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Gathering Song: Getting Ready for Baby Jesus: Option 1

‘Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas!’ Words © Sharon Moughtin

Tune: ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor?’ (traditional). 

 

In week 1, skip the Gathering Song, including the introduction, and move straight into the storytelling, which will introduce the Gathering Song for the rest of Advent.

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Baby Jesus is the Light of the World!

Let’s close our eyes and feel the dark . . .

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We’re waiting for Baby Jesus, the Light of the World,

to shine in the darkness!

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Let’s open our eyes again.

You might like to show the children a picture of the sun rising, if you used one in the storytelling for week 1.

Like we wait for the sun to ‘dawn’,

to come up, in the morning.

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If you’re using imaginative aids, ask two or three children to give them out.

Let’s show the sun ‘dawning’ with our bodies.

Let’s crouch down low . . .

Let’s close our eyes . . . it’s dark!

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Let’s show the sun coming up and up and out . . .

in the morning.

Lead the children in showing the sun rising with your hands as you stand up.

The sun is ‘dawning’!

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Now let’s do that as we sing our song,

‘Jesus, Light of the World’.

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If you’re singing this song for the first time with your group, you may find the following introduction helpful.

We have a new song about ‘Jesus, Light of the World’.

Let’s learn it ‘my turn’ both hands to self, ‘your turn’ hands out to group

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Sing the words with the tune to the group.

Je-sus, Light of the World,

Je-sus, Light of the World

Je-sus, Light of the World is 

dawning in the darkness!

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Let’s sing that all together and add our actions.

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, is Sun dawning action

dawning in the darkness! Sun dawning action

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Don’t worry about teaching the ‘Busy, busy, busy’ words. These are very repetitive, so that the children will pick them up as they go, and the tune is the same as the ‘Jesus, Light of the World’ refrain.

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Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, is Sun dawning action

dawning in the darkness! Sun dawning action

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Getting ready for Christmas can be very busy!

What have we been doing to get ready for Christmas?

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Either invite the children to make suggestions, or choose from the suggestions below. For each activity sing the ‘Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas!’ verse with an appropriate action designed by the children, followed by the ‘Jesus, Light of the World’ refrain:

• hanging lights on the Christmas tree . . . (we use lights at Christmas to remember Jesus is the Light of the World!)

• opening our Advent calendars

• writing Christmas cards

• cleaning our home

• baking and cooking

• wrapping presents

• dancing at parties.

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Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas!

Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas!

Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas!

The Light of the World is dawning! Sun dawning action

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Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, is Sun dawning action

dawning in the darkness! Sun dawning action

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Getting ready for Christmas can be very busy!

You might see your parents or carers at home running around

and getting very busy!

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If appropriate: Or your teachers at school getting stressed

about the Christmas/Nativity play!

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Let’s all look busy and stressed like the adults!

Lead children in waving imaginative aids or arms around madly and running on the spot.

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Let’s sing ‘Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas’ again.

Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas!

Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas!

Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas!

The Light of the World is dawning!

 

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, is Sun dawning action

dawning in the darkness! Sun dawning action

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My goodness, that was busy!

Who’s feeling tired?

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When we’re getting ready for Christmas

it can get really busy and really exciting!

Who’s excited about Christmas?

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In all the busyness,

let’s remember to also have time for some quiet.

Let’s remember to get ready for the very special baby

that’s coming: Baby Jesus.

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Let’s sit quietly now and close our eyes . . .

Let’s imagine holding Baby Jesus in our arms

and singing to him quietly and gently.

Baby Jesus will be born at Christmas!

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Lead the children rocking a baby and singing quietly.

Je-sus, Light of the World,

Je-sus, Light of the World,

Je-sus, Light of the World, is

dawning in the darkness!

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One of the ways we get ready inside Trace a circle on your heart

is to tell stories about Baby Jesus.

We’re going to tell one of those stories today.

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Gathering Song: Option 2

For Christmas Day or the week after Christmas

Song: ‘Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas! Christmas!’ is the alternative refrain for ‘Busy, busy, busy, getting ready for Christmas!’ Words © Sharon Moughtin

Tune: ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor?’ (traditional). See music for Option 1 above.

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Baby Jesus is the Light of the World!

Let’s close our eyes and feel the dark.

Lead the children in closing eyes.

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Let’s imagine Jesus shining like a tiny star in the sky.

Now let’s imagine that light growing

brighter and brighter and brighter –

until its light fills the whole world!

So bright we can’t even look at it!

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Let’s open our eyes again.

Baby Jesus, the Light of the World, is shining. Jazz hands

Let’s show jazz hands for Jesus’ light. Jazz hands

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Before Christmas, we were ‘busy, busy, busy’

Move arms as if running

getting ready for Jesus, Light of the World,

to DAWN in the darkness.

Show the sun rising up and out with your arms

Jesus’ light was just beginning to show,

like the sun in the morning.

Now Jesus’ light is SHINING, bright!

Lead the children in jazz hands

 

Let’s sing our Jesus, Light of the World, song again.

This time, at the end let’s sing ‘SHINING in the darkness’

Lead the children in jazz hands

And show our jazz hands.

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Lead the children in singing:

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, is Sun dawning action

SHINING in the darkness! Jazz hands

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Christmas is an amazing time!

Who’s having fun at Christmas?

Let’s sing our ‘Busy, busy, busy’ song,

but with new Christmas words!

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Can you say after me?

‘Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas! Christmas!’

Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas! Christmas!

And don’t forget our jazz hands for

‘The Light of the World is shining!’ at the end.

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Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas! Christmas!

Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas! Christmas!

Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas! Christmas!

The Light of the World is shining! Jazz hands

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Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, is Sun dawning action

SHINING in the darkness! Jazz hands

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Let’s think of some of the things we’ve done this Christmas.

Either invite the children to make suggestions, or choose from the suggestions below. For each activity sing ‘Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas, Christmas! with an appropriate action designed by the children, followed by the ‘Jesus, Light of the World’ refrain:

• opening stockings

• dancing at parties

• unwrapping presents

• eating lots of tasty food

• chocolate, chocolate everywhere!

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My goodness! That was exciting!

But in all that excitement,

let’s remember to also have time for some quiet.

Let’s remember to welcome Baby Jesus inside.

Trace circle on heart

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Let’s sit quietly now and close our eyes . . .

Let’s imagine holding Baby Jesus in our arms

Model rocking Baby Jesus.

and singing to him quietly and gently.

Ssssssssh!

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Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas! Christmas! Rock Baby Jesus

Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas! Christmas! Rock Baby Jesus

Joy! Joy! Joy! It’s Christmas! Christmas! Rock Baby Jesus

The Light of the World is shining! Jazz hands

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Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, Sun dawning action

Je-sus, Light of the World, is Sun dawning action

SHINING in the darkness! Jazz hands

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Gathering Song: Option 3

Song: ‘In the first week of Advent' Words © Sharon Moughtin

Tune: ‘On the first day of Christmas' (traditional)

 

This option has been designed for groups who are using the Advent Wreath Storybox. It’s appropriate for mixed groups of babies, toddlers, and children up to the age of 9 years old. Groups that only include children up to the age of 7 years old may prefer to use Option 1.

 

There are different traditions about the meaning of the five candles of the Advent Wreath. If your church follows a different pattern, feel free to adapt the material accordingly.

 

Jesus is the light of the world

dawning in the darkness!

We have our Advent wreath here/in church

to show how the light is getting brighter and brighter

as we get nearer to Christmas!

               If appropriate:

               Can anyone tell us what ‘Advent’ means?

               Accept responses

 

Advent means coming!

Our Advent wreath is reminding us

that Jesus – Light of the World – is coming!

 

Adapt material according to which week you are in:

Today is week number one.

How many candles do you think we’ll light today? Or ‘did we light today’

Accept responses

One candle! Show one finger

One candle for week number one!

 

Can you show me your finger candle(s)?

Lead the children in showing the number of fingers for that week.

Let’s light our candles together.

Lead the children in lighting their finger candle by striking an imaginary match in the air on three and pretending to light your finger.

1, 2, 3 . . . Tssss!

 

Lead the group in lighting the correct number of candles for that week. As the children light their finger candles, you could either do likewise or, if they haven’t already been lit in the main church building, light the candles of the Advent wreath at the same time. As you light them, name the candles as follows, encouraging the children to join in where appropriate.

 

Candle number one is for. . . Abraham and Sarah!

Candle number two is for. . . prophets of old!

Candle number three is for. . . John the Baptist!

Candle number four is for. . . Mary!

And candle number five, the most important candle in the middle is for:

Baby Jesus!

 

When you’ve lit all the relevant candles for that week:

We’re going to tell Abraham and Sarah’s story today! Adapt as appropriate.

 

First week:

We have a song to help us remember

what all the candles are for.

This week we’re lighting just one candle.

Can anyone remember

whose story we’re going to tell today?

Abraham and Sarah!

Candle number one is for Abraham and Sarah!

 

Let’s sing, ‘my turn / your turn’:

In the first week of Advent,

we light one candle!

In the first week of Advent,

we light one candle!

Abraham and Sarah!

Abraham and Sarah!

 

Let’s sing that altogether:

In the first week of Advent,

we light one candle!

Abraham and Sarah!

 

Following weeks:

Let’s sing our song that helps us remember

what all the candles are for.

 

Lead the children in singing the Advent Wreath song up to the relevant verse for that week. If appropriate, you might find it helpful to ask the children if they can remember who the next candle is for before you start singing each verse.

 

In the first week of Advent,

we light one candle!

Abraham and Sarah!

 

In the second week of Advent,

we light two candles!

Prophets of old,

and Abraham and Sarah!

 

In the third week of Advent,

we light three candles!

John the Baptist,

prophets of old,

and Abraham and Sarah!

 

In the fourth week of Advent,

we light four candles!

Mary, Jesus’ mummy,

John the Baptist,

prophets of old,

and Abraham and Sarah!

 

On Christmas Day,

we light five candles!

Jesus, Light of the World!

Mary, Jesus’ mummy

John the Baptist,

prophets of old,

and Abraham and Sarah!

 

Our Advent wreath is lit!

We’re ready to tell today’s story!

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Advent Song (O Come)

The Sowing Seeds 'O Come' Antiphon. Words © Sharon Moughtin

Tune: Veni Emmanuel (unknown)

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Groups from churches that sing ‘O Come, O Come, Emmaunel’ during Advent may like to use this verse of the song either in their church service, or instead of or alongside their Gathering Song.

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O Come, O little baby, come!

Rock Baby Jesus gently in your arms.

Come play with us

Hold hands out and move up and down as if dancing with the toddler Jesus.

and make our home your home.

Point to yourself, then to the toddler Jesus.

This world can feel as dark as night.

Hands over eyes.

Light of the world, come shine on us your light!

Sun rising action.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Hands up in ‘Alleluia’ sign or waving.

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Rock Baby Jesus in your arms.

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