In Story and Song: Intergenerational Christmas Service



In Story and Song: Intergenerational Christmas ServiceWhen December 25 falls on a Sunday, does your congregation gather to welcome the Christ child, or do you take a (much-needed) break from each other after a chock-full December? There are arguments for both approaches. To worship on Christmas morning is, for some, the most significant way to engage the season. Celebration—enjoying the company of their friends, singing and praying together as a community of faith—makes this day a vital and life-giving one. Of course, not holding congregational worship also provides an opportunity for people to enjoy family and friends. Weary parents, volunteers, and ministers have likely been busy daily—and nightly—during December. Extra worship services, pageants, school and work events, care home carolling, and gift basket visits—all these Advent preparations make a Christmas Day Sabbath more than welcome. Whatever the practice or decision of your congregation, the following intergenerational liturgy can be used on Christmas morning, or as a family-oriented worship during the week of Christmas. Many resources are already available that elaborate on the Nativity and the story of the Holy Family. Rather than duplicate that approach, this resource includes Christmastime stories from different parts of the world, and pairs each with a carol or anthem. Feel free, of course, to substitute other stories and carols more familiar to you and your congregation. Gathering as God’s PeopleThe intention in the Call to Worship is to balance expansive and traditional imagery of God, and to connect the universal and the particular of Incarnation. The Prayer of Approach and Confession connects the gospel story with our story. This part of the liturgy uses joyful music liberally to celebrate Christmas Day.GreetingThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.And also with you.Call to WorshipMerry Christmas! Merry Christmas!The God of Love be praised:whose word speaks all things into being,who is present in the expanse of the universe,and in the hearts of all people.Praise the Living God,who comes as a child, full of promiseand hope for the fulfillment of peace.CarolJoy to the World (VU 59)Prayer of Approach and ConfessionFrom birth you open our lives to amazement, Holy One, and our imaginations to possibility.In the birth at Bethlehem, you show us that your love finds a way, that even the firmament of heaven cannot contain your love for us.Today, we pray that your love might be born anew, that the star of Bethlehem would guide usto the mangers of this time, in this world.Gather us in prayer and hope, O God, with those who suffer illness,with those, near and far, who are in want or need,or in places broken by violence and taut with anxiety.Shine your light of healing within us; help us to tend it and reflect it,in the name of Jesus, who became the Christ. Amen.Words of AssuranceMay the peace revealed in the child fill us this day.Let us rejoice, and be healed. Amen.Acclamation of Joy (VU 45, v. 1 & 4)Joy is now in every place, Christmas lightens every face;now be with us, in your grace, hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.Now and ever may we find your good news to fill our mind:peace and love to human kind, hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.Sign of PeacePeace be with you.And also with you.Refrain (MV 62)Time with ChildrenIf you are not using the story format for the reflection time below, this would be an excellent time to share the story “The Gifts of Baboushka.” If using the story format for reflection, you might forego this part of worship, but consider inviting the children to come and hear “The Gifts of Baboushka” at the front.CarolGo, Tell It on the Mountain (VU 43)Hearing God’s WordThe emphasis is on sharing stories that draw upon traditional Christian legends associated with Christmastime. Each of three short stories, shaped by the storyteller, is paired with a carol. Here, a brief summary of each story is offered; a personal reflection could be added to the end of each story. Information and examples of each story are widely available, as are the lyrics and music for the carols “Good King Wenceslas” and “I Saw Three Ships.”It could be fun to hide the stories in wrapped boxes around the sanctuary, and have any children present find the “gifts” to be shared that day. If there are no children gathered, another option is to read Jonathan Goldstein’s story “My Troubles (A Work in Progress), by Joseph of N—” from his book Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bible (Penguin Canada, 2009). It is a funny and touching recollection of the Nativity, from Joseph’s point of view.Gospel refrain: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (MV 54)Matthew 1:18–25The Gospel of Jesus Christ.Thanks be to God.Gospel refrain: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (MV 54)Story 1: The Gifts of BaboushkaSynopsis: Despite decades of religious oppression, traditional stories about Christmas survived in and remain an integral part of Russian culture. Baboushka is the Russian word for grandmother or old woman. This story is about one woman in particular who had a very special visit one Christmas…Just as she was drifting off to sleep on Christmas Eve, she heard strange voices approaching. Some travellers were on their way to Bethlehem, to welcome a special child who would bring healing and peace to the world. The baboushka desperately wanted to see him, but she was afraid to leave her home in the cold Russian winter. Later that night, she thought about the child and decided she would travel to meet him. She travelled far and wide, but she could find neither the boy king nor the travellers. Legend has it that the baboushka is searching for the boy king to this day, and that whenever she meets a child she offers a trinket, and continues her search. CarolAll Poor Ones and Humble (VU 68)Option: Angels We Have Heard on High (VU 38)Story 2: The Feast of St. StephenSynopsis: The Book of Acts records that Stephen was among those chosen to be the first seven deacons, or lay leaders, in the church in Jerusalem. He also became the first martyr of the church, so this may be a part of the story to abbreviate for young children on Christmas Day!However, the Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas” is commonly sung on St. Stephen’s Day (Dec. 26), because it refers to the saint’s day in its lyrics. It also tells a story of a good king seeking to provide warmth and shelter to those who struggled. To this day, Wenceslas is the patron saint of the Czech Republic, and celebrated in the St. Stephen’s Day carol.CarolGood King WenceslasThis is even more fun if people are present who can sing the parts of the King and the Page on verses 2–4. Story 3: The Last Voyage of the MagiIn the chancel of Cologne Cathedral in Germany, there is a shrine dedicated to the magi—the wise ones or foreign mystics—who are said to have visited the baby Jesus bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Christmas carol “I Saw Three Ships” is a Victorian carol, written during a time when many of the Christmas traditions of Germany were being imported to England via Queen Victoria’s German husband. Although its origins are unclear, the “three ships” is likely a reference to the 13th-century arrival of ships from the Holy Land that bore the relics of the magi. CarolI Saw Three Ships Come Sailing InResponding in LoveOfferingTo the stable, each brought what they could, and each gave what they had: the animals, warmth;the shepherds, awe;the magi, gifts.To this world and its people, we offer our gifts:our faith, which seeks to do as well to believe;our joy, which persists even in times of trial;our love, offered freely, as it was to us.DoxologyWhat can I give him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;if I were a wise [one], I would do my part;yet what I can I give him—give my heart. (VU 55)Words of OfferingAccept our gifts, Loving God.May they honour your gift of love in the Christ child.Prayers of Thanksgiving and ConcernFor these pastoral prayers, the verses of the popular carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (VU 64), give shape to both the prayer and its petitions. Other carols could also be used, such as “Ring a Bell for Peace” (VU 65) and “What Child Is This” (VU 74).O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.God of hope, of silent prayers and urgent cries,we pray for your world and its people…for those who will spend this day alone;for those who will not enjoy a feast this day;for those whose tables will have an empty place this year.Lift our hearts in anticipation of your vision.Shine a light in the depth of fear.Sing a song of joy in the lonely heart.For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above,while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth.God of peace, on this Christmas day we prayfor the people of Bethlehem, of Israel and Palestine;for refugees who have nowhere to lay their heads, for those who find themselves in strange lands. Watch over and protect them, God of the morning star.Guide us in the ways of mercy and reconciliation.How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!So God imparts to human hearts the blessed gift of heaven.No ear may hear its coming; but in this world of sin,where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.Open our hearts, that we might receive youand hear your voice, Loving God. May we share the gift of your heaven, your vision for all people: hope of fulfillment, peace in our time,joy that persists through trial and celebration,and love that heals the wounded heart.O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today.We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.Walking in God’s WayCarolGood Christian Friends, Rejoice! (VU 35)Benediction and Blessing ................
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