We gather surrounded by a wealth of signs, symbols and reminders.
Our tree, ever green and fragrant, reminds us of the everlasting life you’ve promised.
Our home is decorated with signs of our joy at the presence of Jesus among us.
Spread at our feet are gifts, symbols of the love we share.

We pray in gratitude for the gifts, and even more, for the givers. In each gift, we see a sign of love, Love that begins with you and finds its fullest expression in your own greatest gift to us: your Son, Jesus. Through Jesus we pray in joy and thanksgiving on this Christmas Day.  

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Order Idea	Description	Page Length
	“Let Us Come Before The Lord With Thanksgiving” is a service of Thanksgiving which was originally used as an ecumenical service. The service was shared by Marlys Halberg of Hope Lutheran in Cedar Rapids, IA. It is a fairly traditional service nicely put together with hymns, anthems, scripture, and prayer and can easily be used in a single congregation. Fill in Order Info.	4 pgs. NL8301
	Are you looking for something a little different to do for a Thanksgiving service? How about using the skit “Priscilla Pilgrim and Penny Progress Talk Turkey”! Priscilla is visiting modern day America and is chatting with Penny, who is from America. In the course of their conversation, Priscilla realizes that Penny has lost all sight of what Thanksgiving is all about. A good lesson can be learned by both young and old. Fill in Order Info.	4 pgs. NL8302
	“Presentation On The Church Year” was shared by Rev. Ron Beckman of Grace Lutheran in Sioux Falls, SD. Pastor Beckman used this during Lent when new paraments were dedicated; however it would be very appropriate to use on the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new church year. The presentation talks about each season, the color for that season, has a hymn, and a very short little message. A chart was printed as an insert for the bulletin for people to follow along and to take home as a reference. Fill in Order Info.	6 pgs. NL8303
	Hope Lutheran in Cedar Rapids, IA, shared a “Hanging of the Greens” service. Not only did they want to decorate the church, but they also wanted to emphasize the meaning of the Christian symbols called ‘Chrismons’. This service is a combination of both. Confirmation students carried in and hung the Chrismons as the meanings were read. The symbols were cut from foam plates and decorated with glitter and gold paint. An insert was included in the bulletin with a drawing of the symbol and an explanation. Fill in Order Info.	7 pgs. NL8304
	Here is a fun caring/sharing Advent tradition that was begun in Germany which can involve families and singles in your congregation. “Advent ‘Christ-Kind’ Project” begins on the first Sunday in Advent. Families and singles are invited to put their name in a box, you draw the name of another household, you pray for that household daily, and once a week during Advent do something secretly for that household. The first Sunday in January a potluck is held to reveal your secret family. This was shared by Resurrection Lutheran in Marion, IA. Fill in Order Info.	1 pg. NL8305
	Rev. John E. Swensen, St. Stephen Lutheran in Wausau, WI, shared “The Advent Blessing Tree” to be used when lighting Advent Candles. Each Sunday has a scripture, hymn, speaking parts for several participants (or you could use one or two people), and several symbols to be placed on the Blessing Tree. Fill in Order Info.	11 pgs. NL8306
	“Prepare Us” is a song written by Blair A’Hearn, Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran in Bloomington, IL. The song is to be used each Sunday of Advent with a Confession of Sins for Advent, and a short reading for the lighting of the Advent candles. Fill in Order Info.	2 pgs. NL8307
	We do not know who shared this “Advent Wreath Lighting” with the Lutheran Resource Center. Each week has a child’s question, response by the parent, a scripture, a song and prayer. This would be great to give to families for home use. Fill in Order Info.	4 pgs. NL8308
	“What Is The Season of Advent” is a puppet script written by Pat Thompson, but we do not know where Pat is from. Through this puppet play, the Sesame Street characters tell us about the Advent wreath and about other ways to prepare during the Advent season such as cookies, the Advent calendar, the manger, and ornaments. This would work well for an Advent fair. Fill in Order Info.	2 pgs. NL8309
	Helen Goddard, the Youth/Education chairman at St. John’s Lutheran in Somonauk, IL, sent a Christmas program titled “God’s Promises Made – God’s Promises Kept”. They wanted their Sunday School to celebrate the Advent season and not jump into the Christmas season. This program is about waiting and how hard it is to wait. It takes a look at some of the Bible people – King David, Sarah, Abraham, Isaiah, Jeremiah – and how they had to wait for God to keep all of His promises to them. Finally, the last promise kept was the birth of Jesus. Fill in Order Info.	7 pgs. NL8310
	“God’s Love Is The Light Of The World” is a Christmas Program shared by Wallingford Lutheran in Wallingford, IA. The program begins with the Nursery – 2nd graders having a short recitation for each letter of the alphabet. There are songs interspersed throughout the recitations. As the program continues, the children make the journey to the Christ Child through scripture, songs, and a reenactment. Fill in Order Info.	7 pgs. NL8311
	As this Christmas program begins, the church is dark and readers are at the back. After the opening litany all lights are turned on. “Christ The Savior Is Born”, a program from Good Shepherd Lutheran, Bloomfield, IA, is an actual drama with the people of the Christmas story having speaking parts. This drama has songs by the congregation and Sunday School as a part of it. The very end has people from all walks of life worshipping the baby. Fill in Order Info.	3 pgs. NL8312
	Pastor Randy Baldwin from Immanuel Lutheran, Scarville, IA, sent us a Christmas drama, “Go To The Manger”. The setting for the drama is a modern day mall. Two young women are sitting on a bench talking about what Christmas is. A young man continues to stroll by them calling the young ladies to the manger to see the Christ child. This would make a wonderful drama for a Christmas program, evening event at church, Sunday morning worship, Advent fair; there are many possibilities for its use. Fill in Order Info.	7 pgs. NL8313
	Have you ever wondered how other countries celebrate Christmas? “Christmas Customs” is a program about the customs of six different countries. Candles are lit during the singing of a hymn or special song appropriate to that country. Following the song there is a narration about the country. If you are able to use a different narrator for each country it would be fun to have them wear a costume from that country. This would make a wonderful Women’s program or family program during Advent. Fill in Order Info.	5 pgs. NL8314
	“Love Flowing In And Out” is a program that would be excellent for a Women’s group. Blessed are those who find Christmas in love flowing in and flowing out, who find Christmas in the ageless story of God’s Christmas Love Gift. A beautiful program of narration and song. The best gift we can give to each other is our love and the everlasting love of Jesus. Fill in Order Info.	4 pgs. NL8315
	It is so often easy to overlook the season of Epiphany, especially in the Sunday School. Pastor Dennis Heaney of St. John’s Lutheran, Somonauk, IL, wrote an Epiphany program, “An Epiphany Celebration of Light”, which was used as the entrance portion of worship on Epiphany Sunday. Students portray the Gospel as it is being read from the time the angels appear to the shepherds through the Wisemen visiting the baby. Several hymns are sung throughout the reading and the Sunday School children end with This Little Light of Mine. Fill in Order Info.	4 pgs. NL8316
	How about a family intergenerational event to celebrate the Epiphany season. “Epiphany All Nations’ Potluck” is an event where people bring a dish from their ethnic background. An activity and short worship could follow the dinner or you could follow with the burning of the Christmas trees. Fill in Order Info.	1 pg. NL8317
	Remember---Christmas doesn’t end on December 26th! “Find and Keep” is an Epiphany celebration of readings and song about the star and the Wisemen, about the fact that Christmas doesn’t end with the shepherds, about the fact that Jesus and his family were refugees. There are many different times when this program could be used. One such time would be a women’s program in January. Fill in Order Info.	6 pgs. NL8318

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