Advent 2, and we had the wonderful challenge of combining all into one service the following...

• Lighting the Advent candle
• An infant blessing
• Gathering toys and gifts for the Salvation Army appeal
• A sermonette - because you know, there has to be a 'word'
• Communion
• And of course Bible readings and intercessory prayers

And we did it, and it was blooming marvellous! 

The Bible Readings were Isaiah 11: 2- 9 (from whence the title of the sermonette) and, using a video retelling, Luke 1: 1-25 & 2:57-58.  There was also Jesus blessing the children as part of the blessing liturgy.

Over fifty people, including two babies and a dozen or more other children... songs ranging from Taize to Kendrick and all points in between...  MP3 recordings of an organ, and live guitar, recorder and drums... having to add the 'emergency' glasses to the communion trays... welcoming people newly arrived to this town... booking refugees into the town-wide Community Christmas day lunch... and gathering up several huge bags of gifts to be given to families in need...

Oh, and my sermonette seemed to hit the spot too... bonus!