Advent!

1.  Try a creative addition to historic methods of celebrating in  your church. 

An example:

Example One:   Find  a man with a rough voice, dress him in a prophet's costume.  After the prelude allow everything to get quite.  Have him to take his staff and thump it on the floor a couple of times.  Then he can process down the main isle of the church reading or quoting the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of Jesus.   He could do it as an ancient town crier.  Let him  shout out.  Hear ye!  Hear ye!  Hear ye!....The Messiah is coming.  Hear what the prophet says:

Sunday one:  Isaiah 11:1 "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD."   

Hear ye!  Hear ye! ....The Messiah is coming.

Go immediately into the Hymn of Praise.  Pick up the theme of the scripture in the hymn.

Sunday two:  Hear ye!  Hear ye! ....The Messiah is coming.  A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."  Isaiah 40: 3-4

Hear ye!  Hear ye! ....The Messiah is coming.

Sunday Three: Have a lady play the part of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and another Elizabeth. Let them walk down the isle toward the altar.   They could recite Mary's song, and the Biblical statement of Elizabeth's joy concerning  John the Baptist's joy at the announcement by Mary that she was to have a special child.

Sunday Four:   2.  One Sunday have an Altar of Lights.  Have a person with creative decorating gifts to dress the altar in white, and place upon it an assortment of candles to be lit as part of the Advent Candle Lighting ceremony.  Have each candle represent something that is of value to the church, or to be used as a prayer candle for someone in the church.   Have some teenagers to do a creative dance processing down the isle carrying candles to light the candles on the altar.  Have the musician of the church choose appropriate music for the processional.
 

 After this dramatic moment let the congregation sing the morning Hymn of Praise.  Then  a family in the church could lead in the ceremony to light the appropriate Advent candle followed by the congregation singing,   "Come, O Come, Immanuel" .

Such a beginning will launch your service in a tone of excitement and expectancy.   The people will talk about this during the week.  Friends and members will come to be a part of it next Sunday.   Plan!  Plan!  Plan!   If it is important to you it will become important to your people.

3.  Vary the list of persons who light the Advent Candles.  Have families, a group of Singles, children, youth, 0r a small group of single seniors as well as families.  Never forget the church is composed of diverse groups of people.  Involve them all if you can.

4.  Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols ending with Holy Communion.  Over the years this became a most cherished service by members of the churches I served.  Families were encouraged to come as they were and commune as families.  This was always a moving service.

5.  Moravian Love Feast ...  A simple service of testimony, scripture, and hymns ending with a sweet milk coffee, and Moravian Cookie or bun.

6.  Plan the season with staff and musicians in advance so quality work can be done.  Print an Advent Brochure with all the special opportunities for your congregation.  Let the congregation know that this is going to be a very special season.