Main Theme: Our hope & peace is grounded in a person not circumstances.
Opening
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and be open to what He wants to do & say in our gathering.
Suggested Practice:
Observe the 2nd theme of advent (peace):
Worship
Goal: Make Jesus central in our gathering. This could be done through songs, prayerful scripture reading, communion, etc.
Suggested Practice:
Choose 2 songs to sing together (or listen to) that will focus our attention on the gift of Jesus Christ during this advent season.
Possible Options:
____[Dismiss the Kids/Youth]____
Sharing
Goal: To know each other's stories.
Suggested Practice A:
Select one person to answer the following question:
Suggested Practice B:
Select one person to answer the following question:
Suggested Practice C:
Break into groups of 3 people. Answer the following questions:
Discussion
Goal: Learn how to follow Jesus in everyday life.
Learning Objectives:
Suggested Practice A:
Possible Questions:
Suggested Practice B:
Read Luke 2:25-32 together. What do you notice? What questions do these words provoke? What does this passage reveal about Jesus?
____[Kids/Youth Rejoin Adults]____
Prayer
Goal: Respond appropriately to what Jesus is doing & saying in our gathering.
Suggested Practice A:
Break into groups of 3 people and ask everyone to identify a family member or friend that needs hope or peace right now. Pray for these people. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring hope and peace to these people.
Suggested Practice B:
Break into groups of 3 people and ask everyone where they need hope or peace right now. Pray for one another. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring hope and peace into these situations.
Communion
Goal: Remember Jesus' death and resurrection. Receive strength & joy that He is with us. Renew our hope for Jesus' return and the restoration of creation.
Suggested Practice:
Blessing
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and consider what He wants to do & say this coming week.
Suggested Practice:
Lead your Small Church in the following prayer of St. Patrick (387-493) that declares the presence of Jesus Christ in all areas of our lives:
“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen”.
Opening
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and be open to what He wants to do & say in our gathering.
Suggested Practice:
Observe the 2nd theme of advent (peace):
- Light a candle.
- Read Isaiah 9:6.
- Thank God that, because of Jesus, peace (wholeness/completeness) is possible in the present and certain in the future.
Worship
Goal: Make Jesus central in our gathering. This could be done through songs, prayerful scripture reading, communion, etc.
Suggested Practice:
Choose 2 songs to sing together (or listen to) that will focus our attention on the gift of Jesus Christ during this advent season.
Possible Options:
____[Dismiss the Kids/Youth]____
Sharing
Goal: To know each other's stories.
Suggested Practice A:
Select one person to answer the following question:
- When was a time in your life where you experienced hope or peace in difficult circumstances? What difference did it make? How has it changed you?
Suggested Practice B:
Select one person to answer the following question:
- Who has been an example to you of experiencing hope or peace in difficult circumstances? How have they inspired you? How has their example changed you?
Suggested Practice C:
Break into groups of 3 people. Answer the following questions:
- What are you thankful for this week?
- What has stressed you out this week?
Discussion
Goal: Learn how to follow Jesus in everyday life.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand that hope and peace are essential for the flourishing of humanity.
- Explain why we can ground our hope and peace in the person of Jesus Christ.
- Describe how we can keep our hope and peace in difficult circumstances.
Suggested Practice A:
Possible Questions:
- What is the difference between hope and a wish?
- Why is hope and peace essential for the flourishing of humanity?
- How does Jesus bring hope and peace to the whole world?
- What impact does hope and peace have on our everyday lives?
- How do we keep our hope and peace in difficult circumstances?
Suggested Practice B:
Read Luke 2:25-32 together. What do you notice? What questions do these words provoke? What does this passage reveal about Jesus?
____[Kids/Youth Rejoin Adults]____
Prayer
Goal: Respond appropriately to what Jesus is doing & saying in our gathering.
Suggested Practice A:
Break into groups of 3 people and ask everyone to identify a family member or friend that needs hope or peace right now. Pray for these people. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring hope and peace to these people.
Suggested Practice B:
Break into groups of 3 people and ask everyone where they need hope or peace right now. Pray for one another. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring hope and peace into these situations.
Communion
Goal: Remember Jesus' death and resurrection. Receive strength & joy that He is with us. Renew our hope for Jesus' return and the restoration of creation.
Suggested Practice:
- Distribute bread and juice.
- Read the following statement…“the body of Christ has been given, broken for us and the entire world. This bread reminds us that He paid a debt that He did not owe so that we wouldn’t have to pay a debt that we did owe”.
- Eat the bread.
- Read the following statement…“The blood of Christ has been poured out, shed for us and the entire world. This juice reminds us that we have a permanent and unbreakable relationship with Him and that death has no power over us and no power over creation”.
- Drink the juice.
Blessing
Goal: Focus our attention on Jesus and consider what He wants to do & say this coming week.
Suggested Practice:
Lead your Small Church in the following prayer of St. Patrick (387-493) that declares the presence of Jesus Christ in all areas of our lives:
“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen”.
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