Welcome to Lectio for Families. It’s the Advent season, and we’re listening to the voices of Advent in the Bible. This week we are listening specifically to the voices from heaven – the ways that God gave the message that Jesus was coming!

As usual, we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.

Pause

We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:

In and out.

In and out.

We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.

Pause

Prayer of Welcome

Lord Jesus, we’re excited about celebrating Your birth this Christmastime. Help us to be still amongst all the busyness, to rest in Your presence and remember what and who we are celebrating.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

Today, we are REFLECTING on the song the angels sang after they’d told the shepherds where to find the baby Jesus.

Read by Asaph
Luke 2:13-14
Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: ‘Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.’
Luke 2:13-14 (NCV)

Have we ever heard a choir sing? What about hundreds of people singing together at a sporting event? There’s something powerful about raising our voices and singing together with other people, isn’t there? It can be quite emotional – we feel the passion and excitement in the people around us, and it fills us too.

What do we think it sounded like when the angels raised their voices and sang together? And how do we think the shepherds felt? Maybe they tried to join in with the singing. Maybe they fell to their knees, or even onto their faces, in holy awe and wonder. Or maybe they jumped to their feet and started dancing with joy. Whatever they did, it must have been the most incredible experience.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What songs make us feel like dancing?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Through the angels’ song, the shepherds experienced God’s presence in a way they would never forget.

Loving God, we want to experience Your presence in our lives too. We ASK You to show us new things, and speak to us in new ways, maybe even sing to us.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

The angels sang about Jesus coming to bring peace on earth.

Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. This Christmas, we ASK You to bring a little more peace on earth – peace in our families, peace in our communities, peace to those who are fearful and troubled.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.

Luke 2:13-14
Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: ‘Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.’
Luke 2:13-14 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Glory to God in heaven! – YES, Jesus, we give You all the glory because You are amazing.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.

Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.

Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.