Advent I

Children’s Chapel

November 27, 2016

Advent I

Theme: Jesus is the Light of the World

I.         Welcome: Good Morning girls and boys! I am so happy to see you all this morning! Do we have any new friends with us? (Welcome new friends.)

II.       Church Practice: (light altar candles)

We light these candles to remind us that Christ is the light of the world, and we are Christ’s light in the world. On our altar table today, we have a new colored cloth. Today is the first Sunday of Advent so we have changed the color of the altar cloth to purple. Purple is the color we use for Advent. When you go back into Big Church look at the altar and notice that the frontlet is also purple. You will also see the priests wearing purple stoles for the season of Advent. Today we will also be lighting the first purple candle of the Advent wreath. We will talk more about Advent in just a moment but first let us pray together.

III.     Opening Prayer: Jesus, you are light of the world. As we begin the season of Advent, help us to trust in you and grow in your love.

Amen.

IV.      Advent Lesson: During the church season of Advent, we wait and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. How many of you saw the Advent wreath this morning in church? The Advent wreath is a very special symbol that we use during this season as we prepare our hearts and wait for Jesus. The wreath is round like a circle which symbolizes God’s never ending love for all of us.  The wreath has three purple candles, 1 pink candle candle and a center white candle that we call the Christ candle. Each week of Advent we light a candle until all four are lit. The Christ candle is lit on Christmas.  The word Advent means “coming.”  In the years before Jesus’ birth the Hebrew people were waiting for the the coming of a new king or a Messiah to deliver them from the darkness of the world. Last week we talked about who that king is that God sent to the earth to be born as a small little baby in a manger. Who was the king that God sent to dwell among us? Yes! Jesus. Each candle that we light on the Advent wreath reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and that through him we have been saved from  darkness to have everlasting life with him. Let us now light the first candle of Advent

V.        Prayer and candle lighting: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe.

You sent your Son to be the Light of the world and to

spread his light of love to all.

As we light the candles of this wreath

May its growing brightness remind us of the approaching

nearness of your Son

So that the day of His coming may find us prepared and

filled with joy.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

VI.      Response Activity (Crafts, Singing, or another activity will be provided.) For the next several weeks we will be practicing songs for the pageant. Today we will practice “Go Tell it on the Mountain.” Song lyrics will be provided for you in each Children’s Chapel room.