Advent
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Interactive Christmas Service
This interactive reading was adapted from the book, The Ox and the Donkey by Gunter Spang. After welcoming everyone, I led the kids in making their ox and donkey hand puppets. Using the instructions from this YouTube video, I passed out materials for them to make puppets that will be used in worship. During the…
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Interactive Reading of Luke 2
This interactive reading was adapted from another source. Introduce the characters and practice each part. Give instructions that they will perform their parts after their words are read in the Christmas story. Below are just suggestions, but you can simplify it by having everyone do all the parts. I made signs to prompt them. Characters City …
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Mary Advent “Wreath”
For the Advent season, we did a worship series focusing on Mary. Using the Song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), we looked at the different roles Mary had in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ: Mother, Witness, Revolutionary, and Disciple. Each Sunday, the choir sang a different version of Ave Maria. The youth had an…
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At-Home Advent Ritual Set
During the pandemic, this Advent and Christmas season will be difficult for many as we are unable to gather together and participate in rituals that give us meaning. This Advent, Sam Lundquist, pastoral assistant, put together an at-home liturgy booklet that will align with Advent worship. We also made Advent candles and a Christmas ornament…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Advent, Refugees, & Immigration
These prayer stations focus on Advent focusing on Jesus as a refugee. There is opportunity to not only reflect on refugee stories, but support refugee/immigrants as well. Interactive Prayer Station #1: Treasure Materials: Markers, Copies of Treasure Chests Interactive Prayer Station #2: Symbol Materials: Scissors, Glue, Glitter, Felt, Fabric Pens, Ribbon Interactive Prayer Station #3:…
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Interactive Prayer Stations on Advent and Daniel (Daniel 6)
It is unusual to connect the story of Daniel in the lion’s den to the season of Advent. I have been following the Narrative Lectionary instead of the Revised Common Lectionary, which lists Daniel 6 as the scripture reading on the first Sunday of Advent. While it seems like a stretch, Daniel 6 was appropriate…
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Advent Candle Lighting
Here are two alternatives to lighting candles during advent that are interactive. Option One: Materials: Mirrors to cover the table, tea light candles, 5 pillar candles, long matches. Spell out the different letters of advent like hope, love, joy, and peace (or whatever words you desire). Invite those in the congregation to come up and…
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Advent Light Box
What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. (John 1.3-5) During advent season, usually we set up the advent wreath and each Sunday light the appropriate candle. As an alternative, I created a light box, where each…
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Interactive Prayer Stations for Advent V
The first Sunday of Advent, my church has interactive prayer stations, an opportunity to engage, reflect, and meditate on this period of expectation, waiting, and preparation for the birth of Christ. Below are ideas for interactive prayer stations focusing on centering our hearts on minds on the meaning of Christmas. The interactive prayer stations are…
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Nativity Story of the Drummer Boy
Instead of a typical Christmas sermon, I wanted to do something that wove in storytelling and singing. Rather than using scripture to tell the story of Mary and Joseph, the Animals, the Angel, the Shepherds, and the Wise Ones, I found poems from poets across the century. Inspired by the Pentatonix’s version of Drummer Boy,…
Still Waters 