I’m guessing that you’re all sorted for the big day by now, so here’s looking ahead slightly. (If you’re not sorted and you’re panicking, look back to the last couple of posts for loads of instant ideas, crafts, talks and printables).
New Year’s Day is in three weeks and you’ll be too busy photocopying emergency carol sheets and extinguishing Christingle fires to even think about Epiphany, so here are some resources from previous years, handily gathered for your convenience. If you’ve never used the Blessing Boxes, I recommend these. I have had a lot of good feedback from readers. Your liturgy resources (for Advent 3) are below, as always.
PLUS! Bonus special, a loose-parts story about Hannukah, suitable for Godly Play / Out of the Box storytelling.
Christmas and Epiphany Resources
- Chalking the Doorway: A House Blessing for Epiphany, plus mindfulness colouring (and yellow stockings!)
- Epiphany Blessing Boxes – a gift to give and receive including printable template
- Useless gifts
- Late, Lost, and Laughably Inappropriate – some thoughts on the Wise Men
- Matt 2:1-12 – Ordinary Cloth
- Bold, Frankenstein and Mmmm-errr
Hannukah Story
Hannukah – click here for script
I’ll be taking a couple of weeks off now. Party because I have a mountain of deadlines coming up and partly because I have a mountain of pressies to wrap. The latter is by far the more important.
As Solomon said, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12 ) On the other hand my kids won’t always be around to be shoved under the Christmas tree by their ankles. (You think I’m joking?)
May you find time amongst the tinsel and turkey to sit and gawp at the wonder of God made man, and may the blessing of God, Loving Father, Gracious Son and Holy Spirit, be upon you, among you and within you, this Christmas season and for ever.
Amen.
Blessings
Liturgy for Advent 3
Luke 1:46b-55, John 1:6-8, 19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Confession and Absolution
Speaking through Saint Paul, God commands us:
Abstain from every form of evil; hold fast to what is good.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise the words of prophets.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely;
and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Amen and Amen.
Blessing and Dismissal
May our souls magnify the Lord.
May our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour.
For the Mighty One has done great things for us,
and holy is his name.
And the blessing …
Go now, as witnesses to the light,
so that all might believe.
In the name of Christ,
Amen.
The Reflectionary 