Christmas Around The World (All Age)

All Age Nativity Talk for ¡§Christmas around the world¡¨.

John 1:10-14 WBC 12th Dec 2004 am

PPT of first screen

The vicar and his wife had left for a conference abroad, forgetting to give instructions for the banner which was to decorate the hall at the Christmas Carol Concert, the following weekend. The secretary of the Mother’s Union was astonished to receive a fax from France which read simply:

"Unto us a Son is born. Nine feet long and three feet wide. Rev and Mrs... Johnson."

JESUS FOR THE WORLD! PPT

Wow!

- each DIFFERENT part of the world focuses on the SAME event

o celebrates the same birthday in a different way¡K their way (PPT- different global images)

Jesus is for the whole world

- in fact 2.5 billion people will celebrate Christmas!

He is sung about all over the world (PPT music notes)

- in fact, more songs are sung, pictures painted, poems written about Him than anyone else

This little baby has influenced the whole world

This little baby came for the whole world

- and He grew from a little baby to a man to die for the WHOLE word

o for everyone: so that they could have a relationship with God¡K. IF they wanted

o so that when they stand before the holy God He could say ¡¥this one accepted my Son, Jesus, and things they did wrong have been forgiven by what my Son did¡¨

Jesus came for the whole world!

THE WORLD FOR JESUS? (PPT Globe faces + words appear)

But is the whole world for Jesus? Are you for Jesus? Do they.. do you accept the REAL gift of Christmas?

- it matters incredibly!

Much of the world sings the songs

- but that isn¡¦t ALL

- can sing the songs and miss the BEST bit! (PPT ¡¥miss the best¡¦)

o Can sing the songs and not accpept the Saviour

o (and so Christmas is a pain and only lasts a few days)

o how much of our country¡¦s Christmas includes Jesus?

„X Jokes¡K.

’Who is Jesus, Dad?’ ’He’s the reason for the season’ ’I thought Santa was the reason’ ’he is if you prefer Nintendo to eternal life’

? Typical of last minute Christmas shoppers, a mother was running furiously from store to store. Suddenly she became aware that the pudgy little hand of her three year old son was no longer clutched in hers. In a panic she retraced her steps and found him standing with his little nose pressed flatly against a frosty window. He was gazing at a manger scene. Hearing his mother¡¦s near hysterical call, he turned and shouted with innocent glee: "look mommy! it¡¦s Jesus - baby Jesus in the hay". With obvious indifference to his joy and wonder, she impatiently jerked him away saying, "we don¡¦t have time for that!"

From "THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS" by Glenn Pease. http://www.intohisword.net/luke/luke17.shtml via www.sermoncentral.com

It says:

JN 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

- Jesus came for the world¡K but the world didn¡¦t recognise Him

o How sad!

o Earth¡¦s most incredible event¡K visitation! God comes to earth as a humble baby

„X And the world missed it

„X Missed out

o Had the present but didn¡¦t RECOGNISE it was the answer to ALL their hopes and dreams- so never opened it!

It says:

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him

- even the Jews didn¡¦t (all) accept or receive Him

- and they¡¦d been waiting for Christmas for thousands of years

But it also says:

(PPT) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Jesus was for the WORLD- but each INDIVIDUAL needs to receive Him. Accept Him, personally (PPT)

- and each individual who does

o gets the real present of Christmas in their hearts

o becomes a child of God

o starts a relationship with God that starts now and goes into all eternity¡K heaven

He came for the world¡K for you? Are you for Him? (PPT) It matters!

- Alpha. Ask your questions. Seek. (PPT)

ORDER OF SERVICE:

COGS Christmas Service

Order of Service

10.00 ¡V 10.02 Candle Lighting for Advent (Ewen)

(with candle lighting prayer read by Jonathon Aslett)

10.02 ¡V 10.04 Opening Prayer

Fresh (Josh Pashley)

(Lead us to Bethlehem)

10.04 ¡V 10.08 Opening Reading

Matthew 2:1-12

Fresh ¡V (Joanna & Lauren)

10.08 ¡V 10.10 Introduction.

10.10 ¡V 10.18 Trailblazers ¡V Eastern Europe

Reading

Rocking carol - Trailblazers only.

Rocking carol ¡V with congregation.

10.18 ¡V 10.26 All Stars - South America