Call to Worship (together)
God of Love
As we, your people gather to worship and share
Still our minds and open our hearts
To listen with love, compassion and hope
To your word and the stories we share
Candle Lighting (together)
As we light our candles
We look ahead to the closing of the year – a different year
We wait with hope for the new year – the season of Advent
Remembering
When the Christ-light entered the world
Bringing reconciliation and your Love to a broken people and planet
May your flames of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love
Ignite our lives and shine forth
Notices and Community News
Time to Connect (Breakout Rooms)
Reading
Hebrews 10: 19-25 (The Message)
Don’t Throw It All Away
So, friends, we can now – without hesitation – walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place”. Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.
So let’s do it – full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshipping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the Big Day approaching.
Sharing Time
This Christmas will be one like no other – or perhaps not …..?
Think of the first Northern-hemisphere migrants to Aotearoa New Zealand celebrating their first Christmas in summer. Think of the first Christmas with a newborn. Think of the first Christmas without a loved one. Think of the first Christmas in a new home. Think of the first Christmas in the Northern hemisphere on OE. Think of a Christmas camping. Think of a Christmas in the rain.
Think of a different Christmas and let’s share …..
Breakout Rooms – two cycles
Early followers of Jesus were flexible, creative and experimental in their worship and practices. They were a community that welcomed the different and celebrated with difference. The Bible reading today invites us to walk right up to God with confidence and belief in God’s promises. Picking up this invitation, we have an exercise in love and encouragement for you ….. Discussion.
In “A Christmas Carol” Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge encounters the Ghost of Christmas Past. But that was not where it ended – the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come made his entry and shook Scrooge into radical change. Looking ahead to this Christmas Yet to Come, a different one, how will we tell the story? How will we carry and share the message of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love?
Blessing (together)
Let’s do this – full of belief – confident that we are presentable inside and out
Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going
Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging Love and helping out, spurring each other on, especially as we see the Big Day approaching
Amen
