Pockets

Read Colossians 3:12-17

One: Living in a family is wonderful, but it can be hard sometimes, too.

All: We don’t always get along; sometimes we become impatient and frustrated.

One: Even though we’re a family…

All: …we are all different people.

One: We have  different likes and dislikes, different personalities and habits.

All: So sometimes we disagree. Sometimes we fight.

One: What does the Bible say about getting along with others?

All: That we should “let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts.”

One: How can do this?

All: By remembering that even though we won’t always get along, we will always love each other.

One: By remembering that even though we disagree, we will always be there for each other.

All: By remembering that God loves each person in our family and wants us to treat one another with kindness and respect.

Prayer: Dear God, help us to show love to each other even when we don’t get along. Amen.

Together Time

Week One: Talk about ways your family can “clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Week Two: Talk about times when it’s hard for people in your family to be patient with each other. Are there ways you can make some of these times less stressful?

Week Three: Write the word patience on a large sheet of paper with the letters going down. For each letter in the word, write down at least one thing you can do to help you be more patient. (For example, the p might stand for pray.)

Week Four: Make time this week for the family to play a game or take a walk together.

 

One: God says, “Before I formed you, I knew you. Before you were ever born, I made you holy.”*

All: God says, “You are precious in my sight, and I love you.”

One: God says, “You have my name. I created you for my glory.”**

All: We are God’s people, created by God and loved by God.

One: God doesn’t say, “I love you because people find you beautiful or handsome.”

All: Or, “I love you because you’re strong.”

One: God doesn’t say, “I love you because you’re a fast runner.”

All: Or, “I love you because you’re a good dancer.”

One: God loves us just as we are.

All: Even when we wish we were stronger or faster.

One: Even when we wish we were bigger or smaller.

All: Even when we wish we looked different or could do different things.

One: God loves us just as we are!

All: God loves us just as we are! Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Creator God, sometimes we wish that we were different in some way. Help us to remember that we are your precious children and that you love us just as we are. Amen.

*Jeremiah 1:4, paraphrased
**Isaiah 43:4,7, paraphrased

Let someone read these words from Matthew 5:14, 16:

You are the light of the world. … Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Leader: Jesus said that when we follow his teachings we are the light of the world.

All: What did Jesus teach us to do?

Leader: Jesus taught us to love our neigbors and our enemies.

All: Jesus taught us to give food to the hungry and water to the thirsty.

Leader: Jesus taught us the give clothes to those who have no clothes.

All: Jesus taught us to visit the sick and those in prison.

Leader: Jesus taught us to be peacemakers.

All: Jesus taught us not to think of ourselves as better than anyone else.

Leader: Jesus taught us to love God and to try to know and follow God’s will.

All: When we do these things, we are the light of the world! Thanks be to God.

Prayer: God of light, we want to follow the teachings of Jesus. We want to be the light of the world. Help us to live each day trying to know and do your will. Amen.

by Anne Broyles

You can buy an Advent wreath or make your own by setting four candles in a circle and surrounding them with greenery. Advent wreaths usually have three purple candles and one pink candle, or four purple candles. If your wreath has a pink candle, light it on the third Sunday of Advent. A taller, white candle (the “Christ candle”), representing Jesus, goes in the center of the wreath.

Preparation: On separate pieces of construction paper, write out the five “key words” that will be used at the end of each gathering. Each week, have the appropriate word(s) ready. You may want to put the word up somewhere everyone can see it as a reminder of the week’s focus. The words are: 1)Righteousness, 2) Light and Mercy, 3) Love and Gladness, 4) Strength and Peace, 5) Praise and Wonder

First Sunday of Advent Righteousness

 

One: Advent is our special time to prepare for Jesus’ birth.

All: As we look forward to Christmas, we discover ways we can be like Jesus.

Light the first candle.

Read Jeremiah 33:14-16.

 

One: The prophet, Jeremiah reminds us that God promised to send someone who would bring “justice and righteousness in the land.”

All: “Righteous” and “justice” both mean doing the right thing. Jesus came to show us how to be righteous and just.

Together Time: Share some of the ways we can “do the right thing.” How can we be righteous and just as Jesus was? When is it hard to do act as Jesus might have acted?

One: Who is coming?

All: Jesus, Jesus.

One: Who will come on Christmas Day? Who is coming?

All: Jesus, Jesus. Righteousness will be our way.

Second Sunday of Advent Light and Mercy

One: Today is the second week of Advent, our special time to prepare for Jesus’ birth.

All: As we look forward to Christmas, we discover ways we can be like Jesus.

Light the candle from last week and the second candle.

Read Luke 1:78-79.

 

One: Zechariah’s prophecy reminds us of God’s tender mercy.

All: Jesus came from God to “give light to those who sit in darkness.”

Together Time: Talk about ways you can be merciful. Are there people or situations you as individuals or as a group can bring light to?

 

One: Who is coming?

All: Jesus, Jesus.

One: Who will come on Christmas Day? Who is coming?

All: Jesus, Jesus. Light and Mercy will be our way.

 

Third Sunday of Advent Love and Gladness

One: It is the third week of Advent, our special time to prepare for Jesus’ birth.

All: As we look forward to Christmas, we discover ways we can be like Jesus.

Light the first two candles and the third candle.

Read Zephaniah 3:16-20.

 

One: Zephaniah reminds us that God comes to us with open, forgiving arms.

All: Jesus came from God to bring love and gladness to our hearts.

Together Time: Share a time when you did something for which you needed forgiveness. How did it feel when another person accepted your “I’m sorry”?

One: Who is coming?

All: Jesus, Jesus.

One: Who will come on Christmas Day? Who is coming?

All: Jesus, Jesus. Love and gladness will be our way.

 

Fourth Sunday of Advent Strength and Peace

One: It is the fourth week of Advent, our special time to prepare for Jesus’ birth.

All: As we look forward to Christmas, we discover ways we can be like Jesus.

Light all of the candles on the outside of the wreath.

Read Micah 5:2-5a.

 

One: Micah tells of someone special who would come from Bethlehem.

All: Jesus came from God to bring strength and peace to the world.

Together Time: Share some of the ways we can be “strong in the Lord.” In daily life, how do we live God’s peace?

One: Who is coming?

All: Jesus, Jesus.

One: Who will come on Christmas Day? Who is coming?

All: Jesus, Jesus. Strength and peace will be our way.

 

 

Christmas Day Praise and Wonder

One: Today is Christmas!

All: We celebrate both the birth of the tiny baby, Jesus, and the life of the man he grew to be.

Light all of the candles, including the Christ candle in the middle.

Read Luke 2:1-20.

 

One: When Jesus was born, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven!”

All: When they saw baby Jesus, the shepherds were filled with praise and wonder.

Together Time: Share some of the ways we give God praise. How can we show our wonder at what God has done and is doing in the world?

 

One: Who has come?

All: Jesus, Jesus.

One: Who has come on Christmas Day? Who has come?

All: Jesus, Jesus. Praise and wonder all our days.

Note: Even after Christmas Day, the Christmas season continues until Epiphany, January 6. Keep your Advent wreath out until then.

Epiphany

One: Jesus is here!

All: From far away, wise men traveled to see Jesus and bring him gifts.

Light all of the candles.

Read Matthew 2:1-12.

Together Time: Share some of your experiences these past four weeks. Which words were hardest to live out? Is there a word you would like to take as a reminder of a way you want to be more like Jesus?

 

One: Who has come?

All: Jesus, Jesus.

One: Who did come on Christmas Day? Who has come?

All: Jesus, Jesus. Righteousness will be our way. Light and mercy will be our way. Love and gladness will be our way. Strength and peace will be our way. Praise and wonder all our days!

 

 

 

 

 

One: You know, God, when I sit and when I stand.

All: God, you know me so well!

One: You know when I lie down and when I wake up.

Another: You know what I think before I think it.

All: God you know me so well!

One: You know what I will do before I do it.

Another: It’s hard to believe how much you love me.

All: God, you know me so well!

One: I can never run or hide from you. If I move away, you come with me.

Another: If someone makes fun of me, you stand by my side.

All: Wherever I go, God, you are with me.

One: If my friends hurt me, you comfort me.

Another: If I am sad or lonely, you hold my hand.

All: Wherever I go, God, you are with me.

Prayer: Dear God, you created me, and you love me. Thank you! Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

One: Listen to this story: Some workers were building a beautiful cathedral. One worker, when asked what he was doing, said that he was earning money. A second worker said that she was laying bricks. A third worker said that he was building a building. A fourth worker answered, “I am building a house of worship for Almighty God.” A fifth worker announced, “I am glorifying God.”

Paul said that we should all believe that we are glorifying God in our work. And so:

All: Let students glorify God.
Let teachers glorify God.
Let parents glorify God.
Let office workers glorify God.
Let construction workers glorify God.
Let factory workers glorify God.

One: Paul said that we have different abilities to serve, and God gives ability to everyone for their particular service. Our abilities are given to us for the good of all. And so:

All: Let restaurant workers glorify God.
Let public safety workers glorify God.
Let government workers glorify God.
Let farmers glorify God.
Let health care workers glorify God.

One: Let all of us in whatever we do ask God to help us understand how our work fits into God’s will.

Prayer: Loving God, thank you for the gifts you have given us. Help us use our gifts in a responsible way, to help make your world a better place for everyone. Amen.

Read John 15:14-17.

One: God has given us friends to share our lives.

All: Friends share our happy times.

One: Friends share our sad times.

All: Friends help us when we have hard decisions to make.

One: God has given us many friends, especially (let each person mention the name of one or two special friends).

All: Thank you, God, for these special friends.

One: God has given us a very special friend named Jesus.

All: Jesus shares our happy times.

One: Jesus shares our sad times.

All: Jesus helps us when we have hard decisions to make.

One: Thank you, God, for our friend Jesus.

All: Thank you, God, for our friend Jesus.

Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for the friends who share our lives, especially for your son Jesus. Help us to be good friends to our friends. Amen.

Together Time:

Gather some writing supplies and art supplies. Let each person write something or make something representing a special friend.

Read Genesis 1:27.

One: When we look at people, what do we see?

All: We see many sizes and shapes, many colors of skin and hair and eyes.

One: When we listen to people, what do we hear?

All: We hear many languages, many accents, many different ways of talking.

One: When we get to know people, what do we find?

All: We find many kinds of personalities, many talents, many likes and dislikes.

One: People are different from each other.

All: Each person is unique.

One: But people are all the same in one very important way. Each and every person is created in the image of God.

All: People of many sizes and shapes, many colors of skin and hair and eyes, created in the image of God.

One: People of every language and nation, created in the image of God.

All: People of every personality, talent, and taste, created in the image of God.

One: Each one unique, each one the same.

All: Each one created in the image of God.

Prayer: Loving God, we give you thanks that we are created in your image. Help us to see your image in each person we see and to treat each one with loving-kindness. Amen.

Together Time: Sit in a circle and let each family member take a turn being in the center of the circle. Take turns saying together to whomever is in the center of the circle, “(The person’s name), you are created in the image of God, loved by God, and by this family.”

Begin by having someone read Isaiah 11:6-7, 9.

One: The prophet Isaiah told us about a new time of peace. He said that wolves and lambs will live together in peace.

All: And leopards will lie down with young goats.

One: Calves and lions will feed together.

All: And little children will take care of them.

One: On Zion, God’s holy mountain, there will be nothing harmful or evil.

All: The land will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.

One: The Book of Revelation also tells us about this new time.

Have someone read Revelation 21:3-4.

One: God’s home will be with the people!

All: God will live with them, and the people will be God’s people!

One: God will be their God.

All: God will wipe away all their tears.

One: There will be no more death.

All: And no more sadness.

One: And no more pain or crying.

All: All of those things will have disappeared.

Prayer: Dear God, sometimes our world seems so far away from peace. We thank you for this promise of a new time. Help us remember your promise when our world seems dangerous and frightening. Amen.

Together Time

Let everyone draw a picture showing what this new time of peace might be like for them. Talk together about your pictures.

Read Colossians 3:12-17

One: Living in a family can be hard sometimes.

All: We don’t always get along.

One: Sometimes we are impatient;

All: Sometimes we get frustrated.

One: Why does this happen?

All: Because even though we’re a family, we are all different people.

One: We have different likes and dislikes.

All: We have different personalities and habits.

One: What does the Bible say about getting along with others?

All: That we should “let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts.”

One: How we can do this?

All: By remembering that even though we won’t always get along, we will always love each other.

Prayer: Dear God, help our family to show love to each other even when we don’t get along. Amen.