A Thematic Idea for Advent
�The Amazing Story�
Note: These
ideas were developed by Marcia McFee (www.marciamcfee.com)
in 2006 for a congregation in Florida.
While the scriptures used by the storyteller do not coincide with the
lectionary for 2007, they could
certainly be used in conjunction with the lectionary readings later in the
service.
* A costumed
�storyteller� (old English feel, perhaps� or contextualize in your own way)
gives continuity to the advent lighting time. I�ve written some possible dialogue below and used Eugene
Peterson�s biblical translation since it is also in the �storytelling� kind of
mode. That storyteller would use a
big, oversized book that would have �The Amazing Story� on the front of it,
which, on Christmas Eve would change to �Our Amazing Story.� Or, the storyteller could carry a big
scroll that he/she reads out of.
* I�ve found a
song in a little-known collection of Brian Wren that I�ve adapted somewhat to
fit the theme� �Come and listen to the story�� that could be used each week to
surround the Advent-lighting time (see below� the song is in 6/8 - very lilting
- order information below). Last
year I was part of the advent candle-lighting at my church� we used lanterns in
a hanging wreath and we danced each lantern in during the advent song. Even if you don�t use lanterns, you
could still have dancers dance in the candles to be placed in the wreath� one
dancer the first Sunday and then add a dancer each Sunday, culminating in a
longer dance on Christmas Eve (there is a tradition of a �candle dance� that is
lovely in an evening service when you can make the sanctuary dark and have the
dancers dance with lanterns or candles in glass containers.)
* bulletins
could be rolled like scrolls for each Sunday or the cover could look like the
cover of the storyteller�s book.
* small scrolls
with contemporary messages (poetry, quotes) of hope/peace/joy/love could be
given to people each Sunday to be passed on and given to others during the
week. These scrolls could also
have the church�s information and service times on it and/or listing of special
Advent/Christmas activities. These
could also be in a weather-proof box outside the church where passers-by could
get one. Perhaps there is a big
book or scroll outside with the theme on it and an invitation to worship.
e.g. a poem for the �Hope� scrolls
I
was just thinking
One
morning
During
prayer
How
much alike
Hope
And
baking powder are:
Quietly
Getting
what is
Best
in me
To
rise,
Awakening
The
hint of eternity
Within.
-
Macrina Wiederkehr
in
Seasons of Your Heart
* Scrolls could be tied with gold ribbon and gold ribbon
could also �wrap� (or simply drape) the pulpit, font, altar, altar rail, tree,
etc. Each person could also
get a piece of gold ribbon as a Bible bookmark that had some calligraphy on it�
�The Amazing Story�
* The opening
hymn each of the four Sundays could have something to do with �story:�
e.g.
UMH 569 �We�ve A Story
to Tell to the Nations�
UMH
156 �I Love To Tell the Story�
UMH
200 �Tell Out, My Soul�
* Christian education, small groups, choir, youth,
committees, etc. could be given a page from a scrapbook for them to decorate
about the �story of God�s work in us� with pictures, prayers, thoughts, hope
for the future. These could all be
put together towards the end of the season for display (get someone who is into
�scrapbooking� to take on this project).
* A mission project could be based on books, literacy, after
school programs, etc.
* Small booklets with scripture verses and lots of blank
space could be placed in the pews for people to write in -- reflections,
prayers� you could weave in some time in each service of reflection/prayer
where people could be encouraged to write a sentence or two based on the focus
of the day (hope, peace, joy, love).
These booklets could then be given for Christmas to persons in
hospitals, nursing homes, etc. (You may have to switch the position of the
booklets in the pews so different people write in each one each Sunday� we know
how we like to sit in the same spot J)
Here is an idea for the lighting of the Advent wreath
sequence:
1. �Come and
Listen� is sung by the choir and congregation as the light is processed in and
the storyteller comes in (possibly followed by children). He/she is carrying a big book.
�Come and Listen�
Words by Brian Wren; music by Susan Heafield, adapted
(To order J
http://www.hopepublishing.com/html/main.isx?sub=31&workid=2221
Come and listen to the story
The light is arriving,
Shining to brighten the way.
We can be messengers today.
We are people with a story
We travel together,
Living the Jesus way.
We can be messengers today.
2. �The
story-teller� opens the big book and puts it on a stand and then reads the
intro and scripture (adapted from The Message) related to Advent candle-lighting (see below).
3. Then liturgy related to The Lighting of the Candles is
read, followed immediately by the prayer for that Sunday.
4. �Come and Listen� is sung again as the storyteller and
liturgists go back to their seats, substituting the appropriate words for the
first verse:
Come and listen to the story
Our [hope/peace/joy/love] is arriving,
Coming to show us the way.
We can be messengers today.
Possible words for the Storyteller: (the congregation and/or children could
be asked to repeat �AMAZING STORY� every time the storyteller says it)
First Sunday:
Isaiah 40: 3-4
Once upon a time... a time of rough going for God�s
people - a prophet named Isaiah brought an AMAZING STORY of Hope. He spoke of God�s faithfulness in the
midst of pain - of God�s promise of comfort and deliverance from hard
times. He wrote of a voice crying
out like thunder in the desert!
�Prepare for God�s arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our
God.
Fill in the valleys, level off the hills,
Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks.
Then God�s bright glory will shine and everyone will see
it!�
Second Sunday:
Micah 5:2
Once upon a time�
the prophet Micah told this AMAZING STORY. A story of Peace among all people, brought by a leader who
leads not with force, but with the peace of a sheepherder - steady, strong, yet
gentle and loving! An unexpected
kind of leader from an unexpected little ole place - just a blip on the
map! And here is what Micah said�
�But you, Bethlehem, David�s country, the runt of the litter
of clans of Judea --
From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel.
He�ll be no upstart, no pretender.
His family tree is ancient and distinguished.�
Third Sunday:
Luke 2: 13-18
Once upon a time�
there were shepherds who were camping in the neighborhood where Jesus
was born. These shepherds didn�t
usually get much excitement and they didn�t have a lot of friends� on account
of the smell, you know. So when
they got a surprise visit from a huge gaggle of angels singing right overhead,
they got the �you-know-what� scared out of them! And as the big and joyful hovering choir left them, they
decided that this was such an AMAZING STORY that they just heard they had to go
check it out! And it was such an
AMAZING STORY that they just couldn�t keep the joy to themselves!
�The sheepherders talked it over. �Let�s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for
ourselves what God has revealed to us.�
They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the
manger. Seeing was believing! They told everyone they met what the angels
had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders
were impressed. They were simply
amazed!�
Fourth Sunday:
Luke 2: 8-11
Let me tell you an AMAZING STORY of love. It�s so amazing because it�s God�s love
we�re talking about here. And when
it�s God�s love being poured out, you better watch out� cause you are gonna
hear about it. You see, God has a
way of sending important messages about love (and this one is about a bundle of
love) in ways that folks will notice.
I�m talking about the �mother� of all voice-mail� yes indeed� the voices
of angels! Remember those
sheepherders who were camping out in the neighborhood - you know, the little
�runt� neighborhood of Bethlehem where the star was lighting everything up from
here to Kingdom-come? (hee hee)
�They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God�s angel stood among them
and God�s glory blazed around them.
They were terrified. The
angel said, �Don�t be afraid. I�m here to announce a great and joyful event
that is meant for everybody, worldwide:
A Savior has just been born in David�s town, a Savior who is Messiah -
Christ the Lord.�
Christmas Eve:
Isaiah 9:6
Ah�. It is the night - the night of the most AMAZING
STORY we know. And lo and behold,
this is what we find: That this is
OUR AMAZING STORY. It is our lives
that hold the stories of hope, of peace, of joy and of love. These are the pages of our life-story. These pages of our lives are what God
is writing upon� for you see it is written�
�For a child has been born -- for us!
The gift of a son --for us!
He�ll take over the running of the world.
His names will be:
Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow, and there�ll be no limits to
the wholeness he brings.
�Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting One, Prince
of Peace.�
So it is written� and so it is. And this is not the end� but only the beginning!
* More
liturgy/music ideas:
TFWS (The Faith We Sing) #2156 �Give Peace� could be used as a sung call to prayer by choir
and congregation. Each week
substitute the appropriate word (hope, peace, joy, love) for the word
�Peace.� This is a chant from
Taize and can be done as a round�. Lovely!
1st week:
Hope
rewrite Communion Prayer to
incorporate language about �the amazing story.� (see below)
TFWS #2186 �Song of Hope� (this needs strong song leadership but
is great with
some small
percussion)
2nd week:
Peace
TFWS
#2157 �Come and Fill Our Hearts with Your Peace�
TFWS
#2232 �Come Now, O Prince of
Peace�
3rd week:
Joy
TFWS
#2284 �Joy in the Morning�
4th week:
Love
TFWS #2218 �You Are Mine� (angels: �Do not be afraid��)
TFWS
#2073 �Celebrate Love�
[these are just some brainstorming/thesaurus notes]
Amazing
a�maz�ing adj
1. so
extraordinary or wonderful as to be barely believable or cause extreme surprise
2. outstandingly
good, skillful, or admirable (informal)
Encarta� World English Dictionary � 1999 Microsoft
Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury
Publishing Plc.
Astonishing
Astounding
Remarkable
Wonderful
Incredible
Startling
Marvelous
Miraculous
Surprising
Mind-blowing
Mind-boggling
Staggering
Ant. Unremarkable
Story
sto�ry1 n
1. a
factual or fictional account of an event or series of events
2. a
work of fiction in prose that is shorter than a novel
3. the
plot of a novel, play, motion picture, or other fictional narrative work.
Also called story line
4. what
somebody says has happened
5. something
that one person tells another that is not true (informal)
6. a
report in the news of something that has happened
7. a
subject or material for a news report
8. traditional
tales and legends, or the literature based on such tales
vt
1. to
decorate something with images of scenes from history or legend
2. to
tell something as or in a story (archaic)
Encarta� World English Dictionary � 1999 Microsoft
Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury
Publishing Plc.
Tale
Narrative
Account
Yarn
Legend
Fairy-tale
Chronicle
Anecdote
A Great Thanksgiving for the �Amazing Story�
[traditional Great Thanksgiving adapted by Marcia
McFee]
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God
It is right to give our thanks
and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful
thing,
always
and everywhere
to tell
the Story of your undying love, O God.
This morning we give thanks to
you,
Almighty
God, creator of this Grand Narrative of our lives - of our salvation.
From the beginning You wrote upon
our hearts,
forming
us in your image
breathing
into us the breath of life,
giving us
a life to live and stories of love to tell.
When we thought we could write You
out of our stories, and our love failed,
we turned
the page and You were still there�
Your love
and presence in our lives remained steadfast.
You delivered us from captivity,
made
covenant to be our sovereign God,
and spoke
to us through your prophets.
You rewrite our unfortunate
endings time and again, giving us fresh starts and a clean page.
And so,
with your
people on earth
and all
the company of heaven
we praise
your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy , holy, holy Lord, God of
power and might,
heaven and earth are full of
your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, and blessed is your
Son Jesus Christ.
You came into our lives, O God,
with a first-person Narrative
that
we anticipate yet again in this Advent season.
Your Spirit anointed him
to bring
the message of good news to the poor,
to
proclaim release to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at
liberty those who are oppressed,
and to
announce that it was time to live
the Chapter of Salvation for Your people.
Jesus healed the sick, fed the
hungry, and ate with sinners.
This lived-and-true Story changed
our lives forever,
and we
can never forget.
Your church�s Story was birthed
by the
baptism of his suffering , death, and resurrection.
The life-filled ending to all our
stories was set in stone
as You
delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made
with us a new covenant
by water
and the Spirit
When the Lord Jesus ascended,
he
promised to be with us always,
in the
power of your Word
and in
the continued authoring of the Holy Spirit.
[this next paragraph could be
read by the Storyteller as he/she brings the Amazing Story-book to the
communion table]
Here, my friends, is a Story to be
told forever and ever.
We tell it just as the earliest
Christians sat around their tables
and
retold the Story time and again.
This is the Story that was handed
down to them
by those
who ate with Jesus that night.
By telling it here, every time we
eat this Holy Meal together,
we too
hand it on to those who will come after us -
those who
will need this transforming Story just as much as we do now.
[The pastor reads the words of
institution from the Amazing Story-book]
On the night in which he gave
himself up for us,
he took
bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it
to his disciples, and said:
�Take, eat; this is my body which
is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.�
When the supper was over, he took
the cup,
gave
thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
�Drink from this, all of you;
this is my
blood of the new covenant,
poured
out for you and for many
for the
forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in
remembrance of me.�
[the Storyteller takes the book
back to its stand and the pastor continues�]
And so we tell this Story again,
in
remembrance of your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
and we
offer ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union
with Christ�s offering for us,
as we
proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is
risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us
gathered here,
and on
these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and
blood of Christ,
that we
may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed
by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with
Christ,
one with
each other,
and one
in ministry to all the world,
until
Christ comes in the final spell-binding
and liberating chapters of this story
and we
feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ
with the
Holy Spirit in your holy church,
all honor
and glory is yours, almighty God,
now and
forever.
Amen.