21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: Worship Resources for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C

Meditation (Or Monologue)
(Based on Micah 5:2-5a)
[Consider using a "herald" in biblical dress delivering this proclamation at the beginning of the worship service, moving up and down the aisles in the intense manner of Old Testament prophets. This person may be male or female.]

Some of us have come here feeling empty because it's the day before Christmas, and we ain't got nobody. Death may have taken away our soul mate; nobody to sing carols or sip eggnog with. And we're all alone, feeling sorry for ourselves. But take heart, God is about to do a new thing, little clan of Judah.

Only children, take heart. Today there may be no one to share secrets with, to laugh with or play with, but tomorrow will be a new day. God is about to do a new thing, little clan of Judah.

You may never have borne children, but wanted them badly. Look up; God has done a new thing, little clan of Judah. For God has given us a child; he is ours, and we are his. He is an eternal companion. He will be the reason why we sing, and we will never sing alone again we will join the chorus of all those who once were lonely and all those who once grieved. God has done a new thing!

God has enlarged our family. Jesus is our brother, and he has brought us other brothers and other sisters. God has given us a family to share secrets with, to laugh and to cry with. God is never too busy for us, and none of our problems are too small to share with God. God has done a new thing!

In less than twenty-four hours the world will pause to remember that God has given us a Son; brag and tell everyone about him! He has not only come into our homes and hearts, but he will take us to the homes of others. This child will attract many other children, and they will be our responsibility. In less than twenty-four hours the world will remember that God has done a new thing!

O little clan of Judah, after a long hard labor, we have a child; and Jesus is his name. Others who have left us alone in our smallness and sadness will notice that great joy has come to us. They shall embrace us as family, and our clan shall be great, great indeed, to the ends of the earth. Amen.

Meditation: "Lord, We Ain't Shamed"
(Based on Luke 1:46b-55)
Lord, we come here this morning, and we ain't shamed.
This here baby you give us is a gift, so "No," we ain't shamed!
Babies ain't nothing to be shamed of.
Some say the baby was a curse,
But time has proved this baby was a blessing.
Gathering Call
One: We're glad to come before our God who not only believes the impossible, but makes the impossible possible. We come celebrating the triumph of the Marys of this world, the world's lowly.

Many: Oh, nobody knew the trouble she saw. Nobody knew the trouble she saw. Nobody knew the trouble she saw. Nobody knew but Jesus.

One: Just like Mary, our sorrows turn into blessings when God's angels whisper in our ears: "Don't you let nobody turn you round." "Hold ya' head up, girl." "God has smiled on you, son."

Many: Nobody knows the trouble we see. Nobody knows but Jesus. We're so glad trouble don't last always.

One: The Mighty One has done great things for us. The Mighty One has strong-armed the gossipers, strong-armed those who muddied our name. Look at lil' ole us we've been lifted up! God has kept a promise to save us. What's more, God sent us a Savior, and Jesus is his name.

All: Glory, hallelujah!

Music:
(Use either a contemporary arrangement of "I'm So Glad, Trouble Don't Last Always" or the old Negro spiritual "Nobody Knows the Trouble I See." Alternate between the two or do a creative arrangement of the two.)

About the Author: : Sherrie Dobbs Johnson is the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York.