Advent 3 - 13/12/09

Jesse Tree 3

BIBLE READINGS

Verses from Zephaniah chapter 3 verses 14-20 Philippians chapter 4 verses 4-7

PREPARATION

Make some bells to hang on the Jesse Tree. You can sometimes buy tiny bells (e.g. for cat collars) at pet shops. Or you can make 'bells' in a number of ways: with silver foil over the end of an adult's finger, or by covering pieces of egg box with foil - in which case you can add a 'clapper' hung on a piece of florist's wire. Pet shop bells will ring, home-made 'bells' won't. It would also be good to have a recording of Purcell's 'Bell Anthem', Rejoice in the Lord alway. This is a setting of the words from the Philippians Bible reading, called the Bell Anthem because of its instrumental introduction which sounds like a peal of bells. It is quite popular and can be found on many CDs of collections of Purcell's church music. Play it as the children are entering the hall and sit and listen to it for a few seconds before you begin to speak.

You will also need to be able to teach the song Rejoice in the Lord always (95 in Come and Praise and 208 in Junior Praise) and again I say rejoice. It is very short and easy to sing - and it does not need instrumental accompaniment.

INTRODUCTION

Christmas is getting very close now. What have you done to prepare for Christmas, and for the coming of Jesus? Don't forget what the prophet told us last week about what we need to do to get ready.

MESSAGE

This week we are going to finish off our Jesse Tree by putting some bells on it. (Invite some children to come and hang the bells on the tree.) What do bells remind us of? Did you hear the bells sounds in the music we listened to as you were coming into the hall? (You could listen again just to the beginning of the anthem.) Can any one remember what the words of the anthem were? The words come from a letter written by St Paul. He was writing to some friends and he told them to be joyful, and not to worry because the Lord is coming soon. Listen to what he said: May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

There is a much simpler song which uses those words.

Teach the song 'Rejoice in the Lord always'. If you get really good or you know it already, you could sing it as a round.

Now we are going to hear the words of another prophet, Zephaniah. His scroll is on the tree. He wrote long ago, encouraging people to get ready for the Lord to come. Let's hear some of his words now, they sound very much the same as the words St Paul wrote much later, after Jesus had come. They are very good words to remember as Christmas gets close and Jesus is coming.

Invite 2 or 3 children to stand up and read the verses printed below from the Good News Bible translation. Different voices will make the words more interesting.

Sing and shout for joy, people of Israel! Rejoice with all your heart, Jerusalem! The Lord has ended your punishment; he has removed all your enemies.

The Lord will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you, as joyful as people at a festival.

The Lord says, 'I have ended the threat of doom and taken away your disgrace. The time is coming! The time is coming! Christmas is coming.

And the message in the Bible is to be happy about that: to be joyful, to rejoice. [As we hear the bells ring on our Jesse tree - and when we hear the bells ring from our churches at Christmas, let them remind you of those words: Rejoice in the Lord always.

PRAYER

Our prayer today is some more words from Paul's letter to his friends. They are very famous words and very precious to Christian people. May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. Amen.