Advent 2

Welcome:

Welcome everyone to the service and to the theme of “Advent – Preparations for the coming King”

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Opening Prayer: Join in the response

I am the Alpha and Omega says the Lord God,

who is, and who was, and who is to come. (Rev 1:8)

He who testifies to these things says: Yes, I am coming soon!

Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!

Opening Songs:

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We Lift our voices to the Lord most high

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Light of the world

Warm up: CLICK

Before the service begins, scatter rubbish all around the worship area. You will need:

• a couple of black sacks

• a few dusters.

• a fancy chair.

Imagine if this morning we received a hand delivered notice from the Palace telling us that His Royal Highness – King Charles, has decided to join us towards the end of this service.

Looking around you, what do you think we need to do to get ready as we wait for King Charles?

I think that the 1st thing we would all agree upon is that we need to clean up the place.……

• if we look around, there is rubbish everywhere.

• I also think that the area around me needs a bit of a dust.

I need some children willing to come and help clear up. (Hand out dusters and black sacks to collect rubbish)

• Let’s see how quickly these children can clear up the rubbish and dust.

Well done. Thank you…a church fit for a King!

The 2nd thing we need to do is put a special seat at the centre of the church for him to sit on, (Put special chair in place) and we would put a microphone in place so that we would all be able to hear what he has to say to us.

I am sure that you can think of all sorts of other things we could do to get ready to welcome Charles, our King.

• Getting ready to meet a special visitor takes thought.

Advent is the time when we think about getting ready for the most important meeting, we will all have.

• This meeting isn’t with the King Charles,

• but with God’s Son, Jesus.

The Bible tells us that one day Jesus is going to return to earth.

• Listen to what St Paul says to the Thessalonian Christians: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God….” (1Thess 4:16)

• Wow – that is going to be an exciting day!

• For those of us who know and follow Jesus, it will be a day of great joy and

celebration as we finally see our Lord face to face.

During our service today, we are going to be thinking about how we can get ready for the day we meet King Jesus.

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Light candle:

If you have an Advent wreath, invite a child to come and light the candle(s). Tell the congregation that the candle(s) is a reminder that Jesus will return one day.

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responsive prayer:

As we light our advent candle

Light of the world, shine on us.

As we prepare for Christmas time

Light of the world, shine on us.

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In this world of pain and darkness,

Light of the world, shine through us.

To all the people who don’t know you,

Light of the world, shine through us.

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Jesus you are coming again,

Light of the world, light the way.

In our service here today

Light of the world, light the way.

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Bible reading Before Jesus came to earth the first time as a baby born in Bethlehem, God sent the

prophet, John the Baptist to help people get ready.

• Let’s hear what happened.

The Bible reading is Luke 3:2-14,18

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Talk 1:

• One of the black sacks of rubbish,

• Two pieces of paper; one with the word, “SIN” written on it in a large font, and the other with

the word, “GOD” written on it in a large font and some Sellotape.

• The chair that was used earlier.

John the Baptist was God’s messenger, and he was sent to get people ready for Jesus’

coming.

• Jesus was the ultimate special visitor!

The people were to prepare, not by cleaning up their buildings,

• by dusting and picking up rubbish, like we have just done here in church,

• but by cleaning up their hearts. Unfortunately, the people had been living lives their own way for many, many years.

Their hearts were full up with the rubbish of sin. (hold up black bin sack of rubbish and attach SIN word onto black sack)

• They cheated people out of money,

• they were selfish and greedy,

• they didn’t love one another or God.

• God was no longer at the centre of their lives,

John’s message to these people was a message of repentance.

• They were to turn away from their sins and turn back to God.

• In other words, they were to get rid of the rubbish of sin from their lives, (Put rubbish away)

• and allow God to be at the centre of their lives, (Put GOD word onto the chair laid out earlier)

Many people listened to what John said.

• They turned away from their sins and they turned back to God they repented.

• As a symbol of their wanting to live differently, they were baptised in the River Jordan.

• They were now ready to hear Jesus’ life-giving message that He had come to deal with the effects of sin once and for all so that they could have a restored relationship with their Heavenly Father.

John the Baptist prepared the people well, ready for Jesus’ first coming to earth.

Song:

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HYMN: Prepare the way of the lord

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Talk 2:

You need the “SIN” bag of rubbish and the chair used earlier for this talk.

We have heard how God sent John the Baptist to prepare people for Jesus’ first arrival,

• making them ready to welcome Him and follow Him.

So how do we prepare for Jesus when he returns to earth, so that we are ready to meet him?

John the Baptist’s message is as relevant for us today as it was to people 2000 years ago.

• The first thing we are to do is to turn away from our sins, in other words get rid of the rubbish of sin from our lives, (Put rubbish away)

Grandad is helping James to understand the importance of turning away from one of his

sins.

Enter Grandad

Grandad: James, James, where are you?

Enter James dressed in a hessian tunic

James: Here I am Grandad

Grandad: Wow…..I like the new outfit James…..is it a new fashion?

James: No Grandad, I am dressing up to look like John the Baptist

Grandad: I see. So, have you had some honey on your toast this morning?

James: I don’t like honey Grandad

Grandad: Perhaps locusts would suit your taste better then….

James: Oh cool….yes I’d love to try a locust….I wonder how you cook locust

Grandad: Somehow, I don’t think that your mother would be too keen on cooking locusts for tea James. Tell me, why are you dressed up like John the Baptist?

James: We have been learning about John the Baptist in Sunday school Grandad. I have a loud voice too, so I thought I could be like him and say to everyone I meet (shouting), “PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD.”

Grandad: That is a loud voice!

James: I have already baptised my hamster in the sink and was just about to baptise the goldfish when you called me….although I was wondering how I would hold him as he is so slippery.

Grandad: Oh dear…….perhaps it might be more helpful for us to spend some time together and think about some of the things that John said.

James: But John was talking to tax collectors and soldiers Grandad, and I am neither of those.

Grandad: He also talked to ordinary people like you and me James, and what he said all those years ago is still true today.

James: So, what did John the Baptist tell the people?

Grandad: John told people that when they had confessed their sins, they had to live differently.

James: How do you mean differently?

Grandad: They had to live to please God, and not themselves. John said that the things that they did would show whether anything had actually changed in their hearts or not.

James: Oh

Grandad: So, when John spoke to the tax collectors, he told them to be honest with money and not to take more from people than they should.

James: Oh dear

Grandad: What’s the matter James?

James: I am feeling rather guilty….

Grandad: Come on James….what have you done?

James: When I went down to the sweet shop earlier today, I bought a Mars bar. I handed the lady a five-pound note, and do you know what?

Grandad: No, go on……

James: (speaking incredulously) Well the lady gave me back nineteen pounds and forty pence in change……she thought I had given her a twenty-pound note. I was thinking, what a wonderful sweet shop…..you get given free sweets and loads of money…..but now I am starting to feel rather guilty.

Grandad: That’s good….because I’m thinking about the poor lady who works in the sweet shop. When she comes to add up the money tonight from the till and discovers that she is fifteen pounds short, she will probably have to pay for that herself.

James: ohhhhhh

Grandad: And at this time of year when we are all saving up to buy Christmas presents, losing that amount of money will be hard for her.

James: Oh, dear Grandad what should I do?

Grandad: Well why don’t I go back to the sweet shop with you and we will return the money together…..I think that the lady will be very pleased with your honesty.

James: Do you think so Grandad? I’m sorry…..I didn’t think that it mattered.

Grandad: It does matter James, and I am so glad that John the Baptist’s words spoke to you.

James: So am I Grandad.

Grandad: John also said some stuff about sharing and about being happy with what you have…..

James: Thanks Grandad….let’s talk about that another time as I must go and add something to my Christmas “wants” list. I don’t want to forget to add locusts to the top of it……. I really would love to have a few.

Grandad: Oh James!

Exit James and Grandad

Link:

James learnt from John the Baptist, didn’t he?

• He realised that he needed to put something right that he had done wrong….You see, turning away from sin isn’t about just about feeling bad for doing something wrong.

• Turning away from sin is about choosing not to do that wrong thing again and about putting things right where we can.

We are going to ask the Holy Spirit to show us what sins we need to confess today and turn away from, so that we can be forgiven…..

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Confession and Absolution:

Let’s be quiet as we listen to what God wants to say to each one of us. PAUSE

Imagine for a moment the light and purity of the Holy Spirit shining in your heart…….PAUSE

• What rubbish – what sin is there that He will show up?.......PAUSE

Is the Holy Spirit showing you something about the way that you use your tongue?

• Maybe you say unkind things about other people,

• or gossip,

• or use foul language,

• or have outbursts of anger.

Is the Holy Spirit showing you that you can be:

• selfish,

• or lazy,

• or greedy,

• or proud

• or something else altogether…PAUSE

Let’s pray together

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Lord Jesus,

We want to be ready for when You return.

Please forgive us for the wrong things we have done,

and for the good things we have not done.

We turn away from doing those wrong things again

and ask for Your help to put things right.

Thank you that You died so we can be forgiven.

Help us to turn to You, and follow You,

Amen.

prayer of Absolution. This could be:

Thank you, Lord, that when we confess our sins to you,

you forgive us and give us a fresh start.

Help us Lord to walk closely with You

until the day that we meet you face to face. Amen.

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Song:

Purify my Heart

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Talk 3:

Turning away from sin is one part of John the Baptist’s message.

• What is the 2nd part?

The 2nd part is turning back to God, in other words, allowing God to be at the centre of your life, not you!

Each one of us here is deeply loved by our Heavenly Father, and He has invited us to walk with Him each day of our lives,

• which is a tremendous privilege. Allowing Him to be at the centre of our lives means that we listen to what He says and then do what He says.

• It is like we allow Him to be in the driving seat, not us.

• You see God knows the very best for us and He asks us to do the things that He knows will make our lives better.

So, for example, one of the things that God has told us to do is to forgive other people when they mess up. Watch this.

Video:

If there is someone that you need to forgive, can I encourage you to obey Jesus and forgive them?

• Unforgiveness is one of the biggest blocks in your relationship with Jesus.

So, as we summarise what John the Baptist has taught us,

• we can say that the way we prepare for the day that Jesus returns is through repentance….

• in other words: turning away from our sins and turning back to God, allowing Him to be at the centre of our lives; to be Lord…..

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Song:

All to Jesus I surrender

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Prayers:

Let us pray:

When I say: Lord Jesus, one day You will return.

Please say: Make us ready Lord.

Lord Jesus, one day You will return.

Make us ready Lord.

Jesus said: “Therefore keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour until I return.” (Matthew 25:13)

Lord Jesus, help us keep our eyes upon you and not distracted by all that is going on in the world around us.

Lord Jesus, one day You will return.

Make us ready Lord.

Jesus said, “not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven”. (Matthew 7:21)

Lord Jesus, we need Your help to follow you faithfully each day. Please fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit so that we can hear you speaking to us, and then obeying what you say.

We want to be a people who do the will of our Heavenly Father.

Lord Jesus, one day You will return.

Make us ready Lord.

Jesus said: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 3:2)

Lord Jesus, help us to share the message of Your love with other people, giving them a

chance to repent. Give us courage and boldness to declare all that you have done for us,

and that You are reigning as Lord over all.

Lord Jesus, one day You will return.

Make us ready Lord.

Gathering all our prayers together we pray:

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Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and for ever. Amen.

Drama:

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Set the metronome going at a medium speed eg. 92

Enter Mother wearing an apron. She stands behind the table, picks up the wooden spoon, and mimes mixing something in the bowl. Her script can be in the recipe book propped open for her to see.

M: It’s Christmas Eve and time is running out. I’ve still got so much to do.

Stuff the turkey, peel the potatoes, prepare the veg, prepare the pudding.

I wish I hadn’t left it so late to get all of this ready…..maybe going to all those parties

wasn’t such a good idea….why haven’t I learnt my lesson from last year?

I’m sure that I have forgotten something. (Keeps mixing) It’s the stuffing……I knew it…

I’ve forgotten the stuffing. I wonder if any shops are open this late….oh no….time is

running out.

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Increase metronome speed to 120.

Enter Father carrying a few unwrapped gifts. Mother freezes.

D: It’s Christmas Eve and time is running out. I’ve still got so much to do.

I had hoped to have all these presents wrapped by now, but there have been so

many good films on television that just had to be watched. Where’s the scissors?

(Walks around looking for scissors, then goes back to the table)

Oh well, I’ll just have to rip the paper…..I’m sure no-one will notice. (Rips a piece of

wrapping paper and starts to wrap a present). How am I possibly going to get all these

presents wrapped in time? The children will be awake in a couple of hours and there

is a pile three feet deep in the other room waiting to be wrapped. I wish I had started

earlier….oh no…..time is running out.

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Increase metronome speed to 144.

Enter Son with fairy lights. Father freezes.

S: It’s Christmas Eve and time is running out. I’ve still got so much to do.

Dad thinks that I am the techie in this household and so I have been given the job of

fixing all of the Christmas lights…..I’ve left it a few days because I needed to catch

up on my sleep….but now, you wouldn’t believe the grief mum and dad are giving

me because the lights aren’t working. Hmmm, let’s start with these lights. (Looks at the

lights) Let’s just twiddle each of these bulbs like so….now we plug in. (Plugs in the lights

but they don’t light up) I think that these lights need a new fuse….but I guess it’s a bit

late to try and sort that out now….oh no…..time is running out.

Son Freezes and metronome stops

M: That’s strange…..it’s nearly midnight and yet it is brilliant daylight outside

D: Oh wow…..the whole sky looks like it is on fire!

S: I can hear a loud trumpet

M: What is happening? (Freezes)

D: I don’t ….(Freezes)

S: Er….(Freezes)

Voice: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

ALL Will you be ready?

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Final Song:

Endless

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Blessing:

Go from here knowing that Jesus, our Lord and Saviour will return one day.

Be ready to welcome Him!

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you

and remain with you always. Amen.

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