Logo: Advent Unwrapped

Get ready for Christ(mas)! Advent—a holy, four-week countdown to Jesus’ birthday—begins on Sunday, November 29! Get ready to make room for Christ and the radical, countercultural messages that Christ brings.

Throughout the season, videos, prayers, family resources, and reflections on this page will introduce and explore the Christmas story. For more worship resources visit our Advent and Christmas worship pages. Follow our Advent Unwrapped Facebook page for regular updates on all kinds of resources.

Worship Ideas

Advent Candlelighting Liturgies: Who Do You Say Jesus Is? (153.25 KB): Advent Unwrapped liturgies, based on the names for Jesus, to accompany lighting the Advent candles.
Hanging the Greens (39.92 KB): An Advent Unwrapped service to prepare church buildings and sanctuaries to be symbols of preparing ourselves for the birth and rebirth of Jesus.
Hidden Gift Sunday (41.61 KB): A service that reflects the trials of 2020 while focusing on the spiritual gift of Joy.
In Story and Song: Intergenerational Christmas Service (40.21 KB): A family-oriented worship service offered as part of the Advent Unwrapped resources.
In the Rich Dark of Winter: An Advent Communion Service (235.68 KB): Using expansive scriptural imagery, the theme of this Advent Unwrapped service is anticipating God’s fulfilled promise of the renewal of all things.
Stories behind Carols: First Sunday after Christmas (37.2 KB): An Advent Unwrapped service based on the origins of some classic Christmas carols.
This Most Wondrous of Nights: A Christmas Eve Communion Service (280.34 KB): An Advent Unwrapped communion service built around the carol "In the Bleak Midwinter" (VU 55).

Prayers

Activity Sheet: Names for Jesus (37.45 KB): An Advent Unwrapped activity for people looking for new ways to pray.
Body Prayers (398.9 KB): An Advent Unwrapped “action prayer” for each week of the Advent/Christmas season.
Family Prayers and Blessings (221.67 KB): An Advent Unwrapped resource of traditional prayers and creative blessings.
The Hours of Christmas Day (102.29 KB): A devotional practice to keep individuals and families together in spirit, from The Prayer Bench.
Watching and Waiting: A Daily Vigil Based on the O Antiphons (628.25 KB): 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.

Music

Advent Prayer Song (SAB) (Nancy Chegus) (61.83 KB): Short SAB piece (a cappella, optional piano) suitable for worship during Advent. Please credit the composer.
Alleluia (SATB) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (418.48 KB): Short SATB piece (a cappella, optional piano) suitable for worship during Advent or other times during the worship year. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
Sing Now Gloria (Unison) (Terry Macham) (85.52 KB): Unison song suitable for worship during Advent. Lead sheet with melody, lyrics, and chord symbols. Text in English and Latin. Please credit the composer.
When You Go from This Place (SSA / SAT) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (297.13 KB): Short SAA (or SAT) piece with piano accompaniment suitable as a benediction during Advent or other times during the worship year. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.

Related Material

Activity Sheet: Advent Wreath Craft (455.09 KB): Colour and cut out the candles and add them to the Advent wreath. An Advent Unwrapped activity.
Activity Sheet: Who do you say… (263.86 KB): An Advent Unwrapped activity sheet with questions to ask for each week of Advent or while lighting the Advent candles.
Advent Calendar 2020: Get Ready for Christmas! (188.91 KB): Hang this Advent Unwrapped calendar on your fridge and use a magnet to count down the days! Light a candle every Sunday.
Advent Intercultural Hymn Festival (219.55 KB): 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.
Advent Unwrapped Flyer/Bulletin Insert (733.63 KB): Let your community of faith know about Advent Unwrapped.
Advent Unwrapped Poster 2019 (320.04 KB): How to get ready for Christ(mas)! This poster has ideas for every week of Advent.
Advent Unwrapped Poster 2020 (323.03 KB): Get ready for Christ(mas) with questions to ask as you light the Advent candles each week.
Advent Unwrapped Projection Slide (105.44 KB): Show this slide in your online or in-person worship to let your community of faith know about Advent Unwrapped.
Buy Less Shopping Guide (108.17 KB): An Advent Unwrapped shopping guide for all ages for a Buy Less Christmas.
Christmas Gift Books (138.12 KB): Books about faith and Christmas to give to children and grandchildren, selected by the Rev. Susan Lukey.
Colouring Storybook (717.38 KB): Actively explore the story of Christmas using this 16-page Advent Unwrapped colouring book.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (269.67 KB): A one-rehearsal Advent Unwrapped pageant with the message "God is with us! We are not alone."
Sharing the News (40.39 KB): This light-hearted Advent Unwrapped Christmas pageant has been updated to reflect some of the major concerns of 2020.
Story and Activity Cards (504.26 KB): Meet the characters of the Christmas story, from Isaiah to the Holy Family, through these Advent Unwrapped cards. Includes activities for all ages.
The Good News of Joy to the World (226.11 KB): 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): Four Advent Unwrapped Sunday school session outlines.