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Advent and Christmas Resource Guide

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"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", danced and sung, opens every Advent service at Church of the Servant (photo ©2010, Steve Huyser Honig)

Reflection

The season of Advent, a season of waiting, is designed to cultivate our awareness of God’s actions—past, present, and future. In Advent we hear the prophecies of the Messiah's coming as addressed to us—people who wait for the second coming. In Advent we heighten our anticipation for the ultimate fulfillment of all Old Testament promises, when the wolf will lie down with the lamb, death will be swallowed up, and every tear will be wiped away.

The spirit of the worship service and the visuals of the worship space change dramatically from the Fourth Sunday of Advent to the celebration of Christmas. White, yellow, and gold are the colors of Christmas, and many visual symbols and images—angels, candles, the star of peace, shepherds, the manger, and so on—come to mind. Christmas carols have their own built-in spirit of celebration.

from The Worship Sourcebook, p.421 & p.465

Resource Type:
Resource Guide
Category:
Christian Year, Preaching, Worship- Planning
Occasion:
Christmas, Advent
Task:
Plan Worship, Write Sermon
Tags:
Advent, Planning, Resourceguide, Christmas

Comments

Rob Taylor | Posted Sep 19, 2011 07:22 AM
Christmas is a special time for all and the giving of presents is an integral part of the occasion. However it should be kept in mind that this is primarily a religous celebration and material gifts should be kept within the meaniing and intent of the time, with a view to enhancing and building the love and respect between people.

 
 
 

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