful and happy? (Discuss) SAY: God is with us now and we have so much to be joyful for because of Him. ASK: Let s talk about things that Jesus has done for us that bring us joy. What are those gifts of joy? PRAY: Invite someone to lead in the closing prayer. Optional prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the gift of your Son, our Savior. Thank you for the joy Extinguish the flame. of having you in our lives. Optional: Sing a favorite worship song, it does not have to be a Christmas carol. 8

9 SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR ADVENT WEEK 3 CHRIST CHURCH SANTA FE Sunday: Matthew 1:1-17 Monday: Luke 1:5-17 Tuesday: Luke 1: Wednesday: Luke 1:26-38 Thursday: Luke 1:39-45 Friday: Luke 1:46-56 Saturday: Luke 1:57-66 WE LONG FOR LOVE THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2014 PREPARATION: Gather your family, friends, Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Light the first candle for Hope, the second for Faith, the third candle for joy and this fourth candle for love. Open the Bible to today s passage: John 3:16, 17 Invite someone to open up your time together in prayer. REFLECT: What are some things that Jesus has taught us about love? What does it mean to love and be loved by the creator of the universe? Why do you think Father God sent Jesus to us as a baby? SAY: Today s candle represents love and reminds us of how much the Father God loves us by giving us His son. READ: John 3:16 and 17, followed by a moment of silence. Ask everyone to listen to what God is telling them personally. ASK: What does this Scripture say about Father God s love for us? (Discuss) What does this Scripture say about what Jesus will do for us? (Discuss) SAY: Not everyone knows about Jesus, God s son. What are some ways we can share about Jesus and His love with others this Christmas? ASK: What are some ways God has shown you His love this Advent? 9

10 SAY: God loves us all PRAY: Invite someone to lead in the closing prayer. Optional prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving us so much that you gave your only Son to us to save us from our sins. Thank you for this Advent season when we can focus on You. Extinguish the flame. Optional: Sing a favorite worship song, it does not have to be a Christmas carol. SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR ADVENT WEEK 4 CHRIST CHURCH SANTA FE Sunday: John 1:1-14 Monday: Mark 1:1-7 Tuesday: Matthew 1:18-25 Christmas Eve: Luke 2:1-7 CHRISTMAS EVE PREPARATION: Gather your family, friends, Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Place the white candle into the center of the wreath. Light the first candle for Hope, the second for Faith, the third candle for joy, and the fourth candle for love. Now light the center white candle. Open the Bible to today s passage: Luke 2 Invite someone to open up your time together in prayer. READ: Luke 2:1-20 REFLECT: What are some of the things we have learned during Advent that help us better understand who Jesus is? SAY: Today s candle is white. It is called the Christ candle to symbolize the birth Jesus Christ, our Savior. 10

11 REFLECT: What are some of the emotions that Mary, Joseph and the shepherds must have felt that Christmas Eve and why? (Take answers) ASK: What are some ways we can celebrate the wonder of Christmas Eve in our home tonight? PRAY: Invite someone to lead in the closing prayer or have each person add a part to the prayer and have a designated person close in prayer. SING Silent night, Holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin, mother and child Holy infant, tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, Holy night Shepherds quake, at the sight Glories stream from heaven above Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah. Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, Holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at thy birth Jesus, Lord at thy birth. 11

12 MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014 TO ALL YOU AWESOME PEOPLE AT CHRIST CHURCH SANTA FE God bless you all in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 12