Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFusion Advent • Christmas • Epiphany 2016–2017 1

Gathering for All Ages: Epiphany Year AGatherings for All Ages are suitable not just for people of all ages but also for people of any or no church background. These gatherings connect those inside the church with those who have little or no connection with regular Sunday worship.

This outline includes activities, worship, and a meal. Choose the flow that suits your situation and time of gathering. For example, if your gathering will begin early evening, you might begin with a meal. If you will meet late afternoon, then you might begin with worship and conclude with a meal.

❑❑ Set the stations as described in Time of Creativity.❑❑ Set a worship space: cover table with a white cloth and

place on it a Christ candle. This will be the worship centre. Create a star path as described under Gather.

❑❑ Bring name tags.❑❑ Arrange for a volunteer to bake a “Three Kings” cake.

Use your computer’s search engine to find a a recipe. Be sure there are three pieces with an uncooked bean in each one.

Prepare❑❑ Gather three magi costumes and a bag of coins (gold),

a flask of oil (frankincense), and a bottle of perfume (myrrh).

❑❑ Recruit a narrator and three soloists to sing the verses of “We Three Kings of Orient Are.”

❑❑ Arrange for volunteers to prepare the meal and help set it up for serving.

❑❑ Recruit volunteers to initiate clean-up when the meal is finished.

GatheringCreate a star path that leads from an entrance point, through the church facility, and ends at the gathering space. Place star-shaped guides along the path with phrases like “You’re almost there,” Try another path,” That’s it, come this way.” As people arrive, invite them to begin travelling along the star path in groups of two or three. Make sure each group has at least one reader in it.

As people exit the star path, welcome them and assist them in making a name tag.

Welcome everyone and explain clearly (but briefly) what will be happening throughout the gathering. Invite people to sit together so they can see, hear, and participate in the opening worship.

Offer each person a piece of Three Kings cake. Explain that some of the pieces will have an uncooked bean in it. Whoever gets those pieces will be invited to play a role in the telling of the magi’s story, or they can choose someone for the role.

Bible storyLight the Christ candle, and provide the three magi (those with beans in their piece of cake) with their costumes and gifts. Have

Worshipthem stand at the back of the meeting space holding the three gifts; prepare them to offer the gifts as suggested below. Narrator: Read Matthew 2:1–9.All: Sing the first verse of “We Three Kings of Orient Are” as the magi enter and stand around the worship table. (You might have soloists sing each verse and everyone else join in the chorus.)

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2 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFusion Advent • Christmas • Epiphany 2016–2017 Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016

Narrator: Read Matthew 2:10–11.All: Sing verses 2 – 4 of “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” (As the verses are sung, instruct each magi to lay down the appropriate gift on the table.)Narrator: Read Matthew 2:12 as the magi exit using a differ-ent path than the one they used to enter.

Describe the various stations for the Time of Creativity. Ex-plain that like the magi, they will need to go to the stations in

a new way – a way that is different from how they travelled along the star path. For example, if they walked along the star path coming in, they can hop, crawl, or be carried to a station. If they rode in a wheelchair forward, they can now ride backwards or zig zag.

Prayer Dear God, help us as we seek to follow in your way and bring the light of your love to the world. Amen.

Time of CreativityGalaxy art engagementMaterials Bible, recording of meditative instrumental music, player, white paper cut in circles 15 cm/6 in. in diameter, pen-cils, scissors, glue stick, poster board, copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions1. Choose someone to read the story in Matthew 2:1–12. 2. After the reading and when everyone is ready, turn on the music player.3. While the music plays have someone read these words slowly, with space be-

tween each word. • Magi from the East • Child has been born • Pay him homage • King Herod was frightened • The star had stopped • Overwhelmed with joy • Warned in a dream • Returned home by another way

4. Take a circle of paper and a pencil. 5. Write a prayer for guidance for yourself for when changes come in life.6. Cut your paper into a spiral by beginning at the outer edge and cutting around

and around in a circle and inwards until you reach the middle. 7. Glue the spirals by their centre to the poster board. 8. Bring the poster board image to the gathering space to share during Bless.

Guiding light lanternsMaterials pickle jars, sand, tealights, star-shaped stickers and sequins card stock/heavy paper, and markers, twine, hole punch, copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions1. Decorate jars with star sequins or stickers.2. Fill the bottom with sand and set a tealight on the sand.3. Print a prayer on a card, such as “Holy One, shine your light to guide our feet

in new and surprising ways. Amen.” 4. Tie your prayer card to the rim of the jar.5. You might place your lantern at the middle of your dining table, and light it

at each evening meal, or other special family prayer times during the Season after the Epiphany.

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Star in my pocket Materials polymer clay (available from craft, art, and hobby supply stores), key chain clips and backpack pulls, star shaped templates or biscuit/cooking cut-ters, access to oven, copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions1. Make a star shape out of the polymer clay.2. Push a small hole in the star before baking.3. Bake in the oven following instructions on the clay packet.4. Attach the star to a key chain or backpack pull. 5. Make more than one star and give to friends as reminders of the light of Jesus

that guided the wise ones, and guides wise ones today.

Follow the starMaterials star-shaped templates (see Pat-terns and Templates in Virtural Resource Booklet in the library at www.seasonson-line.ca), card stock/heavy paper in metallic colours, hole punches, fishing line, mark-ers, copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions 1. Cut star shapes out of card stock/heavy paper.2. Punch holes in them to attach fishing line.3. Write prayers or thanksgivings on them before hanging them up. 4. Arrange to have a place in your worship space to suspend them for the duration

of the Season after the Epiphany – as the light of Christ grows.

Guidance constellationsMaterials black construction paper, white chalk, hole punch, scissors, black yarn, copy of the directions displayed where all can see

DirectionsThe magi were guided to Jesus by the stars. Then, after being warned in a dream, they were guided to take a new path home. What or who guides you when you have to choose a path in life?1. Take a piece of black construction paper and a piece of white chalk.2. Draw a picture of something or someone who has guided you in the past.3. Punch holes in the margins of the papers and use black yarn to tie the pictures

together, horizontally and vertically to make a banner of the night sky.4. If your group is large, create several banners with 9 – 12 pictures in each banner.5. Bring the banner(s) to the gathering space to share during Bless.

Plan a simple but enjoyable meal for all to share together. The menu is not as important as the occasion. The occasion is not as important as those participating. This is a time for people to relax, chat, have fun, eat and drink, and enjoy one another’s company.

Try to plan the layout of the room so that it reflects the com-munal aspects of the gathering together, but be aware that

Eating Togetherfor some, eating in this way is a completely new and perhaps un-nerving situation.

Ask volunteers to prepare the meal. Select a simple and healthy menu, preferably including locally grown fruits and vegetables that are in season and other locally made food items (e.g., raw vegetables/fruit with dip, salad, homemade soup, a pasta dish with sauce made from local vegetables, bread).

Gather people back together again. Give all an opportunity to tell or show about their learning and experiences with the group. Send the people out with these words: We have seen the signs and followed themand they brought us together as a community.

BlessingWe have met the Messiahand it has made all the difference.As we go from this place and timethe love of God, the grace of Jesus,and the community of the Spirit go with us to move in new directions of light and love.

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