Soft focus on single burning candle with warm glow

Advent, a four-week time of preparation before Christmas, begins the church year.  For additional creative resources for  individuals, families, and worship planners, visit Advent Unwrapped. The first Sunday in Advent often has a focus on Hope.

Worship Ideas

Music

Related Material

  • 2021 KAIROS Palestine Christmas Alert (1.37 MB) (PDF): A glimpse on Palestinians' life inside and outside Palestine and the unity in struggle, resistance, and hope.
  • Acknowledging the Territory in Worship (170.12 KB) (PDF): A brief guide to help congregations and bodies of the church incorporate an Acknowledgement of Territory into their gatherings.
  • Buy Less Shopping Guide (108.17 KB) (PDF): An Advent Unwrapped shopping guide for all ages for a Buy Less Christmas.
  • Moderator's Advent Message 2023: In her Advent message, Moderator Carmen Lansdowne reminds us that the Christmas miracle is a story of hope, bravery, and the willingness to have faith in God.
  • Moderator's Advent Message 2023: Transcript (36.41 KB) (Word): Transcript of Moderator Carmen Lansdowne's Advent 2023 video message.
  • The Good News of Joy to the World (226.11 KB) (PDF): A five-session Advent Unwrapped Bible study on the Gospel of Luke by the Rev. Dr. Peggy Mulambya-Kabonde of The United Church of Zambia.
  • The Good News Story (392.39 KB) (PDF): Four Advent Unwrapped Sunday school session outlines.
  • Watching and Waiting: A Daily Vigil Based on the O Antiphons (628.25 KB) (PDF): Follow the ancient tradition of praying the “O Antiphons,” familiar from the carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” using this Advent Unwrapped resource. You can set aside nightly family prayer time for the last week of Advent or adapt this ritual in another way.

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