Get ready for Christ(mas)! Advent—a holy, four-week countdown to Jesus’ birthday—begins on Sunday, December 1! 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 and subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates.
Worship Ideas
- A Blue Christmas Service (89.2 KB) (Word): A worship service for those who have suffered loss.
- A Christmas Candlelight Worship (148.56 KB) (PDF): A candlelight worship service by Susan Lukey.
- Advent Intercultural Hymn Festival (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.
- Advent Prayers with the Church in the Holy Land (1.11 MB) (Word): Pause to pray with the church in the Holy Land who are seeking relief from the atrocities of war.
- Body Prayers (2.31 MB) (PDF): An Advent Unwrapped “action prayer” for each week of the Advent/Christmas season.
- Family Prayers and Blessings (221.67 KB) (PDF): An Advent Unwrapped resource of traditional prayers and creative blessings.
- Hidden Gift Sunday (41.61 KB) (Word): A service that reflects the trials of 2020 while focusing on the spiritual gift of Joy.
- In the Rich Dark of Winter: An Advent Communion Service (235.68 KB) (PDF): Using expansive scriptural imagery, the theme of this Advent Unwrapped service is anticipating God’s fulfilled promise of the renewal of all things.
- Jesse Tree Advent Prayer Service (43.13 KB) (Word): An Advent prayer service rooted in the story of the Jesse Tree.
- 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.
- Stories behind Carols: First Sunday after Christmas (37.2 KB) (Word): An Advent Unwrapped service based on the origins of some classic Christmas carols.
- Worship Prayers for Advent (84.32 KB) (Word): Advent Candle Lighting time may be used at the start of worship, as an interactive devotional, or bible study.
Music
- Advent Prayer Song (SAB) (Nancy Chegus) (61.83 KB) (PDF): Short SAB piece (a cappella, optional piano) suitable for worship during Advent. Please credit the composer.
- Memory (Lyrics) (26.05 KB) (Word): Lyrics written by Mia Michelle McClain with the United Church of Christ and The United Church of Canada for Advent 2023.
- Memory (Score) (406.55 KB) (PDF): Written and composed by Mia Michelle McClain with the United Church of Christ and The United Church of Canada for Advent 2023.
Related Material
- Advent: The Basics (103.03 KB) (PDF): Have some questions about Advent? Here are some answers!
- Your (Unofficial) Guide to Advent (1.15 MB) (PDF): Learn about Advent traditions and find fun Advent activities in this all-in-one guide!
- Zine How-to Guide (121.87 KB) (PDF): Instructions on how to print, cut, and fold your pocket zine.
- Zine: Advent Prayers for the Family (247.13 KB) (PDF): A pocket zine with prayers to share with your family during Advent.
- Zine: Pocket Prayers for Advent (210.14 KB) (PDF): A pocket zine featuring Advent prayers by Catherine Faith MacLean.
Worship Blog
O Come, Emmanuel
In this Christmas pageant, the sheep deliver the words we all need to hear.
Stories behind Carols
The first Sunday after Christmas is a perfect opportunity to enjoy Christmas carols and stories.
Pull Out the Christmas Music
Adding some different liturgical music during Advent can certainly make everyone take notice that it’s a new season.
Hanging the Greens
During Advent, we prepare our sanctuaries and buildings to be symbols of preparing ourselves for the birth, and rebirth, of Jesus.
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