Instructional Note. Table of Contents

Transcription

1 2017 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 credit 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. 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...2 Promotional Calendar...3 Project Prayer...6 Sermon Thought Starters...8 Advent Readings Litany to Receive the Offering Additional Ideas for Display, Promotion, and Lasting Impact CBO FAQ

2 Advent marks the start of the Christmas season. It begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 (this year, that Sunday falls on December 3, 2017) 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 shall 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 Guide for more information.) 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 Guide and can be used each Sunday of Advent and 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.) Litany to Receive the Offering This additional reading in the Resource Book is intended to be read before the offering is taken on the fourth Sunday in Advent (December 24, 2017). (See the Promotional Calendar for more ideas.) 2

3 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 bring 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 2017 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 orders 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 the 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. November 2017 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. 3

4 December 3, 2017: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Sermon Theme: I Am Still Hopeful Advent Candle: Candle of Hope Introduce the Come Lord Jesus 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 10, 2017: 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. December 17, 2017: 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 24, the final Sunday of Advent. 4

5 December 24, 2017: 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. (Refer to the Litany to Receive the Offering section.) Lead the Litany to Receive the Offering provided in the Resource Book and 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. January 2018 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 2018, 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. 5

6 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 different persons commit to pray for a block of time during your designated 24-hour period. 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 6

7 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 Don and Caroline Armstrong Regional Coordinators, Asia-Pacific Global Strategy of Church of God Ministries Patrick and Jamie Nachtigall Regional Coordinators, Europe/Middle East Global Strategy of Church of God Ministries Michael and Heather Webb Regional Coordinators, Africa Global Strategy of Church of God Ministries For more information or to find out about the ministry and mission of the church in these countries, visit 7

8 By Thomas Scott First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2017 Title: I Am Still Hopeful Scripture: Luke 2:8-14 As we share this Christmas, the birth of Christ is the gift I want to encourage every one of us to give to somebody else this year. Give somebody this year the gift of HOPE! And with his birth He has brought hope, love, peace, joy, and victory to all of human kind. Just when we think our problems are perpetual and will never be resolved, just when we began to yield to the groping pessimism that seeks to overtake any promise of a brighter day, just when the presence of despair begins to block out the gleam of the sunshine and the quality and integrity of our souls and lives are in jeopardy, hope is born in a barn on the backside of Bethlehem. Hope is about living in anticipation of tomorrow while you re still dealing and struggling with the stuff today. And the good news of this season is We have a hope. We have a hope that is not just based in our feelings and our subjective observations. It is not based on some attitude that we may possess. Rather, our hope is built and founded in Jesus Christ. God clothed himself in Galilean cloth and was born in the ghetto. God stepped onto and into the pages of human history. That is the basis of our hope and the foundation for our expectations. Our faith is not merely a faith that reminisces about the past but our faith is also a faith that anticipates the future. Ours is a faith that looks down the road to the future, to the time when the promises God made will be the promises God will manifest. Ours is a faith that is able to look past the pains and problems and pressures of the presence and to anticipate the victory, joy, blessings, and grace that God may bestow upon us in some future moment. This belief is all about hope. Second Sunday of Advent, December 10, 2017, Title: A Call to Respond at Christmas Scripture: Matthew 1:24; Matthew 2:2; Luke 1:38; Luke 2:16-17 When we think of Christmas or Christmas Day there is a call to give a response to that which this day brings to us. One of the beautiful truths of Christianity is regardless of what realm you are in, there is continually a call to respond. When you read God s Word you are challenged to respond to it. We cannot read it without having a response. It is not a book that is apathetically read. It calls for engagement and reaction. The Holy Spirit of God also comes to convict humanity of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit calls for a response in our lives. Christmas is a special time of the year where the whole world stops long enough to think of Christ. Now they may be busy and they may not understand the depth of Christ like we do, but there is a call for a response during the Christmas season. The challenge of Christmas today is for us to respond to the message. We see four responses in the Christmas Story. a. Acceptance: Mary responded to the angel by saying May everything you have said about me come true (Luke 1:38). b. Obedience: Joseph did as the angel commanded and took Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24). c. Enthusiasm: The shepherds excitedly shared the news of the savior (Luke 2:16-17). d. Commitment: The wise men followed the star and sought the newborn king (Matthew 2:2). The question becomes, How will we respond to Jesus? 8

9 Third Sunday of Advent, December 17, 2017 Title: The Miracle of Christmas Scripture: Matthew 2: The birth of Jesus represents deliverance for the disinherited and the death of inequality. The birth of Jesus represents the birth of wealth and the death of poverty. The birth of Jesus should be celebrated because it represents the birth of freedom, liberation, wealth, and well-being for the entire world. The birth of Jesus has historic as well as present life-changing meaning. When Jesus was born, it changed history. The birth of Jesus was God s radical intervention into history. When we allow Jesus to be born in our lives, in our family, and in our communities, the birth of Jesus will change your life, will change your family, and will change your community. God loved us so much that God became human flesh. God came into the womb of a woman for nine months. God who was and is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient became a helpless baby. The miracle of Christmas represents three things. I. Deliverance And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21 kjv). The son of God was sent into Egypt by God to be delivered from the political power that sought to destroy him. Jesus had to be taken into Egypt to be delivered from the hate and evil of Herod. Likewise, Jesus is our deliverance from all that would hold us down and keep us from becoming all that God was to be. One of the miracles of Christmas is deliverance. II. Development Another miracle of Christmas is development. God sent Jesus into Egypt for his development that he might grow and develop, that he might grow physically and intellectually. The miracle of Christmas is not only about our deliverance, but for our development. It s about our spiritual development, our psychological development; it s about our physical development and about our educational development. III. Determination Christmas is about the determination to stay on track with the mission and purpose of our lives. Mary and Joseph understood that Jesus had a purpose and a mission, that God had provided directions, and that they had to be determined to follow those directions. Mary and Joseph were determined to follow the will of God. The miracle of Christmas is about our being determined to follow the directions of God s will for our lives. God has a plan, God has a purpose, and God has given us potential. 9

10 Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 24, 2017 Title: Experience Peace at Christmas Scripture: Luke 2:9-14 Over 2000 years ago, angels arrived and promised peace on earth and good will toward humankind. We need to ask today, Where is the peace the angels promised? Browse any news outlet and you ll see stories of innocent children who are the victims of gun violence, of gang violence, and in some cases of police violence. There are politicians absorbed in finger pointing and accusations. Sectarian bombings take the lives of innocent people. On a more personal level, Christmas spending is creating jealousy and envy and an ever-greater mountain of debt. If we re honest, instead of experiencing peace at Christmas, many people find themselves with envy over what others have, will have, and are about to have. The path of peace is available so that this year perhaps for the first time we can experience the peace that the angels promised. I want to look at five suggestions that I believe will help us get there. The word Peace will be used as an acrostic to help the teaching be easier to remember. P: Problems have to be recognized. E: Eliminate past regrets. A: Appreciate what we already have. C: Change the focus of our hearts. E: Entrust our future to God. 1. Problems must be recognized. I am not talking about problems in general because all of us have problems. For many of us if we re going to have peace this Christmas we have to recognize that we have a particular kind of problem. We end up buying things that we don t need, don t fit, and won t wear with money that we don t have, to impress people we don t like and folk who really don t care. For many people shopping on Black Friday is more energizing than aggravating. In fact, fifty-seven percent of the people surveyed thought shopping on Black Friday was an incredible experience. They go solo, they go in groups, it s a great time, it s an evening out, and it s a day out. Now on the flip side of that forty-three percent of the people said it s annoying and that is why they stay at home and shopped online. Others are becoming fed up with the materialism of the holiday season. One man said The holiday season for me brings so much financial pressure on me and on my family that sometimes wish we could skip it all together. One out of every three people go into debt every year just trying to buy gifts. Black Friday spending is expected to exceed $600 billion dollars this year. That is more than the gross national product of the entire country of Poland. Can anybody see that we might have a little problem? In all of this we are missing Jesus Christ. In all of this we miss the true meaning of Christmas. God did not send us things to give us peace. God sent us Jesus to give us peace. Jesus is more than enough to bring peace. 10

11 Jesus is the only one who really knows and can supply what our souls require at their deepest level. Are you feeling a little overwhelmed and pressured this year? Perhaps we have been trying to find peace in the wrong things. Whoever loves Jesus will always have everything they need. If you re going to experience peace this Christmas pproblems have to be recognized. 2. Eliminate past regrets. Christmas can be a difficult time because of relationships that have been damaged in the past. However, as followers of Christ I have good news for you. We have been called to take the first step toward reconciliation. The Apostle Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome in Romans 12:18 where he said, If it is possible, as far as it depends on you... If you will take the first step forward you can eliminate the problem and began to live your life in peace. If you initiate, you can eliminate. Guilt over past mistakes, sins and missed opportunities can rob us of our peace. Grief over hurtful memories and experiences interrupt our peace. Grudges that grind the edge of our spirit hurt our peace. Only Jesus has the power to help us move past the guilt, grief, and grudges. Only Jesus can give us the energy to be able to really move on with our lives and relationships. Only Jesus can give us the wisdom to be able to confront people in love. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks ahead. To have peace this year, problems must be recognized and past regrets must be eliminated. 3. Appreciate what we already have. Paul said in Philippians 4:12 I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Nobody is born content and contentment has to be learned. How many of you have kept the gifts that you have received doing your life time at Christmas? Did you know that ten percent of all the gifts given at Christmas last year were returned? Why? Wrong size, wrong type, wrong color or maybe the people weren t content with what they received. Paul said I have learned to be content! He had learned how to be independent of his circumstances, bigger than his bank account, and transcendent to his title. To be higher than what people called him, what they expected of him, what they said about him, and what they did to him. If contentment is something you learn then what s the secret? Our praise has to be consistent whether we are in poverty or in plenty. Our praise can be consistent because Christ gives us power, Christ gives us strength, Christ helps us love everyone. If we re going to have peace this year, we need to appreciate what we have. 11

12 4. Change the focus of our hearts. Philippians 4:2 says Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. I found out that last year that six out of every ten people self-gifted. Sixty percent of all people who went shopping during last year spend an average of $140 on themselves. Self-gifting is when one goes out and finds the gift; then buys the gift; then wraps the gift. We are encouraged by our culture to seek after our own self-interests, but scripture and the teachings of Jesus, point us toward caring for others and looking out for the interests of others. Peace and righteousness are twin brothers. When we focus on others it leads to peace. So perhaps we should change the focus of our hearts toward the needs of others. We need to be less concerned with what s being done for us to what we can do for somebody else. We need to change from being totally self-absorbed to being selfless in our actions toward other people. 5. Entrust your future to God. Peace is not the absence of trouble. It is the presence of security. We don t have peace simply because nothing negative is happening. We have peace when we become confident about whom we are in Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 48:17, God says: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. If we want peace we have to pay attention to God s commands. We need to stop worrying about what may happen and stop focusing on what hasn t happened. We need to get ourselves ready for what you pray and believe God can make happen in our situations. The best way to prepare for blessings is to get in position and act like they re coming. Get in position for God to bless you. Get in position for your breakthrough. Get in position for your miracle. Stop trying to figure it out and trust that God is already working it out! Stop worrying about what has not happen and get in position for what s about to happen. Entrust your future to God. Rev. Dr. Thomas Scott is the pastor of 22nd Street Church of God in Tampa, Florida, where he has served for thirty-seven years. He is also the Chairperson of the Florida State Association Church of God. Dr. Scott is married to his lovely wife Marva and they have two sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren. 12

13 Kathy Rankin Simpson The Advent wreath is a popular symbol that represents the everlasting life found in Christ and the never-ending love that comes from God. It is a circular, evergreen wreath (real or artificial) with five candles: four around the circumference of the wreath and one in the center of it. 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) and one for Christmas Eve. The flames of the candles point to the coming of Jesus as the Light of the World. Historically, the primary sanctuary color of Advent is purple. Purple is the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King. Pink is the color of roses and the color of celebration of the Christ child s coming. We suggest three purple candles and one rose candle arranged around the wreath. The purple candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle is usually lit on the third Sunday. The fifth candle is placed in the center of the Advent wreath and is lit on Christmas Eve. It is white, the color associated with angels and the birth of Jesus. You may purchase a ready-made wreath with candles, or you may choose a florist or designate someone in your congregation to create the Advent wreath. Use creativity to light the Advent candles in varying ways each week. Consider having a group of people walk from the back to the front of your sanctuary to light the candle on the Advent wreath. This is a great way to include families with children. After the first week, light all previously lit candles before the service begins. Light only the current week s candle during the service. Please plan well in advance for this season of celebration. Choose readers and other participants early to allow time for rehearsals. Use a diverse group of persons from the congregation, including children of all ages, seniors, couples, single parents, or expectant mothers. Scripture citations should not be read aloud in these meditations. 13

14 Week1: The Candle of Hope In the midst of the uncertainties of life, and especially having in mind of all the turmoil in the world today, we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed (Titus 2:13 nlt). Mary certainly faced self-doubts and questions from her family. She may have been the topic of gossip and the target of scorn among her neighbors. But she looked forward with hope. Mary raised her voice in praise, Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things. (From Luke 1:47-53 nlt). Zechariah also rejoiced with hope, Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. We can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live (From Luke 1:68-70). We live in hope because of the faithfulness of our God. We have been blessed by the hope that we have found in our Savior, Jesus Christ. We light this Candle of Hope (light the first candle), praying that those living in darkness will see a great light (From Isaiah 9:2 nlt). Come, Lord Jesus; remind us that you brought hope to the hopeless. Come, Lord Jesus; renew the sense of hope in our own lives. Come, Lord Jesus; revive our desire to give hope to those around us. Amen. Suggested Carol: CHILD IN THE MANGER, p. 177 Worship the Lord, Hymnal of the Church of God 14

15 Week 2: The Candle of Response Each of us is called to respond to the message of Advent. Mary responded with acceptance, I am the Lord s servant. May everything you have said about me come true (From Luke 1:38 nlt). Joseph responded with obedience. When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife (From Matthew 1:24 nlt). The shepherds responded with enthusiasm. They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child (From Luke 2:16,17 nlt). The wise men from eastern lands responded with profound commitment. Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him (From Matthew 2:2 nlt). They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (From Matthew 2:11). The Lord may not be asking us to respond to his Advent by a marriage, a trip to a stable or a star-led journey. But he is calling each of us to respond. As we light the Candle of Response (Light the second candle.) let us each faithfully answer the call he has given to us. Lord, may we respond to your Advent with acceptance, obedience, enthusiasm and commitment. Amen. Suggested Carol: O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL, p. 184, Worship the Lord, Hymnal of the Church of God 15

16 Week 3: The Candle of Miracles The Christmas story is filled with miracles events that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws. Zechariah was visited by the angel, Gabriel, who announced that barren Elizabeth would bear a child. Mary gave birth to the baby who was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20 nlt). Angels announced the birth to shepherds. The wise men and Joseph escaped Herod s plans because they were warned by the Lord through dreams. Simeon recognized the infant Jesus and prophesied, He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel! (From Luke 2:32) These particular miracles may not need to be repeated today. But the world cries out for the miraculous touch of God and his people. The lost need deliverance from sin the miracle of salvation. The oppressed need deliverance from injustice the miracle of righteousness. The lonely, the sick, and the betrayed need miracles of mercy and love. Today, as we light the Candle of Miracles, (Light the third candle.) let s celebrate the miraculous Advent of God s son in our world. Lord, we praise you for your mighty deeds. And we ask you to use us to be the conduit of your miraculous power to bring justice, comfort, and love to individuals, communities, and the world. Amen. Suggested Carol: AS WITH GLADNESS MEN OF OLD, p. 175, Worship the Lord, Hymnal of the Church of God 16

17 Week 4 Morning Worship: The Candle of Peace Jesus warned us, And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don t panic. Yes, these things must take place Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (From Matthew 24:6,7 nlt). Every time we read or hear a news report, we are aware of not only armed conflicts, but local shootings, family violence, vile words, and more. Jesus warned us. But he also said, I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33 nlt). The Christ of Advent has not promised us a life without struggles; he has promised to be Immanuel, God with us. I am leaving you with a gift peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27 nlt). We can live with peace of mind and heart, even in a world where conflict is rampant. And we can be peacemakers who introduce the Prince of Peace to individuals and communities desperate for calm and safety. As we light the Candle of Peace, (Light the fourth candle.) we are grateful for the inward peace your presence provides. We pray for the prophecy of Zechariah to be fulfilled. Because of God s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace (From Luke 1:78-79 nlt). Come, Lord Jesus; guide us to the path of peace. Amen. Suggested Carol: I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY, p. 170, Worship the Lord, Hymnal of the Church of God 17

18 Week 4 Evening Worship: The Candle of Christ We have waited through this season of Advent, longing for your glory to be revealed. We have experienced the bewilderment and the thrilling anticipation of Mary and Joseph as they waited for the birth. We have imagined ourselves as shepherds on the hillside when Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord s glory surrounded them (From Luke 2:9). We have marveled at the commitment of the wise men who travelled so far to worship the newly born king of the Jews. Though we have heard the story so many times, we are still mystified that the God of all creation loved us so much that, He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (From John 3:16). Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! (From Luke 1:46,47 nlt). We light this Christ Candle (Light the center candle.) celebrating that you are the Light of the World. We know, Jesus, that you speak to us, saying, I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (From John 8:12 nlt). Lord Jesus, come and lead us fully into your light. Amen. Suggested Carol: THE BIRTHDAY OF A KING, p. 159, Worship the Lord, Hymnal of the Church of God Kathy Rankin Simpson is an avid writer and former missionary. Kathy and her husband David served as Church of God missionaries with the Three Worlds Team in Bulgaria for many years before returning to the United States. 18

19 Michelle Wright Even So, Lord, Come! Leader: Congregation: Leader: Congregation: Leader: Congregation: Leader: ALL: Leader: Heavenly Father, we seek your face as we enter into this season to celebrate the birth of your only begotten son. May we embrace your presence, as we celebrate the gift you gave to the world. We wonder at the thought of your son, Jesus, being born on earth as an innocent baby. What a gift! For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. We thank you Lord for sending your son Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice. He is Emanuel, God with us. The precious infant was born to die for us all. We will watch and pray. Help us, Lord, to be more aware of your presence. You have made known to us the ways of life; you will make us full of joy in your presence. Father God, help us to wait together. Let there be no division amongst us. Help us to encourage one another. Let us not love only in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Now to him who is able to keep us from stumbling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. As we see the day approaches, we can boldly declare, Here comes our Hope and our Redeemer! Yes, we earnestly and eagerly wait for you; even so, Lord, come! Even so, Lord, COME! As we lift the offering today, we hasten the Lord s return. He gave us the great commission to go and make disciples. The Christ s Birthday Offering helps support ministries around the world, spreading the Good News of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are his hands and feet. Let us put actions behind our words and give. We sow seeds of faith into God s kingdom. Amen. Michelle Wright serves with her husband Pastor Frederick Wright at the Gathering Palce Church of God in Fairview Heights, Illinois. She serves as the Central District Representative for the State of Illinois Christian Women Connection. Michelle and her husband are the parents of four children and one grandson. 19

20 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. Servant 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 no better than others, but that we can freely share with others what we are given by God. Small Groups If your church hosts small groups or midweek teaching times, consider using the study Christ s Birthday Observance: Shine for greater insight into the scriptures surrounding the Shine theme. This study is available for purchase at 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. 20

21 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is important about the Christ s Birthday Observance? 1. 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. 2. Offering The Christ s Birthday Observance Offering is collected the Sunday before Christmas as a gift to the Christ child. The money collected touches nearly every ministry in the Church of God. 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. 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 on 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. 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% Supporting the ministry in four ways: 1. Connecting the movement First-class regional and national conventions Exceptional international youth convention Publishing news of the Church of God 2. Supporting the mission of the movement Sending 70+ missionaries Project Link (facilities, vehicles, ministry tools) Disaster relief Trafficklight (fighting human trafficking) Christians Broadcasting Hope (in ten languages) Spread the Word (empower dynamic ministry worldwide) Continued next page 21

22 CBO FAQ Continued 3. Equipping leaders of the movement Leadership Focus (training and credentialing ministers) Be Bold Academy (leadership resources) Student Leadership Focus (equipping a new generation) 4. Making the movement work Providing a yearbook Scholarships to our four colleges Administrating the General Assembly Chaplain ministries to military and institutional chaplains 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. 50% Church of God Ministries 50% Christian Women Connection 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. 22

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