Gathering for All Ages: Advent and Christmas Year AGatherings for All Ages are suitable not just for people of all ages but also for people of any or no church background. These gatherings connect those inside the church with those who have little or no connection with regular Sunday wor-ship.
This outline includes activities, worship, and a meal. Choose the flow that suits your situation and time of gathering. For example, if your gathering will begin early evening, you might begin with a meal. If you will meet late afternoon then you might begin with worship and conclude with a meal.
Prepare❑❑ Set the stations as described in Time of Creativity.❑❑ Set a worship space: cover a table with purple or blue
cloth. This will be the worship centre. Set a manger with a large candle in it in the worship space.
❑❑ Set up the bus stop scene for the drama “Before the Bus Comes” (p. 4), and arrange for three actors. Bring a paper scroll with verses from Isaiah written on it.
❑❑ Bring songs such as “Come into God’s Presence,” and
“The Peace of the Earth” (Seasons Songbook, vols. 3 and 9 and, #2 and #10 on Seasons Music CD, vols. 3 and 9. Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads, www.seasonsonline.ca).
❑❑ Arrange for volunteers to prepare the meal and help set it up for serving.
❑❑ Recruit volunteers to initiate clean-up when the meal is finished.
Welcome everyone to the gathering. Explain clearly (but briefly) what will be happening throughout the gathering. Invite people to sit together so they can see, hear, and par-ticipate in the opening worship.
Gathering
Sing a song such as “Come into God’s Presence” (Seasons Songbook, vol. 3 and #2 on Seasons Music CD, vol. 3. Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Down-loads, www.seasonsonline.ca).
Prayer Gathering God, who calls us to live in your way,thank you for this time together.Bless us as we wait for the coming of Jesus.May the visions of the prophet Isaiah fill us with hope, and our souls with singing.Amen.
WorshipTalk together Invite people to divide into groups of three or four people. Ask the groups to recall a time when they had to wait for something or someone. What did they do while they were waiting? Allow a few minutes to tell about their experiences.
Drama Have two people present the drama “Before the Bus Comes” on p. 4.
Festive streamersMaterials 30 cm/ 12 in dowel rods; sand paper (if you cut your dowels be sure to sand off the cut ends to avoid splinters); white glue, or a glue gun and hot glue sticks (the white glue is safer to use with small children); red, green, white, silver, and other Christmas themed or pat-terned ribbon, anywhere from 3/8–5/8-inch thick (you’ll want to have plenty of ribbon – enough to attach three 1-metre/ 3-foot pieces to each rod); scissors; a few tall, wide mouthed jars or containers for the finished streamers; a copy of the direc-tions displayed where all can see
Directions1. Cut three 1 metre/3 foot pieces of ribbon and tie them to the end of a dowel
rod. Add a dot of either white glue or hot glue to the end of the dowel rod and gently press the ribbon to the dowel rod to secure it.
2. Note: You might want to make enough for everyone at the gathering and share these streamers with them.
Christmas cardsMaterials construction paper or card stock/heavy paper; envelopes; a variety of Christmas-themed papers/fabrics -- old Christmas cards, Christmas wrapping paper (small scraps of paper will work for this), Christmas-themed magazines, Christmas-patterned fabric; scissors; glue; Christmas cookie/biscuit cutters or Christ-mas templates shapes such as stars, orna-ments, candles, Christmas trees, wreathes, and so on (see Patterns and Templates in Virtual Resource Booklet at the library at www.seasonsonline.ca); a copy of the dir-ections displayed where all can see
Directions1. Cut and fold a piece of construction paper or card stock to make a Christmas
card. 2. Choose a cookie cutter or pattern and trace this on the front of your card. 3. Next, carefully cut out your pattern.4. Choose paper or fabric that will fill the opening left by the pattern – a piece
of paper or fabric from what’s provided that’s only slightly bigger than the opening in your card.
5. Glue this to the inside of the card.6. Write a Christmas message on the inside of your card.
Christmas (or Advent) wreathMaterials recycled newspaper or news-print, paper plates, scissors, green and red paint, paint brushes, small containers of water, paper towels, construction paper, green ribbon, glue, a copy of the direc-tions displayed where all can see
Directions1. Cut the middle out of a paper plate to make your wreath. 2. Paint your wreath green. You might also add berries and a bow.3. Christmas wreath: Cut out a candle and flame from the construction paper and
glue it to the inside of your wreath, at the bottom so it appears in the middle.4. Advent wreath: Cut out four candles and flames from the construction paper
and glue candles to the wreath (so they appear in the middle) to mark the four weeks of Advent.
5. Cut a piece of ribbon and glue it to the top of the wreath to make a hanger for your wreath.
Kindness box Materials several small boxes, plain pack-aging/wrapping paper, markers, maga-zines, glue sticks, scissors, sticky tape, copy of the directions displayed where all can see
Directions 1. Decorate the wrapping paper with pictures and words that communicate kind
actions. These pictures may be drawn with markers, or cut out of magazines and glued on the paper with a glue stick.
2. Wrap a box with the wrapping paper and cut a small slot in the top. 3. Place a gift tag that says, “To Jesus from [name of family or person]“ on it. 4. Throughout Advent as people do kind things for others, they are to write
this down on a piece of paper and place it in the box which will be opened on Christmas Day, along with the Christmas presents.
Plan a simple but enjoyable meal for all to share together. The menu is not as important as the occasion. The occasion is not as important as those participating. This is a time for people to relax, chat, have fun, eat and drink, and enjoy one another’s company.
Try to plan the layout of the room so that it reflects the com-munal aspects of the gathering together. Be aware that for some, eating in this way is a completely new and perhaps un-nerving situation.
Eating TogetherAsk volunteers to prepare the meal. Select a simple and healthy menu, preferably including locally grown fruits and vegetables that are in season and other locally made food items (raw vegetables/fruit with dip, salad, homemade soup, a pasta dish with sauce made from local vegetables, bread). If there are particular foods that represent the Christmas season, you might prepare those. You might ask the cooks to share their recipes with the group.
Gather in a circle around a manger that holds a large candle that is unlit. Explain that the candle remains unlit as a sym-bol of anticipation, of waiting for the light. Allow time for people to share their experiences and explain what they are planning to do while they wait in this Advent season.
BlessSing “The Peace of the Earth” (Seasons Songbook, vol. 9, #10 Seasons Music CD, vol. 9. Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads, www.seasonsonline.ca).
Before the Bus ComesBased on the texts from Isaiah 4:4, 11:9, and 35:5 and 6, and Matthew 24:36–44
Create a simple bus stop with a bench seat and a sign next to it. You might add the sound of traffic in the background for effect. The three characters are Sam, Isaiah who carries a scroll, and Matt.
(Sam is waiting at a bus stop, looking anxiously up and down the road. People walk past busily, this way and that.)Sam: (speaking to no one in particular) What could be
taking it so long? Everyone else’s bus has arrived and I have to sit here and wait. Why is it taking so long?
(Sam sits on the bench and remains anxious. Isaiah arrives and sits down next to him.)
ISaIah: (offering a handshake to Sam) Is it taking longer than you thought?
Sam: Who are you?ISaIah: I’m Isaiah and I’m used to waiting for things.Sam: (distracted by his search for a bus, Sam asks half-
heartedly) Oh? Why’s that?ISaIah: Well, you see, I’m a prophet. I speak God’s way
to the people.Sam: That’s strange.ISaIah: You can say that again.Sam: But what’s that got to do with waiting?ISaIah: Listen to some of the words I have spoken to the
people.
(Isaiah unrolls the scroll he’s been carrying and reads Isaiah 4:4, Isaiah 11:9, and Isaiah 35:5, 6 which have been written on the scroll.)
Sam: You could wait a lifetime and not see any of that stuff happen.
ISaIah: (looking discouraged) Yeah.Sam: Then why do you keep waiting? Why don’t you
give up?ISaIah: Because I have walked on the Holy Way with
God my whole life. Others travel on this path with me and we have hope that one day – we’re not sure when – but one day the words will come true.
Sam: You mean you’re waiting with hope? That’s all you have?
ISaIah: That’s all I got and that’s all I need. Well, I gotta go. Here’s my bus and I have some speaking
engagements I need to make in the next few weeks.
Sam: Oh, okay. See you. (Sam sits in silence a few seconds.) No more war, no destruction, blind people seeing… and I thought waiting for a bus was bad.
(Sam stands and paces back and forth. He runs into Matt who has entered the scene.) Sam: Oh, excuse me.matt: No, excuse me. You seemed a little anxious and
I should have been more considerate.Sam: (in an anxious voice) I’m not anxious.matt: Oh, I see.Sam: (plops down on the bench) See, I’m not anxious.matt: (sits next to him) Yes, I see.
(The two sit in silence for several moments. Sam bounces his knee, drums his fingers, looks at his watch, and does other things that reveal his anxiety.)
matt: Yes, I see.Sam: What’s that supposed to mean?matt: I see that you are doing everything you can to
not be anxious. But it’s not working, is it?Sam: No. I’m afraid it’s not. But I thought my bus
would be here by now and I don’t know what to do with myself.
matt: Yes, I see.Sam: Would you please stop saying that!matt: No, I don’t see? (laughs at his joke) I’m sorry, I
shouldn’t joke. But I’ve written a lot of stories about people who are waiting.
Sam: You have?matt: Yeah (puts his hand out to shake). I’m Matt, the
gospel writer. Most people call me Matthew. I wrote the longest gospel – 28 chapters! Of course, Luke always tries to throw the book of Acts in there but I say that’s a sequel and so it doesn’t count.
Sam: (interrupting) You’re not helping!matt: Of course I’m not. I’m sorry.Sam: What about those stories?matt: Well, one was about a man named Joseph. He
Resource SheetSam: Oh, I get it… what to expect when you’re
expecting, that kind of thing.matt: Not exactly. See, the baby they were expecting
was the son of God. (Sam looks surprised.) Sam: Well, what did Joseph and Mary do while they
were waiting?matt: They pretty much went on with their everyday
lives. You know, cleaning, working, cooking, travelling to Bethlehem for the census, that sort of thing.
Sam: So are you saying I’m supposed to go make myself a grilled cheese sandwich while I wait for this bus?
matt: If it’s just the bus you’re waiting for, a good book always helps me pass the time. Did I recommend the gospel of Matthew to you yet? Anyway…
But if you’re waiting for something more than the bus – like the reign of God to come in all its fullness, for example – you might want to get ready for that.
Sam: Get ready? How?matt: By doing things that help you grow closer to
God and grow in God’s way.Sam: Yes, I see. (The two look at each other and laugh.)matt: Here’s my bus, it’s time for me to go. I hope your
bus gets here soon.Sam: You know, suddenly that bus doesn’t seem so
important anymore. I think I’ll head over to that bookstore over there. There’s an old gospel I’ve heard is really good.
(Sam and Matt wave at each other and exit in different directions.)
