Sermon Notes, Xmas Eve (Kids)

 Ordinary things seem more special at Christmas...

ADVENT CANDLE: presence of light

Ordinary things seem more special – they become EXTRAordinary
Because it’s Christmas.
Because of Jesus.

Trees – start small, like this one –
And they grow – into amazing things!
Unique, pretty, shining, decorated –

Or candies in a bag – that come with a poem to remind us of the bible story we heard tonight.
Story that show us how God makes ordinary things extraordinary – because of Jesus.

Let’s hear that amazing story another time:
Re-read gospel in kids language

We’re invited to think about what it must have felt like as we hear the Christmas story – like we hear about Mary and Joseph.

Ordinary things become extraordinary – if we try to see them that way.

Star - balloon and sparkles here in the church – what would it have looked like in the sky?
Angels – flying in the sky, how many? What did they look like? What song were they singing? What do we sing when we’re happy?
Shepherds - like us! Ordinary people, who love God, and are excited to learn about Jesus – and so they go out and tell the story! That makes their lives extraordinary.

Because of Jesus, the ordinary is extraordinary:
When we put Jesus at the centre,
we know extraordinary love.
We ARE loved,
We CAN love. In amazing ways!

That's how we make Christmas just as special every year: we live in hope and we share the love, with Jesus at the centre.

So now – as we place baby Jesus into the creche – we see that something small and simple really means so much more.

This creche reminds us that tonight is a special night, a holy night as we come and worship the Lord:
for a great light has shone on the earth.

In the Bible Saint John says:
God’s love for us was revealed when God sent his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him.

So let’s ask God to bless this creche: God our Father,
on this night your Son Jesus Christ was born, making everything extraordinary:
bless this crib,
which we have prepared to celebrate that holy birth;
so that everyone who sees it
may be strengthened in faith
and receive the fullness of your love.
Amen.

May all of us celebrate this Christmas and forever, as we recognise the extraordinary presence of God in our ordinary lives.
Merry Christmas.