Dec. 1 is the first Sunday of Advent, the Christian season of spiritual preparation before celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Episcopal Journal presents some resources suitable for the season.
By Cara Modisett, Episcopal Cafe
New and updated Advent resources for congregations, dioceses, and communities of faith are now available from the Episcopal Church at www.episcopalchurch.org. Digital Christmas Eve services are also being offered.
Digital Invitation Kit for Advent (available in English, Spanish, & French)
Continuing the invitation to connect Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s “Way of Love, Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life” more deeply to the seasons of the year, the church has developed additional free and downloadable resources for congregations, dioceses, and communities of faith. An Advent Digital Invitation Kit is available now to help congregations invite people to enter into this season of preparation.
The theme of the kit is inspired by Mark 1:3 and Isaiah 40:3 “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” and includes a customizable poster, postcard, and flyer; a social media-ready graphic; and a Facebook cover image.
The Way of Love (www.episcopalchurch.org/way-of-love) is a journey that begins by saying “yes” to God’s call to birth new life into our lives and the world.
Journeying the Way of Love Advent curriculum and Advent calendar (available in English & Spanish; calendar available in French also)
A four-week Advent curriculum and Advent calendar pegged to readings and themes from the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke that incorporates Way of Love practices and the Nativity/infancy narrative of Jesus to enable participants to grow spiritually during this season of preparation.
#AdventWord (available in English, Spanish & Haitian Creole)
This popular Advent practice returns in 2019. Sign up to receive a daily word, visual and short written meditation. Each day during Advent, meditations will be available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole, with ASL videos. This global effort asks participants to post a reflection of where they find the #AdventWord as part of their spiritual journey. Find #AdventWord at www.adventword.org.
Sermons for Advent and Christmas
Advent can be an important time to slow down and anticipate the joy of Christmas. This is a compilation of Advent and Christmas sermons from some of the best preachers in the Episcopal Church. Whether you use this book for private devotionals and inspiration, small group study, or reading from the pulpit, we pray that you will find this holy season brightened by the Everlasting Light himself.
Find sermons at www.episcopalchurch.org/advent-and-christmas-resources.
Bulletin inserts (available in English & Spanish)
Bulletin inserts for each Sunday in Advent are designed to complement the revised Advent calendar and Journeying the Way of Love Advent curriculum. Available in full page, one-sided and half page, double-sided formats.
Advent reflections
Episcopal Migration Ministries will offer weekly advent reflections on the EMM blog www.episcopalmigrationministries.org/blog/ and on the Hometown podcast. Hometown episodes can be found on SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play and iTunes.
Christmas Eve programs
The Episcopal Church is offering digital Christmas Eve services on December 24, making Christmas Eve worship accessible to those not attending a service or program at a local church. More information on the digital Christmas Eve programs will be available at www.episcopalchurch.org.
Cara Modisett lives in Roanoke, Va., where she serves as music director at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church and staff collaborative pianist at Radford University. This article was published on the Episcopal Café website, www.episcopalcafe.com. Follow us on social media
