RESOURCE GUIDE. But the angel reassured them. Don t be afraid! he said. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all the people.

Transcription

1 RESOURCE GUIDE But the angel reassured them. Don t be afraid! he said. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all the people. L U K E 2 : 1 0 (NLT) CHRIST S BIRTHDAY OBSERVANCE

2 RESOURCE GUIDE But the angel reassured them. Don t be afraid! he said. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all the people. 1

3 Christ s Birthday Observance Resource Guide 2018 by Christian Women Connection. All parts of this work are available for free use and may be copied and reproduced provided they are not being used for financial gain. We ask that you give proper attribution to Christian Women Connection. Additional questions may be addressed to: Christian Women Connection PO Box 2328 Anderson, IN Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2

4 INSTRUCTIONAL NOTE Welcome to the Christ s Birthday Observance. We are glad that you have chosen to participate in this important celebration of Christ s birth. The goal of the Christ s Birthday Observance is to focus attention and devotion on the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope that you will find materials and ideas throughout this resource to help your congregation draw attention to the child in the manger and how His birth changed and continues to change the world. TABLE OF CONTENTS Making the Most of the Christ s Birthday Observance Materials...4 Promotional Calendar...5 Project Prayer...8 Sermon Thought Starters...10 Advent Readings...23 Additional Ideas for Display, Promotion, and Lasting Impact...28 Christ s Birthday Observance FAQ

5 4

6 Making the Most of the Christ s Birthday OBSERVANCE MATERIALS Advent marks the start of the Christmas season. It begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 (this year, that Sunday falls on December 2, 2018) and ends on Christmas Eve. The word advent means coming or arrival. The purpose of the season is to anticipate and prepare for the birth of Jesus, the Christ. These weeks enable us to make our hearts and minds ready to embrace the wonderful event that we will celebrate: the Incarnation, God coming to us in human flesh. Advent is a time of preparation that is marked by prayer. We offer prayers of humble devotion, prayers of submission, and prayers of supplication for deliverance for those walking in darkness and awaiting a great light. Note: Local congregations are permitted to make copies of materials for use with the Christ s Birthday Observance. Materials will also be available online at org. Click on the Ministries Tab and select Christ s Birthday Observance from the drop down menu for more information. For any other use, please contact Christian Women Connection for permission at (866) Promotional Calendar Read through the promotional calendar first. This will help you know what to do each month as the season of Advent draws near. It will also give you ideas about what to do each week of Advent and how to make your event benefit the goals of your church as much possible. Project Prayer One of the great events during the Christ s Birthday Observance is Project Prayer. Each state and country has been assigned a specific day on which to pray. Please plan early to have a great Project Prayer at your church. You may even want to send notes of encouragement to Church of God representatives in the other states or countries assigned to pray on the same day as your church. (See the Project Prayer section in the Resource Book for more information.) 5

7 Sermon Thought Starters The sermon thought starters are a great way to build a service. Your pastor may use these ideas to build a whole sermon or to simply include references that tie the sermon to other details of the Observance. These ideas may prove particularly useful if your congregation employs lay or interim speakers for sermons or brief spoken introductions during the Advent season. Advent Readings Advent readings are found in your Resource Book and can be used each Sunday of Advent and on Christmas Eve. They are intended to be read aloud during the lighting of the Advent candles. Leaders are encouraged to use a variety of readers for this special season. Young people, older people, children, married couples, and single people should all be considered to serve as readers. (Refer to the Advent Readings section and the Promotional Calendar for more ideas and information.) 6

8 PROMOTIONAL CALENDAR Planning Ahead Each year, we all strive to avoid the frenzied rush that precedes the celebration of Christmas. Planning ahead helps to reduce stress and brings into focus the real reason for our celebration: the gift of Christ. Keep your plans on track by adding dates from this itemized list to your church s calendar or automated software, or to your personal datebook. October 2018 Read over the materials. Familiarize yourself with the theme and available resources. Get ideas. Visit the website at Click on the Christ s Birthday Observance promotional page to view ideas that will enhance the Observance in your local congregation. Form a planning committee. Early in October, call a meeting to discuss the Christ s Birthday Observance. In many churches, the planning committee consists of the women s leader and the senior pastor. Consider involving your worship arts pastor or minister of music, other women from Christian Women Connection, or representatives from every ministry area to help incorporate all aspects of church life into the experience. After all, the Christ s Birthday Observance is much more than the offering. It includes prayer for missions, meditations, sermons, worship, and much more. In the planning meeting, you should discuss and review the details of worship, Advent readings, and Project Prayer. At this meeting, review the materials that your church will need to order to make this event successful. You will find an order form in the materials packet with the Resource Book. Many materials are also available in Spanish, offering an opportunity for inclusiveness within your church or for outreach. Order materials early! A key element to a fruitful experience is ordering your materials early. Seeing displays or receiving handouts of posters, bookmarks, meditation journals, offering envelopes, and letterhead helps your congregation become excited about the offering. Waiting too long can prevent the materials from arriving in time for Advent. So please place your orders early. Celebrate last year s accomplishments! In October, you will receive your appreciation certificate for the previous year s Christ s Birthday Observance. Please share our appreciation with your congregation. 7

9 November 2018 Prepare for Project Prayer. Early in November, begin promoting and preparing for Project Prayer. Project Prayer can be a wonderful experience for your congregation as you stand together to pray for the world. Refer to the Project Prayer section of the Resource Book to help in planning this event. Begin promoting the Observance. Start placing posters and displays around the church on November 5. The Resource Book includes a section called Additional Ideas for Display, Promotion, and Lasting Impact that gives creative ways to share the theme with your church. Consider purchasing meditation journals and bookmarks for your entire congregation. Mail these resources to each family in your church and encourage them to use the devotional book throughout the Advent season. Plan to mail the materials for arrival in the last week of November. December 2, 2018: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Sermon Theme: I Am Still Hopeful Advent Candle: Candle of Hope Introduce the Great Joy for All theme to your church. Use the wide range of resources to make the Observance unified. Introduce the meditation journals. These are designed to help your congregation focus on Jesus, the Son of God. In these journals, you will find inspiring stories and meditations with questions for reflection after each day s reading. At the end of the journal are additional reflective questions. Introduce the bookmarks and the concept of the individual goal for the Observance Offering. December 9, 2018: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Sermon Theme: A Call to Respond at Christmas Advent Candle: Candle of Response Talk with your congregation about how your church responds to the arrival of Jesus in your community and share stories of the church being the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. 8

10 December 16, 2018: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Sermon Theme: The Miracle of Christmas Advent Candle: Candle of Miracles Share with the congregation about the miracle of Christmas. Have a time in the service during which people in your church can testify about the ways Jesus has changed their lives. Ask the congregation to begin considering what they will give next week to help share the miracle of Jesus. Whether you use slides, skits, bulletin information, verbal announcements, or all of the above, make certain that each Sunday the congregation is informed that the Christ s Birthday Offering will be collected on December 23, the final Sunday of Advent. December 23, 2018: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT This is the week of Christmas and the final week of the Christ s Birthday Observance. Sermon Theme: Experience Peace at Christmas Advent Candle: Candle of Peace This morning, the offering will be taken using the adult and children s offering envelopes. Provide all morning service attendees with a brochure that shows how the offering is used to share God s love around the world. You may want to include this in your bulletin or have ushers hand out the flyers before the service so that people can prepare for the offering. Before the offering is taken, remind the congregation of the meaning of the offering. Pass out the offering envelopes and allow time for people to make decisions and complete their offering envelopes. You may have a time of silence, or you may want music playing softly. Collect the offering. Consider having people come forward to place their offerings in a common basket or container. Encourage them to stop at the altars and pray for the ministry of the local church and the church around the world. 9

11 January 2019 Remit your congregation s offering to the state treasurer of Christian Women Connection. If you do not know where to send the offering, refer to the list in the materials packet. You may also contact the Christian Women Connection national offices toll free at (866) Thank your congregation for a job well done. Contact Christian Women Connection with any thoughts or ideas you have about the Christ s Birthday Observance. If you would like to send us a story about your church, visit us online at us at frontdesk@wchog.org, or call us toll free at (866) During 2019, continue to offer opportunities for your congregation to rejoice together through testimony, fellowship, and prayer for one another. Encourage the congregation to begin saving for the Christ s Birthday Observance in Maybe some of the young people in the church could create decorative envelopes or boxes. Celebrate the birth of Jesus throughout the year. Project Prayer Project Prayer provides a unique opportunity during the Christ s Birthday Observance for the Church of God worldwide to join together in a 25-day prayer vigil. While Jesus walked among us, He taught us the importance of prayer. His Holy Spirit now lifts our prayers to the throne of the Father. This list shows states and countries where the Church of God has a presence. On your assigned day, please join in a day of prayer with the other states and countries listed for that day. Also listed are the names and assignments of several leaders in the Church of God. We ask that you pray specifically for each of these individuals and the teams they represent for their leadership, protection, and provision as they serve God and the church in their respective areas, locally and around the world. You may want to plan a midnight prayer vigil or establish a prayer group in which individuals commit to pray for a block of time during your designated 24-hour period. 10

12 Daily Prayer Schedule for December 2018 Date State or Country 1. Alabama, New Mexico, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Kenya, Belize 2. Alaska, North Carolina, Bulgaria, Tanzania, Nepal, France 3. Arizona, North Dakota, Paraguay, India, Cayman Islands, Serbia 4. Arkansas, New Hampshire, Australia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Ghana, Argentina 5. California, New York, South Korea, Dominican Republic, New Zealand 6. Colorado, Ohio, Peru, Sudan, Bermuda, Côte d Ivoire 7. Connecticut, Michigan, Oklahoma, Canada, Indonesia, Northern Mariana Islands 8. Delaware, Oregon, Bangladesh, Antilles, Barbados, Eurasia 9. Florida, Pennsylvania, Singapore, Cuba, Congo (DR), Russia 10. Georgia, Rhode Island, Panama, South Africa, Philippines, Uruguay 11. Hawaii, South Carolina, Bhutan, Japan, Antigua and Barbuda 12. Idaho, South Dakota, Cambodia, Jamaica, Angola 13. Illinois, Tennessee, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Vietnam 14. Indiana, Texas, Mexico, Rwanda, Italy, Egypt 15. Iowa, Vermont, Zimbabwe, Laos, United Kingdom, Venezuela 16. Kansas, Virginia, Central Asia, Haiti, Thailand, Netherlands 17. Kentucky, Washington DC, Virgin Islands, Colombia, Hungary 18. Louisiana, Washington, Honduras, Mozambique, Ukraine 19. Maryland, Wisconsin, Zambia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Denmark 20. Massachusetts, West Virginia, Guam, Guyana, Greece 21. Missouri, Wyoming, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile, Switzerland 22. Minnesota, Nevada, Guatemala, Malawi, Bolivia 23. Montana, Mississippi, Uganda, Myanmar, Germany 24. Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Grenada, Spain 25. New Jersey, Lebanon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Brazil, Montenegro 11

13 Jim Lyon General Director, Church of God Ministries Arnetta McNeese Bailey Executive Director, Christian Women Connection Paul Maxfield Executive Director, Children of Promise Jeffrey Jenness President, Servant Solutions Ben Shular International Ministry Director, Global Strategy of Church of God Ministries Patrick and Jamie Nachtigall Regional Coordinators, Europe/Middle East, Global Strategy of Church of God Ministries Don and Caroline Armstrong Regional Coordinators, Asia-Pacific, Global Strategy of Church of God Ministries Michael and Heather Webb Regional Coordinators, Africa, Global Strategy of Church of God Ministries 12

14 SERMON THOUGHT STARTERS By Pastor Joshua Brandt First Sunday of Advent December 2, 2018 Title: God Is with Us Scripture: Luke 1 and Matthew 1 INTRO: When we first encounter God it is normal for us to feel afraid. All of who he is comes into all of who we are. All we have been hiding. All the darkness is illuminated. All the broken places begin to hope again. And that can be terrifying. We are often afraid when things change. And when we are confused. Mary was troubled at his words When we acknowledge our fear in his presence, we have the opportunity to move from that fear to an even deeper faith (which can bring heaven to earth for those around us). Luke 1 Do not be afraid // You belong to him When angels bring news, they often find themselves saying, Do not be afraid. A normal response to a life-changing message from God is fear. We don t stay in the fear. We don t get stuck in fear. Often we start with fear! Fear responses: Flight, Fight, or Freeze. These are natural. We expect to run or to get angry or to do nothing. Do not be afraid. These words calm. They acknowledge what Mary is feeling (what we are feeling). And yet, they call us to move deeper. To not stay in the natural response. 13

15 First Sunday of Advent continued... You have found favor with God. It is easy to not be afraid when we realize the heart of God. When we see ourselves how God sees us. You are God s favorite (that is what it means to find favor in him). Mary was his favorite. You are his favorite. The person sitting next to you is his favorite. Do not be afraid // You are powerful You don t need to fear because sons and daughters of God are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. We imagine the story goes this way: Gabriel appears and tells Mary not to be afraid because she is going to have Jesus. Which is true but incomplete. Gabriel tells Mary she doesn t have to fear and that the extraordinary is possible, because of the Holy Spirit and the power of God. While you and I won t experience virgin birth, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and the power of God. Do not be afraid // You are not alone In Matthew, we read Joseph s side of the story. Again, Joseph is told to not be afraid. He is also told about the impact of Holy Spirit on Mary s life. He hears about the deep connection that Mary and he will have with Jesus. And he is told that these miraculous moments are not only for them. Jesus is Immanuel: God with us. Mary s affirmation of the promise, and Joseph s willingness to stand with Mary, would impact every one of us. Activation: I am the Lord s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled. 14

16 Second Sunday of Advent December 9, 2018 Title: The Family of God Scripture: John 1 INTRO: It is hard to live on the outside. We all have something deep inside of us fighting for belonging. When we see a group where everyone seems to be seen and valued, it is normal for us to want to join. To become a part. Jesus came to invite us into His family. He is the unique son of God who came into the world to give us the right, the power, to become sons and daughters of God. When we embrace our identity as children of God we can invite others to join us in the family of God. John 1 Join the family // Belief Believing can be difficult. We are trained to be skeptics. We are told to question everything, to not talk to strangers, and to only trust what can be run through the scientific method. Things really haven t changed. Everything was made through Jesus. Everything and everyone was covered with His fingertips. Everyone was created in His image. However, the world did not recognize its creator. The people did not recognize the one who formed them. And we still miss it. We need Holy Spirit-empowered belief. Without the power of Holy Spirit, we cannot believe. We will still miss our creator. We will continue to miss joining the family. Our disbelief is normal. Our steps into belief are powerful. 15

17 Second Sunday of Advent continued... Join the family // Right & Power When we are able to believe, we receive the right to become children of God. This is a right that we too easily give away. Late night commercials and misunderstandings have left us with the belief that we are all God s children. We are all made in His image. Our humanity comes from him. Scripture is very clear that we are adopted as sons and daughters (Romans 8) once we believe and receive him. This shift in identity comes with some rights/power: We join the family of God. We call him Abba/Father. We have a new identity as sons and daughters. Jesus came and made His dwelling among us. There is an intimacy in this realization. We are not alone. As we talked about last week, he is Immanuel ( God with us ). He came to be with us. Not to leave us on our own to figure things out. We have the opportunity to continue the work of our big brother Jesus. Our homes, cities, and nations need us to dwell among them. We often think that joining the family of God will separate us from everyone around us. However, as we seek to invite people to join the family we will need to connect, love, and dwell in our cities even more than we have before. Activation: I embrace my identity as a son or a daughter of God. Empowered by Jesus presence in my life, I will invite those around me to join the family of God. 16

18 Third Sunday of Advent December 16, 2018 Title: Pressing Toward the Goal Scripture: Philippians 3: 3-17 INTRO: As we explore our new identity as Sons & Daughters of God, we understand quickly that things have shifted. If we believed that Jesus was born only to bring us salvation, we move to a period of waiting. We are waiting for either Jesus to return or for the end of our days so we can go to him. The waiting can become passive even when we read our bibles, invite friends to church, and worship in community week after week. When we expand our understanding of why Jesus came, why he was born, we realize there is more going on. Jesus did indeed come for our salvation, but he came for more than that. He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). We need to be prepared for the journey of life as a Son & Daughter. We need to understand who we are as we follow after Jesus. Philippians 3 Preparation // Lose yourself Paul is very clear. He knows who he was. He has a lot to be proud of. He knows his heritage. He knows the law. He knows And he considers all of that garbage in compared to knowing Jesus. When you are preparing for a journey it is very easy to overpack. As our suitcase lies open on the bed in front of us, we think of every possible scenario and pack outfits accordingly. We prepare for rainy weather and sunny. We pack a light jacket in summer, just in case it is cool at night. We wonder if we packed just the right number of socks. We want to make sure we are prepared for the journey! Paul cautions us to leave it all behind. We need to lose our old selves as we embrace our identity as Sons & Daughters. 17

19 Third Sunday of Advent continued... It is scary to think about losing ourselves. To imagine letting go of everything that got us this far. We need to understand that we are letting go in order to grab ahold of Jesus. Preparation // Righteousness Those of us who are willing to lose ourselves face another obstacle on the journey: We are convinced we are not worthy to follow Jesus. We remember our past. Whether we were five or thirty-five when we became Sons & Daughters of God, we remember. We remember all the times we wanted to do the right thing. We remember all the times we failed. We remember every time we started over. We remember There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. Romans 3:10-11/Psalm 14 And we forget. We forget that we do not have a righteousness of our own. On our own we have no hope. We now have a righteousness which comes from Jesus faithfulness. We have a righteousness from God. As we journey through this abundant life, we are living in the righteousness he has given to us. We have the power to choose what is right. We should be choosing what is right and good and holy. Preparation // Press On Sometimes on this journey we trip. We trip over the problems of life. We trip over our own feet. We trip over incomplete explanations, rainy days, and tragedies. What do we do when we trip? We get up. We press on. As empowered Sons & Daughters we are capable of much more than we think we are. We have the ability to impact our city. We have the words needed to invite people into the family. We are filled with God s righteousness. Part of our preparation is to commit to pressing on. Jesus has a goal for our lives. Press on. There is a prize for us. Press on. Our families need us to continue. Press on. Our cities need to experience the Kingdom. The nations still have not heard the great and good news about Jesus. Press on. As long as there is air in your lungs. Press on. Activation: I accept the righteousness that God has for me. I will press on toward the goal. 18

20 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018 Title: Rejoice, We Are Sons & Daughters of the King Scripture: John 3 INTRO: When Jesus came, a revolution began. The old covenant was going away, a new one was coming. Nicodemus was a Pharisee who understood the old covenant, the old way. He was an expert in following every measure of the law. If you had a question about how to live a life of virtue and worship, he would be able to answer it. Jesus changed everything for Nicodemus. He understands that God is with Jesus. He understands that what Jesus is doing is impossible apart from God. And yet, there is still an apprehension about laying down the old way in order to embrace the new. You hear his nervousness, his concern, when he gets practical, Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother s womb to be born! The Jesus Revolution was about more than the natural. Everything was changing. John 3 Revolution // Love Generations had grown up, lived full lives, and died wondering about God s loving kindness. They performed rituals, offered sacrifices, and tried to live righteous lives. And they fell short again and again. [All these centuries later we fall in the same trap: We try to earn salvation. We hope to prove ourselves to God.] The whole time God had a better plan: He was going to give us His unique son. Why? He loves us. No other reason. Not because we deserve it. Not because we can earn it. Simply out of His great love. What would it look like if we accepted this gift of love? We would live s sons & daughters. We would look at our world with love instead of condemnation. 19

21 Fourth Sunday of Advent continued... Revolution // No Condemnation Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world. This is really good news. News we forget. Instead of letting the people important to us know that God loves them, we often let them know all the ways God is disappointed in them or their lifestyle. And He did not come to condemn the world. He came to save the world. The word save here is sozo in the Greek. It is a unique word that means more than just save for eternal life. It means saved, healed, and delivered. Jesus came into the world to bring wholeness, to finally realize the old covenant idea of shalom. Father God sent Jesus, in love, to make us whole, set us free, and to deliver us from darkness. That is the opposite of condemnation. This salvation is the epitome of love. Revolution // Living in the Light Love is not an excuse to live however we want or to do whatever we want. Love empowers the gift of salvation. Now that we are set free, now that we are whole, we live in the light. The revolution Jesus started continues when our lives are lived in the light. We have learned (from John 1) that Jesus is the light of the world. Now that we are saved, made whole, we live in His light. In fact, we are children of light: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV) Since we have been saved and are children of light, we should set our lives to finding out what pleases God. We know that spreading the light, inviting others to become Sons & Daughters pleases him. Let us invite. Let us live in the light we now have inside us. Activation: I choose to live in love instead of condemnation. I rejoice that I am a Son, I am a Daughter, of God and I can offer love to my home, my city, and to the nations. 20

22 Sunday After Christmas December 30, 2018 Title: An Invitation Scripture: Matthew 22, Luke 2 INTRO: Christmas has come and gone. Another year of planning and preparing is in the books. You now know which gifts you got right, and which ones went terribly wrong. The pile of gifts to return is matched only by the pile of thank you notes left to write. In quiet moments, a piece of your heart is already thinking about next year. Wondering how you can spread more Christmas cheer, create new memories, and relive all the joy of Christmases past. Perhaps there is one way to keep the joy of Christmas going: Inviting people to join you in the family of God. Asking others to join you on the journey with Jesus. Risking letting people know about the joy you have found in the light. Matthew 22 Invite // Anyone Sometimes we read Matthew 22 with a bad attitude. We read about murder, compelling people to come in, and gnashing of teeth and we think this is a bad story. God seems mad. We get mad. We forget that this is a parable about a wedding banquet! This is a party. There has to be cake and dancing and joy. The original guests do not want to come. This seems like a tragedy until we realize it now means everyone is invited. Invite anyone you can find. Who is part of anyone? You, me, and everyone. We never have to wonder if we have the right pedigree, name, or attitude. We are invited. We can invite anyone. Yes, there is a part of the story in which someone doesn t come ready for the party. They come wearing the wrong clothes. Could it be because they didn t realize it is a party? When we invite others to join us in the family of God, we must make sure we are clear: they are being invited to the banquet table. 21

23 Sunday After Christmas continued... Luke 2 Invite // Glory to God The angels and shepherds got it right. They knew that all of the glory belonged to God. Every shepherd that responded to the angels call to rejoice glorified God. Everyone the shepherds told about Jesus was called to glorify God. When we invite people to become sons and daughters of God, it is tempting to take some of the glory for ourselves. Look at what I did! All we did was step into a moment. All we did was extend the King s invitation. The glory belongs to him. With every step we take, with every invitation we make, we must give the honor and glory to him. He is worthy of all our praise; all our worship. Invite // Spread the Word The shepherds responded to the angels invitation. They went and found Jesus. They realized the invitation they received was true. They encountered Jesus, and they could not remain silent. The shepherds spread the word to everyone they could find. They told them about the angels. They told them about Jesus. They invited them to join in the joy. When we have accepted the invitation and encountered Jesus, we will naturally spread the word. We will share our story. We will share His story. Activation: To God be all the glory for everyone and anyone I invite to the table. Encourage my heart, Holy Spirit, as I ask others to become sons and daughters of God. Joshua Brandt is pastor at The Gathering, a thriving church in Muncie, Indiana. His passion is inviting others to become who God created them to be. Joshua and his wife, Laura, have three amazing daughters. 22

24 ADVENT INTRODUCTION By Rev. Shelly Short The name Advent is a derivative of the Latin term adventus, meaning coming. The Advent season lasts four Sundays. This year s Advent begins on Sunday, December 2 and, as always, ends on December 24. The Advent celebration is both a commemoration of Christ s first coming and an expectation of the second coming of Christ. Israel longed for their Messiah to come, as Christians long for their Savior to return again. The Advent Wreath is a circular, evergreen wreath with five candles: four around the circumference of the wreath and one in the center. There are five Advent readings to coincide with the five candles. There is a reading for each week of Advent (the four Sundays preceding Christmas). Ready-made wreaths with candles can be purchased, or perhaps someone in your congregation would like to create the Advent wreath. The flames of the candles point to the coming of Jesus as the Light of the World. Consider using three purple candles and one rose candle arranged around the wreath. The purple candles represent royalty and are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. A rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, representing roses to welcome the Christ child s coming. The fifth candle is white, the color associated with angels and the birth of Jesus. This candle is placed in the center of the Advent wreath and is lit on Christmas Eve. 23

25 ADVENT READINGS By Rev. Dr. James W. Lewis Theme: With Great Joy for All But the angel reassured them. Don t be afraid! he said. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. Luke 2:10, NLT ADVENT READINGS December 2, 2018, Week 1 The Candle of Hope 24 We are surrounded by pervasive spiritual hopelessness, uncertainty, and despair. Yet, in Advent, we are surprised by hope even in the darkest night by God s messenger, proclaiming: I bring you good news. The Shepherds tended their flocks on a hillside in the chill of the Judean night. This was a night like any other night, until they were surprised by an angel who brought God s promise of hope. Suddenly, the Shepherds were surrounded by a dazzling light that struck fear into them. Yet, the angel spoke those words many people yearn to hear today: Do not be afraid. These were the same words spoken to Mary when she was informed that she had found favor with God. Too frequently hope cannot be heard and embraced until our fears are addressed and dispelled. Fears abound in our world today. Fears within and without. Fears of circumstances sure to come; fears of situations possible but highly unlikely; fears brought on by aging bodies, insecure employment, unstable economies, and deteriorating relationships. Fears abound. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield (Psalm 33:20, NIV). The people of God yearned in hope for the coming of the Messiah, their Savior and Deliverer. Even in desperate and hopeless times, we struggle to keep hope alive. [We] trust in you; do not let [us] be put to shame, nor let [our] enemies triumph over [us] (Psalm 25:2, NIV).

26 Suggested Carol: The Shepherds on that night experienced what hope in God promises in the world today: A peace that attends the promise of hope. As we light the Candle of Hope, help us to remember that for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope (Romans 15:4, NIV). From this, we are confident: The hopes and dreams of all the years are met in Jesus Christ. Dear Jesus, we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19a, NIV). Amen. COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS, #153, Worship The Lord: Hymnal of the Church of God December 9, 2018, Week 2 The Candle of Love Whenever God speaks, we are called to respond. God is love (1 John 4:16). Let us respond to God s love in this season of Advent. We are reminded of this great truth: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16, NIV). From Genesis to Revelation, the inexhaustible love of God is revealed toward us and toward all creation. Regardless of our state in life, or the depth and magnitude of human sin, Paul prayed that we may grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:18 19, NIV). Mary, in her song of praise, lifted her voice in response to God s loving favor on her life, saying, My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior (Luke 1:46-47, NIV). In this season of Advent, we pray that each of us experiences the overflow of God s love: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1, NIV). In all areas of life, in all interactions with others, even our enemies, in all decisions we make, may we respond with the same love by which you always love us. 25

27 Suggested Song: As we light the Candle of Love, remind each of us that while faith, hope, and love remain, the greatest of these is love (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). Lord, may we love you with all that we are, and, likewise, may we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Amen. GOD IS LOVE, #102, Worship the Lord: Hymnal of the Church of God December 16, 2018, Week 3 The Candle of Joy The closer to Advent we come, the more we experience the joy like that of a mother after just delivering her newborn baby. The Shepherds keeping watch over their flocks heard good news from Heaven. The good news would cause great joy to erupt for all people (see Luke 2:10). The joy of a new born baby. Not just any baby, but a Savior has been born to [us]; he is the Messiah, the Lord (Luke 2:11, NIV). What inexpressible and glorious joy (see 1 Peter 1:8)! Glory to God in the Highest Heaven (Luke 2:14, NIV). Many people in the world seek desperately to find this joy in things and stuff things that decay and erode, stuff that diminishes in value. May we put our trust instead on things eternal. Help us to embrace the truth that the joy we seek is only found in a right relationship with the only One who is this world s Good News. As Mary, pregnant with Jesus, greeted Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist, Elizabeth s baby leaped for joy (see Luke 1:44). As we light the Candle of Joy, may we, too, leap for joy at the coming of Jesus the Christ. In today s world, where true joy seems scarce, may we, in this season of Advent, experience great joy in our lives and in our relationships. Joy to the world. Our Savior is come! 26

28 Suggested Carol: Lord, let it be so! Amen. JOY TO THE WORLD! #150, Worship the Lord: Hymnal of the Church of God December 23, 2018, Week 4 The Candle of Peace The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace (Isaiah 59:8, NIV). People experience turmoil and chaos within and without. We hear of wars and rumors of wars across the globe, political scandals, persistent racial strife, and uncivil discourse, even among Christians. Lord, we yearn for peace within us, but we desire even more for peace among us. God s peace requires righteousness and justice. There is oppression and injustice in this world. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other (Psalm 85:10, NIV). In this season of Advent, we are called to be peacemakers in a world of violence. In this season of Advent, we look for the coming of Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6). Prince of Peace, we pray you forgive our sins, be a light in the darkness, and heal our lands. The Shepherds keeping their sheep on that cold Judean night heard the angelic chorus sing: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests (Luke 2:14, NIV). As we light the Candle of Peace, may the light of your Spirit inspire us to strive for and pursue peace. With great joy, we desire you to guide us in the path of peace. Amen. Suggested Song: REACH OUT AND TOUCH, #533, Worship The Lord: Hymnal of the Church of God 27

29 Dr. James W. Lewis graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor s degree in mathematics, where he also earned an MBA in finance. He had just begun his career as a CPA with one of the Big Eight accounting firms, Arthur Young & Co., when he felt an inexorable call to serve God through ministry. This call to ministry led him to earn a Master of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Later, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy in religion at Duke University and served as the pastor of First Church of God in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Lewis retired from Anderson University School of Theology, where he served as the Seminary Dean and Professor of Theology and Ethics. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor to South Park Church of God in Houston, Texas. Dr. Lewis enjoys his family and loves Texas. He has two adult daughters, Kimberly and Nicole, and grandchildren. He was happily married for forty-four years to Barbara Lewis, who went to her Heavenly home on March 13, ADDITIONAL IDEAS Of course, you will want to include traditional ways of highlighting the Christ s Birthday Observance (bulletin boards, a table in the Narthex or lobby, and inclusion in the worship service and bulletins, on your website, and in your media), but here are some additional ideas to help your church make the Observance personal, relational, and meaningful! Remember that any of these projects can be done by individuals, small groups, or the whole congregation, and can be modified for use with all ages. Art Event Have your church share joy by writing, drawing, illustrating, or painting what rejoicing means and how it feels. Encourage creativity. This may be fun to tie in with Project Prayer and your worship services by artistically representing answered prayers and joyful testimonies. 28

30 Service Projects Lead your congregation in a church wide service project for all ages. This is a great way to shine in your community. If you are in a warmer climate, contact your city and find out what service projects you can do together. What needs to be done? Painting, trash pickup in the park, planting, cleaning? If you are in a cooler climate, consider caroling in your community or taking warm loaves of bread to neighbors of the church. Or plan a menu of service options for your church, and organize groups. Have a large gathering to talk about what you did and to show pictures. Invite some of the people you met to come to your gathering and share what they thought, too! Christmas Baby Shower Select a local women s shelter or program to connect with as a church. Contact the organization and find out its needs. Perhaps you could host a church baby shower for goods and services for the shelter. Go all out and provide refreshments, decorations, and even baby games. Family Service Projects Encourage your families to get involved in the theme by providing ideas for service projects. Possibilities include volunteering on Christmas Day at a local homeless shelter or orphanage. Emphasize to families that this is a great way to talk about how we are not better than others axnd that we can freely share with others what we are given by God. Christmas Brunch or Tea This is a wonderful way to begin the Observance. Plan the brunch or tea for the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent. Some churches sell tickets and add the funds to the Christ s Birthday Offering. Have volunteers make seasonal goodies. Use cookie cutters to make finger sandwiches in the shape of snowmen or biscuits in the shape of holly leaves. Invite your church choir to sing Christmas carols while people are gathering and departing. Share the theme with those in attendance, and enlist their prayerful support of the Observance. You may want to provide a meditation journal as a gift for coming, and you may want to read some of the selections aloud for a devotional thought. 29

31 Christ s Birthday Observance FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. What is important about the Christ s Birthday Observance? Project Prayer States and countries with a Church of God presence are assigned a specific day in December to pray for the ministry of the church around the world. Offering The Christ s Birthday Observance Offering is collected the Sunday before Christmas as gift to the Christ child. The money collected touches nearly every ministry in the Church of God. 2. Why should our church participate in the Christ s Birthday Observance? Focus on Christ during the season of Advent (which is often overtaken by commercialism). Share the story of Christ s birth. Celebrate Advent in concert with Church of God congregations around the world. CBO has deep roots in the Church of God. The Observance, which began in 1949, continues to be one way Church of God congregations come together for the benefit of the kingdom. In addition to prayer and devotion, CBO offers an opportunity to give to the combined ministry efforts of the Church of God in the largest offering in the Church of God. 3. Where does the money from the offering go? Christ s Birthday Observance Campaign Production Costs 4% This service to the congregations of the Church of God offers top-quality resources that bring focus and devotion to Jesus Christ, encourages prayer support for ministries impacting lives where the Church of God exists worldwide, and includes the collection of an offering that supports those vital frontline ministries. 30

32 After campaign costs, the offering is divided with 50% going to the Church of God World Ministries Budget and 50% to the Christian Women Connection Ministry Budget. Church of God World Ministries Budget 50% Global Strategy recruiting, deploying, supporting servants who touch the world Leadership Development Sustaining Health And Pastoral Excellence (SHAPE); Church health and growth Credentialing Services Multicultural ministries; Student ministries Broadcasting Hope CBH media ministries; multiple language broadcasts cover the globe CARE Initiative Seeks to address economic issues facing pastoral leaders of the Church of God in the United States. This initiative is made possible through a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. Major Event Ministry the Cove; International Conventions; International Youth Convention; Raising up a generation of Christ-centered leaders Higher Education Tuition scholarships for our students at our four colleges and seminary Servant Solutions Supporting the newly ordained as they begin their journey in ministry Christian Women Connection Budget 50% Global Ministries CWC supports missionaries through direct giving, clothing, linens, and home appliances. We fund mission projects that provide buildings, health services, transportation, and community development, and projects that fight injustices like human trafficking, poverty, and hunger. Domestic Ministries CWC supports ministries in the United States including scholarships for women in college and graduate programs, minister s aid to widows of pastors, local feeding programs and food pantries, ministries on American Indian reservations, educational programs, and domestic service projects. Hunger, Relief, and Reconciliation Hunger and relief support is given to help rebuild after natural disasters, provide food and farming systems to the hungry, and to assist in community development. Reconciliation ministries include those partnerships and programs that advance restoration of relationships and unity in the local churches and women s ministries. 31

33 Thank you for your participation in the Christ s Birthday Observance! Please send questions, comments, and suggestions to frontdesk@wchog.org. We would love to know how we can better serve you and your congregation. 32

34 CHRIST S BIRTHDAY OBSERVANCE PO Box 2328 Anderson IN Phone: frontdesk@wchog.org