Sunday Mornings

Advent 2011

 1st CANDLE - (purple) "CANDLE OF HOPE"

We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises he made to us. Our hope comes from God. (Romans 15:12-13)

2nd CANDLE - (purple) "CANDLE OF PREPARATION"
Preparation means to 'get ready.' "Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD!" (Luke 3:4-6)

3rd CANDLE - (pink) "CANDLE OF JOY"
The angels sang a message of JOY! (Luke 2:7-15)

4th CANDLE - (purple) "CANDLE OF LOVE" 
God sent his only Son to earth to save us because he loves us! (John 3:16-17)

5th CANDLE - (white) "CHRIST CANDLE"
The white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins!
His birth was for his death, his death was for our birth! (John 1:29 and John 3:1-8)

Advent  Week 1
Say prayers of praise

Prayer is important for children to learn and praising God is part of praying.  Praising God for the many blessings that are freely given to us.  

Praise is defined as “to glorify (a god or a saint) especially in song” 
(http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/student?book=Student&va=praise )

Synonyms: bless, carol, celebrate, emblazon, exalt, glorify, hymn, laud, 

magnify, resound 

FOUR WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY: Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2
MONDAY: Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 1:26-33
TUESDAY: Luke 2:1-5
WEDNESDAY: Luke 2:6-7
THURSDAY: Luke 2:8-9
FRIDAY: Luke 2:10-12
SATURDAY: Luke 2:13-14

Offering:  Focus on praising God through our giving.

STORY:   Mary and Joseph were both visited by an angel and given some GOOD NEWS. They were going to have a baby – but not just any baby – this baby was actually GOD and was the promised Messiah who would come to save the world from sin! WOW!

 Mary, The Mother of Jesus Monologue     (Using a puppet)

I’m Mary and an amazing thing happened to me when I was just a teenager. 

I was engaged to Joseph. We were going to be married. I was all excited like any bride would be – and of course I thought about having children. But I never expected this!! 

There I was one day just doing my normal chores when an Angel came to me. An Angel!! Can you believe it? His name was Gabriel. He came up to me and said, "Hello" then told me that God thought very highly of me. I didn’t know what to make of it. God thought very highly of me? I was a little afraid. The Angel Gabriel could tell I was a little afraid and said to me, "Don’t be afraid. You are going to have a baby and you’ll call Him Jesus. He will be King forever." 

I said, "How can this be? I’m not married." I couldn’t understand the whole thing. Then Gabriel said, "God will give you this child – He will be the Son of God."

I was amazed. Simply amazed. I knew that my people were waiting for the Messiah but that I was going to give birth to Him? We all thought that He would come as a great king, not as a little baby.

My Jesus, my Savior, my Lord and my King – born in Bethlehem that very first Christmas. 

 Scripture: Psalm 100:4-5, Psalm 105:2, Psalm 118:1

Prayer: Focus on praising God. 

Song: Away in the Manger