Week beginning 10th December

During the cold dark days of winter holly and ivy were found to have remained green. Because of this, holly and ivy came a Christian symbol of eternal life.

Holly and the Ivy three ( listen and watch )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5j8k_NpyEc

Life Is an Advent Season

"Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfil. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation and fulfilment are all part of our Advent experience.

"The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and his presence among us—as one of us—give us reason to live in hope: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned.

"May this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation and fulfilment into the Advent of our lives."

Come thou long expected Jesus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBGx_4PxO3g

Isaiah 9: 1 – 7

The race that long in darkness pined

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tUv9ZEa5Uk

Luke 1: 5 - 45

To continue after the next hymn

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y28Bv0Wjwh4

Luke 1: 46 - 56 .

prayer
Draw us together in unity, that our praise and worship might echo in these walls
and also through our lives. In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in mission, that the hope within might be the song we sing, & the melody of our lives. In this Advent of expectation draw us together in service,
that the path we follow might lead us from a stable to a glimpse of eternity. Amen

On Jordan’s bank the baptist cry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls4ESyb9uE8

Luke 1: carrying on from verse 56 – 80

Prayer

Father, just as You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus, help us to clear the paths in our hearts,. Show us the distractions in our lives that block us from all-out worship of You this Advent. Lord. We await Your coming! As we celebrate this Advent––Help us to look towards the day where we will see You face to face. . Give us a heart, Lord, that looks for Your coming on a daily basis. Help us to live our lives where we are constantly seeking Your presence. for we know we are am only clean because of your son. Show us today how we need to be refined, purified, forgiven. Give us the strength to ask for forgiveness. Help us make a Christmas in our hearts Amen.

Cradled in a manger, meanly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqeXbhwI7qE

Luke 2: 1- 21

Brightest and Best

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLwAcjuHZ_w

Matthew 2: 1 – 12

Advent it is a time for preparing. But have you ever thought about the symbols we use.

ANGEL

Gods messenger, We see pictures of Angels on all sorts of things usually as a Christmas tree topper

Angels came to the shepherds when the sang Holy holy holy

Glory to God in the highest heaven,  and on earth peace.

The Angel on the tree is a symbol of Joy of heaven touching earth.

Angel’s carol:Please watch and listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAln0aqYMRk

STAR

Lets first give the star a good looking at. Most large cities are so brightly lit by street lights that we can not see many stars, but if ever you travel to an area with no man-made lights, on a clear light you can see hundreds of thousands of stars if not millions. and trillions, But of all the stars there was was one so different and Guiding Star a sign of something very special.

So today many decorations include a stars may see them in shop windows or lit up displays. The village tree may have a star on top. You may even have one on the top of your Christmas tree.

Star carol please watch listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDtvuzzobT8

TREE

Now let us look at the Christmas tree

Evergreen, even green when the trees around it are bare. This reminds us that God is ever with us He sent His son that may may have eternal life.

O Christmas tree carol Please watch listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7qaeLyN_js

BELLS

Some tree have small bells on them or some may be hanging in windows or wall decoration

Bells ring out good news ring out a message.The sound spreads for miles.

Carol of the bells please watch listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQadcm_dwEM

WREATH

Symbol of Hope, Love, and Joy. Wreaths are hung on front doors or gates.

Some adorned with berries,& sprigs of Holly and Ivy bound with gold ribbon. Dried rings of orange stuttered with cloves. Cinnamon sticks tied with red ribbon and dried seed heads a reminder of the gifts the Magi travelled with.

Hope hath hope

Oh Christmas Wreath. Please watch Listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiecmAufvuM

NATIVITY

A crib set out on a shelf, in a window, , Some churches place life size models of a crib with the Christ child waiting to be put In it on Christmas morning .

Nativity plays are put on in schools, and churches leading up to Christmas day.

One church used to put on tableau, a living Christmas card. When cars drove past some sounded the horns and people waved. A visual reminder to the true meaning of Christmas

The Manger. Please watch and listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs8Iq7cxou0

CANDY CANE .

A Poplar sweet decoration to hang on the tree. With a hook shape. A reminder of the shepherds who came to see baby Jesus . A shepherds staff to remind us that Jesus said he was the Good shepherd who would lay down his life for his sheep, which as an adult he did.

The white candy pure. Jesus came sinless but carried our sin that we by his death are forgiven.

It also helps us to remember the pure virgin Mary.

Jesus before he was killed was whipped and beaten The red stripes reminds us of the stipes left on

His back. Turn the staff up the other way and you see the letter J for Jesus and for Joy

Candy Cane song. Please watch and listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QUeDqLDMmI

PRESENTS

The green stripe is like a ribbon and helps us realise this is a wonderful gift from God that He offers to us freely, but which we need to accept from him.

Are you ready to open Gods gift of Joy this Christmas day?

Presents - Children's Christmas Song. Please watch and listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCq-gQ1uCYw

The First Noel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UTN9dMidZ4

May God of Love bless you, may Jesus the son fill you with his peace and may the Holy Spirit fill you with the hope of Christmas that will lead you to eternal life.

Amen