How to Survive Advent and Christmas

As worship leaders and church musicians, it's often hard for us to enjoy the Advent and Christmas season.  We're busy with all kinds of special concerts and worship services, as well as our own family holiday events.  And sometimes this busyness leads to illness that keeps us from those special events or makes surviving them miserable.  Perhaps more than any other time during the year, we need to make sure that we are taking care of ourselves -- both physically and spiritually.

So I offer to you some ideas to help you survive this busy season in hopes that it will help you center yourself so that you can be your best self for yourself, your family, and your church.

1.  Plan, plan, plan!  It may be too late for this year, but the best thing you can do is plan well enough in advance so that you have all of your special concert and worship service details taken care of.  This means selection of music, instrumentalists, seating charts, blocking if you're using drama, decorations, visuals (banners/PowerPoint), costumes for dramas, check requests submitted for instrumentalists, etc.

2.  Start your day by centering yourself.  If you don't already, start your day with a devotional.  Allow yourself that time first thing in the morning to clear your mind and feed yourself spiritually.  You can't be your best or the spiritual leader that your music ministry or church needs if you are running on empty spiritually.

3.  Ask for help.  Don't be a "lone ranger."  Ask people in your music ministry to take on simple organizational tasks that will free you up to do the things that only you can do.

4.  Debrief.  After the season is over, debrief and look at all of the special concerts and worship services that you planned.  What worked?  What didn't?  Is there something that you could have done differently?  Start planning for the next season -- Lent -- and do the same thing:  plan, start your day with devotion, and ask for help.

As you know, this year Christmas Day falls on a Sunday.  For those of you trying to figure out what to do for your Christmas Sunday morning worship service, here is an Order of Worship for Christmas Day that we will be using at our church.  There are many online sources to find the stories behind these Christmas carols.  I used the book "Amazing Grace:  366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions" by Kenneth Osbeck and the Hymnary.org website.  The Call to Worship, Lighting of Advent & Christmas Candles, Prayer of Adoration & Confession, and Declaration of Forgiveness are from the Revised Common Lectionary Resources page by David Beswick.  The Offertory Prayer is from the United Church of Christ website.  And the Prayer of Dedication and Benediction are from "leading worship" blog by Carol Penner.

Prelude & Welcome

Call to Worship and LIGHTING THE ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS CANDLES
Leader:  After counting the weeks of Advent we have come to Christmas Day.
People:  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined.
[Four colored candles are lit first and then the white candle, and reading continues.]
Leader:  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
People:  And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the             glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

*Opening Carol:  Joy to the World


*PRAYER OF ADORATION and CONFESSION
Loving God, we have not loved you with all our heart or served you with all our strength; we have been blind to the vision of a renewed world. In your mercy, Lord, pardon and restore us, that we may recover the love you have given to us in Jesus Christ. Remembering his birth, death and resurrection, we may serve you with joy all the days of our life. Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Leader:  God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.   
Hear then Christ's word of grace to us:   
Your sins are forgiven.
People:  Thanks be to God.

Offering:  When the shepherds heard the Good News the angels brought, they responded by going to see God's great gift of Jesus, and by glorifying and praising God. In the same way, we respond to the amazing things God is doing when we bring our gifts, too, praising God and giving God glory.

Offertory

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication: 

            God of great wonders,
            we join with you in the joy of this season of giving,
            You gave us a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
            You give us life and breath, you fill the world with beauty,
            our hands with bounty, and our hearts with the desire to give.
            Accept these gifts, and ourselves in service always, in every season. Amen.

 Christmas Carol Sing

Story:  "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice"
Carol:  Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

Scripture:  Luke 2:1-5
Story:  "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Carol:  O Little Town of Bethlehem - vs. 1

Scripture:  Luke 2:6-9
Story:  "Angels From the Realms of Glory"
Carol:  Angels From the Realms of Glory

Scripture:  Luke 2:10-14
Story:  "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing"
Carol:  Hark! the Herald Angels Sing - vs. 1

Scripture:  Luke 2:15-19
Story:  "What Child Is This?"
Carol:  What Child Is This? - vs. 1 & 2

Scripture:  Luke 2:20
Closing Carol:  O Come, All Ye Faithful

Benediction:

Leader:  Merry Christmas, my friends! God has spoken his most joyful word of grace, mercy and peace!

People:  Mary gave birth to her first-born son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in  a manger.

Leader:  Go out into this day delighting in your kinship with God’s Son.

People:  Glory to God in the highest, and earth peace and goodwill.

Go Tell It On the Mountain (Refrain)

Postlude

 

September -- A New Beginning for a New Music Ministry Year 

September is the beginning of a new ministry year for so many of us.  So I'd like to start off this ministry year by sharing my plans for September -- creative calls to worship, anthem selections, prayer responses, and visuals.

September 11th:  The Lectionary scripture that will be used is Luke 15:1-10 and will focus on the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin.

• Call to Worship:  We use the Abingdon Worship Annual for our Call to Worship and Prayer of Confession.  The one we've selected for September 11th asks the congregation to respond by saying, "All are welcome here."  In various hymnals, Marty Haugen's "All Are Welcome" can be found.  (These resources can be found at Hymnary.org.)  The refrain of this hymn is a perfect musical response for this call to worship.  So instead of speaking "All are welcome here," we will be singing "All are welcome here."
• Anthem:  "Give Me Jesus with Steal Away" arranged by Ruth Elaine Schram, Lorenz Publishing. 
• Closing Hymn:  "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us"

September 18th:  The Lectionary scripture that will be used is Luke 16:1-15 - the Parable of the Shrewd Manager.  Also, included in this Sunday's Lectionary is Jeremiah 8: 22, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then have my people not been restored to health?"  Also, our congregation is emphasizing the theme of peace for this worship service.

• Choral Introit:  Mark Miller's "There's A Spirit of Love In This Place," W&S#3148, to emphasize our theme of peace.
• Opening Hymn:  "There Is A Balm in Gilead" to connect with the Jeremiah lectionary selection.
• Litany for Peace (during the Lord's Prayer):  We will be using this litany written by Joe Wadsworth.
• Our anthem, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," arranged by Cindy Berry, Hope Publishing, ties in with the final verses of the Luke 16 lectionary reading.
• Closing Hymn and Benediction:  Last year, our church purchased a Peace Pole.  For our closing hymn, we will exit the sanctuary, congregate around the peace pole, and sing "Let There Be Peace on Earth" followed by the benediction.
• Visuals:  Last year we dedicated the entire month of September through World Communion Sunday to the theme of peace.  During that time, the congregation was encouraged to write replies to "how do you define peace" on pieces of ribbon.  These ribbons were woven together and framed.  The frames along with a "peace" plaque and a single candle were placed on the altar table for World Communion Sunday.  (We have also used the same visual during Advent for Peace Advent Sunday.)  We will once again place this visual on our altar table as we emphasize peace on this Sunday.

September 25th:  The Lectionary reading for today is Luke 16:19-31, the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.  Also included in today's lectionary reading is Psalm 91.

• Choral Introit:  "On Eagle's Wings" connects with the Psalm 91 lectionary reading.
• Prayer Response:  "Jesus, Remember Me" connects with the Luke 16 lectionary reading.
• Choral Anthem:  "You Are My All in All with Fairest Lord Jesus" arranged by Larry Shackley, Hope Publishing, ties in with the Luke reading.

I hope you have found some inspiration for your own worship planning for September.  Watch for the next blog post for World Communion Sunday in a couple of weeks.

Ash Wednesday Covered Dish Dinner Worship Service

As Lent approaches and plans are being made for special services, I have been working on an idea for a special interactive Ash Wednesday service.  At my church, we are planning on having a covered dish dinner and using that format to share a common meal.  After the meal, we will prepare to enter into Lent by receiving the sign of the cross and sharing Holy Communion in groups around our common tables.  As I started looking at ways we could make this service more interactive, I came upon three resources, and so I have taken elements from each to add interest and interaction to this worship service.

The three resources are:

1.            http://www.pcusa.org/resource/ash-wednesday-service/

2.            http://www.pcusa.org/resource/isaiah-58-choral-reading-three-voices/

3.            https://stpaulsbr.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/853/

The basic outline of the meal and service are as follows:

As people enter the fellowship hall for dinner, the pastor and designated elders place the sign of the cross using ashes on the people's foreheads.  They are instructed to be seated at one of the tables prepared for the meal.  Each table has a table leader or elder assigned to it.  The table leaders or elders instruct those at their table to read through the Lenten Self-Examination that is found printed on their placemat (see resource #3) and to meditate on Lent and their observations from the self-examination.  The table leaders can lead discussion at each table or allow those at their table to quietly meditate.  Once all have arrived...

Call to Order based on Joel 2:12-18 (see resource #1).  This call to worship requires two people plus the pastor.  I envision the voices coming from different tables.  The intent of the Call to Worship is to startle people out of their contemplation.  The use of a trumpet or trumpet call also is utilized to startle the people.

Blessing of the Meal

Sharing of a Common Meal Together

Choral Reading of Isaiah 58.  After the meal is shared, a choral reading of Isaiah 58 is read (see resource #2).  This reading requires three voices and should be done from the front of the room.

Prayer of Confession and Words of Assurance are shared by the pastor (see resource #1).

Presentation of Confirmands and Prayer of Intercession.  If your church has a confirmation class in session during Lent, this is an ideal time to introduce them and to bless their journey through confirmation.  (See resource #1)

Invitation to the Table.  During this portion of the service, all are invited to participate in Holy Communion and to also remember their baptism.  Instructions are given to come forward to have the ashes that were received when they entered the room removed and traced and replaced by water to remember their baptism.  Congregants are instructed to return to their table at which time the pastor blesses the elements and the table leaders or elders serve the bread & grape juice to each person at their table. (See resource #1)

Prayer after Communion.  (See resource #1.)

Congregational Hymn:  Let Us Worship God With Justice (See resource #3.)

Benediction