An Insider's Guide: Our Best Individual Resources for Advent & Christmas
We have been creating new resources for the season of Advent and Christmas since 2016. If you are familiar with us, you know that we release resources in bundles shaped around an overarching theme. We do this to provide cohesive and comprehensive materials for a full liturgical season. However, this means we now have many individual resources from past seasons that could be meaningful and useful any year. Here’s an insider’s guide for our best resources for Advent and Christmas. None of these offerings are too particular to any one theme or lectionary cycle, so they could be used any year.
Resources for Advent
I Will Sing Magnificat Worship Film
This poetic and visual reflection on the Magnificat is a reminder for us to sing—for justice and for hope. Film by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity featuring spoken word poetry by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Advent Wreath Lighting Liturgy
These candle lighting liturgies for hope, peace, joy, and love are written for multiple voices and include a short prayer for each Sunday in Advent. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Draw Near Candle Lighting Liturgy
These candle lighting liturgies for multiple voices invite you to draw near to hope, peace, joy, and love as you begin worship. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Conversations with God Advent Prayers
These poetic meditations on hope, peace, joy, and love are written as prayerful conversations with God. Poetry prayers by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Advent Coloring Posters (Year A)
These 9 coloring poster designs include artwork inspired by the RCL Year A texts. Print and color throughout the season for a beautiful art display created by your community.
Advent Coloring Posters (Year B)
These 16 coloring poster designs include artwork inspired by the RCL Year B texts. Print and color throughout the season for a beautiful art display created by your community.
Advent Coloring Posters (Year C)
These 8 coloring poster designs include artwork inspired by the RCL Year C Advent texts. Print and color throughout the season for a beautiful art display created by your community.
Visual Art for Advent
Browse all of the (primarily RCL-based) Advent art in our image licensing library. Use the images for: art galleries, visio divina, small group discussions, bulletin cover art, and worship projection.
Resources for Blue Christmas / Longest Night Services
Let There Be Worship Film
This worship film serves as both a visual and poetic meditation on grief in the midst of the holiday season. Art and film by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity featuring spoken word poetry by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Let There Be Longest Night Liturgy
Structured around four major movements, this service interweaves spoken word poetry, visual art, hands-on elements, and candle-lighting. You might play the “Let There Be” worship film in the service. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Those Who Dream Longest Night Liturgy
This full order of worship includes lots of original music by The Many, as well as a collection of sheet music for the suggested songs. The service provides an option for worshipers to write prayers of lament on pieces of cloth and then rend them to form a beautiful “rag wreath” of laments. Liturgy by Lenora & Gary Rand of Plural Guild, featuring music by The Many.
“Those Who Dream” Music Video
Written for our Those Who Dream bundle and featuring art from the series, this song serves as an Advent lament that would fit beautifully within a Blue Christmas service. Video by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity, featuring music by The Many and art by Hannah Garrity, Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity, and Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman.
Close to Home Liturgy for the Longest Night
This full order of worship is designed for congregational worship (in-person and/or virtually), but it can also be used by individuals in the comfort of their own home using the suggested adaptations. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Liturgy for the Weary
This liturgy includes both a communal version to use as a worship service and an individual version that can be shared for members of your community to make space for their weariness at home. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Resources for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
The World’s Child Christmas Mini Bundle
This mini bundle of resources for Christmas includes a creative liturgy (used for Christmas or Christmas Eve) featuring narrative reflections from Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds; colorable booklets illustrating each of the three narrative reflections; and a bulletin cover image.
Interactive Lessons & Carols Service
Written with families in mind, this full order of service offers liturgy and hands-on creative elements to keep wiggly ones engaged throughout. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
love drawn here liturgy for christmas eve or day
A full order of worship, this liturgy is shaped around the Christmas theme, “Love Drawn Here,” focusing on Christ’s birth as a symbol of God’s love. The service opens with a poem, “Love Drawn Here.” Liturgy & poem by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Love Drawn Here Foldable
This simple illustrated foldable booklet is perfect for all ages to read and color during Christmas services. It could be used with the “Love Drawn Here” liturgy. Poem by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed with art by Hannah Garrity.
Creative Liturgy for Christmastide
This liturgy, intended for use anytime throughout the Christmas season, includes many creative elements such as: a poetic reading of John 1:1-5, a time for written prayers, and a communal benediction.
“Light in Darkness” John 1 Worship Film
As you listen to the poetry of John 1: 1-5, watch this time lapse painting come to life as a meditation on the light that shines in the darkness. Painting & film by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity, with vocals by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
“God Couldn’t Wait” Christmas Worship Film
This short film offers a reflection on the precarious timing of Christ’s birth and the question, “What if God had waited?” Art, film, and spoken word poetry by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity.
Holy Family Banner Designs
Featuring the Holy Family, this banner design also includes a file to order a vinyl banner and a file to print as a coloring page. Create the paper lace banners throughout Advent to install for Christmastide. Design by Hannah Garrity.
Town of Bethlehem Banner Designs
These designs feature traditional Christmas imagery as well as imagery from the Isaiah passages traditionally read during Advent. Create them throughout Advent to install for Christmastide. Design by Hannah Garrity.
Christmas Banner Designs
These designs feature traditional Christmas imagery—the Madonna and child, a shepherd, the star of Bethlehem—in a swirl of light and foliage. Create them throughout Advent to install for Christmastide. Design by Hannah Garrity.
Visual Art for Christmas
Browse all of the (primarily RCL-based) Christmas art in our image licensing library. Use the images for: art galleries, visio divina, small group discussions, bulletin cover art, and worship projection.
Resources for Christmastide & Epiphany
Interactive Liturgy for the First Sunday after Christmas (Year B)
Centered on the story of Jesus’ dedication in the temple, this complete liturgy includes two options: one for an in-person or Zoom worship service, and one for worshiping at home. Either way, we hope this liturgy provides rest for your church leadership amidst a busy season. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
At-home Liturgy for the First Sunday after Christmas (Year C)
Centered on the story of young Jesus in the temple, this liturgy is designed for worshiping at home on the Sunday following Christmas, offering much needed rest during a busy holiday season for clergy, church staff, and churchgoers alike. It can also be adapted for an intimate and casual in-person worship service. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Star Words with Epiphany Sunday Liturgy
In addition to 150 star words, provided in multiple formats for printing and distributing to your congregation, we have written an accompanying liturgy for Epiphany Sunday. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Star words with Epiphany Sunday liturgy
This set of star words contains the same 150 words from the Those Who Dream series, plus ten new words inspired by the From Generation to Generation… theme. It also contains an accompanying liturgy for Epiphany Sunday. Liturgy by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed.
Visual art for Christmastide & Epiphany
Browse all of the (primarily RCL-based) Christmastide and Epiphany art in our image licensing library. Use the images for: art galleries, visio divina, small group discussions, bulletin cover art, and worship projection.