PLANNING A NON-EUCHARISTIC LITURGY

Gather (Introductory Rites)

Preparation

Date:

Feast:

Focus: Christmas
Liturgical Season
Group: Year 6

Place: Classroom
Time: 30 - 40 minutes
Prayer Circle
Required Props (Cross, candles, symbol etc):
The classroom will be in the liturgical colour white (sign of purity,
new life, rebirth and joy)
Candle (source of light, Christ)
Nativity Scene Jesus in the manger
Bells
Christmas tree, Christmas Star & Christmas tree ornaments
Gifts for under the tree
Wreaths
Mistletoe
Camel and three wise men (props)
Frankincense (props)
Candy cane
How will symbols be displayed/used? (What specific action?):
Christmas tree displayed in a corner of the classroom display gifts
around and under the tree
Nativity Scene displayed in the classroom opposite corner to
Christmas tree set up
Welcome:
May the lights we burn today warm our hearts
with the Holy Spirit.
In miracle and mystery, Jesus was born, light
shining in the darkness. In miracle and mystery,
all are born, new lights of life full of hope.
May this light, on this special night of birth,
remind us that to be in the spirit of Christmas we
must be where peace needs to be born, where joy
needs to be sung, where hope needs to be found,
and where love needs to be shared (D.R.Williams,
2011 Christmas Beatitudes).
Gathering Hymn:
Silent Night (Luke 2: 1-20)
Theme: Bethlehem, birth of Jesus
Author: Joseph Mohr (1818)
Composer: Franz Gruber (1818)

1 Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

Light Christmas
Candle
Wreath, bible, cross
in the centre for a
prayer circle
Recite phrase
greeting message

2 Silent night! Holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing: Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
3 Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, loves pure light,
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!
Jesus Lord, at thy birth!
4 Silent night! Holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King:
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.
Opening Prayer:
Dear Lord and Father,
Thank you that you promise us that where two or
three are gathered you are there in the midst.
Lord we welcome You amongst us today and
celebrate the gift of life that you have lavished
upon each of us.
We ask that You would open our ears so that we
may hear your voice.
Open our minds so that we may receive Your
eternal wisdom.
Open our spirits so that we may know Your
leading and guidance.
And open our hearts so that we may receive Your
wonderful love.
We ask all this in the glorious name of Jesus.
Amen.
(opening prayer of worship retrieved from:
http://www.lords-prayerwords.com/times/opening_prayer.html#worship)

Opening ones heart

and soul in
conversation with
God, an expression
of faith in a
relationship with
God.

Respond Refect,Share,
(Liturgy ofListen

Reading:
Matthew 1:18-25
How the birth of Jesus came about and why
we celebrate Christmas.
Revelation of Gods plan
Jesus came into this world supernaturally
Prayer/Refection/Action:
Students have formed a Prayer Circle for
this non-Eucharistic liturgy around special
aspects that we use in liturgies in the
church. E.g. cross, bible, candles placed on
a white cloth in the centre of the prayer
circle.

Vocal Prayer is

Dismissal:
Blessing
Go in peace, to love and to serve the Lord.
Concluding Hymn:
Concluding Hymn:
Joy to the world (Psalm 98)
Theme: The Messiah is coming and Kingdom
Author: Isaac Watts (1674 1748)
Composer: Lowell Mason (1848)

Go & Tell (Concluding Rites)

Remind students that

they are in the
presence of God
when they are
praying and
reflecting.

1 Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let earth

receive her King.
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
2 Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns: let all
their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3 No more let sin and sorrow grow nor thorns
infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace, and
makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

The words are by

English hymn writer
Isaac Watts, based
on the second half of
Psalm 98 in the Bible
(Hymnary.org)