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Preparing the MangerAn Advent Observance in two parts, written by Jons Olsson, 12/95; updated 12/96) Part I (4th Sunday in Advent; done between the Epistle and Gospel
Lessons) " Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive its King." We know we are unworthy. We know we cannot make sense of earth or heaven on our own. We know we sin against God and neighbor in spite of our good intentions. We need someone greater than any of us to be our champion in the fight against sin. We need someone to prepare a way, a means, for us to approach God, to plead for our forgiveness and to provide us with a grace that will save us for all times to come. Therefore we pray: " Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel. Come and cheer our spirits by your advent here." And now on this special Advent Sunday, we ask that the Holy Child of Bethlehem descend to us, and be born in us today. Come to us; abide with us; abide in us. Each time before we partake in the Lord's Supper (as we will shortly do), we prepare ourselves through prayer, admitting our sinfulness and asking for forgiveness. On this final Sunday of Advent, we need to prepare ourselves for the FIRST communion; oh, not the communion of the body and blood of Christ, but the communion with God, the first opportunity God has given us to know him in human form; to commune with God in person. Today, WE need to journey to Bethlehem to prepare for his coming. And we will now do just that. Like us, the manger awaits Him. Let us prepare the manger and ourselves. If you will follow (a pre-selected person from the congregation, e.g., a deacon), he/she will lead you to the box of straw (placed an end of the church opposite the altar), the bedding for the babe-to-be-born. Take a bundle* and follow her/him to the manger (sitting empty in front of the altar). Place your bundle of straw in the manger, and as you do, say to God and to yourself, "Come into my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room for you here, even though the inn is full tonight." (Congregation, following the pre-selected person, single files to
the basket/box of straw, picks up a bundle* 6-8 pieces of straw,
8-10 inches long, tied
with a colorful Christmas ribbon, and carried to the manger; filing past
the manger,
each person places his/her bundle in the manger.) Part 2 (Christmas Eve; Candlelight Service; done after the closing
hymn Silent Night, Holy Night sung while candles are lighted. Church
lights
remain off/dimmed;
candlelight prevails.) This blessed mother-to-be offers her prayers and makes her final arrangements, while perhaps an angel looks in on the manger preparations. (As the leader steps forward to light the manger with his/her candle, a pre-selected mother/grandmother of the congregation comes forward, representing all mothers, and places a baby blanket in the manger.) The witnesses to this miraculous birth are all in place: the cows, the donkeys, the sheep. They will warm and make moist the air for this baby. The earth in solemn stillness lays, waiting to hear the angels sing. (Special music: in 1995 the leader sang I Wonder as I Wander with accompaniment. In 1996 the leader sang (a cappella) the following words, sung to the tune of Were you There When They Crucified My Lord; thereby making the Christmas/Easter connection. Coincidentally, the leader sings Were You There a cappella at the close of Good Friday services.)
(Responsively)
(Leader places rose in manger). (Church lights resume; pastor gives benediction; concludes service). Verses 1, 2, 4 & 5: written by ELCA
Pastor Bernhard Hillila, Valparaiso, Indiana. Verses 3 and 6: written
by Jons Olsson.) |
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