Christmas Eve Family Service invitation & etc (Dec 24, 2013)

Greeting and Welcoming

Come in, my friends – and welcome home.

Home of our children’s stories.

Home of the family’s spiritual growth together – of mother and son, grandmother and granddaughter, father and mother, in love and faith.

This evening is home to the story of the birth of baby Jesus, the crowded inn, the singing of the angels, the haste of the shepherds with the good news: Jesus is born!

Here, in the warmth and light of the candles, in music and with children’s drama, the story unfolds again.

The story makes room for us again.

The wings of the angels – the wings of our children – welcome us again. In the waning edge of the year, we will create a time that will reveal the holy in our midst.

With glory, with wonder -

Welcome everyone. Welcome home.

(I am Ha Na Park, the minister in title at Chemainus United Church, where we all are ministers in Christ. For those of us who are not familiar with our church building, you can find the washroom at the left side of the sanctuary (pointing at the place).

And we understand that even baby Jesus cried in his mother’s arms. Please feel at home even if your babies cry during the service, or your little ones start exploring this place. If you need a nursery, please use our Sunday School room, on the right of the sanctuary. (Pointing at the door.) And, please check that your cell phone is off, so that we can only hear angel’s voices in the heavens and here – our children. Thank you.)

Now, as we prepare our hearts to receive the wonder of God’s love, let us sing our joyful praises to God, by singing together O Come All Ye Faithful.

Invitation of Offering

Now, it is time for the offering. During the offering, we will hear our children singing, “Still, still, still, one can hear the falling snow.”

I believe that the offering is a way to help God’s grace and love transform our world with our gifts, no matter how small they may be.

By offering our gifts, we can help God to change our world to be a more peaceful home for every child to live in with hope and joy.

Benediction

We are being sent out into the world

As messengers of the Good News of Christmas.

We are sent out to reflect God’s love.

We have been blessed with the gift of a child.

Let us go now and be a blessing to others.