Advent 1A

Winter Prayer: God’s Timing — Ted Loder

God of all seasons and senses, grant us the sense of your timing to submit gracefully and rejoice quietly in the turn of the seasons. In this season of short days and long nights, of grey and white and cold, teach us the lessons of endings; children growing, friends leaving, loved ones dying, grieving over, […]

Read full text

Angel Intercessions — Ana Gobledale, UK

‘Do not be afraid’ — words of the angels Prayers of Intercession This was originally written for a worship service marking the opening of a week-long Angel Festival. It might be used during Advent, particularly at a Blue Christmas or Longest Night service. The word ‘angel’ is not always popular, or sometimes over-popular!  How can […]

Read full text

Christmas Hope — William Stephenson, USA

O God, At the darkest time of the year comes the brightest of Hope. Let the gladness of its coming and the hope of its promise be warm within us. To embrace this Hope is to believe that someday there shall be A world of goodwill from which all cruelty is gone. A world in […]

Read full text

Advent

What words herald the Advent season? Familiar?  New? Light-hearted?  Reflective? Confessional?  Hopeful? Here are Advent worship resources from around the world to explore and use. Scroll down to find: Advent prayers and worship resources Advent songs, carols & music Complete services, Dramas, Nativities and Christmas Pageants Link to Advent images Blue Christmas resources Advent prayers […]

Read full text

Hope — Marcy Gansler Hauser, USA

I remember thinking to myself that losing my son could be a cloud over the rest of my life, or he could be the light in my life. I made a conscious decision to hope. Hope is what gets us out of bed each morning. Hope is what has us peering around the corner to […]

Read full text

Because of Mary — William Stephenson, USA

Because of Mary – an Advent reflection Because of Mary all class, all castes, all hierarchical systems are now undermined. Because of Mary the world can no longer categorize someone as being worthless or worth less than somebody else. Because of Mary the Christmas story is for little ones and the poor… the victims of […]

Read full text

Peace on Earth, an Advent Prayer — Allen Myrick, USA

Peace on earth, good will toward all. — Luke 2:14 The Dayspring from on high hath visited us…to guide our feet into the way of peace. — Luke 1:78-79 ‘Peace on earth,’ the angels sang. We sing it too, in carols, oratorios. We talk of peace, put it on bumper stickers, print it on Christmas […]

Read full text

Christmas Conception — Jim Burklo, USA

A cool clear dawn in early spring: She stepped outside to fill her jug With water from the village well. “What is happening to my feet?” She whispered as she walked along. They’d never felt so full of life… They seemed to float above the ground. And up her legs and through her thighs A […]

Read full text

Advent hymns unpacked, Words Matter — Jane Clements, UK

O come, O come, Emmanuel And with your people always dwell Who mourn in mortal exile here Until the Lord of Life appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come again and with us ever dwell –lyrics by Philip Cunningham ‘Why does all this matter? It matters because what we sing is as important as what we […]

Read full text

Be prepared, Children’s Advent Message — Tod Gobledale, UK

Matthew 24:42-44 A Children’s Message for Advent Picture 1: Grasshopper playing fiddle + Once upon a time, on a warm summer’s day + A grasshopper stands in a field and plays his fiddle.       Picture 2: Grasshopper & Ant +The grasshopper sees an ant working hard carrying something. + The grasshopper calls to […]

Read full text

Season of thin spaces — Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, USA

This is indeed a holy season. This is a season of light shining in the shadows. And the shadows will not overcome it. This is a season where we allow God to light hope, peace, joy and love on the wicks of our lives. This is a season of thin spaces where the distance between […]

Read full text

Measuring Time, an Advent reflection — Angie Combs, USA

An Advent Reflection 525,600 minutes. The opening song to the Broadway musical “Rent” tells us that in a single year, there are 525,600 minutes. The song then asks, how do you measure a year? Is it in daylights? Sunsets? Midnights? Cups of coffee? Inches? Miles? Laugher? Smiles? Psalm 90 talks about time, both our own […]

Read full text

From darkness to light: the Advent procession –Salisbury Cathedral, UK

This annual service, ‘From Darkness to Light’, held in Salisbury Cathedral starts in complete darkness.  A single candle is lit, and the light spreads throughout the cathedral until hundreds of lights burn brightly illuminating the vastness. These words from the programme set the scene: “The darkness is at one and the same time a comforting […]

Read full text

Advent vestry prayer — UK

Bless us this advent Sunday. Thank you for the joy we find spending time with one another as the excitement of Jesus’s birth becomes infectious. Bless us and those taking part in the service and give them courage, peace and strength to overcome any nerves. Let us celebrate this special Sunday together as the family […]

Read full text

Psalm 122, contemporary versions — Zambia & UK

The first three contemporary versions of Psalm 122, variations on a theme, were written collaboratively by groups of theology and ministry students at the United Church of Zambia University, Mindolo.  The fourth version arises from the United Kingdom. Psalm 122 is a reading for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A. Psalm 122 — arising […]

Read full text

Psalm 122 — Zambia’s voice

I was filled with great happiness when I was called to go to church. What sweet fellowship we find in you O wonderful house of God built on a solid foundation. You grant to us a sweet time of prayer, despite our different languages and cultures. There is justice in your presence. All people enjoy […]

Read full text

Las Posadas, Seeking room in the inn, song — Jim Burklo, USA

Las Posadas, a Mexican Advent tradition stretches from 16 December through Christmas, during which actors depict Mary and Joseph looking for lodging.  They travel throughout the town or city, followed by a procession of  children and other members of the community carrying candles.  A song is traditionally sung at each ‘inn’ along the way. Las Posadas — Jim Burklo, […]

Read full text

Blue Christmas Prayer — Fiona Hulbert, UK

Our God, we gather together in the bleak midwinter. Those who have much to thank you for, who rejoice in your goodness, and those who look out on a landscape of broken dreams and hardly dare to hope for Good News. Those whose hearts and homes are full of Christmas joy, and those whose Christmas […]

Read full text

On waiting — T.S. Eliot

“I said to my soul, be still and wait without hope, for hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love, for love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith, but the faith and the love are all in the waiting. Wait without thought, for you are not ready […]

Read full text

Advent Devotional — Joanna Hipp, Presbyterians for Earth Care, USA

This beautiful and thoughtful Advent devotional has been shared through the generosity of Presbyterians for Earth Care. Download a PDF copy in full colour: 2018-Advent-Devotional-Presbyterians for Earth Care, USA Presbyterians for Earth Care have created thoughtful and challenging, as well as beautiful, Advent and Lenten devotionals for several years.  Click here to explore their archive […]

Read full text

Advent Prayer — Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, USA

Holy God, during this busy season of Advent, We pray for our World. We seek your light in the midst of darkness, Your peace in the midst of violence, Your love in the midst of discord, Your courage in the face of fear, And your wisdom to guide us.   Help us to be messengers […]

Read full text

Cafe Church, Open Table service — Are Angels still speaking?

This ready-to-use Café Church worship service weaves together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion.  It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list of supplies, […]

Read full text

Cafe Church, Open Table service – Advent

This ready-to-use Café Church worship service weaves together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion.  It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list of supplies, […]

Read full text

Hope, Luke 3:5-6 — Kay Lowe-Wendling, USA

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. — Luke 3: 5-6 Every valley shall be filled: may our low places, our wrong doings of the past, […]

Read full text

Prayer of thanks — unknown writer

I desire to be still and know that you are God! To marvel in the miracle of you becoming flesh! To be continually mindful that you are a light of revelation to me! That you are alive and active in me! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!    

Read full text

Home, Luke 2:4 — Amelia Dress, USA

Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  — Luke 2:4 We all long to find a real home: the place where our pasts and our futures intersect. As we metaphorically journey through […]

Read full text

No to Bullies, Children’s Message — Ana & Tod Gobledale, UK

Standing up to bullies:  Anna & Martin make change (reform) happen Works well for Reformation Sunday; could be adapted to remember another person who stood up to bullies, historic or current. I have something in my bag. What’s this? … DVD – Frozen Who has seen Frozen? Who are the characters?  Who do you see here? […]

Read full text

Season of Giving (in rhyme), for Advent — Jack Ouston, UK

A delightful reminder of the meaning of Advent and Christmas traditions for use in a Sunday morning worship service or a special Advent service. Written for 3-12 readers, with Scrooge-type voices (3, 5, 7 and 9) grumbling about traditions and other voices offering meaning. Easily read by adults without any rehearsal — just distribute a […]

Read full text