celebrate again the coming of the Messiah, what changes do we need to make in our lives to be ready to welcome him? If you are planning to have individuals tell some of their story during Advent, invite them to share how they have felt and found joy when they were sad and others were happy, or vice versa. Hymns Zephaniah 3:14–20 VU 2 “Come, thou long-expected Jesus” VU 5 “All earth is waiting” VU 364 “Forgive our sins as we forgive” Isaiah 12:2–6 VU 59 “Joy to the world” VU 326 “O for a thousand tongues to sing” MV 180 “Sing, sing out!” Philippians 4:4–7 VU 249 “Rejoice in the Lord always” VU 684 “Make me a channel of your peace” MV 122 “This is the day” Luke 3:7–18 VU 18 “There’s a voice in the wilderness” VU 20 “On Jordan’s bank” VU 509 “I, the Lord of sea and sky” MV 155 “Unbounded Spirit, breath of God” December 23 – Advent 4 Micah 5:2–5a Out of Bethlehem in Judea will come a leader. Luke 1:47–55 (VU pp. 898–899) Mary sings, “My soul gives glory to my God.” or Psalm 80:1–7 (VU p. 794 Part One) Shepherd of Israel, hear us. Hebrews 10:5–10 Made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus’ body. Luke 1:39–45, (46–55) Mary visits Elizabeth. To Ponder Who do we overlook as messengers of God’s good news, considering them to be insignificant or unworthy?
Acts 8:14–17 VU 205 “Like the murmur of the dove’s song” VU 376 “Spirit of the living God” MV 142 “Oh a song must rise” Luke 3:15–17 VU 99 “Christ, when for us you were baptized” VU 100 “When Jesus comes to be baptized” MV 155 “Unbounded Spirit, breath of God” January 20 – Second Sunday after Epiphany Isaiah 62:1–5 No longer called Desolate but now named Delight. Psalm 36:5–10 (VU p. 762) God’s steadfast love extends to the heavens. 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 Different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit. John 2:1–11 The wedding in Cana. To Ponder God gives everything we need and more besides. How have you experienced that? Spark Imagine you are going to host a gala in your church. Decorate your worship space lavishly. With Children Prepare a plate of small rice cakes. Also prepare a rich treat, like jalebi, an Indian sweet made from chickpea flour and soaked in sugar syrup. Alternatively, if people in your community like fruitcake, that would be a great choice. Make sure there is enough for everyone to share. Invite people to eat some of the rice crackers. Initiate a discussion about the experience. Then invite them to eat some of the sweet food, followed by a discussion about that experience. What is the difference? Sometimes, we approach the world as if it were a rice cracker. It is good, but rather plain. What if we were to approach the world as a treat to be savoured? How would that change things for us? Briefly share the story of the wedding feast in Cana, where Jesus turned the ordinary into the extraordinary. That’s what God does in our lives. Sermon Starter A wedding feast! What an interesting way for the Gospel of John to describe the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry! It stands in contrast to John the Baptist, who called people to repentance and baptized them in the River Jordan. It should be no surprise, then, that when Mary approaches Jesus to tell him that the hosts have run out of wine, the water that has changed into the finest of wines is drawn from the large ablution jars. The containers used for ritual purity become a source of festivity and joy. Jesus helps us understand the world