P a g e | 1

Fourth Sunday in Advent

21 December 2014

The Mission and Discipleship Council would like to thank ALTERnativity for their thoughts on the

fourth Sunday in Advent.

Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 2

Luke 1: 38, 46-49 .................................................................................................................................... 3

Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26 ................................................................................................................................ 3

Romans 16: 25-27 ................................................................................................................................... 4

Luke 1: 26-38 .......................................................................................................................................... 4

Sermon Ideas ......................................................................................................................................... 5

Prayers ................................................................................................................................................... 9

Time with Children ............................................................................................................................... 15

Musical Suggestions ............................................................................................................................ 18

Other Resources .................................................................................................................................. 18

Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................... 21

P a g e | 2

Helping people prepare for reading the Bible in worship can make a

real difference. Overcoming nerves, reading in ways suitable to the

text, speaking clearly etc.

You may wish to email these three links to the people reading Scripture on Sunday to support them

in their involvement in worship: Managing your nerves; Creative readings; Worship at the Lectern

Introduction

ALTERnativity

ALTERnativity exists to look at issues around Christmas in relation to injustice, inequality and

exclusion. We seek to empower people to make choices which are fun, challenge the pressures

of commercialisation, avoid the trap of debt and improve the quality of life for all, especially for

the poorest. ALTERnativity works both in the church and in the community, using local people

as multipliers within their local area.

ALTERnativity works mainly with women because women usually carry the burden of Christmas.

This is true firstly because women often struggle to keep everyone happy, to fend off unreal

expectations, to fulfil demands of tradition and family, while sometimes feeling they are in

competition with estranged partners, vying for their children’s time and affection. ALTERnativity

has worked in communities using educational models to explore women’s feelings about

Christmas, and enable women together to find ways of surviving and celebrating Christmas. The

results of these community workshops are then used in resources to share with others. It is true

secondly where women in developing countries often work on production lines in factories,

making the same goods that are bought and given as gifts in western economies in the

commercial festivity of Christmas. ALTERnativity seeks to engage with those women also, and

reflects this in the materials used when creating new resources.

Go to the ALTERnativity website to find out more about what we do and what resources we

offer.

In our newest resource for Advent, called “Setting the Message Free”, we offer tools for

individuals, groups and church communities to explore the message the Angels brought seeking

P a g e | 3 peace with justice for everyone in our families, communities, nations and world. And we ask –

where are the Angels of today?

Overall Theme

In keeping with our reasons for existing, and because it is an “alternative reading” for two

weeks of Advent 2014, we have chosen “The Magnificat” from Luke 1: 38, 47-55 as an over-all

theme for these Advent Services.

However the themes for each week also reflect the lectionary readings for that week.

ALTERnativity thanks all our contributors to Starters for Sunday, including John Bell, Ruth

Burgess, Ruth Clements, Helen Cook, Eildon Dyer, Kathy Galloway, Ruth Grayson, Peter

Graystone, John Harvey, Susan Johnstone, David Lunan, Peter Millar, Ian Milligan, Lyn Peden,

Kate Sainsbury and Marjory Williamson.

Advent 4

Good cosmic hope for us all – God chooses to be human

(and Mary says ‘Yes!’)

Luke 1: 38, 46-49 38 Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything

you have said come true.” And then the angel disappeared. 46-49 Mary responded, “Oh, how I

praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Saviour! For he took notice of his humble servant girl,

and now generation after generation forever shall call me blest by God. For he, the Mighty, Holy

One, has done great things to me.”

Readings

Helen Cook

Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26

Verses 1-4

These verses are the introduction to the Psalm. This psalm is a liturgical song of praise which has

expressed for many people down through the centuries their love and praise for God – St

Theresa made verse one her favourite motto. (The Daily Study Bible) In these verses the

P a g e | 4 psalmist declares that he will share God’s faithfulness with all generations, and talks of God’s

steadfast love. This is the love which was at the heart of God’s covenant with his servant David;

and is the love for which the psalmist praises him. It is at the heart of his relationship with his

people.

Verses 19-26

The “faithful one” referred to in verse 19 is David, and these verses describe God’s relationship

with him. David is God’s servant, “found” by God. In response to all that God has done for him,

David shall cry to God, “Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my Salvation.”

Romans 16: 25-27

These closing verses to Paul’s letter to the Romans, take the form of a doxology which

summarises the gospel to which Paul was committed, and which he believed Christians were

meant to spread to the whole world. It is a gospel which enables those who are believers to

stand firm; a gospel which is firmly rooted in the prophets; a gospel which is now to be shared

with everyone as God has made it clear he wants it to be taken to the whole world.

Luke 1: 26-38

When Mary was betrothed to Jesus, the custom in betrothal, was that for a year the couple

would abstain from consummating their relationship, but in every other respect would be as

committed as a married couple. If Joseph died during that year, Mary’s official status would be

“virgin widow”. So if she became pregnant by another man while betrothed to Joseph, she

would be committing adultery.

People take different stances on the doctrine of the Virgin Birth - which this passage supports;

but whichever stance we take on that, this passage describes in what way God approached

Mary, and how she responded. God sent his angel who met her gently and graciously, calming

her natural fear. Mary responded with remarkable faith and obedience, after hearing his

explanations, and she said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Whatever he says, I accept.”

P a g e | 5 Sermon Ideas

David Lunan

St Luke 1: 38 I am the Lord’s servant,’ said Mary. ‘May it happen to me as you have said.’

1: 47 ‘My soul is glad because of God my Saviour; he has remembered me, his lowly servant. All

generations will call me happy.’ (GNB)

It is hard, if not impossible, for us to imagine what went through Mary’s mind when the Angel

Gabriel stood in front of her, and spoke to her. Absolutely impossible.

We all know the story, we all have some kind of picture in our minds, we know it’s the beginning

of a story that has changed and is still changing the world.

And we know how the story ends too.

Mary didn’t. We know she must have been a good person, she must have been an amazing

person to have nurtured and raised and taught her son for him to be the person he was, the

person he became, the person he is.

She must have had a tremendous faith in God, a total trust that whatever happened, God would

work things out, God would see her through, God would see all thing through, and make all

things new.

But she must still have been shocked, petrified even; if not at the appearance of this total

stranger, who may or may not have been shining in a radiant light; but if the sight of him didn’t

cause her to tremble, then what he had to say must have.

‘Don’t be frightened. You are going to become pregnant’. Impossible, she is still virgin.

‘God has chosen you to be the mother of his child. He will be a king, his kingdom will be never-

ending’. ‘How can this be?’ ‘Your cousin Elizabeth is already pregnant, and she’s old. There is

nothing God cannot do’.

‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ said Mary, ‘may it happen to me as you have said’. And the angel left

her.

Mary in her excitement couldn’t wait to go and see Elizabeth, and tell her cousin her good news.

She’s expecting too. And on the way her mind and heart are in a racing, she’s so happy. ‘My soul

P a g e | 6 is glad because of God my Saviour, for he has remembered me, his lowly servant. From now on

everyone will call me happy, because of the great things the mighty God has done for me.’

Today is the last Sunday in Advent, the fourth Sunday of the Christian year; the equivalent of the

end of January. It’s when we begin to look forward to the year ahead, the years ahead, what is

yet to be; in particular the coming of our Lord, it’s when we realise our preparations for

Christmas are running out of time, yes, but also we are thinking of all that is yet to be, the year

ahead, the years ahead. So not just the outward, but inwardly; not just for practicalities, but for

the deeper meanings and purposes in life.

The Church has also always used Advent as a time to reflect not just on Christ’s coming as the

infant of Mary, outcast and stranger, but also on the Second Coming, when Christ is Lord of all.

Jesus spoke about returning, and he talked about the last day, the end of time, the final

judgement, or the day of justice, when God would sort everything out.

It was a recurring theme through the Old Testament, that someday God would come himself and

sort everything out. For a people who had been at the receiving end of a lot of injustice, you can

understand - they looked forward to a time when they would be vindicated, emancipated,

healed, allowed to live in peace. After all they had been slaves at one time, they had survived

forty years of desert living, they had been beaten frequently in battle, they had fought among

themselves, they had been taken into exile; and even now they were a land and a nation under

occupation. You can see how they longed for things to be different. They longed for a time

when everything would be turned around.

Mary in her unexpected happiness sang about a God who stretched out his mighty arm and

scattered the proud with all their plans; a God who brings down kings and raises up the poor and

mean and lowly; a God who feeds the hungry with good things, and sends the rich away empty-

handed.

These are hardly very maternal thoughts; this is revolutionary talk dangerous, subversive. Not

many mothers would hope their children would get into that kind of stuff. A society turned on

its head.

P a g e | 7 But we believe in the same God as Mary believed in; this is what our God does. This is the God

we are gathered here to worship today.

And at the time, the kind of Messiah the people of Israel were hoping for, was this kind of

Messiah who would take on the political powers that be, and set everyone free. In the words of

Sidney Carter‘s Palm Sunday song;

‘We looked for a leader to free us from Rome,

we thought we could rule much better at home,

so we welcomed the Saviour with noises and din,

but we didn’t much want him to free us from sin.’

Even the disciples for a while thought Jesus was this kind of Messiah, and James and John asked

to be seated at the top table with Jesus. Jesus had to tell them again. ‘You don’t know what

you’re talking about’.

Then to all the disciples, ‘You know how the leaders in the world behave, lording it over others;

but that’s not the way it will be among you. If any of you wants to be great, he must be the

servant of the rest. Like the Son of Man, like Jesus, who didn’t come to be served, but to serve,

and to give his life to redeem many people’.

He came to serve; like his mother, ‘I am the Lord’s servant’, said Mary, ‘may it happen to me as

you have said’.

He came to serve, like his mother, and he came to love; like his Father in heaven.

Many people have many theories as to how to enjoy life, how to make the most of things, how

to be happy, and the Christian contribution to that search is; loving service; doing God’s will;

following Jesus; letting his spirit fill you and strengthen you and guide you, and give you all joy in

believing. To glorify God and enjoy him forever.

And find to our surprise, a serenity in serving, a peace in forgiving, a joy in caring; a courage and

a cheerfulness; being enriched by giving, being holy by being loving.

‘Trust and obey, for there’s no other way. To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.’

The Dalai Lama says, ‘If you want to make others happy, show compassion. If you want to be

happy yourself, show compassion.’

P a g e | 8 Love your neighbour as you love your God. Worship the God who sorts the world out, who

brings down the proud and mighty and raises up the weak and heavy laden; who has good news

for the poor, and not so good news for the rich; who sends angels to us every day, if only we

could recognise them.

We all want to be happy. It’s the way we’re made.

Maggie and I once attended a lecture on the subject of ‘Happiness’. What makes us happy,

makes us feel good about ourselves, good about others? There numerous things that do that.

Family, health, faith, work, leisure, hearing some good news, beauty, art, music, travel, food,

helping others…

But I think that one of the things that make for happiness, is having something to look forward

to.

Advent is when we look forward to Christmas, and to prepare ourselves. At the beginning of

Advent is also St Andrews Day, and in the first story we read of him, he has met Jesus, and

immediately he finds his brother Peter, and says to him, ‘Come and meet the Messiah, come and

meet the one we’ve been looking forward to forever’.

And he would say the same to you and me today.

Here is happiness that will last, in following the one who came down from heaven that we might

be in heaven now. The coming of Christ means that we have nothing to fear, his way is the path

to peace, his joy is ours if we love one another; his coming means that we always have

something to look forward to, even to the end of time.

Mary responded to the angel, and made herself available to God’s will, ‘I am the Lord’s servant.

May it happen to me as you have said’.

She may have been the first, but you and I will not be the last, to say the same words, ‘I am the

Lord’s servant; may what God has said happen to me,’ and join with all the angels rejoicing in

heaven, happy to make ourselves available to the will of God, here and now.

P a g e | 9 Prayers

Kathy Galloway and John Harvey

Opening Responses

Because God chose not a palace but a tent

We bear witness to the light

Because God chose to be one of us, not apart from us

We bear witness to the light

Because God chose the margins, not the centre

We bear witness to the light

Because a woman said yes when she could have said no

We bear witness to the light

For nothing is impossible for God

Closing Responses

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down

to your fragile, faithless people.

Nothing is impossible for God

Something is happening, someone is coming,

prepare the way of the Lord.

Nothing is impossible for God

He is coming in the power and gentleness of the Spirit

to bring good news to the poor and justice to the nations

Nothing is impossible for God

We bear witness to the light,

to a child born in weakness,

to the divine made human,

to a new way of being and knowing and doing

Nothing is impossible for God

May Christ be born anew in our hearts

May our homes and churches be open to welcome all in his name

P a g e | 10 May his hope, his peace, his love, transform our broken world

For nothing is impossible for God

© Kathy Galloway

Prayer of Approach: (Adoration, Confession)

John Harvey

With you, God,

choice is all.

You chose to create life on earth,

and saw that it was good;

then you chose to let it flow in freedom.

You invited people to bear you witness:

David, the anxious adulterer;

Paul, the stubborn Pharisee;

Mary, the quiet teenager;

and to each one, you offered that divine freedom,

to choose to accept, or reject, your invitation.

And in Jesus,

Man of Nazareth,

you have shown yourself to us

in the fullness of your freedom;

choosing love over fear,

forgiveness in the face of hatred,

life out of death,

humanity above all;

and he pointed us

to the One who is Good,

God alone.

P a g e | 11 There is no force in you, God:

there is only the power of love,

freely offered, to be freely rejected

or freely received;

and for this, for all of this,

what can we do but be silent,

and offer thanks, and praise,

through Jesus Christ. Amen.

With us, God,

choices challenge us every day.

We like to think

our choices spring

from reason, from facts -

but we know, of course,

how often we are driven by

other things -

fear, foolishness, fancy,

selfishness, stupidity, sin.

And so, if, in our pride,

we have sought to pretend

to a freedom we know we do not have;

if, in our arrogance,

we have seen ourselves

as different from other people;

if, in our sin,

we have imagined that we do not need

the grace of your Spirit

to help us, to set us really free;

P a g e | 12 God of freedom,

forgive us,

and remake us

in your image, we pray.

God says:

“Do not be afraid,

for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

you are mine.”

Thanks be to God!

Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession

John Harvey

When we awake,

to welcome, or fear, another day -

thanks to you, loving God.

When we go about

to meet our neighbours

at work or leisure -

thanks to you, living God.

When we work,

or struggle in idleness,

and feel, or miss,

energy in body and mind -

thanks to you, enlivening God.

When we sense the wonder

of the wholeness of creation,

P a g e | 13 or sink beneath the smallness

of our lives -

thanks be to you, creator God.

Living God,

when you chose

to become human in Jesus,

you birthed a new hope

for the whole created order.

Yet still you see

how grimly the old ways

cling on.

As part of them,

we cry to you.

Remember, in mercy,

the embattled peoples of the world -

in the Holy Land and

the surrounding countries,

and in every place

where humans struggle

to live in justice and in peace.

God, in your mercy/hear our prayer.

Remember, in mercy,

your people struck by famine,

by disease, by homelessness;

and strengthen all who offer them

refuge, asylum, hope.

God, in your mercy/hear our prayer.

P a g e | 14 Remember, in mercy,

the broken-ness of our mother earth,

and grant wisdom and courage

to those who seek to give her

the care she so needs and deserves.

God, in your mercy/hear our prayer.

We pray for the church;

we remember the courage

of the saints and martyrs

in whose footsteps we seek to walk;

we give thanks especially

for Mary,

the one who chose

to say “Yes” to you.

God, you have set before us

a great hope

that your kingdom will come on earth,

and have taught us to pray for its coming:

make us ever ready to thank you

for the signs of its dawning,

and to pray and work for the perfect day

when your will shall be done on earth

as it is in heaven.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

This prayer is taken from the Iona Community Worship Book, Revised Edition, 1991.

P a g e | 15 For the offering and dedication

In Church Hymnary 4 (795), there is the short song “Take, oh take me as I am”. It works well if

the musician plays the tune quietly while the offering is being uplifted; and then as it's being

brought forward, the congregation remains seated and quietly sings the song, maybe twice

through, as a dedication prayer.

John Harvey

Time with Children

Eildon Dyer, Ruth Clements and Susan Johnstone

The time with children has suggestions to start thinking, for something active and for a creative

section. These are generally designed with small group work in mind – messy church or Sunday

School. However there is enough to be adapted for use in a congregational setting. One of the

games and the creative section require particular material and some preparation. We also

suggest the making of an advent spiral which can happen over the four weeks and be

incorporated into a service in the fourth week of advent.

Mary says ‘Yes’

Talking bit: when do we find it hard to say ‘yes to things we are asked? Get suggestions of

things kids might have been asked to do which they said ‘no’ to – tidy room, do homework, eat

food they don’t like. Mary said ‘yes’ to a very hard thing. She was young, scared and probably

embarrassed.

Active bit:

Don’t say ‘no’: needs to be played quite quickly and good to have thought of a list of questions

before hand. Kids sit in a circle and get quick fire questions. If they say ‘no’ they are out eg have

you got three feet, do you like spinach, are you scared of spiders etc etc.

Who’s up for it? Have the room set up as an obstacle course. The children don’t see the course

and are blindfolded before being taken through it. Build this up into something really scary and

make slightly risky. Give prize for getting to the end.

P a g e | 16 Creative bit:

1 Make a pop us 3D card that says ‘YES’. If you are creative you can work out how to do this.

Pop ups are quite simple. However if you need help have a look at this YouTube video link.

There is a template for this below on the next page. You need craft knives, light card, glue,

coloured pens and anything decorative and patience. The section that pops up could say

‘yes’ or you could write yes on the flaps and colour in or decorate as you have time.

2 ‘Thumbs up’ being a sign of agreement is something you could develop depending on the

age of the children. This is popular on social media especially in instant messaging. You

could have an interesting wee discussion about which emoticons children recognise and

talk about what Mary might have done or sent if she had a phone! Many of your children

(depending on age) will have a phone. Get them to make a thumbs up emoticon or

thumbs up sign for texting.

Alternatively print off large thumbs up and thumbs down pictures and talk through Mary

saying ‘yes’ and get them to write on the thumbs up reason what Mary might say ‘yes’ and

on the thumbs down reasons why she might say ‘no’.

If you know any British Sign Language (BSL) then you could teach some simple phrases

using yes and no. Thumbs up in BSL usually means ‘good’. Even if you don’t know BSL you

could have some good fun working out a few simple phrases to teach the children.

P a g e | 17

P a g e | 18 Musical Suggestions

Marjory Williamson

Have a look at the Different Voices blog for musical ideas to use during the whole Advent

season. This includes ideas for congregations, choirs, bands and children compiled by members

the Church of Scotland Music Group.

Week 4 - Joy

CH4 314 Child in the manger

CH4 110 Glory be to God the Father

CH4 543 Longing for Light

CH4 448 Lord, the light of your love is shining

CH4 287 No wind at the window

CH4 319 Of the Father's love begotten

CH4 55 Safe in the shadow

CH4 286 Tell out my soul

CH4 285 The angel Gabriel from heaven came

Other Resources

Mary and the Angel Gabriel

a dialogue by Lyn Peden

Gabriel: Hello Mary

Mary: Hello yourself, but I'm very sorry, my Mum says I'm not allowed to talk to strangers.

Gabriel: You're Mum is quite right, Mary, but it's ok, I'm not a stranger, I'm an Angel, a

messenger of God, my name is Gabriel.

Mary: I don't care what your name is, I'm a good girl and always do what my Mum tells me,

well most of the time anyway!

Gabriel: That's right Mary, you are a good girl, in fact God has chosen you because you are so

good.

P a g e | 19 Mary: Hang on a minute buster; how do you know I'm a good girl, or what God thinks of me

for that matter?

Gabriel: Like I said Mary, I'm a messenger sent from God, God has a special message that I'm

meant to give you today.

Mary: Let me get this straight, you are an angel, a messenger of God, called Gabriel, and you

have been sent here by God because God has given you a special message for me?

Gabriel: That's absolutely right Mary, you catch on fast.

Mary: Eh ok, so what is this message from God you have for me then?

Gabriel: Mary you have been blessed by God, you have nothing to fear, you will become

pregnant and have a son, who you will call Jesus.

Mary: Sorry, can you say that again I don’t think I heard you right.

Gabriel: Mary you have been blessed by God, you have nothing to fear, you will become

pregnant and have a son, who you will call Jesus.

Mary: Sorry, God says I am going to have a baby, that’s not possible I am not even married

yet, Joseph and I only just got engaged a few weeks ago.

Gabriel: Don’t worry Mary, nothing is impossible for God, the Holy Spirit will come upon you

and you will become pregnant and your son will be given the throne of his ancestor

David and he will rule forever.

Mary: Sorry, I’m really not getting this, I’m going to have a baby that God is going to raise

up to be a King like David was all those years ago.

Gabriel: Yes, Mary, see you do catch on fast. God has chosen you for this special job, and

more than that your cousin, Elizabeth is already 6 months pregnant. As I said nothing

is impossible for God.

Mary: Wow, this is a lot to take in. So God has chosen me to become the mum of the one

God has promised us for years, the one who will save us all and bring peace back to

our nation. And my cousin Elizabeth is also having a baby after so many years of

being called barren.

P a g e | 20 Gabriel: That’s right Mary, you really have got it. Well I can't hang around got a lot more

messages to pass on. Take care of yourself Mary, all the best. Bye

Mary: Bye, Gabriel, thank you, I think. Blimey that was the weirdest conversation of my life.

Oh and now that I think about it what am I going to tell Joseph?

Music

People have names – Juliet Turner

How long will I love you – Ellie Goulding

Naturally

Naturally,

if somewhat greedily,

without examining his instinct

or confirming his intention…

naturally,

and enjoyably,

with innate faith in its power

and newborn trust in her real presence,

he took his first communion,

at his mother’s breast.

And who but he could hear the whisper

which later he would repeat,

‘This is my body,

given for you.’

Text John L. Bell, © 2006 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland. www.wgrg.co.uk

If reproducing this text, please show full acknowledgement.

Innkeepers & Light Sleepers - 17 Songs for Christmas, John L. Bell & Wild Goose Worship Group

(Wild Goose Publications, 1992). A CD is also available.

P a g e | 21 Additional Resources

Resourcing Mission

Resourcing Mission is host to Starters for Sunday and other key mission resources for download and purchase. Online booking is available for Mission & Discipleship events. Please check back regularly, as new items are being added all the time. If there is something you’d like to see on this new site, please contact us via the website.

Prayer Resources

These materials are designed to be a starting point for what you might look for in prayers. Revealing Love is available now from St Andrew Press.

Music Resources

The hymns mentioned in this material are ideas of specific hymns you might choose for this week’s themes. However, for some excellent articles on church music and ideas for new music resources, please check out our online music pages Different Voices.

Preaching Resources

These materials are designed to be a starting point for what you might preach this Sunday. Preachers Perspectives is a resource where we have asked twelve preachers to share the insights they have gathered through their experiences of writing and

delivering sermons regularly.

Scots Worship Resources

The Kirk's Ear - Scots i the Kirk series for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and other times of the year Wurship Ouk bi Ouk - Metrical psalms, hymns, prayers and words for worship Scots Sacraments may give you helpful material if you are celebrating Communion or have a Baptism.

The Mission and Discipleship Council would like to express its thanks to ALTERnativity for providing us with this Sunday’s material.

Please note that the views expressed in these materials are those of the individual writer and not necessarily the official view of the Church of Scotland, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly.