Advent Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

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1 3900 West Broad Street Richmond, VA Unwavering champions for children and families. Tel Fax Advent 2014 Opening Prayer: Children of God, lift our hearts to one another; Where pity dwells, the peace of God is there; May we today be the gift of Hope to someone else that you are to us every day. Amen. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, UMFS created these resources for you to use during this season of Advent. Inside you will find themes, calls to worship, hymns, prayers for lighting the Advent wreath and sermon starters with suggested scripture passages. Our prayer is that these resources may be a source of hope and inspiration to your congregation and a call to action to serve the most vulnerable in our world. We also invite you to highlight the work UMFS is doing to bring hope to children and families across Virginia. We invite you to help us in our Annual Offering during the month of December. UMFS does not receive apportionment dollars, so the opportunity to seek support from churches during our designated offering month is so important. Your support will provide life-enhancing change and transformation for many high-risk children and families. With your help, we can be unwavering champions for children who need hope. Will you be the Gift of Hope for someone today? We pray blessings for you during this Advent season. In Christ, Rev. Joe Torrence Minister for Youth and Church Relations jtorrence@umfs.org

2 Table of Contents: Page 3 Introduction Page 4 - About UMFS Page 4 - How Can I Give? Where Does My Gift Go? Page 5 - How Can I Get More Information? Did You Know? Pages First Sunday of Advent November 30, 2014 Pages Second Sunday of Advent- December 7, 2014 Pages Third Sunday of Advent December 14, 2014 Pages Fourth Sunday of Advent- December 21, 2014 Page Christmas Eve Page Small Group Questions for First, Second and Third Sundays of Advent Page Family Resource 1

3 Gifts of Hope It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you...yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand. --Mother Teresa As we prepare for the coming of Christ into the world, we are reminded that hope enters our world through the most unexpected of ways. A baby wrapped in cloth and placed in a manger changes the course of humanity through reconciling love. The same hope that Jesus had he also gives to us to give to others. The Gift of Hope is the gift given to all of us that we remember and celebrate at this time of the year. At UMFS we believe that there is hope inside each of us that, if given the chance, we will gladly share. During this Advent season may our hearts be reminded of the hope that is found in Christ and in one another. The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way a voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Mark 1:1-4 2

4 ABOUT UMFS UMFS began as an orphanage in Today we provide a comprehensive network of services to children and families across Virginia including treatment foster care and adoption, residential treatment, community-based services and specialized education services. OUR MISSION UMFS is an unwavering champion for high-risk children and their families, collaborating with communities to help them reach their full potential. Without the support of the United Methodist Church and local congregations like yours, we could not do the incredible work we do. It is only because of generous and caring individuals like you and your church that UMFS can create a world where caring, opportunity and generosity is passed on from generation to generation empowering all children to contribute to society as engaged citizens. In fact, we impact more than 4,000 individuals in Virginia each year. Your gift can offer hope to the world. HOW CAN I GIVE? Return your check or credit card information in the envelope provided. You can also make a gift online at or call Your gift to UMFS will help empower our children and families by giving them the gift of hope. WHERE DOES MY GIFT GO? Funds provided to UMFS are used to support our mission. Chaplain services Sports equipment Summer camps Support groups for foster and adoptive families Recreational therapy Educational field trips Art, music and horticulture education Career and technical education in cosmetology and culinary arts Scholarships for foster and adoptive children needing support 3

5 HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? We encourage you to visit our website: to learn more about our mission. You may also contact the UMFS development office by jtorrence@umfs.org or by phone: DID YOU KNOW? A child is abused or neglected every 75 minutes every 14 days a child dies from abuse/neglect in Virginia. Virginia is ranked #17 in the United States for cases of autism There are more than 5,000 children in the Virginia foster care system at any given time. UMFS touched the lives of almost 5,000 individuals in In 2013, UMFS opened a new school in Edinburg, VA. We recently opened a residential treatment cottage for children with autism other neurological differences. 92 percent of our volunteers come from faith-based communities. We have a guitar class that just graduated 5 students with brand new guitars. We have programs located across the state. 100 percent of what you give through the UMFS Offering will be used to help high-risk children and families in Virginia. Together you, your church and UMFS can be unwavering champions by giving the gift of hope. 4

6 The Gift of Hope: 1 st Sunday of Advent: November 30, 2014 Lighting the Advent Wreath: The first candle is one of peace. As we light this candle we are reminded of the peace that only Jesus can give. We give thanks for the Light we can see even in the darkest of times and the knowledge that we are never left alone. May the Peace of the Lord always be with you. As we light the Candle of Hope, may we remember when Hope came down from heaven. Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for keeping your promise to come into our world. Thank you for your many promises kept and anticipated. In the name of Christ, the promised Savior, we pray. Amen. Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-10 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins. Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people. Or read: Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, I Corinthians 1:3-9 and Mark 13:

7 Call To Worship: Leader: On this first Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of peace. People: Peace is not just the absence of war but the making of all things right. Leader: The Peace is of Christ is our confidence that God will be faithful and always with us. People: May there be peace on earth and may it begin with me. All: May we prepare our hearts with God s peace, God s grace, God s love, and God s mercy to walk in the light of the Lord. Hymns: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Light of the World # 196, United Methodist Hymnal # 2204, The Faith We Sing Sermon Starter: Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down. (verse 1) This is the plea of the prophet Isaiah in chapter 64, verse 1. How often have our hearts prayed for the same? How often have we longed for God to break into this broken world and set right the wrongs? To bring the chaos of our times under His reign of peace. We ve all prayed that prayer: Come and make it right, Lord. Step in and do something about this mess. At Advent, Jesus is sent as the answer to that prayer. Jesus is the first gift of hope. 2 nd Sunday of Advent: December 7, 2014 Lighting of the Advent Candle as we light the Candle of Peace: Christ was born, just as God had promised. God s people in other times waited and trusted in that promise. Our hope is in Christ who comes into our hearts and promises to return. The candle of hope reminds us. Today we light a new candle, the candle of faith, to remind us that we can trust the God who keeps His word. 6

8 Prayer: Lord, we have heard enough to believe. Help us not to hear only, but to trust. And in that trust we can live according to Your peace. Jesus may we know your peace both now and forever. Amen. Scripture: Mark 1:1-2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way. Or read Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalms 85:1-2, 8-13 and 2 Peter 3:8-15 Call to Worship: Leader: In the lonely places The wilderness Where we stand forlorn Windswept and alone Your voice calls out People: Prepare a way for the Lord Leader: In the dark places The shadows Where we hide our fears Embrace our tears Your voice calls out People: Prepare a way for the Lord Leader: As the rising sun comes to us each dawn People: Shine upon those who live in darkness Leader: That all might know the joy of our salvation All: The forgiveness of sins and your great mercy ~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. Response (all singing): O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. (UMH, p. 234) Pastoral Prayer: For the desert places in which we walk The streets we roam The paths we cross Guide our feet Take us to places 7

9 Where you would go Give us words that you would use That in this Advent season Of promise and preparation We might point the way with John the Baptist To the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Hymns: The First Noel, verses 1, 2 Like A Child # 245, United Methodist Hymnal # 2092, The Faith We Sing Pastoral Prayer: God of Peace, You raised up John the Baptizer as a herald who calls us to conversion. As we joyfully await the glorious coming of Christ. We pray to you for the needs of the church and the world. Prayers of the People: Hear our humble prayer that we may serve you in the holiness and faith and give voice to your presence among us until the day of the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen Sermon Starter: Throughout history, God has revealed God s will to God s people. The Lord shows us God s heart and character through the beauty of creation, the covenants and Law, the Tent and Temple, miraculous acts of power, and powerful words of prophets. But now, in Advent, The Creator does the unthinkable. God shows us God s on self. Do you want to know what God is like? Look to Jesus. Do you want to know how God acts? Look to Jesus. Do you want to know how God loves? Look to Jesus. Since ancient times, Isaiah says,... no eye has seen any God besides you. Yet not even the prophet himself could have anticipated this hope in sending Jesus, God reveals himself like never before. Jesus is the full revelation of God's character, will, and heart. He is God in the flesh and the gift of Hope for all of humanity. 8

10 3 rd Sunday of Advent: December 14, 2014 Lighting of the Advent Wreath: As we light the Candle of Joy, may the Joy of Christ be seen and heard in our actions and words. Joy rarely appears with neon signs and blinding lights, the divine rests as a radiant strand in an intricate tapestry that brings Joy indescribable. Prayer: Dear God, in the height of our Advent walk, grant us the courage to experience joy. Joy in the face of apathy, Joy in the face of sorrow, Joy in the face of uncertainty. Amen. Scripture: Mark 6:53-56 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went into villages, towns or countryside they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. Or use: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, I Thessalonians 5:16-24 and John 1:6-8, Call To Worship: Leader: Unto us is born a Savior - Christ the Lord. People: This is good news of great joy. Leader: The candle we light today is the candle of Joy, People: Reminding us of the Joy our Savior brings through life everlasting. All: May we each live into that Joy found only in Christ. Response (all singing): O come let us adore him. O come let us adore him. O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. (UMH, p. 234) Hymns: Joy to the World What Child Is This One Holy Night in Bethlehem # 246, United Methodist Hymnal # 219, United Methodist Hymnal # 2097, The Faith We Sing 9

11 Sermon Starter: In this story we find in Mark we see that Jesus is not only the future hoe but also the present restoration. The people run to him with their sick and hurting. Jesus does what Jesus does and restores life. The people find great Joy in this restoration. And that is what the gift of Hope does. It restores the joy that was once lost, or finds the joy where it was once hidden. As a gift of Hope Jesus brings Joy and restoration into the dark places of life this is our calling as well. 4 th Sunday of Advent: December 21, 2014 Lighting of the Advent Wreath: On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we light a candle for love. Love surpasses the secure locations we would choose, the holy nests in precarious places and roots in the fragile. Prayer: Holy One, may we have hands gentle enough to receive your coming in that which appears vulnerable. And may the love of God find a place in our own lives. Pastoral Prayer: Dear God, as our Advent pilgrimage draws to completion, grant us the courage to share your love. Love for the unexpected challenge, Love for the vulnerable one. Love for the presence of God. Scripture: Mark 10:13-16 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Or read: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Psalm 89:1-4, Romans 16:25-27 and Luke 1:26-38 Call To Worship: Leader: We are surrounded by your love, Lord. People: Thank you for the gift of the people we love. Leader: Help us not to take them for granted People: You are the greatest of all our gifts, Jesus. 10

12 Leader: All: We cannot praise you enough. In your name, Amen. Response (all singing): O come let us adore him. O come let us adore him. O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. (UMH, p. 234) Hymns: Once In Royal David s City The Snow Lay On The Ground # 250, United Methodist Hymnal # 2093, The Faith We Sing Sermon Starter: As this journey through Advent reaches culmination, we are filled with hope that the arrival of Jesus is near. It's almost time, and you can't escape the signs of it. Perhaps the most dominant sign that we are finally closing in on Christmas is the music filling the air. Everywhere we turn, songs exclaim the good news that Christmas is almost here. In almost every corner of our culture, we can hear the classic songs played on repeat. Theologically rich hymns that declare Jesus as the saving hope of the world and the very Son of God somehow find their way into the minds and even onto the lips of people all around us. We sing Joy to the World like we mean it. And we do! We shout it out because this hope of a Savior has become reality. This longing for redemption has been fulfilled. Jesus is sent to exclaim the Good News that the coming Christ has arrived and salvation is here. And everywhere we turn, the news is spreading. In this account of Mark Jesus tells the little children to come. In a world and context where children were not thought of the same way as they are today, Jesus sees them as an important part of the Kingdom, not only the receivers of Hope, but blessed to pass Hope on to others. The gift of Hope only matters if we pass it on to the next generation. What is your part in that story? 11

13 December 24, 2014 Christmas Eve And the one who was seated on the throne said, See, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true. Rev 21:5 (NRSV) Call To Worship: Leader: The time of waiting is over. People: Tonight we celebrate Jesus birth. Leader: We remember that Jesus is the Hope of the world. People: And in that Hope, we find our hope. Leader: As the Lord said See I am making all things new, People: Indeed the Hope of the world makes all things new. Response (all singing): O come let us adore him. O come let us adore him. O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. (UMH, p. 234) Lighting the Advent Wreath and Christ Candle: As we light the Candle of Christ, may we embrace the hope that has come and the Hope that is inside us all. Tonight we give thanks for every child among us. Each new birth, regardless of circumstances, reminds us of the preciousness of life, the potential of not only today but tomorrow, the promise of God and the promise of Hope. Christ our hope is born and nothing will ever be the same. Hymns: God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale Great is Thy Faithfulness Hope of the World Rock-a-Bye, My Dear Little Boy Hymn of Promise # 122, United Methodist Hymnal # 140, United Methodist Hymnal # 178, United Methodist Hymnal # 235, United Methodist Hymnal # 707, United Methodist Hymnal Call to Worship: Leader: We come to the end of this expectant Journey. People: Jesus be our Hope. Leader: We find in the manger our greatest surprise. People: Jesus be our Hope. 12

14 Leader: People: Leader: People: All: Wrapped in strips of cloth is the long expected King. Jesus be our Hope. Jesus is the promise of all humanity. Jesus be our Hope. Jesus is our hope, BORN AGAIN IN EVERY PLACE. Gathering Prayer: God of grace, we thank you for the abundance in our lives and the hope and love that you have given to each of us. As we gather, we confess that it is easy to forget the blessings you have bestowed upon us. We neglect the Hope in each one of us and the love that you so freely give. Today we remember Your children crying out for homes. We choose to see our neighbors who struggle. And we remember with intention those children who are left orphaned, abused and neglected. Lead us to Your hope and love to the most vulnerable, uniting our hearts to theirs and seeking to bring forth the Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. May we be Your love and hope, mercy and grace in every part of our world both now and forever, in Jesus name. Amen. Prayer for Illumination/Prayer before Offering: Most gracious and loving God, the giver of Hope eternal, we present these gifts as an offering to United Methodist Family Services so that they might continue to help your most vulnerable children and families in Virginia. We ask that you bless these gifts and multiply them to become families for those children with no family, education for those children with special needs and hope for those who are hopeless. We pray that this offering would be the answered prayers of our children and families served by UMFS and allow us to continue to be Your Hope into the World. Amen. Sermon Starter: Hope is not a thing that is lost to us, in fact it is found within each of us the power to believe that there is something more than what we are currently experiencing or have experienced. That is the powerful thing about Hope; it is not about what we see but the new things that are coming. The night Christ was born was not the sort of beginning one might expect for the Son of God it was not full of fan fare and spectators. There was no parting sea or large fish, there was no burning bush or pillar of fire, no blinding light. There was only a mother and a father, and a baby that would change the course of human history for all of eternity. That is how hope works small 13

15 unexpected miracles in unexpected places that move us forward into a new reality, a new future, a new promise. It is the promise of all things being made new and allowing the Hope that is inside of us all come forth and be shared with the world. We find hope by being hope for someone else. Jesus came as the hope of the world so that we may experience the resurrected life. The hope found in Jesus is given to us and our calling becomes to share that hope with others. We can be the gift of Hope to someone else. Small Group Questions: The following questions are meant to help your group enter into meaningful discussion that we pray will help you become more fully-devoted followers of Christ. They are simply a guide, so you don t have to use or get through all of them. You may want to look through them ahead of time and identify the ones that would work well with your group. Any questions you don t get to might be used by your group members for study and reflection in their personal devotional times. Week 1: Purpose: Jesus was SENT to claim His crown as King. Scripture Focus: Isaiah 64:1-9 & Mark 13:24-37 Reflection Questions: Why is it important that God came down in Jesus? What does that say about His motives? What does that say about the value of creation? What does that say about you? If God fully reveals Himself in Jesus, what does that tell us about His character? How does it change the way we envision God when we view Him through Jesus? How would you describe Jesus? Do you think this matches how most people would describe God? Why or why not? How does God want to use you to bring about restoration for the people in your life? How will you actively pursue that over this Advent season? 14

16 Respond: How do you feel God is asking you to respond to the message this week? Has God brought to mind anyone in your life that might be desperate for hope right now? Spend some time as a small group praying for these people. Then, brainstorm ways that you can bring them hope this week. Week 2: Purpose: Jesus is sent to reclaim His people from exile. Scripture Focus: Isaiah 40:1-11 & Mark 1:1-10 Reflection Questions: In what ways is sin like exile? How has the grace of Jesus freed you? What does this freedom look like in your everyday life? Why is it important to recall our exile as we journey through Advent? Shouldn't we focus solely on the joy of the season? How does this help us discover new and deeper layers of meaning? In what ways do you still need to experience deliverance? Do you believe that freedom is possible for you? Do you trust that Jesus can deliver you? Respond: How do you feel God is asking you to respond to the message this week? Has God brought to mind anyone in your life that might be desperate for hope right now? Spend some time as a small group praying for these people. Then, brainstorm ways that you can bring them hope this week. 15

17 Week 3: Reflection Questions: In what ways may we find joy in healing? What is the difference in Joy and happiness? Why is it important to recall our exile as we journey through Advent? Shouldn't we focus solely on the joy of the season? How does this help us discover new and deeper layers of meaning? How might you play a role in someone else s healing? How might you bring Joy to the life of someone else? Respond: Would people know that you are a follower of Jesus by what they see and hear from you? Why is this challenging or difficult to live out? How might you live out the Good news this week in your daily life in the midst of all the hustle and bustle? Family Advent Resource: Just like the Magi who brought gifts to baby Jesus, we can open our hearts at Christmas to see the needs of others around us. Many in our care at UMFS find themselves needing items that just make life better. Imagine if you could not do all of the fun things you do together with your family or imagine if you did not have a family. You and your family can be part of making a change with your change. What if your family gathered all your spare change and took that money to buy a Gift of Hope for someone not as fortunate as you. Like a new soccer ball or a warm winter jacket. What impact would this have in a person s life that is in need and does not have a family who cares for them? Christ s love for us is what brought Him to the manger and gives the entire world Hope. As a family you have the opportunity to be Hope to those around you. 16

18 Here is your challenge: It s time to look in your pockets, change drawer, or piggy banks and see what loose coins you can find around your house and gather them up. Count the change and see what your total is. Get a Gift of Hope Catalog and pick what you would like to buy for a UMFS kid. They are available from your pastor or on Work towards that amount together as a family. Turn in the money for your Gift of Hope on Christmas Eve at church together. This is a great project, but maybe you want to take this one step further. Consider coordinating this for your church and inspire other families to join you in giving a Gift of Hope. 17