
Resources
A Journey to Christmas explores the stories of Zechariah, Mary, Elizabeth, John, Joseph and the shepherds as they are given the good news of Jesus’ coming and as they experience the miracle of his birth. This devotional booklet includes prayers, reflections and activities for each week of Advent to help families and individuals prepare for Christmas.
Advent Liturgies (PWS&D)
Celebrate the birth of Christ with Advent 2022 liturgies produced by Presbyterian World Service & Development that feature inspiring stories of how hope, peace, joy and love prevail, even in the face of poverty, injustice and disaster.
Advent and Christmas Worship Service Planning
This document was designed to help congregations plan Advent and Christmas services under COVID-19 restrictions to ensure the health and safety of those in our communities.
Advent Worship Service: Songs of Resistance and Hope
An Advent worship service courtesy of the Women’s Missionary Society.
Longest Night Service: Blue Christmas
During Advent, many churches hold a worship service for those who find Christmas a sad, complicated and difficult time. The Blue Christmas/Longest Night service focuses on Christ overcoming the darkness of loss, suffering and loneliness.
Advent Wreath and Liturgies
An introduction to the Advent wreath, along with some liturgies to use when lighting the Advent candles.
How to Make an Advent Wreath
A video produced by Dr. Tori Smit, Regional Minister for Faith Formation for the Synod of Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda, on how to make an Advent wreath for your home.
Bringing Light into the Darkness: Making Advent Candles at Home
This resource provides instructions on how to make Advent candles out of beeswax.
Faith Formation Through Advent Calendars
An Advent calendar resource designed to help Christians prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth through biblical reflection, spiritual practices and everyday faith in action.
Getting Ready for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
This resource contains a variety of suggestions to help congregations plan for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.
Travelling Mary and Joseph: An Advent Activity for the Whole Congregation
A resource created by the Rev. Charmila Ireland that provides steps to celebrate “Los Posadas” in congregations and with families.
Ways to Celebrate Advent at Home
In Advent, as the days become shorter and more of our time is spent inside, we are given the opportunity to create traditions that help us experience Christ’s light and love. This resource provides an introduction to Advent traditions that are easy to implement at home and add to the warmth and excitement of the season.
Walk to Bethlehem: An Advent Pilgrimage
Mary and Joseph walked from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born in a manger. This Advent activity invites you to join this journey towards Christmas.
Presbyterians Read: Advent 2020 Resources
This Presbyterians Read Advent book study focuses on Light of the World: A Beginner’s Guide to Advent by Amy-Jill Levine.
Presbyterians Read: Advent 2019 Resources
This Presbyterians Read Advent book study focuses on Celebrating Abundance: Devotions for Advent by Walter Brueggemann.
Sample Sermons for Advent:
A worship service for Christmas Eve/Day.
Family-Friendly Christmas Eve Worship
A welcoming and family-friendly worship service meant to accommodate the high energy and joyful excitement of children on Christmas Eve.
The Christmas Story According to The Four Gospels – A Congregational Worship Event
Similar to the format of a traditional Christmas pageant, the congregational worship event outlined in this resource involves a four-scene drama of the Christmas Story, retold through multiple lenses in the gospels.
The Jesse Tree/The Christmas Tree
This resource provides an overview of the Jesse Tree and the Christmas Tree, special trees that give the Advent and Christmas season beauty and meaning.
God’s Great Idea
A Christmas video by St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Stittsville, Ontario. (Text by Dr. Laura Alary; Stop-motion animation by Thomas Duncan)
The Twelve Days of Christmas
A theological and historical exploration of the familiar and beloved Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”