Advent 2008
Written by Pat Hertzler
This year as I was helping to plan the worship in our church in anticipation of the Christmas season, I searched for the meaning of Advent and how it is to observed in the Christian Church, I discovered that it simply means “anticipating the coming of Jesus” and there is no set way of observing it. I decided to write our own script. It is usually 4 candles plus one in the center representing Jesus. I decided to go for 5 plus one. We started the Sunday after Thanksgiving and concluded the Sunday following Christmas since we didn’t have a Christmas eve or Christmas day service. We kept the center candle (representing Jesus) lit and each character as they represented their theme lit their appropriate candle before giving their presentation. To represent our theme, “Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus” I choose the following:
November 30: Prophecy – Isaiah
December 7: Expectation -Elizabeth
December 14: Anticipation – Joseph and Mary
December 21: Proclamation – Shepherd
December 21-Christmas Program (“A Light Shining In the Darkness“): Fulfilled – Simeon and Anna
Our pastor preached on the same theme and we conclude each service with the song, “Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus.” Below is my script. The advent script was reworked as the basis for our annual Christmas program: A Light Shining In the Darkness.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Week 1
Prophecy-Isaiah
Light gray candle as you walk in
(Write the script in a scroll to read from)
Opening:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
And the post of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people with unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the Kings, The LORD of hosts.”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sins purged.”
And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
And He said, “Go, and tell this people:…”
(Speak loudly)
Hear O nations of the earth.
(Speak to congregation)
Hear all you dwellers of Powhatan. Give ear to the word of the Lord for He has revealed it to me.
The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. To those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death a great light will shine.
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called
Wonderful….
Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of host will perform this.
He will grow up as a tender plant and as a root out of dry ground. He will have no form or comeliness and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He will be despised and rejected by men, a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief.
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out his roots.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding
The Spirit of counsel and might
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely He has born our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent.
Lord, we call out to you.
What are you telling us?
When will it be?
How will we know?
What does all this mean?
A virgin is to have a baby?
Who will this ruler be?
A descendent of King David?
Will you destroy this King who is bringing a reign of peace and deliverance to the people?
How can government that has no end be cut short?
Will he be brutally wounded and killed and the people not care?
How can you be pleased with suffering?
O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we hope patiently and wait expectantly for the Messiah to come.
Scripture references:
- Isaiah 6:1-9a
- Isaiah 7:14
- Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
- Isaiah 11:1-2
- Isaiah 53: 1-10
Week 2
Expectation-Elizabeth (dress as pregnant lady)
Light red candle as you walk in.
The most amazing thing has happened to me. I am an old woman and I am going to have a baby-a son and I am due any day. Mary has just left me after a 3-month visit to return to her home. She is returning home to find out if Joseph will marry or divorce her. When she arrived at my house so unexpectantly, my baby leaped inside me. Oh, there he goes again. Any mention of Mary and her baby makes my baby leap for joy.
(Sit down on stool)
Let me tell you my story. My husband, Zacharias, had gone toJerusalemto perform his priestly duties. His division would serve at the temple for 1 week twice a month. He was chosen by lot to go into the Holy of Holies and burn the incense for the forgiveness of the people. This was a once in a lifetime privilege. While he was there beside that holy alter in the most sacred place, he prayed again for a son. I didn’t know he was still praying for one. I had given up years ago – after all we are way past child-bearing age. For years and years I fought the shame and sadness of not having children. You see, our people believe to be childless is a sign of God’s displeasure. But Zacharius and I determined in our hearts that we would still trust God and live righteous lives.
Zacharius was so afraid when the angel appeared to him. He could hardly take it all in. The angel told him,
“You will have a son.
You are to call his name John.
He will be great in the eyes of the Lord.
He is not to drink wine or strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit
He will have the power of Elijah
He will preach and many will turn from sin and then this statement “He will make ready a people prepared for the coming of the Lord.”
Zacharius just could not believe the sudden magnitude of what he was told. And now, he can’t talk to me because he has been struck mute.
I didn’t know how to deal with my pregnancy, Zacharius’s muteness and all these strange events. For 5 months I hid in the safety of our home. I was scared and embarrassed to be so old and pregnant and yet so happy. I knew people would talk. For several months I was sick and my emotions were out of control. I just couldn’t deal with trying to explain what I did not understand to curious people.
And then Mary came. Young, sweet, pure, tender, Mary.
I will never forget that holy moment. I didn’t know she was coming nor did I know she was with child. We were so looking forward to going to her and Joseph’s wedding. When she greeted me The Holy Spirit fell on me –that had never happened before and I still remember the words that flowed from my mouth. They were divine words of healing and comfort to my troubled spirit.
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the baby in your womb.
Why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
And then the words that came from Mary,
“My soul magnifies the Lord and my sprit has rejoiced in God my Savior for he has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant. For He has done great things for me and holy is His name.”
I expect our babies are part of God’s divine plan but there is just so much I do not understand. Mary and I just spent three months searching the scriptures looking for clues. We know Isaiah and many of the prophets have said that God is going to visit His people again. My son, prepare the way for the Messiah-her baby? We found the scripture about a virgin having a baby. We laughed and cried and worshipped together. And now, she has gone home. She is so willing to do whatever God has for her regardless of the consequences.
Something profound is getting ready to happen. Lord, I expect the Messiah is getting ready to come-it will be such a light in our dark world.
Scripture Reference: Luke 1
Week 3
Anticipation – Joseph and Mary
Joseph walks in and lights white candle
Setting:
Joseph stands off to side between cross and pulpit– looking straight ahead as if off into distance. Mary walks up center aisle. When Mary gets about ¾ way up Joseph turns and sees her.
Joseph: “Mary”Mary hesitates and waits on reaction from Joseph. Joseph pauses and goes to Mary. Mary holds our hands and Joseph take her hands for a brief moment and just look into her eyes. You’ve been gone for three months and now you’ve come back?
Mary: YesWalk back up to front and face each other.
Joseph: I just have been so confused. I didn’t want to make a public example out of you. It’s all I could think about the past few months. I was so afraid they would stone you. And then, just yesterday as I finally decided I was going to divorce you, an Angel came to me. Mary, listen to me, this is what he said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she call have a Son and you will call his name, Jesus.”
Joseph: (take Mary in your arms). Oh, Mary, you really were faithful to me. Mary, my beloved, I am going to marry you but you will not be mine until after the baby is born.
Sit down on chairs up front-facing each other. Mary: Oh, Joseph, let me tell you what has happened to me. Do you remember what the angel told me? I can’t forget these words.“Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God.You will conceive in your womb and bear a son and shall call his name, Jesus.He will be great, and will be called the Son of Highest;and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Joseph, it happened just as the angel said. Remember how the angel told me aboutElizabethand we decided I should go there until we could sort things out. One night as I was traveling alone, the presence of God became so real. I could feel the wings of God just wrapped around me. It was a holy time and I know that I will be the mother a very special child-the Son of God.
For the next several days as I traveled I was so happy. I sang and sang. It was as the earth was alive with the presence of God. The birds sang with me. I was so at peace. Then I got toElizabeth’s house. I opened the door and there wasElizabeth. I was so excited to see her. And her baby; Joseph, you wouldn’t believe how it jumped and turned in her belly. And then a most amazing thing happened. She spoke these words…I can still hear remember them.
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
She called me the mother of my Lord! I don’t know how all this is going to be.
Joseph: I wonder why we are chosen like this? I wonder why his birth is causing us so much shame. It must it look like we have sinned?
But God has spoken and we are going to anticipate and prepare for the birth of our son-God’s son, and we will name him Jesus because He will save us from sin.
Let’s find our parents and go to the priest and get married now-quietly.
Mary and Joseph exit center aisle.
Week 4
Proclamation – Shepherd
Shepherd walks in and lights green candle
What a night! A few hours ago I was out in the field doing my job.
Hey, you, (point to someone in front row) did you hear what has happened? I just came from the stable over there (point back to Tim’s office). You must go and see. The Son of God is sleeping in there.
How can I contain myself?You, (point to someone else) In there (point to office) is the Son of God. I saw him. Go and see. (Say to someone else) We shepherds were out in the field and the most glorious thing happened. The whole sky was filled with angels. And they sang so heavenly. They told us to go see the baby in the stable. He is in there.
(Go across to the other side and say to someone else). The baby is wrapped in swaddling cloths. He is lying in a manager. There are animals all around. You must go see.
(Say to someone else). “Christ the Savior is born. I saw him.
(Say to someone else). You won’t believe what happened to me. I was in the field taking care of the sheep and it was so cold. We were sitting around this big fire to keep warm and suddenly the whole sky was filled with angels. They kept telling us not to be afraid. They said, Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. I saw him-in there.(Say to someone else) Those angels sang the most beautiful song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” I heard them and I saw that baby-he is in the stable in Bethlehem. You must go see him.
Oh, I must get back to those sheep before they stray. What a night! (Be excited and throw your arms into the air. Jump up and down. Be excited)
Thank you God
Praise the Lord
I have seen the Messiah
I have seen the salvation of Zion
Praise the Lord
Glory to God, glory to God
(repeat phrases as needed)
Week 5
Fulfilled – Simeon and Anna
(Simeon lights gold candle at the end)
Anna: Be kneeling at front as if praying. Simeon: Hurry up center aisle as voice whispers over sound system “Go to the temple. You will see the Messiah. Go to the temple. You will see the Messiah.”Parents with baby come from side. Mary carry baby and Joseph carry cage of pigeons down center aisle.
Simeon take the baby in your arms and look at him. Raise your head towards heaven and loudly say,“Lord, now you are letting me die in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Simeon give baby back to parents. Put your hands on their shoulders and look at Mary.
“Behold this child is destined for the fall and rising of many inIsrael, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And Mary, a sword will pierce your soul too.”
Anna get up and go to parents. Simeon raise hands and pray silently.
“Thank you God for granting me this privilege of seeing your Son, the Messiah.”
Simeon-go light last candle-the gold one. Raise arm and give a shout-“Fulfilled”
Anna go back center aisle and stop and keep saying to different people all the way back.
“I saw the child. Redemption has finally come.”
Scripture Reference: Luke 2 :21-38
When you get to back of church shout, “Hey you all, Christ is born. I saw Him.”
Scripture Reference: Luke 2: 8-20