Jesus Christmas Eve

Christ won’t be in Church
This Christmas
He is too busy
To go to Washington

He never had $7 to spare
Anyway

You’ll catch him
Catching rainwater
For those trapped in Gaza

Healing the sick flocks to feed up Pakistan

He won’t be singing hymns

Except maybe in respite in Syria, Cambodia, Sudan;

Tucked into the corner of a charity school in the Philippines

Cradling people
Under his wings

He’ll be lying on the floor of echoing, ancient churches of Armenia—unconcerned by their unadorned emptiness

He is in the shadows of the room
Where one sits weeping, in grief

I know where Jesus will be
In
the food pantries
After
The
Holidays

Bare

You know…

Jesus never did
like crowds

anyway

Feel Free to Use/Share/Adapt with Credit to Katy Stenta Katyandtheword)

Support my Work https://gofund.me/554d36e3

Advent Candles Narrative Lectionary Year 2

Promise of the Messiah
Hope
Jeremiah 33:[10-11], 14-18
Mark 8:27-29

Jesus there is hope in every promise of peace
Holy Spirit there is hope in every act of love
God there is hope in every shout of joy
Here, we light this candle, reaching for hope
We hear the promise, and reach for it, even when we cannot believe it
Plant the seeds of Jesse, to grow here today, we pray.

Taize Option (always fun to sing during the whole candle liturgy)

Hymn Options: O Come, O Come Emmanuel or Rewritten Version, Taize : Nada the turbo, Wait for the Lord

Isaiah of the Exile
Love
Isaiah 40:1-11
Mark 1:1-4

Jesus, you clear to way for love
Holy Spirit, you make the path, even when the way seems rocky
I lift mine eyes to the hills, from where my help comes, my help comes from the Lord my God, who loves me as God’s own Beloved.
We hear the promise, and reach for it, even when we cannot believe it.
Come, let us Prepare the way of the Lord
Come, let us light the path together, with love.

Taize Option (always fun to sing during the whole candle liturgy)

Hymns: Magnify the Lord (to the Tune of O Come All Ye Faithful), It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (an Advent Song In My Opinion), Taize Option: Bless the Lord or Magnificat

Rebuilding the Temple
Joy
Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10:13
Luke 2:25-32

Jesus, you will rebuild the world into your kindom
Holy Spirit, the waiting is hard
God cradle us in your arms, for we feel like we are not yet ready for the joy of Christmas.
We hear the promise, and reach for it, even when we cannot believe it.
God we long for your child of promise
We light the way, awaiting your joy to the world.

Taize Option (always fun to sing during the whole candle liturgy)

Hymn Options : God the Weaver (to the Tune of Away in the the Manger), Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Zechariah’s Song
Peace
Luke 1:5-13 [14-25], 57-80
Psalm 113

Jesus there is the peace of quiet, and then there is the peace of dreams fulfilled
Holy Spirit, fill our souls with peace
God we long for the song Zechariah to make our hearts ready for Jesus
We hear the promise, and reach for it, even when we cannot believe it.
Fill us with what we need, so that we can be a people of peace
Let us light the candle, and prepare for the Prince of Peace

Taize Option (always fun to sing during the whole candle liturgy)

Hymn Options: God of Peace (to the Tune of Silent Night), Still Still Still, Taize Option: Laudate Dominum, Wait for the Lord

Still time to sign up

Want some help Getting ready for Advent?

Write an Advent Wreath Liturgy in a small personalized environment

Limit 10 people per workshop
This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide. This will be an instructional, small group (limit 10) and experiential workshop.

Mon Nov 27th 6-8pm (Eastern) $50 Per Person Tues Dec 5th 12:30-2:30pm
(As Advent will have already started, Katy will have an Advent Candle Liturgy for use, she will send you)

Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator
For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”

Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, (formerly) RevGalBlogPals, and is published in Enfleshed, Presbyterian’s Today and Outlook. She received her undergraduate in English and History and Minor on Philosophy at Oberlin, her M. Div. and MA in Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing her D. Min. in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.
(Min. 3 People to run)

Advent Resources

Under Construction

Advent Candles: Narrative Lectionary

Advent Candles: RCL

Blue Christmas

Magnificat Advent Worship

Narrative Lectionary Daily Calendar

Writing Advent Candle Liturgy Workshops

Advent Hymns to Christmas Carol Tunes

Alternative (Update) to We 3 Kings

Write an Advent Wreath Liturgy in a small personalized environment
Limit 10 people per workshop

This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide. This will be an instructional, small group (limit 10) and experiential workshop.

Mon Nov 27th 6-8pm (Eastern) $50 Per Person Tues Dec 5th 12:30-2:30pm

(As Advent will have already started, Katy will have an Advent Candle Liturgy for use, she will send you)

Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator

For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”

Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, (formerly) RevGalBlogPals, and is published in Enfleshed, Presbyterian’s Today and Outlook. She received her undergraduate in English and History and Minor on Philosophy at Oberlin, her M. Div. and MA in Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing her D. Min. in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.

(Min. 3 People to run)

Extended Advent, Magnificat Sunday

For use anytime in Advent

Magnificat Rewritten
Advent Unleashed: Magnificat Prayer
All I want, Magnificat Prayer
Waiting for Magnificat Prayer
Magnify the work of Jesus Prayer
Empty Advent Prayer (and Filling up)

Magnificat Worship
Another Magnificat Worship

O Come, O Come Emmanuel: Magnificat Version

Psalm 146
Luke 1:46-55

Call to Worship
God we are leaning in to hear the good news from Gabriel
We confess we long to be filled with Good News
We want to both ponder with Mary, and shout with her!
Let us prepare to Magnify the Lord together

Magnificat Candle:
God we want the systems of oppression to cease
We long for peace on earth and goodwill for all
We are ready to magnify you
Help us to magnify your Good News God.

Invitation for Confession: Nothing is too big for God, come let us lay our worries and concerns at the feet of God today.


Prayer of Confession: God we confess that Mary’s message is a little strong for us. The idea that you will completely restructure the world sounds like a little much. However, we love the promise of justice and hope. We can hold on tight to a world filled with good things. Teach us how to work towards this world of the world of the Magnificat without being too overwhelmed, tired or scared we pray Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God promises that Jesus forgives us as soon as we give him our burden, thus we can proclaim the good news In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God help us to continue to commit to you, your justice and your Kin(g)dom as we enter into this season of Advent, prepare our hearts for you and your work we pray. Amen.

If you appreciate my work please Donate! I am between jobs right now and would truly appreciate any donation from $5-$20 GoFundMe

Also check out my Candle Liturgy Workshop

Want some help Getting ready for Advent?

Write an Advent Wreath Liturgy in a small personalized environment

Limit 10 people per workshop

This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide. This will be an instructional, small group (limit 10) and experiential workshop.

Mon Nov 27th 6-8pm (Eastern) $50 Per Person Tues Dec 5th 12:30-2:30pm

(As Advent will have already started, Katy will have an Advent Candle Liturgy for use, she will send you)

Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator

For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”

Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, (formerly) RevGalBlogPals, and is published in Enfleshed, Presbyterian’s Today and Outlook. She received her undergraduate in English and History and Minor on Philosophy at Oberlin, her M. Div. and MA in Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing her D. Min. in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.

(Min. 3 People to run)

Extended Advent

RCL
Matthew 25:31-46
Psalm 95:1-7a
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Ephesians 1:15-23

Preparing for One another, Prophecy of God’s Coming

Call to Worship (Based on Ezekiel 34:11-6)
God promises to seek us out, and gather us together
Even as we seek Jesus, Jesus seeks us
We are preparing for Christ, Christ is preparing for us
Come let us seek the face of God together

Call to Confession: God is even now preparing the table for our feast. Let us lay down our yokes, bags and heavy burdens, so that we might be better able to recognize Christ’s presences among us.

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we are so anxious to see you that sometimes we are unable to see the needs in front of us. We forget that you are the Good Shepherd who longs to care and feed all of your sheep. We forget that your mother Mary proclaimed your birth with cries of justice and the hope of filling the earth with good things to eat. Teach us to celebrate your arrival with generosity and thanksgiving as an ongoing practicum throughout our lives we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: We are the people of God’s pasture and the sheep of God’s hand–today we have heard God’s voice and are forgiven, let us proclaim the good news to one another: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

Prayer of the Day/Collect: Let us come into God’s presence with Thanksgiving, ready to see the face of Jesus in the least of these, the hungry, the poor, the impisoned, the immigrant and the thirsty. And then God, help us, empower us and energize us to be your arms and hands, and to go into the world to help all those in need we pray. Remind us that we are doing this in your name, and that every time we demonstrate belatedness, we see the face of Jesus, in your name we pray. Amen.

Candle of Thanksgiving/Preparation:

We light this candle in anticipation
We gather this candle for all the people are going to be fed this week
we light this candle in thanksgiving for good things to eat, clothing, and water
We light this candle in anticipation of the day everyone gets what they need and the world will be at peace
God we are awaiting you
Jesus help us to prepare the way




Advent Candle Liturgy Writing Workshop

Want some help Getting ready for Advent?

Write an Advent Wreath Liturgy in a small personalized environment

Limit 10 people per workshop

his Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide. This will be an instructional, small group (limit 10) and experiential workshop.

Mon Nov 27th 6-8pm (Eastern) $50 Per Person Tues Dec 5th 12:30-2:30pm

(As Advent will have already started, Katy will have an Advent Candle Liturgy for use, she will send you)

Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator

For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”

Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, (formerly) RevGalBlogPals, and is published in Enfleshed, Presbyterian’s Today and Outlook. She received her undergraduate in English and History and Minor on Philosophy at Oberlin, her M. Div. and MA in Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing her D. Min. in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.

(Min. 3 People to run)

Sign Up Now

It is not too late
Sign up for this morning workshop/retreat
and learn how to write prayers.

Do you want to learn how to write prayers and liturgy? Psalms and Calls to Worship? Confessions and Personal Prayers? This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide. This will be an instructional, small group (limit 10) and experiential workshop.

Friday November 17th 10am-12pm (Eastern) $50 Per Person

Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator

For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”

Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, (formerly) RevGalBlogPals, and is published in Enfleshed, Presbyterian’s Today and Outlook. She received her undergraduate in English and History and Minor on Philosophy at Oberlin, her M. Div. and MA in Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing her D. Min. in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.

(Min. 3 People to run)