Advent Overview:

• Maybe you're wondering, 'what is Advent?' In the universal Church, there are varying levels of intentionally recognizing Advent, so it is more familiar for some than others. Advent comes from the Latin, Adventus, which means 'coming or arrival,' and it is usually recognized in churches as the four weeks leading up to Christmas, beginning on December 1 this year. It's usually characterized by longing and hope as we recognize our need for a Savior. Honestly, as believers, I think this is a good heart posture year-round. At some point, we have all needed to be rescued and delivered from some trial or heartache. We have the benefit of knowing how the story ends, but there was a time in history when God's children didn't know how or when God would redeem them. Advent gives us a time to reflect on that and live in the tension of the "now and not yet" as we wait for God to move in whatever we currently face. During Advent, we often read Old Testament prophesies that foretell Jesus' coming, promising hope and salvation. We can see ourselves in those passages. Are you looking for a light to dawn, peace to enter your circumstances, a reminder that God is with you? It's likely that someone in your congregation is. The Advent journey reminds us all that God knows our hearts and sees our need. Then, as we move into the Christmas season, we can rejoice as we are reminded, once again, that God keeps his promises!

• This blog from the Worship Initiative has a great overview of the four weeks of Advent and helpful tips to honor the season.

Advent Theme Readings, Scriptures, and Graphics:

• For readings for each Sunday based on the themes of Advent—Hope, Peace, Joy, Love—as well as a Christmas Eve reading, click here.

• For a list of scriptures to go with each theme of Advent, click here. Feel free to adapt this as needed for your congregation.

• For graphics to go with each theme of Advent, click here. Stay tuned for additional graphics for Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Planning Resources:

• Praise Charts has a variety of resources including song suggestions for the different weeks of Advent and Advent and Christmas themes, choral music and orchestrations, and more on their Christmas page. They also have free readings to go with some songs. You can check out an example here, or browse others by searching “Readings” on the website. You do not have to have an account to browse.

• CCLI has a Liturgy Planning tab on the SongSelect page. You can search by Sunday of Advent and by liturgical element of the service. You do not have to be signed in to browse the liturgy pages.

• Check out some of my favorites songs for Advent and Christmas on this Google Doc, or listen to Advent and Christmas songs on my YouTube playlists.

• Church Motion Graphics offers a free graphics kit or you can subscribe for more resources.

Service Ideas:

• A Lessons and Carols service is a great way to celebrate the entire Christmas story, from prophesy to Christ’s birth, and include multiple readers and musicians. These services can range from very traditional, such as the King’s College service, somewhat contemporary (worship songs or contemporary carol arrangements), or a mixture of both. Here is one example of a more blended Lessons and Carols. For more information about this type of service and why to have one, check out this blog by Angela Rocchio.

• A guided painting night with carols is another family-friendly way to reflect on the events leading up to Christ’s birth. Check out this Advent Guided Painting Worship Night if you’re interested in an out of the box way to celebrate the season.

Music Ideas:

• Advent and Christmas are times when many people expect to hear familiar carols. Carols are nostalgic for many, but they are also full of scripture and theology, so they are important to include in worship. If you’re leading a modern or blended service, you may be looking for fresh arrangements of carols. I recommend checking out Christmas albums/YouTube videos by Paul Baloche, Sovereign Grace, Reawaken Hymns, For King and Country, and Christy Nockels.

• Pair worship songs with carols as a mash up, tag, or medley. See my Google Doc for some suggested pairings. See this YouTube video for tips and examples.

• For guitar-friendly chords for Christmas carols, check out Reawaken Hymns.

• If you’re in need of choral anthems, check out JW Pepper, EasyChoirMusic.com, and Praise Charts. Each site has options to browse Advent and Christmas music.

• If you’re looking for instrumental sheets for traditional carols, Christmas Music Songs has free, printable carol sheets for different instruments.

Additional Readings and Studies:

• The Skit Guys have a variety of scripts for Advent and Christmas on their website. These are a great way to share the story of Christmas or Advent themes in a way that is different from a typical Sunday morning if your church is planning for special Sundays during the Advent and Christmas season. Scripts are delivered through digital download, so you can get started right away.

• EasyChoirMusic.com also has drama scripts and weekly Advent readings for the season that are also delivered through digital download.

• For daily reading plans, check out studies by She Reads Truth, Kate Bowler, and Reawaken Hymns.