Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry

Transcription

1 Sacred Space: A Resource for Small-group Ministry Year C Fourth Sunday of Advent: Joy Scripture: Luke 1:39 55 NRSV Gathering Welcome Advent is a season of waiting 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 Christmas Day. Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. Loving God of creation, As we sing Joy to the world, the Lord is come may we be reminded to prepare our hearts and minds to receive Jesus, the gift of peace in the world. As we hear all heaven and nature sing, may we be humbled, knowing what a joy it is to worship you. Help us to raise our voices in song, knowing your love of creation includes each of us. May we always delight you as we sing and praise your name. In this season of joy help us be sensitive to our brothers and sisters who are going through difficult times or feeling alone and lonely. We pray your comforting Spirit will surround them with friends and neighbors who show your love. May we see with your eyes to help those who cross our path. May there be songs in our heart, laughter on our lips, and joy in our soul as we share your peace with all. Amen. Diane Allison

2 Spiritual Practice Journaling Pregnant Waiting Materials: Advent wreath or ring for four candles and one white candle in the center, paper, and pens or pencils. Note: Light the first, second, and third candles of Advent before the welcome. 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. Read the following: Throughout this Advent season we have been contemplating how pregnancy and labor are metaphors for the forming and birthing life in our spiritual journey. This new life brings with it love without boundaries. It s a love that reaches beyond those who look, act, or think like us, and it calls us to open our arms wide to all. This is the love of Christ entering the world. A love that is unrestricted, unbounded, and unrelenting. This is Advent: new birth and the coming of God s mercy and love. Pass out papers and pens and ask the following: How do you see Christ being born in the world today, and how are you part of that birth? How can you be more intentional in your love for others? Give the group five minutes to journal and then invite members to share their thoughts and feelings. Sharing Around the Table Luke 1:39 55 NRSV In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

3 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. Today we celebrate the fourth Sunday in Advent. Mary, pregnant with Jesus, meets Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. This event sometimes is called The Visitation. Mary then sings the hymn known as the Magnificat. As Mary praises God in song, she remembers the stories from the Old Testament that show how God has a habit of disrupting traditional ideas of power. Mary recognizes that this disruption describes God s work in the past, but also describes God s promise to the people of Israel in the future. Mary is comforted by recalling God s faithfulness to God s work. The themes of waiting and arrival that we ve been discussing this Advent season are shown in Mary s waiting for the birth of her son, Jesus. We also wait for Christmas, the birth of Jesus, which now is imminent. Questions 1. Mary describes God as a force that upsets traditional power structures. How would you describe God? 2. How do we respond to Mary s song? Are we comforted by it, or does it cause fear and upset? Sending Generosity Statement Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint (Doctrine and Covenants 163:9). 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: God who is faithful, Be present with us as we plan our spending. May we use our resources in ways that build healthy, happy relationships with you, others, and 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

4 Closing Hymn CCS 395, People, Look East Closing Prayer Optional Additions Depending on Group Sacrament of the Lord s Supper Thoughts for Children

5 Prayer for Peace Ring a bell or chime three times slowly. Light the peace candle. Loving God of creation, As we sing Joy to the world, the Lord is come may we be reminded to prepare our hearts and minds to receive Jesus, the gift of peace in the world. As we hear all heaven and nature sing, may we be humbled, knowing what a joy it is to worship you. Help us to raise our voices in song, knowing your love of creation includes each of us. May we always delight you as we sing and praise your name. In this season of joy help us be sensitive to our brothers and sisters who are going through difficult times or feeling alone and lonely. We pray your comforting Spirit will surround them with friends and neighbors who show your love. May we see with your eyes to help those who cross our path. May there be songs in our heart, laughter on our lips, and joy in our soul as we share your peace with all. Amen. Diane Allison

6 Spiritual Practice Journaling Pregnant Waiting Materials: Advent wreath or ring for four candles and one white candle in the center, paper, and pens or pencils. Note: Light the first, second, and third candles of Advent before the welcome. 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. Read the following: Throughout this Advent season we have been contemplating how pregnancy and labor are metaphors for the forming and birthing life in our spiritual journey. This new life brings with it love without boundaries. It s a love that reaches beyond those who look, act, or think like us, and it calls us to open our arms wide to all. This is the love of Christ entering the world. A love that is unrestricted, unbounded, and unrelenting. This is Advent: new birth and the coming of God s mercy and love. Pass out papers and pens and ask the following: How do you see Christ being born in the world today, and how are you part of that birth? How can you be more intentional in your love for others? Give the group five minutes to journal and then invite members to share their thoughts and feelings.

7 Sharing Around the Table Luke 1:39 55 NRSV In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. Today we celebrate the fourth Sunday in Advent. Mary, pregnant with Jesus, meets Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. This event sometimes is called The Visitation. Mary then sings the hymn known as the Magnificat. As Mary praises God in song, she remembers the stories from the Old Testament that show how God has a habit of disrupting traditional ideas of power. Mary recognizes that this disruption describes God s work in the past, but also describes God s promise to the people of Israel in the future. Mary is comforted by recalling God s faithfulness to God s work. The themes of waiting and arrival that we ve been discussing this Advent season are shown in Mary s waiting for the birth of her son, Jesus. We also wait for Christmas, the birth of Jesus, which now is imminent.

8 Questions 1. Mary describes God as a force that upsets traditional power structures. How would you describe God? 2. How do we respond to Mary s song? Are we comforted by it, or does it cause fear and upset?

9 Generosity Statement Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint (Doctrine and Covenants 163:9). 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: God who is faithful, Be present with us as we plan our spending. May we use our resources in ways that build healthy, happy relationships with you, others, and 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.

10 Communion Statement We come together in this time of 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). All committed followers of Christ are invited to partake, but no one should feel pressured to receive the emblems. 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 from Community of Christ Sings 519, In the Singing.

11 Thoughts for Children Materials: a basket of small musical instruments: simple jingle bells, egg shakers (plastic Easter eggs taped shut with rice or other grain inside), finger cymbals, drums made from empty coffee cans or similar containers; whatever is readily available and appropriate for the children in your group. Say: See what I have here! Demonstrate a couple instruments to encourage the children to come. Would you like to try my instruments? Give the children a couple of minutes to explore and make a joyful noise with the instruments. When each child has had a chance to try the instruments, collect them and set them aside. How do you feel when you play music and sing? Music is a great way to share our joy, especially at Christmas. During the Christmas season we hear many special Christmas songs and carols, and often we attend special musical performances. Music is all around us during this season, and it can bring joy and turn our thoughts to God and God s promises. In today s scripture, we read about Mary, Jesus mother. Mary was very young, and unmarried when she learned she would be having a baby. In those days, women who had babies without being married could be punished very harshly. This was a very scary time for Mary. She went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. Elizabeth was very old, but an angel had told Mary that Elizabeth, too, was going to have a baby! Mary traveled to Elizabeth s home far away. When Elizabeth saw Mary walking down the path, Elizabeth s baby started moving in her womb! It was almost as if the baby was happy to see Mary coming. Mary felt great joy, and in that great joy she praised God in a song of faith that we call Mary s Song or the Magnificat. It is a statement of Mary s faith in God s goodness, faithfulness, and mercy. As we light the candle of peace today, let us join in Mary s praise for God s gift of love and peace, Jesus Christ. Note: If appropriate in the order of service, follow the children s moment with a Christmas hymn. Invite the children to choose an instrument to play joyfully during the hymn. If circumstances allow, pass out instruments to all the people present so everyone can make a joyful noise to the Lord! Possible hymn selections include CCS 408, verse 1, Joy to the World ; CCS 426, verse 1, Away in a Manger.