Advent & Christmas Adult Resources
Click here to browse Advent & Christmas Resources from our Online Resource Library!
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Advent: a time of celebration, joy and love. Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with resources for the whole family including: curriculum, Bible studies, devotionals, crafts, worship resources, and more! Below are some online resources from around the web; resources are categorized by age group and topics. If you can't find what you are looking for or need personal assistance, please contact us today! |
Online Resources
Adult
12 Scams of Christmas
A helpful article from McAfee spotlights the 12 worst scams of the holiday season and how to keep your wallet safe during Christmas shopping.*
Busted Halo's Online Advent Calendar
Geared toward adults, each day, that day’s link in the Advent calendar will start working, leading to a special Advent-themed Daily Jolt, with an opportunity for reflection and a micro-Challenge. Some of the reflections come from unlikely sources, and the challenges help you to take an action, usually a small one, based on the reflection. *
Managing Grief At Christmas
A helpful article from Reachout.com that talks about why Christmas can be difficult for those who are grieving, offers tips for coping during the holiday season and information on contacting professional help if needed.*
Surviving the Holidays
From the website Griefshare.org a wonderful website dedicated to helping people through the grieving process through daily emails, support groups and helpful articles. A special section on holidays is available.*
A helpful article from McAfee spotlights the 12 worst scams of the holiday season and how to keep your wallet safe during Christmas shopping.*
Busted Halo's Online Advent Calendar
Geared toward adults, each day, that day’s link in the Advent calendar will start working, leading to a special Advent-themed Daily Jolt, with an opportunity for reflection and a micro-Challenge. Some of the reflections come from unlikely sources, and the challenges help you to take an action, usually a small one, based on the reflection. *
Managing Grief At Christmas
A helpful article from Reachout.com that talks about why Christmas can be difficult for those who are grieving, offers tips for coping during the holiday season and information on contacting professional help if needed.*
Surviving the Holidays
From the website Griefshare.org a wonderful website dedicated to helping people through the grieving process through daily emails, support groups and helpful articles. A special section on holidays is available.*
Children & Youth
Boowa & Kwala Online Advent Calendar
An online advent calendar for children form the 1st until the 24th.*
Cullen's Christmas Crafts
This Youtube channel has a bunch of how-to videos on popular Christmas crafts for families and children to do together.*
Christmas Time Together
This wonderful website has a variety of resources to download free for families including: songs, crafts, recipes, puzzles, and more.*
An online advent calendar for children form the 1st until the 24th.*
Cullen's Christmas Crafts
This Youtube channel has a bunch of how-to videos on popular Christmas crafts for families and children to do together.*
Christmas Time Together
This wonderful website has a variety of resources to download free for families including: songs, crafts, recipes, puzzles, and more.*
Families
Advent Wreaths for Families
Published by the PCUSA website, this is a free do-at-home craft for families.*
Reusable Gift Wrapping Ideas
From the website moneycrashers.com, these 15 alternative gift wrapping ideas will save money and help the environment by being low waste and reusable.*
Gift Wrap Ideas
35 DIY gift wrap ideas from HGTV. They are presented in a slideshow with instructions below. *
How to Wrap a Christmas Gift
A helpful how-to from the Better Homes and Gardens webpage. Included are 8x11 and 20x30 printable wrapping paper patterns as well as some helpful tips to make gift wrapping less stressful.*
Ideas for Reclaiming Advent & Christmas
Published free by the PCUSA website: " Prepare for the holiday by simplifying life, incorporating prayers, giving alternative gifts and serving sustainable foods. Share the love of Christ with others throughout your life with a living witness this season."*
Wrap Art
This website offers comprehensive galleries and instructions n how to wrap gifts beautifully and easily using small bits of paper, stickers, left over wrapping paper and more.*
Why Christmas Online Advent Calendar
A yearly online advent calendar *WILL OPEN BY DECEMBER 1st*
Published by the PCUSA website, this is a free do-at-home craft for families.*
Reusable Gift Wrapping Ideas
From the website moneycrashers.com, these 15 alternative gift wrapping ideas will save money and help the environment by being low waste and reusable.*
Gift Wrap Ideas
35 DIY gift wrap ideas from HGTV. They are presented in a slideshow with instructions below. *
How to Wrap a Christmas Gift
A helpful how-to from the Better Homes and Gardens webpage. Included are 8x11 and 20x30 printable wrapping paper patterns as well as some helpful tips to make gift wrapping less stressful.*
Ideas for Reclaiming Advent & Christmas
Published free by the PCUSA website: " Prepare for the holiday by simplifying life, incorporating prayers, giving alternative gifts and serving sustainable foods. Share the love of Christ with others throughout your life with a living witness this season."*
Wrap Art
This website offers comprehensive galleries and instructions n how to wrap gifts beautifully and easily using small bits of paper, stickers, left over wrapping paper and more.*
Why Christmas Online Advent Calendar
A yearly online advent calendar *WILL OPEN BY DECEMBER 1st*
Music
Free Sacred Music - Christmas
The website, freesacredmusic.com offers easy sheet music - free to download and print - of various sacred classics, including sheet music for advent.
Carol of the Bells - Pentatonix
Arranged by the a Cappella group, Pentatonix - winners of the 2011 show The Sing Off - this tune is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. To purchase their entire Christmas album, you can visit their itunes page here.
Live365 Radio - Christmas Music
A free online radio with a Christmas Music station.
Musical Setting for the Lord's Supper - Picardy Eucharist Setting
Free from the PCUSA website: "This musical setting of the responses in the Great Thanksgiving is especially appropriate for the season of Advent."
Musical Setting for the Lord's Supper - Veni Emmanuel Eucharist Setting
Free from the PCUSA website: "This musical setting of the responses in the Great Thanksgiving is especially appropriate for the season of Advent."
Pandora Radio - Christmas Station
The popular online radio has various Christmas Stations ranging from classical holiday music to modern Christian pop.
The website, freesacredmusic.com offers easy sheet music - free to download and print - of various sacred classics, including sheet music for advent.
Carol of the Bells - Pentatonix
Arranged by the a Cappella group, Pentatonix - winners of the 2011 show The Sing Off - this tune is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. To purchase their entire Christmas album, you can visit their itunes page here.
Live365 Radio - Christmas Music
A free online radio with a Christmas Music station.
Musical Setting for the Lord's Supper - Picardy Eucharist Setting
Free from the PCUSA website: "This musical setting of the responses in the Great Thanksgiving is especially appropriate for the season of Advent."
Musical Setting for the Lord's Supper - Veni Emmanuel Eucharist Setting
Free from the PCUSA website: "This musical setting of the responses in the Great Thanksgiving is especially appropriate for the season of Advent."
Pandora Radio - Christmas Station
The popular online radio has various Christmas Stations ranging from classical holiday music to modern Christian pop.
Prayer & Devotion
A Collection of Christmas Prayers
Compiled from the website Prayer-and-Prayers these prayers are from varied traditions and authors. Please note: this website has many ads and the occasional pop-up window.
A Sample of Christmas Prayers
From the website Thoughts about God, a sample of simple Christmas prayers.
Belief Net's 12 Short Christmas Prayers
This website has a slide show of 12 very short Christmas prayers inspired by the Bible.
Eucharistic Prayers for Advent, Year A
A free resource from the PCUSA website.
Prayers for Advent
A downloadable PDF of prayers for Advent free from the PCUSA website.
Compiled from the website Prayer-and-Prayers these prayers are from varied traditions and authors. Please note: this website has many ads and the occasional pop-up window.
A Sample of Christmas Prayers
From the website Thoughts about God, a sample of simple Christmas prayers.
Belief Net's 12 Short Christmas Prayers
This website has a slide show of 12 very short Christmas prayers inspired by the Bible.
Eucharistic Prayers for Advent, Year A
A free resource from the PCUSA website.
Prayers for Advent
A downloadable PDF of prayers for Advent free from the PCUSA website.
Worship
Advent
A Service of Lessons and Carols
Published by PCUSA website, click to download this free resource. "(This Service) is adapted from the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that has been celebrated annually at King’s College, Cambridge, for almost a century. The nine Scripture lessons are those traditionally used at the festival, while the carols provided to accompany each passage have been selected from the Presbyterian Hymnal."
Advent Litanies -Spanish
Download free Advent Litanies for every Sunday in Advent in Spanish. Published by the PCUSA website.
Advent Longing for the Light of Healing Service
A longest night service (or blue Christmas service) free from the PCUSA website. Click to download in PDF form.
Alternate Lessons & Carols Service with Communion
Free from the PCUSA website: "This service weaves the traditional lessons in a service with other liturgy into a full worship service that includes communion. Sermon notes are also included for a brief homily."
Biblical Confessional Worship Season of Advent
Download free scripture and confession resources. Published by the PCUSA website.
Contemporary Worship Ideas for Advent
A free resource published by the PCUSA website.
Lighting the Advent Candles (Epistles Year A)
Free from the PCUSA website: This set of readings for lighting the Advent candles is based on the Epistle lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A."
Lighting the Advent Candles (Gospels Year A)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for lighting the Advent candles is based on the Gospel lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A."
Lighting the Advent Candles (Isaiah Year A)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for lighting the Advent candles is based on the Old Testament lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A."
Lighting the Advent Candles (Magnificat)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for the lighting the Advent candles is based on the Magnificat, or Song of Mary, in Luke 1:46-55. This setting of the text is from the Book of Common Worship (575)."
Lighting the Advent Candles (Psalms Year A)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for lighting the Advent candles is based on Psalm readings in the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A."
Lighting the Advent Candles (general)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for lighting of Advent candles is based on texts from the Revised Common Lectionary and is offered for general use."
Lighting the Advent Wreath in the Tradition of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Free from the PCUSA website: "Many churches are used to lighting candles of hope, peace, joy, and love. This is written for that tradition, using scriptures for the day from the Revised Common Lectionary. In places where the tradition is to use families to light the Advent wreath, it is advised that family be defined by Christ—as those groups seeking to follow the Lord—not just as biological family. Even the smallest children, who cannot read yet, can participate by announcing why we’re lighting the various candles."
Presbyterian Mission Agency's Worship Resources for Advent
This link will take you to the PCUSA Mission Agency's list of various resource for Advent and Christmas worship services.
Christmas Eve/Day
Christmas Eve Lectionary Readings (Year A)
Two distinct lectionaries are provided on this page: the two-year Daily Lectionary from the Book of Common Worship and the three-year Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) for Sundays and festivals; be sure you select the appropriate one.
Christmas Day Lectionary Readings (Year A)
Two distinct lectionaries are provided on this page: the two-year Daily Lectionary from the Book of Common Worship and the three-year Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) for Sundays and festivals; be sure you select the appropriate one.
Hear the Word Podcast - Christmas Eve Year A
Each podcast (MP3 file) includes four lectionary readings for one of the Sundays or festivals of the church year: an Old Testament reading, a Psalm, an Epistle and a Gospel reading. Following each set of readings is a prayer for the day from the Book of Common Worship. May these scriptures be a source of challenge and hope as you prepare your heart and mind for Sunday worship, and may the Word of God guide and nourish you in the service of daily living.
A Prayer for Peace on Christmas Eve
By Mark Koenig - Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
A Service of Lessons and Carols
Published by PCUSA website, click to download this free resource. "(This Service) is adapted from the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that has been celebrated annually at King’s College, Cambridge, for almost a century. The nine Scripture lessons are those traditionally used at the festival, while the carols provided to accompany each passage have been selected from the Presbyterian Hymnal."
Advent Litanies -Spanish
Download free Advent Litanies for every Sunday in Advent in Spanish. Published by the PCUSA website.
Advent Longing for the Light of Healing Service
A longest night service (or blue Christmas service) free from the PCUSA website. Click to download in PDF form.
Alternate Lessons & Carols Service with Communion
Free from the PCUSA website: "This service weaves the traditional lessons in a service with other liturgy into a full worship service that includes communion. Sermon notes are also included for a brief homily."
Biblical Confessional Worship Season of Advent
Download free scripture and confession resources. Published by the PCUSA website.
Contemporary Worship Ideas for Advent
A free resource published by the PCUSA website.
Lighting the Advent Candles (Epistles Year A)
Free from the PCUSA website: This set of readings for lighting the Advent candles is based on the Epistle lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A."
Lighting the Advent Candles (Gospels Year A)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for lighting the Advent candles is based on the Gospel lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A."
Lighting the Advent Candles (Isaiah Year A)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for lighting the Advent candles is based on the Old Testament lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A."
Lighting the Advent Candles (Magnificat)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for the lighting the Advent candles is based on the Magnificat, or Song of Mary, in Luke 1:46-55. This setting of the text is from the Book of Common Worship (575)."
Lighting the Advent Candles (Psalms Year A)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for lighting the Advent candles is based on Psalm readings in the Revised Common Lectionary for Year A."
Lighting the Advent Candles (general)
Free from the PCUSA website: "This set of readings for lighting of Advent candles is based on texts from the Revised Common Lectionary and is offered for general use."
Lighting the Advent Wreath in the Tradition of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Free from the PCUSA website: "Many churches are used to lighting candles of hope, peace, joy, and love. This is written for that tradition, using scriptures for the day from the Revised Common Lectionary. In places where the tradition is to use families to light the Advent wreath, it is advised that family be defined by Christ—as those groups seeking to follow the Lord—not just as biological family. Even the smallest children, who cannot read yet, can participate by announcing why we’re lighting the various candles."
Presbyterian Mission Agency's Worship Resources for Advent
This link will take you to the PCUSA Mission Agency's list of various resource for Advent and Christmas worship services.
Christmas Eve/Day
Christmas Eve Lectionary Readings (Year A)
Two distinct lectionaries are provided on this page: the two-year Daily Lectionary from the Book of Common Worship and the three-year Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) for Sundays and festivals; be sure you select the appropriate one.
Christmas Day Lectionary Readings (Year A)
Two distinct lectionaries are provided on this page: the two-year Daily Lectionary from the Book of Common Worship and the three-year Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) for Sundays and festivals; be sure you select the appropriate one.
Hear the Word Podcast - Christmas Eve Year A
Each podcast (MP3 file) includes four lectionary readings for one of the Sundays or festivals of the church year: an Old Testament reading, a Psalm, an Epistle and a Gospel reading. Following each set of readings is a prayer for the day from the Book of Common Worship. May these scriptures be a source of challenge and hope as you prepare your heart and mind for Sunday worship, and may the Word of God guide and nourish you in the service of daily living.
A Prayer for Peace on Christmas Eve
By Mark Koenig - Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
Know of a great Advent or Christmas online resource not listed here? Email us! We would love to check it out and possibly add a link to it on our website!
Online resources can include links to websites, articles, videos, blogs, pictures, social media, games, and more (some of these links may be direct downloads to resources The Genesis Center has permission to distribute. Please see our copyright page for more information). Resources available for check out can include curriculum, books, videos, DVDs, software and more, but they always have to be checked out by The Genesis Center and returned after use.
