Blog Archives

Christmas Eve Worship 2018

12/24/2018

At our Christmas Eve worship service, our youth shared a poem and a prayer to express the meaning of Christmas. They also sang 2 verses of "The First Noel." The text, pictures and video of their presentation can be found below. They did a wonderful job!

The Meaning of Christmas
Author Unknown

Far away in Bethlehem, a baby boy was born,
Born with neither riches, nor with fame,
Yet wise men came from all around to bring him their gifts
And peace was felt by all who heard his name.

Angels watched him as he slept, and gently rocked his bed,
Their voices singing softly in his ear,
His mother and his father both gave thanks to God above
For the greatest gift of all, their Son, so dear.

They knew his life upon this earth would not be filled with wealth,
They also knew he would encounter strife.
But most of all, they knew that he would be a loving child,
And teach the love of God throughout his life.

At Christmas we celebrate this birth of Jesus Christ,
Let’s keep in mind the truth of Christmas Day.
For it’s not the Christmas wrappings, nor the gifts that lie within
But our gift of love to others in every way.

A Christmas Prayer
By Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father, help us to remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus’ sake.

AMEN

Poem and Prayer
File Size:	170872 kb
File Type:	mov

Download File

2nd Verse of The First Noel
File Size:	67985 kb
File Type:	mov

Download File

0 Comments

12-23-18 - This Week in Sunday School

12/22/2018

0 Comments

THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT - JOY

Sunday School was held for Littles only this week.

Before going downstairs for Sunday School, our students presided at the readings, prayers and lighting of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th candles in the Advent Wreath.

This Week in Sunday School -
Theme - The 4th Week in Advent - Joy

Littles - We read the book, “A Night of Great Joy” by Mary Englebreit. It illustrates a children’s Christmas pageant while telling the story of the birth of Jesus and the great joy it brought to all humankind.

If we have extra time, we also plan to read the story of “Alfie the Christmas Tree,” by John Denver. Although he loves the beauty of Christmas and its significance regarding peace on earth and the Son of God, Alfie the Christmas tree also rejoices in the beauty of the natural world and urges us to say a prayer for it and for those who live in it too.

Craft/Activity - Our Littles made “Joy to the World” picture frames with their pictures in it.

Upcoming Schedule

Dec. 23 - Littles will come downstairs. Middles and Youth will stay upstairs.
Dec. 24 - 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service with Sunday School Presentation. Please try to arrive by 6:45 so we can organize to process in.
Dec. 30 - NO SUNDAY SCHOOL
Jan. 6 - ALL Groups will come downstairs

0 Comments

12-16-18 - This Week in Sunday School

12/16/2018

0 Comments

THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT - LOVE

Sunday School was held for ALL students this week - Littles, Middles, and Youth

Before going downstairs for Sunday School, our students presided at the readings, prayers and lighting of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd candles in the Advent Wreath.

Theme for All Students - The 3rd Week in Advent - Love

Littles - We read the story of the birth of Jesus and the angels appearing to the shepherds to tell of this miraculous birth from our Spark Story Bible (Luke 2:1-20). We talked about the love God had for his people, sending his son to live with us and teach us. We talked about other people who love us.

Craft/Activity - Our Littles made a “stained glass” nativity ornament. Last week they brought home a little paper booklet with the story of Jesus’ birth. This week they are bringing home a booklet with the story of the angels and the shepherds in it.

Middles and Youth - We worked on practicing their poems and song for the Christmas Eve service. Then we had a discussion saying, if you take out completely the idea of the giving and receiving of gifts, what are the most meaningful traditions, activities, actions of the Christmas season. How do you experience love at Christmas time in ways that don’t involve gifts?

Upcoming Schedule

Dec. 23 - Littles will come downstairs. Middles and Youth will stay upstairs.
Dec. 24 - 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service with Sunday School Presentation. Please try to arrive by 6:45 so we can organize to process in.
Dec. 30 - NO SUNDAY SCHOOL
Jan. 6 - ALL Groups will come downstairs

0 Comments

12-9-18 - This Week in Sunday School

12/9/2018

0 Comments

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT - FAITH and PEACE

Sunday School was held for LITTLES ONLY this week

Before going downstairs for Sunday School, our students presided at the readings, prayers and lighting of the 1st and 2nd candle in the Advent Wreath.

Theme - The Christmas Story, a story of faith and peace, for the 2nd week in Advent.

Littles - We read the story of the birth of Jesus and talked about how we believe in this story, even though we didn’t see it with our own eyes. This is what having faith means, believing in what we can’t see. Having faith can also bring us peace.

Craft/Activity - Our Littles made a nativity ornament. They also got a scratch-off Advent calendar and we got all of our scratch and reveal days caught up to today. They can continue updating this calendar at home throughout the rest of Advent. They are also bringing home a little booklet with the story of the Birth of Jesus in it.

0 Comments

12/2/18 - This Week in Sunday School

12/2/2018

0 Comments

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT - HOPE

Sunday School was held for ALL students this week - Littles, Middles, and Youth

Before going downstairs for Sunday School, our students presided at the readings, prayers and lighting of the 1st candle in the Advent Wreath.

Theme for All Students - The Meaning of Advent and the Advent Wreath

Littles, Middles, and Youth - We talked about the meaning of Advent, a time of preparing for the birth of Jesus. And we talked about the Advent Wreath and its symbolism.

It is a circle to remind us that God has no beginning and no end. God has always lived and always will.
Evergreens are used on the wreath to remind us that people who love God will live forever with God.
Colors - The blue or purple, which are royal colors, used on 3 of the 4 candles is to remind us that we are watching and preparing for our King. The candle for the 3rd week, the week of Love, sometimes referred to as “Rose Sunday,” is pink to represent rejoicing in the love of God. This also matches the color of the vestments typically worn throughout Advent by the priest.
Number of Candles - The 4 candles represent the 4 weeks in Advent. Often a 5th candle, the “Christ Candle” is added to the center on Christmas Eve to represent the birth of Jesus.
Lighting the candles in the Advent Wreath is to remind us of the way Jesus changed the darkness of hatred and evil into the light of joy and love.

Craft/Activity - Our Littles made a foam advent wreath. All of our students helped to make some bird seed ornaments for our upcoming outdoor tree decorating event.

Middles and Youth - Also worked on practicing their poems and song for the Christmas Eve service.