Creative Spirit Circuit Advent Worship Workshop - Sunday 12 th October 2014 Worship resources for the Advent Season

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1 Creative Spirit Circuit Advent Worship Workshop - Sunday 12 th October 2014 Worship resources for the Advent Season Foreword This pack, produced by Wharfedale and Aireborough Methodist Circuit, contains worship resources for the Advent season. They were generated in four worship workshops at a Circuit wide event, Creative Spirit, held at Christchurch, Ilkley, on 12 October Our theme was inspired by the hymn Hope is a Star (Brian Wren, b 1936 *) with its four key motifs of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. We envisaged each of these words being a focus for each of the Sundays in Advent. 1. Hope is a star that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright. When God is a child there's joy in our song. The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid. 2. Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth. 3. Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that the Saviour is born. 4. Love is a flame that burns in our heart. Jesus has come and will never depart. It is our hope that our Advent worship will be enriched by the participation of so many creative people, and that something of the joy we shared on that day will come through as we praise God in each of our various churches. Being personally involved, with others, in making creative worship happen can be an experience which opens up new discoveries of faith. Watch out for the next Creative Spirit event! Peace and Love, Rita Armitage and Vivien Pitts October 2014 * The music used at Creative Spirit was the tune MOONBEAMS by Joan Collier Fogg available in Bring Many Names (35 Hymns) (Hope Publishing Company). Cat. No. HP747 available from Stainer & Bell at When used with this tune the hymn starts with verse 1 and the refrain follows after each verse. Alternative tune - GATES by John Carter available in Love s Open Door (Hymns ) (Hope Publishing Company/Stainer & Bell, 2009). Cat. No. B911. Available from Stainer & Bell as above. When sung to this tune the refrain is sung first, the verses follow and the refrain is sung again at the end. Permission is granted for display on the Methodist Church Wharfedale and Aireborough Circuit website only for a limited period until Local churches in the circuit reproducing the text by printing or projection must include this use on their returns to CCLI (if they have a current Church Copyright Licence). For any other use please contact Stainer & Bell.

2 1. Creative Art / Say It With flowers Inspired by the four motifs of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, the group made dream catchers, which were used as a visual focus for the worship and especially the prayers of adoration and thanksgiving. The group also produced an Advent ring. To one side of the communion table, a pathway of smaller advent rings with illuminated candles, laid at floor level, led the eye to the main candle pillar representing the light of the world, and then on to the Advent ring itself.( For instructions for making the smaller advent rings see separate download). These visual aids to worship have been photographed and put onto power point slides. You can download them from the Christchurch website ( or vivienpitts@talktalk.net for a copy. 2. Hands and Voices making Music - Music suggestions Introits. Singing the Faith (StF) 198. Emmanuel. If sung in harmony is very effective sung by full choir or small group accompanied or unaccompanied. StF 183. Praise to the God who clears the way. Verses 1 & 3 use themes of Peace, Hope and Joy. NB - If required verses from other well known Advent hymns can be used, ie StF 188 There's a light upon the mountain. Candle-Lighting. Hope is a Star (mentions the four themes, Hope, Peace Joy, Love). Can be used progressively throughout Advent. StF 165. Advent Candles. The tune is well known and also can be sung progressively. StF 174. Light a candle in a darkened place. Again can be sung progressively. Verses 1 & 2 to be sung on the first Sunday. Verse 6 is for Christmas Day. Prayer Responses. StF 168. Come Lord Jesus Come. (Hope, Peace and Love) StF 198. Emmanuel. Could be sung during the offertory General. StF 176. Like a candle Flame. Sung in two groups. The forth line of the refrain "come to save us" is sung in the third bar from the end StF 194. Child of Joy and Peace. A straightforward short Hymn. If a short anthem is required a traditional hymn can be used effectively such as The Angel Gabriel StF 187 by alternating between men and ladies voices (ie first four lines verses 2 & 3) or adding an instrumental part such as the flute. StF 173 Into the Darkness of this World beautiful slow, ballad; appropriate for solo singer or congregational StF 170 Darkness like a Shroud rather a contrasting verse and Chorus, with an up-beat chorus. Congregational StF 175 Light of the World. Lovely either as a lead in to worship ( Here I am to worship ) or as part of main service. Suitable for use with children: Let all the Earth Rejoice is from a song book called Sing Out at Christmas by James Wright very lively, up-beat. Unto us a Child is Born is from Out of the Ark Music Songs for Every Christmas by Mark and Helen Johnson very lively, up-beat. I ve got the Joy from a songbook called Sing Out 3 by James Wright Another lovely song, slower, more ballad in style is Gabriel s Message from a Christmas Musical called One Bright Star by Starshine Music

3 3. LIBERATING THE WORD a. An Advent Liturgy For churches with screens, Google has many images which are usable (please be aware of copyright limitations on some images): search under the 5 main words. There are other sites that have copyright free images simply search for copyright free images Mind maps can easily be found on all the themes except Glory - why not make one?! ADVENT 1 - HOPE. Leader: We begin our advent journey, in Hope. Hope is positive, it s an attitude of expectation. All: We will cherish hope, and look for what God has yet to do in our midst. Candle Lighting: As we light our candle for hope, it shines like a beacon for us. All: We will cherish hope, and look for what God has yet to do in our midst. Leader: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15: 13 All: We will cherish hope, and look for what God has yet to do in our midst. Sing First verse: Hope is a star that shines in the night ADVENT 2 - PEACE. (The first candle is already lit before the service) Leader: We continue our advent journey in peace, the occurrence of harmony, with freedom from fear and violence. All: We will nurture harmony, and celebrate God s peace in our world. Candle Lighting As we light our candle for peace, we pray for reconciliation and healing. All: We will nurture harmony, and celebrate God s peace in our world. Leader: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Matthew 5: 9 All: We will nurture harmony, and celebrate God s peace in our world. Sing First two verses: Hope is a star... ADVENT 3 - JOY. (two candles are already lit before the service) Leader: We continue our advent journey in Joy. Joy is God s love in our hearts. All: We will celebrate joy, and seek to discover it for all people. Candle Lighting As we light our candle for joy, we revel in its warmth. All: We will celebrate joy, and seek to discover it for all people. Leader: May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. Philippians 4: 4 All: We will celebrate joy, and seek to discover it for all people. Sing Three verses: Hope is a star...

4 ADVENT 4 LOVE (three candles are already lit before the service) Leader: We continue our advent journey in Love, which is patient and kind, happy with the truth, and never gives up. All: We will share love, kindling God s possibilities in all things. Candle Lighting: As we light our candle for Love, may it consume the darkness. All We will share love, kindling God s possibilities in all things. Leader: Let us love one another because love comes from God. 1 John 4: 7 All: We will share love, kindling God s possibilities in all things. Sing Four verses: Hope is a star ADVENT 5 - CHRISTMAS DAY - GLORY Leader: We complete our advent journey in God s Glory, made real to us in Jesus Christ* All: We will cherish hope, nurture peace, celebrate joy, and share love, revealing His glory. Candle Lighting: We light our candle to show God s Glory. All: We will cherish hope, nurture peace, celebrate joy, and share love, revealing His glory. Leader All of us then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces. 2 Corinthians 3: 18 All: We will cherish hope, nurture peace, celebrate joy, and share love, revealing His glory. ** Sing All four verses: Hope is a star peace. Joy. Love. Or another hymn based on Glory. The following additional words could be incorporated into the liturgy for Christmas Day, for example by adding (1) after the leader s words in the introduction at *, and by adding (2) at ** before singing the hymn. Please note it is not permissible for copyright reasons to add them to the hymn. (1) Glory is heaven, on earth it will shine, a wonderful message, it's yours and it's mine. (2) The Glory of Jesus brings Hope, Peace and Joy, And Love, which the darkness can never destroy. b. PRAYERS a variety written, inspired by the themes HOPE Prayer of Adoration: Almighty God, we come to praise you and to worship you. We know that you are far above us, your power fills the universe, and yet you are close to each one of us this evening (morning). We pray that our worship will open to us your great glory and majesty. Amen Prayer of Confession: Yet as we come to worship we are conscious that we cannot worship you as we would wish, because we are sinful men and women, we have fallen short of your glory and even of the standards we have set ourselves. Help us to identify and confess these sins.

5 According to your promises, forgive us, fill us with the joy and peace of knowing that we are forgiven, and give us the power to go into the world and be witnesses to you. Amen A Collect: O God, who rejoices when your children communicate with you, help us by prayer and supplication to make our requests known to you, and help us to rejoice at all times. Amen Prayer of Intercession: We come to you in prayer to bring before you all those who need our prayers. For the sick, heal them in body and mind. For the elderly and lonely, send them a friend. For the disabled, give them strength. For the abused, give them courage. For those in fear, give them hope. For our friends and families, surround them with your love. Blessing: We thank you for your presence here. Lead us out by your power and glory to give fresh hope to others. Prayers on the theme of JOY Adoration Our hearts burst with gladness Our souls soar with delight To know that you are God We sit on life s sidelines as you beckon Coaxing us to join your dance of joy Teasing us out of apathy So that we might reel along with you You teach us life s rhythm Open our ears to its music And give us the steps top join in Yet we are free to dance as we choose To find our own way to connect with all that is vital All that is joyful All that is you. Amen Confession God of Advent You are coming God of Advent We are waiting You come to bring us peace Peace to still our troubled minds Peace to still our unquiet hearts. You come to bring us hope. Hope that we can be all you want from us Hope that our broken pieces can be joined by your love.

6 You come to bring us love. Love, unconditional, offered as a parent to a child. Love that encourages us out of despair. You come to bring us joy. Joy that flows from forgiveness Joy that heralds a fresh start and new life. And so we offer our confession. Acknowledge our brokenness Admit our shortcomings To you and to ourselves. And we wait for you, God of Advent In the knowledge of the peace, hope, love and joy to come. Amen Thanksgiving based on PEACE Amidst the conflict within And chaos without Are you, O God of Peace In our struggle to conquer the darkness with light Are you, O God of Peace And so we offer our thanks For you There to still the waters There to calm the storm There to quiet our anger There to teach us peace Amen A Collect on Hope Heavenly Father, who gave hope to your people throughout history, especially through the resurrection of your Son from death, please enable us never to give up hope for ourselves, our friends, our nation and our world, but to live in sure and certain hope of his coming to us this Advent, and his coming again to gather up your church in glory. Amen INTERCESSIONS HOPE Hope is what we cherish at this Advent time. Hope in the knowledge you are here with us. We pray for those who need that hope today. The unemployed, that they will meet with encouragers today. Those in isolation because of political imprisonment; or illness or poverty. May they be aware of the hope beyond their walls. Those caught up in war: division: conflict: some whose hopes are wrong: whose ways are violent Give hope in these countries that all voices will be heard. God of hope, be with us. Amen

7 PEACE So many of your people long for peace. Peace around them; Peace within them. Help us to nurture peace within ourselves, Our churches, and our communities this Advent. Dear Lord, the Prince of Peace, We remember all people who live in turmoil Chaotic families because of homelessness The mentally ill and those who care for them Those living with guilt Your peace be with them. We remember all people whose countries are in turmoil- The Middle East, Africa Your peace be with them We remember all people working to bring peace to others Aid workers; counsellors; Pastors, Carers Your peace be with them. JOY Give us joy in our hearts as we come to you in prayer. We thank you for the joy we have knowing that God came to earth in Jesus. We pray for all those who do not know you: those who have never heard the name Jesus: May we so live our Christian lives that others come to know you. We pray for those whose lives are empty of joy those who live in fear of attack or abuse; Those who are in pain and undergoing treatment for illness May they feel the joy of your presence. LOVE God of love, who sent your Son to earth to teach us and show us the way of love, the God who gave us the commandment to love each other, We pray for all who show love to others each day in their workplace- For nurses, care workers, doctors, teachers, social workers. May the power of your love be felt. We pray for all our world leaders and politicians, especially in the United Nations where loving care for others is heard. Help the power of your love to come through. We pray for children who are deprived of love, who live in fear, who live in stressful places, who have never known love. May the power of your love be shown to them. Blessing on the theme of HOPE May the God of faith, hope and love strengthen your faith, inspire you with hope, and enable you to share his love and his gospel of forgiveness with all whom you meet. Amen

8 c. DRAMA - SKETCH WHAT PRICE PEACE? Inspired by a newspaper article about a neighbour dispute, it effectively illustrates the theme of PEACE. Act 1 Neighbour 1: Hello my name is Adrian and this my house. Neighbour 2: Hello my name is Brian and this is my house. Neighbour 1 & 2: This is my driveway (look at each other) Neighbour 2: This is my gate (proudly) Neighbour 1: And I need to go through your gate to get to our driveway to get to my house Neighbour 2: OK? Neighbour 1: But you keep it locked. Neighbour 2: You have a key Neighbour 1: Yes, but when I come home from work I can t get in without stopping the car, parking on that dangerous road, getting out and unlocking it and then getting back in my car before I can get to my house. Why don t you leave it open? Neighbour 2: Because I keep it locked to protect to my house and your house. Neighbour1: Couldn t we get electronic gates and share the cost? Neighbour2: How much will that be? Neighbour 1: Probably about 5,000. Neighbour2: Well I m not paying that I ll stick with the key. Neighbour 1: Humph (Walks off) Act 2 Neighbour 2 : Hey what s this? Neighbour 1:- A padlock Neighbour 2: I know it s a padlock, but it s locked I can t shut the gate. Neighbour 1: Tough Neighbour 2: Tough! What about my security? Neighbour 1: Well if you had agreed to contribute to gates! Neighbour 2: Humph (walks off) Act 3 Neighbour2: Hey Adrian did you hear about the burglary at No2? They drove into their drive when they were away, parked their car out of sight and completely emptied the house jewelry, TVs, computers the lot. Neighbour 1: Really Neighbour2: Yes, if only they had had gates. Neighbour 1: Like us Neighbour 2: Yes, but they are not much use if they are padlocked open! Neighbour 1: I suppose not Neighbour 2: What if we compromised and kept the gates locked overnight? Neighbour1: Well I suppose, OK. Neighbour2: Cup of tea? Neighbour 1: Why not? Children s Work Materials see separate download Instructions for making the advent visuals see separate download or vivienpitts@talktalk.net for a copy Power point slides of advent visuals see separate download or vivienpitts@talktalk.net for a copy