Diocese of Western Michigan

Seasonal Resources

Advent, Christmas & Epiphany

Resources

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

          

  

St. Nicholas Day - December 6

Advent Web Activities

  • An Advent Calendar from Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

http://www.gracecathedral.org/

  • An Advent Calendar from the Diocese of Washington (DC)

http://www.edow.org/

  • An Advent Calendar from Trinity Wall Street

http://www.epischicago.org/embeded_adventcalendar.html

Calendars

   

  • Monestary Greetings

http://www.monasterygreetings.com

  

Wreaths

Evergreens

Advent Wreaths

Candles

Gift Giving

  

  

  

Worship in Parishes

  • Evening Prayer for Advent with Prayers for an End to Global Poverty (with the Millennium Development Goals)

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_69643_ENG_HTM.htm

  

  • Theological Reflection on the Millennium Development Goals for the Season of Advent: 

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_75425_ENG_HTM.htm

  

  • An Advent Bidding Prayer for an End to Global Poverty and Instability

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_69673_ENG_HTM.htm

  

  • Prayers of the People (Intercessions) developed to correspondwith the calendar year and lectionary

http://members.cox.net/oplater/prayer.htm

  

  • A Liturgy from the Episcopal Peace Fellowship

http://epfnational.org

Education in Parishes

  • Lesson Plans for Small Congregations follows the RCL and has plans for intergenerational classes, younger children, older children and adults

http://episcopalchurch.org/

Personal Reflection & Meditation

  • Come Thou Long Expected Jesus:  Advent and Christmas meditations to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley

www.churchpublishing.org

  • Lining in Hope:  Advent Meditations from the Writings of Henry Nowen

From Printery House:  http://www.printeryhouse.org/

 
  • Daily Prayer & Purpose Calendar 2008

From Forward Movement www.forwardmovement.org

  

  • Reflections for the Journey:  An Advent Reflection guide for young adults

From the Episcopal Church http://www.episcopalchurch.org/

  • The Twelve Days of Christmas:  Meditations on the days from December 25 - January 6

From Cowley Publications:  http://ssje.org/twelvedays/

Activities for Home

  • Candlepress (booklets & activities): 

http://www.candlepress.com/

  • Creative communications (booklets & activities): 

http://www.creativecommunications.com/

  • Forward Movement (for adults & children)

http://www.forwardmovement.org/

  

 

Additional Resources

  • Anglican Online (resource links)

http://anglicansonline.org/

  • Episcopal Church - many, many resources for children and families

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/

  • Theological Education for All - resources for use in the home and church

http://www.teforall.com/

  

 

 

    
Approaching Christmas
The Season of Advent is upon us and our time of preparation and waiting has begun. Although popular culture starts “Christmas” much earlier, the Christmas season of the western Church actually begins Christmas Eve and lasts until the festival of Epiphany on January 6. Through the “twelve days of Christmas,” we celebrate the gift of love which comes to us in Jesus of Nazareth.Encourage your parish members to set up a nativity scene in their home. Add figures slowly, one per day until the Christ child is the last to be added into the manger. Our homes can become a “new Bethlehem,” a place we can welcome Emmanuel, God is with us. It is also fun to have the Magi travel around the house, arriving at Bethlehem on Epiphany. Use your creche to help you journey to Bethlehem this year! (From the Diocese of Connecticut - .pdf)
 
 

Lighting a candle is a prayer:
When we have gone, it stays alight,
kindling in the hearts and minds
of others the prayers we have
already offered for them
and for others, for the sad,
the sick, and the suffering -
and prayers of thankfulness too.


Lighting a candle is a parable:
burning itself out,
it gives light to others.
Christ gave himself for others.
He calls us to give ourselves.

Lighting a candle is a symbol:
of love and hope,
of light and warmth.
Our world needs them all.


Prayer used in Salisbury Cathedral

 
 
   
   
 
 

The Evergreen

Evergreens were originally a symbol of everlasting life. In Europe, they were a focus of ancient winter celebrations and were gradually give Christian significance. The custom of decorating evergreen trees comes from Germany, where mention of an evergreen adorned in a parlor dates back to 1605. Legends say Martin Luther was inspired by starlight on evergreens beneath the night sky and St. Boniface (8th C English monk) was the first to decorate a pine tree. The custom of decorating Christmas trees came to North America in the late 1700s.

 

Then let the trees of the forest sing

before the coming of the Lord,

who comes to judge the nations,

to set the earth aright,

restoring the world to order.

Psalm 96:12-13
   
Blessing of the Tree
God of Adam and Eve,
God of all our ancestors,
we praise you for this tree
It stirs a memory of paradise,
and brings a foretaste of heaven.
Send your Child,
the flower of the root of Jesse,
to restore your good earth
to the freshness of creation.

Then every tree of the forest
will clap its hands,
and all creation will bless you
from these shining branches.

All glory be yours,
now and for ever. Amen.