Session 2 - Annunciation to Joseph: Dream and Action, Discernment and Doing

WEEK 2: December 3-9

Objectives

1. to hear again the story of Joseph’s directive dream to marry Mary
2. to explore Joseph’s response of immediate action: his own turning
3. to share faith stories of discernment and action
4. to explore through art our understanding of Joseph’s response
5. to hear the story of St. Nicholas, who is celebrated on Dec. 6, and to understand
   how Santa Claus is connected with Baby Jesus
6. to encourage participants to spend time with God each day during Advent by reading the daily entries and Bible readings suggested in The Upper Room

Materials

1. Shoes
2. Fabric paint and brushes
3. Stickers, glitter, glue, etc.
4. Plenty of newspaper to cover the work area
5. Candy canes
6. The Upper Room daily devotional guide

Opening

Leader says (directions in parentheses): “Last week we explored the story of the Annunciation to Mary, and we talked about how she moved from feeling afraid and bewildered to consenting to the work of God. She said ‘Let it be with me according to thy will.’” (Light Mary’s candle.) “Tonight we’ll look at Joseph’s version of the annunciation and see how his response is different when he receives the news of Christ’s coming.” (Set out Joseph’s boots without comment, and let group members wonder about why you are doing so.)

“Joseph’s example of obedience challenges us.”

Invite the participants to sub-divide into groups of three or four. Give them a few minutes to look back through the week’s meditations and list the ways they see people obeying scripture or God’s nudges inside them. (At this point you may need to distribute additional copies of the November-December issue so each person has a copy.) Invite group members to talk within their small groups about the examples of obedience they see in the week’s meditations. Ask them to identify one example they can follow in their life.

Scripture reading: Matthew 1:18-25. Ask one person to read the passage aloud to the group. Then read it again, and ask the following questions. (If your group is large, ask people to stay in threes or fours for this part.):

• Having a pregnant fiancee was a terrible, terrible situation in Joseph’s day. Mary could have been stoned to death! At first, what does Joseph plan to do? (quietly call off the wedding)
• Then he has a dream. An angel appears in the dream and the first words the angel speaks are Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid.
• What astonishing, unbelievable news does the angel give Joseph about the child that will be born to Mary? (The child is from the Holy Spirit, and, as Isaiah foretold, will be the Savior of God’s people.)
• (Hold up Joseph’s prop from last week.) So why do we have here a pair of shoes as a symbol of Joseph? (Because he wakes up and gets going. He walks right over to Mary’s house, and, even though it has to be hard, he proposes all over again, marries her, and brings her home.)

Discuss Joseph’s astonishment and faith in the voice of God and the immediate action that goes against Joseph’s best plan. Point out that this annunciation includes not only the big news but also a clear directive. And what happens is that Joseph is willing to turn, too. Like Mary, he turns toward God, turns toward the situation, and turns his intention to the very opposite of his original plan.
Mary says, “Here I am.” Joseph speaks with his feet, saying, “Here I go.” (Point out the boots again.)

Point out that three other times in the second chapter of Matthew, Joseph is led again by dreams, and each time he responds with his feet: by taking his family to Egypt, by bringing them home, and, on the trip back home, by going a different way than he had planned. (Ref. Mt.2:13-15 and Mt. 2:19-22).

Decorate the shoes.

Leader says (directions in parentheses): “Now, let’s celebrate Joseph’s response to his astounding, challenging annunciation. Decorate your shoes with any images of turning that come to your mind - spirals, U-turn signs, a tornado — which is sort of what hit Joseph — boomerangs, etc. Or use images that suggest getting up and getting going as directed by God.”

Tell the Story of St. Nicholas.

While people are working on their shoes, tell the story of St. Nicholas. It’s important for people to know that there really was a St. Nick who gave gifts and how he is directly connected to Baby Jesus.

Leader says: “Once upon a time, about 1700 years ago, in a region now known as Turkey, lived a bishop of the church named Nicholas. He was very wealthy and very generous. Nicholas loved Jesus very much, and out of his love for Jesus he loved other people. Nicholas was glad to have the chance to use his money to give gifts to those in need. For instance, one day he overheard some villagers talking about a poor neighbor who had three daughters. Because the man could no longer provide for his family, he worried that he would have to sell his daughters into slavery. This should never be! thought Nicholas. That night, he went to the house where the poor family lived and tossed into the window three bags of gold, as dowries for each of the daughters. They were amazed and delighted to find these gifts. Instead of being sold into slavery, the girls were able to make good marriages and prosper.

“Nicholas also did many miracles, such as raising three young boys from the dead, calming a ferocious storm, and providing food in a famine. He was unceasingly kind and generous, and he loved children very much. Nicholas was names a saint, and his special day is celebrated during the Christmas season. He was loved all over the world. The name the Dutch gave him, Sinter Klaas, became the name we call him now — Santa Claus. So we can imagine -- and even put -- a figure of Santa Claus around the manger, since his abundant giving comes from his love for Christ.

“Children in the Netherlands and other places celebrate St. Nicholas on December 6. Here’s what they do: They put their shoes out at night, and hope for a visit from St. Nicholas. In the morning, they find fruit and candy canes in their shoes! Why candy canes? Because the shepherd’s crook, or crozier as it is called, is a sign of a bishop, and Nicholas was a bishop in the Catholic church.

“This year, you can set out the shoes you are working on and see what happens. Or, you can fill them yourself and give them to someone who would love a Christmastime surprise.

“Now turn to December 4 in The Upper Room devotional guide. Here is contemporary story of giving. Mr. Ramirez tells how one man's compassion made a difference for millions of children worldwide. Read the meditation aloud while people continue to work on their shoes.

“How is this man like St. Nicholas? Like Joseph?
“What has God prompted you to get up and do lately?”

Directions (for leader): Remind people to read The Upper Room each day at home. Tell them they can take the extra copies of the magazine (that you distributed within the smaller groups of three or four) if they wish, but encourage them to bring their copy back each week.

Closing Prayer: “Thank you, God, for all the people in our church’s past who loved you, trusted you, and followed your lead — especially for Joseph and Nicholas and the man who started Heifer International. Amen.”