ADVENT
(A Family Worship)

Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 23, 2012

Mother: Here is a new song we could try singing to the tune of hymn #692 (tune - Plainsong, Mode IV, harm. by C. Winfred Douglas, 1943; words by Patricia Kelm, 1976)

All: (sing)
1. O God, Creator of us all
You are so great; and we're so small.
How can we understand your plan?
For you are God and we are man.
2. We need Your help for us to know
What we should do; how we should grow.
On bended knees to you we bow,
Show us that way, we ask You now.
3. O could you come to us some night,
And be our everlasting light;
Our hope and our example be,
A flame throughout eternity.

Child: We will relight the first candle for the promise of God's Son. (purple candle)

Child: We will relight the second candle to remind us to prepare the way for Him. (purple candle)

Child: We will relight the third candle for peace and joy. (pink candle)

Father: Today we light the fourth candle for love. (purple candle) Jesus was God's gift of love to the world, the whole world. In the book of John we read, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Child: That was about the best gift anyone could give.

Mother: By sending His Son into the world, God has chosen to take His place alongside the poor and struggling people. That way, He could show us, in a way that we could understand, how to deal with the wickedness in this world.

Child: Is that what the phrase "God with us" means?

Father: Yes, and it means the same as "God incarnate." Another way to say that is, "God became flesh; He came to us in human form."

Child: I've heard that God is love; and love is the best gift, isn't it?

Child: We'll be giving gifts to each other and our friends and relatives soon.

Child: But our gifts aren't anything like the gift God gave.

Mother: We could try to give something that includes a part of ourselves; our love, concern, effort, thoughtfulness.

Father: James Russell Lowell wrote, "Not what we give, but what we share, - - For the gift without the giver is bare."

Child: Let's sing "Love Came Down at Christmas." #242

All: (sing)
Love came down at Christmas,
Love, all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
Star and angels gave the sign.

Child: Remember, He was born a baby, just a sweet, little baby. May we sing "Away in a Manger?" #217

All: (sing)
1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus, laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
2. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
3. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

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Revise to suit your families. Please note that songs/hymns listed may be spoken instead of sung.
Next page is for Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

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Back to Advent Wreath & Family Worship or Northland Notes or to Camp Sweat or Bob's Corner or perhaps Pat's Place and we also suggest Square Dances and maybe Contra Dances and then there's always Mixed Pics