Christmas is one of the holiest days of the Christian year. It begins a 12-day celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. For additional creative resources on the Christmas story, visit Advent Unwrapped.
Worship Ideas
- Advent Candle Lighting (238.08 KB) (PDF): Candle lighting prayers to use alongside "O Come O Come Emmanuel."
- Advent Unwrapped 2024 Christmas Eve Worship Service (66.5 KB) (Word): A worship service for Christmas Eve, written by Rev. Dr. Lisa Waites.
- Blue Christmas Service (2022) (89.2 KB) (Word): A worship service for those who have suffered loss.
- Body Prayers (2.31 MB) (PDF): An Advent Unwrapped “action prayer” for each week of the Advent/Christmas season.
- Christmas Sunday Service (88.77 KB) (Word): Includes a theme discussion on qualities of a bold disciple.
- Gathering Lectionary for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, December 1, 2024-March 2, 2025 (99.18 KB) (Word): Includes suggested readings, hymns, worship sparks, children's time ideas, sermon starters, etc.
- Hanging the Greens (39.92 KB) (Word): An Advent Unwrapped service to prepare church buildings and sanctuaries to be symbols of preparing ourselves for the birth and rebirth of Jesus.
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (269.67 KB) (PDF): A one-rehearsal Advent Unwrapped pageant with the message "God is with us! We are not alone."
- Sharing the News (40.39 KB) (Word): This light-hearted Advent Unwrapped Christmas pageant has been updated to reflect some of the major concerns of this decade.
- This Most Wondrous of Nights: A Christmas Eve Communion Service (280.34 KB) (PDF): An Advent Unwrapped communion service built around the carol "In the Bleak Midwinter" (VU 55).
Music
- Intercultural Hymn Festival for Advent (219.55 KB) (PDF): These songs with accompanying commentary can be combined with seasonal prayers and scripture readings to create an Advent hymn festival. Please credit Bruce Harding for this resource and the music arrangements.
- Service Music for Advent (329.68 KB) (PDF): Words and music for Advent services composed by Lisa Waites.
- Sing Now Gloria (Unison) (Terry Macham) (85.52 KB) (PDF): Unison song suitable for worship during Advent. Lead sheet with melody, lyrics, and chord symbols. Text in English and Latin. Please credit the composer.
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.
- A Christmas Message from the Moderator (transcript) (36.38 KB) (Word): Transcript of the Moderator's 2024 Christmas video message.
- A Christmas Message from the Moderator: A Time for Hope and Renewal (video): The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, 44th Moderator of The United Church of Canada, shares a hopeful Christmas message. Reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the future, Moderator Lansdowne encourages us to embrace the spirit of the season and work towards a more just and compassionate world. Join us as we celebrate the birth of Christ and commit ourselves to living out God's love in our lives.
- Advent as a Season of Invitation (1.46 MB) (Word): Tips for working on the invitation-culture of your church during Advent.
- Advent as a Season of Invitation Card (362.15 KB) (PDF): Use this fillable, printable card to invite others to your church to celebrate this Christmas season!
- Advent as a Season of Invitation Video: United Church growth animators Tori Mullin and Scott Reynolds play out a conversation between neighbours with three possible responses to an invitation to Christmas worship. This conversation highlights the importance of hearing the needs of others while also respecting boundaries when inviting others to celebrate this Christmas season.
- Buy Less Shopping Guide (108.17 KB) (PDF): An Advent Unwrapped shopping guide for all ages for a Buy Less Christmas.
- Candle against starburst:
- The Hours of Christmas Day (102.29 KB) (PDF): A devotional practice to keep individuals and families together in spirit, from The Prayer Bench.
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