Advent starts on December 3rd this year. As we move from the fall into Advent in preparation for the coming of the Christ child, many of us will begin to think about a special Advent practice. Here are some resources you might want to consider. These are all free.

2023 Advent Cycle of Prayer for the Churches in the Holy Land & the Middle East Churches Beyond Borders has prepared an Advent prayer resource that lifts up Palestinian Christian communities and ministries and other congregations and institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

Advent Calendar Check out this awesome calendar, which offers daily suggestions for engaging in the seven practices that encompass the Way of Love: turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. Use it as a standalone resource–keep it at your desk or on your fridge and refer to it every day!

AdventWord is a global, online Advent calendar. Join an international community in
prayer to explore the mystery and wonder of Advent! In its ninth year, Christians
around the world are joined together as each day of Advent invites a focus on a particular word drawn from the lectionary.

Forward Movement offers several Advent meditation guides. It might be a too late to
order the hard copy version, however, most are available in Kindle and Apple Books format.

Journeying the Way of Love is an Advent Curriculum from the Episcopal Church, explores the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke which offers pattern for understanding how we can live the Way of Love as individuals, as families and friends, as a community, and out in the world. Although designed for small groups it can be adapted for home study with family.

Resources especially for Children and Youth

Letter to Santa from United Thank Offering If you’re looking for a way to help a child you love think about their Christmas list differently then we’ve got a printable letter for you! This one page letter offers fill in the blank areas. One way to show Santa how Nice you’ve been this year, is to tell him what you’re grateful for! Next, there are categories for gifts the child might like. (We love that it asks them to think about something to share…this can be a gift they donate or something they can share with a relative or neighbor.) 

Advent Toolkit from Episcopal Relief and Development Visit their website each week in Advent to create, learn and pray. There are DIY projects for families and communities that will take you from Advent to Christmas and through Epiphany. You will find: DIY wreath ideas with prayers and reflections, DIY creche ideas and information about St. Nicholas. There is also a guide to hosting an alternative gift market and their Gifts for Life Catalog.

Las Posadas from Episcopal Migration Ministries (Spanish version) In the Christian liturgical year, Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Jesus, a time of prayerful yearning for Emmanuel, “God with us.” To honor and mark this holy time, Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) offers Las Posadas, a churchwide Christmas pageant that invites us to experience the journey of the holy family. Las Posadas, which means “The Inns,” is a traditional Advent/Christmas celebration in Latin America, particularly Mexico, and among many Mexican Americans. It dates back more than 400 years to Spain, when Catholic priests found they could best teach many of the biblical stories by using drama. Las Posadas traditionally is celebrated for nine nights from Dec. 16 through 24, culminating in the Christmas Eve worship service. It is designed to reenact the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and search for lodging. This adaptation of Las Posadas invites you to imagine the experiences of individuals currently seeking asylum or refugee status. How are we called to welcome our neighbors?

D365 Devotionals for Youth & Students These devotions are written by ministers, professors, students, teachers, missionaries, denominational leaders, and others who work with and care for students. Typically, an author writes on a single theme for one week. In these devotions, you will read honest struggles and questions, all in the context of real faith. As you read the thoughts of the writers, think about your own response to the Scripture for the day. Let the writer’s words serve as background for your own conversation with God. D365 will highlight the season of Advent with the theme, “Following the Star.” D365.org is a joint partnership of The Episcopal Church Office for Youth Ministries, Presbyterian Youth and Triennium Office and Ministries of the Presbyterian Church USA, and the Congregational Life Office of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.