2003

Advent Liturgies

'Visitors'

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WEEK 1 LIGHT	WEEK2 PREPARE THE CRIB	WEEK3 WELCOME	WEEK4 VISITORS
	Prepare 4 pieces of cloth - one piece of tartan or thick cloth, one brightly coloured piece of fabric, one piece of silk and one piece of cotton.	Prepare 4 friendship symbols - 3 heart shapes with the words LOVE, HOPE and JOY printed on each and a fourth dove shape with the word PEACE.	Prepare a white candle with a Mission Together* sticker and children’s collecting boxes*.

FOCAL POINT: Wreath of evergreens, 4 children each holding an Advent candle (3 purple and 1 pink) bible, globe.	FOCAL POINT: Box for crib	FOCAL POINT: Crib with 4 cloths	FOCAL POINT: Crib with 4 cloths and 4 friendship symbols

LEADER: During Advent we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. READER: Luke 21:25-28. 34-36 LEADER: Jesus comes to all his children. We will put 4 candles on our Advent wreath to remind us that Jesus comes to spread the light of love to the four corners of the world. CHILD1: I come from the North. Indicate on globe and place purple candle on wreath. CHILD 2: I come from the South. Indicate on globe and place purple candle on wreath. CHILD 3: I come from the East. Indicate on globe and place pink candle on wreath. CHILD 4: I come from the West. Indicate on globe and place purple candle on wreath. BLESSING: Lord God bless your children everywhere as we light the first candle of this wreath, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. EVERYBODY: Amen LIGHT FIRST PURPLE CANDLE PRAYER: As we begin the season of Advent we open our hearts to welcome Jesus. We pray; EVERYBODY; Come, Jesus, come. MOMENT OF SILENCE SONG: Come Lord Jesus HYMNS OLD & NEW no 684	LEADER: John the Baptist asked people to get ready and prepare for the coming of Jesus. READER: Luke 3:1-6 LEADER: We prepare for Christmas. Let us make a special crib for Jesus. CHILD 1: I bring thick tartan cloth from the North to keep the baby warm at night. Place cloth on crib. CHILD 2: I bring bright coloured cloth from the South to make the baby happy. Place cloth on crib. CHILD 3: I bring silk cloth from the East to sooth the baby to sleep. Place cloth on crib. CHILD 4: I bring cotton cloth from the West to wipe the baby’s tears. Place cloth on crib. PRAYER: We have prepared a crib for Jesus. Now let us make a place for him in our hearts. Light second candle. We pray: EVERYBODY: Come Jesus come. MOMENT OF SILENCE SONG: Prepare the Way from CALLING THE CHILDREN by Christopher Walker	LEADER: Let us listen to the ways in which we can welcome Jesus. READER: Luke 3:10-18 LEADER: Jesus welcomes all children. He wants us to be friends. He asks us to live in love and peace with each other. CHILD 1: In places where children live in fear. All: Let us bring love Place LOVE symbol on thick cloth. CHILD2; In places where children are poor. EVERYBODY: Let us bring hope Place HOPE symbol on brightly coloured cloth. CHILD 3: In places where children are sad and starving. EVERYBODY: Let us bring joy Place JOY symbol on silk cloth. CHILD 4: In places where children live with violence and war. EVERYBODY: Let us bring peace. Place PEACE symbol on cotton cloth. PRAYER: Let us remember especially the children in Iraq. (or other place of conflict). May we all live in God’s peace. Light pink candle. We pray: EVERYBODY: Come, Jesus, come. MOMENT OF SILENCE SONG: Let there be Love shared among us. HYMNS OLD & NEW no. 726	LEADER: Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth to tell her the good news that Jesus was to be born. LIGHT THE FOURTH CANDLE READER: Luke 1:39-45 CHILD: Children in Mission Together spread the Good News of Jesus birth when we share together. Children place Mission Together* boxes beside crib.* CHILD: Children in Mission Together spread the Good News of Jesus birth when we pray together One child places white Mission Together candle in crib. CHILD: Children in Mission Together join with children everywhere to tell the Good News of Jesus birth. Children from North, South, East and West come forward one at a time to form a circle round the crib , while one verse of the song Come and Join the Circle is sung. From SHARE THE LIGHT by Bernadette Farrell ( Replace LOVE in verse 1 with HOPE, JOY and PEACE in following verses to link with the 4 friendship symbols) LEADER: Let us go out and be friends together. Let us live our motto Children helping Children Song: This little light of Mine HYMNS OLD 7 NEW no. 566