Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering.
She fought back the tears as she entered the small village chapel and slowly knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.
That night, the legend of the poinsettia was born. There are variations of this legend, but all have the same ending. Poinsett later founded the institution that we know today as the Smithsonian Institution. While visiting Mexico in , he became enchanted by the brilliant red blooms he saw there and immediately sent some of the plants back to his plantations in South Carolina.
They were grown in his hot houses there, and he began sending them to friends and other botanical gardens. Around , the name poinsettia was given to the plant honoring the man who first brought it to the United States.
Since that time, the poinsettia has been known as the Christmas flower, now available in red, pink, and white. Love family. Love people. Love life. View all posts by C. Yvonne Karl. Carols : It Came Upon the Midnight Clear; Jesus, the Light of the World The Christmas Star Reader: Through the dark of night, after centuries of anticipation, a unique star appeared in the sky and was seen by some highly educated men who rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
Carol: Star of the East The Christmas Tree Ornaments Reader: One way to get the attention of those around us and direct them to the Word of God and to the faithfulness of God is for them to see the gifts of the Spirit at work in our lives: Symbolic of these gifts, we place ornaments on the Christmas tree.
Carols: O Come all ye Faithful The Christmas Poinsettias Reader: In many countries around the world, the treasured poinsettia has become one of the traditional Christmas flowers. Carol: All Hail King Jesus The Yule Christmas Log Reader: Throughout the Bible fire has served as a symbol of the presence of God: the flaming sword at the entrance to the Garden of Eden; the burning bush from which the Lord called Moses; the pillar of fire with which God led his people out of Egypt; the tongues of fire on believers on the day of Pentecost.
Carol: Deck the Halls, v. See Exodus ; Exodus Carol: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day; Come on Ring those Bells The Christmas Candles Reader: People around the world place lights in the window at Christmas time and there are many touching stories about how a candle in the window has welcomed a wayward child back home.
Add pecans. Set aside. Toss apples with remaining flour and arrange in pie shell. Top with mincemeat. Sprinkle crumble mixture over mincemeat.
Total time for this program — minutes depending on how many songs are sung. For more information contact yvonnekarl gmail. Author: C. Yvonne Karl "Jesus is the center of my joy! Next Next post: What shall we do with Santa? Follow Following. Musings by Yvonne. Join other followers. Sign me up. Already have a WordPress. Log in now. Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Good Lord, by your mercy guide our outward actions in such ways that our inward being is formed in faith, hope, and love. May the decorations we offer engage our senses during the days of Advent and enliven our praise and worship, in the name of the child of Bethlehem, our risen and coming savior, Jesus Christ.
If the service begins at the entrance to the church building, then no hymn or song is sung here, and the service continues with Hanging Wreaths on the Church Doors. If a wreath or wreaths will not be placed at the entrance of the church at this point, then this section of the service may be omitted.
Leader: People of God, we stand at the entrance of the church and at the doorway to the Christian year on this first Sunday of Advent. Let us mark the entrance to the church building and our hearts and minds as portals for Christ to enter. Responsory: Lift up your heads, O gates! Who is the Ruler of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the Ruler of glory may come in. Who is this Ruler of glory?
The Lord of hosts, the Lord is the Ruler of glory! Leader: How shall we make this place a reminder of our need of repentance and that faithfulness and integrity that comes from God our maker and redeemer?
Those hanging garlands and wreaths do so during the reading. I will heal [my people's] disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.
O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulnesscomes from me. Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. With the Christmas tree we remember God's everlasting promises to the poor and needy.
Isaiah spoke of God's making of the wilderness a place of blessing where water and plants, even pine trees, would manifest God's loving action to save and provide. All: Place the tree, strong friends, as we hear God's word. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. It was discovered growing wild in Mexico and was taken to North America where it was developed into the type of flower seen there today.
The star-shaped center of the bloom reminds us of the star that shone on that first Christmas. Place the different parts of the manger scene during the reading and hymn. Possibly the best known Christmas decorating tradition is the scene of Bethlehem, where the birth took place. There was a stable filled with animals, shepherds, and angels. Mary and Joseph watched in wonder as visitors came searching for their child, baby Jesus. People say that a name is everything. Products are named to make everyone want to try them.
Books are named to entice people to read them. A name with a good reputation communicates trustworthiness and quality. He could have been a Moses or a David or an Isaiah. But the name chosen was Emmanuel-God with us. It is a name that comforts in times of need and stress, strengthens in times of challenge and decision, and encourages in moments of weakness and doubt.
God with us! There are four Sundays in Advent. The following service outline would be ideal for an evening meeting before the first Sunday of Advent. Much of the activity prepares the sanctuary for subsequent Advent activities. This service may be an alternative to the first Sunday of Advent that appears in the main body of this resource book.
The following service is timed at seventy minutes. You may want to sing carols that are not in your hymn book. If you copy, project, or display words and music from carols and hymns not in your hymnal, apply for permission in plenty of time for their use. Sing joyous carols and praise hymns that your congregation enjoys. Expand this section by adding more hymns, carols, and prayers if you are not using the Advent candle lighting section.
Invite several children and adults to offer short prayers of thanks and joy. Announce and invite people to all Advent and Christmas celebrations.
Worshipers bring nativity pieces to the front and create the Nativity scene. Holy Night! Ask the congregation to share what they love about Christmas. For the northern Europeans and cultures that grew from them, green represented the color of eternal life. The greenery they decorated with came from trees that stayed green all winter. The color red represented the blood of Christ, which reminds people of the promise of eternal life.
Decorations and colors may be chosen from other cultures or from your own tradition. Assemble the Advent wreath, place the candles, hang the banners, and add other decorations that you have chosen.
Decorate the Christmas tree.
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