Christmas
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Christmas Pageant: The Ten Marys & Angel Gabriel
This is an old children’s book written by Aurora Magni that I adapted and updated into a reading. It is about how angel Gabriel needs to deliver a message to Mary, but he doesn’t know which one. So, with the help of a local named Bartholomew, he visits all the eligible Marys to find the…
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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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The Faces of Christmas
While we are still not worshiping in person, we have opened the sanctuary for people to walk through and reflect on the story of Christ’s birth through art and prayer. Below are pictures of images that people are invited to meditate and view as they pray. Mary Joseph Shepherds Angels
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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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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,…
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Interactive Nativity Story
I am always looking for different ways to tell the Nativity story in an interactive and engaging way. This year, I came across this version of reading “The Ox and the Donkey” by Gunter Spang. I tweaked it a bit by changing the suggested hymns and how the story was divided. Below is my version: Gather…
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Interactive Prayer Stations for Lent III
4 Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. 5 He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. (Luke 2.4-5) Lent is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on one’s spiritual…
Still Waters 