Advent Gifts
This service requires four gift boxes containing a dove, a
candle, a Bible, and a wreath.
Prelude
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*Musical Call to Worship: "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
*Opening Prayer
*Response
Carol: "Go, Tell It on the Mountain"
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238
HS 249 |
Scripture: Genesis 8:1–12
A Gift
Presider picks up the first box containing a dove.
Today we will take some time to reflect on a few of the
spiritual gifts we all receive. Here’s a gift for us. Open the box and
take out the dove. This dove represents the gift of peace. We can all
receive this gift for the asking. When we are sad or troubled or impatient, we
ask for and receive the gift of God’s peace. Shalom is another word for
peace—the kind of peace that transforms our hearts and give us peace with
our brothers and sisters. God’s love for us and our love for all people
create a very special shalom. This is truly a wonderful gift.
Scripture: Ephesians 2:13–20
Here is the Advent gift: Christ is our peace. Place the dove
in the worship setting.
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Carol: "Silent Night! Holy Night!"
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HS 244 |
A Gift
Presider picks up the second box containing a candle.
Here’s another gift for us. Open the box and take out the
candle. This candle represents the gift of Jesus Christ who is the light
of the world. Jesus came to light the darkness for all people.
Scripture: John 1:1–9
This is God’s gift. There is nothing we can do to earn it;
we only need to accept the light. We live in the light of God’s love because
that love pierced the darkness of the world. Light candle. This is a
glorious, marvelous gift, and we accept it with humble, thankful hearts.
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Carol: "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing"
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HS 252 |
A Gift
Presider picks up the third box containing the Bible.
Here is another gift for us. Open the box and take out the
Bible. Scripture tells us that from God we receive wisdom and knowledge
and understanding.
Scripture: Proverbs 2:6–10
Surely this gift of wisdom is very important—to have God’s
wisdom and knowledge and the kind of understanding that comes from studying
this precious gift. It’s a guide for our lives, comfort in our sorrow, and
hope for our future. We cherish this gift and eagerly accept it. Place the
open Bible in the worship setting.
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Carol: "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"
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HS 256 |
A Gift
Presider picks up the fourth box containing the wreath.
This is our final gift. This gift represents an eternal
circle. Open the box and take out the wreath. God’s love for us is
like that. It is complete and never-ending. Scripture gives us hope and a
promise that Jesus Christ will come again, and we know that like the circle of
this wreath, God’s love is endless and eternal. Place the wreath in the
worship setting.
Scripture: Revelation 21:5–7
What a precious gift it is! We can live in peace and love with
God now, not just sit and wait or carry a burden of sorrow. God’s love is
eternal and with us now and forever. We accept this marvelous gift with our
whole heart.
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Carol: "The First Nowell"
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Summary Statement
These gifts are ours to cherish. We are grateful for all the
gifts we have received and pray that we might be good stewards over them.
During this Advent season, we give grateful thanks to God for the most
precious gift of Jesus Christ—our peace, our light, our never-ending source
of wisdom and love.
Pastoral Prayer
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*Carol: "Joy to the World!
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HS 258 |
*Postlude
—Adapted from Margaret Lange in Worship for All Seasons II,
pages 21–22. Used with permission.
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