On-Line Resources for the Season of Advent

• An Advent Story about my son Philip.
• General Resources:
  • Advent Resources at iucc.org.
  • Advent Season, ELCA.
  • An excellent set of planning helps and articles about Advent from the United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • Advent Resources at Christian Resource Institute (Dennis Bratcher). Includes materials on The Jesse Tree and Advent Wreaths, and an article on Hearing Old Testament Advent Texts.
  • Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Resources on the Web at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada's "Lift Up Your Hearts".
• Advent Candle/Wreath Liturgies:
  • Advent Wreath Meditations, 2009, F. Richard Garland, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • Advent Candle Lighting Songs and other general Advent suggestions, Advent 1C, 2009, annotated suggestions from Natalie Sims, Singing from the Lectionary.
  • "A Liturgy of Light: A Candle Lighting Service for Year B," UCC Worship Ways, 2008.
  • Advent Wreath Candlelighting Meditations for Home and Church, Dean B. McIntyre, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • Advent Candlelighting Liturgy, Amy C. Wake, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • Advent Candle Liturgy, Jeanyne Slettom, Process and Faith.
  • Blessings of Advent Wreath and hymn/song, Rev. Bosco Peters, New Zealand.
  • Advent Weath Litanies, Year A, Year B, Year C, the Rev. Sheila N. McJilton, St David's Episcopal Church, Wilmington, DE. Written for family participation in worship service with a part for younger children. Free use. Please acknowledge writer.
  • Advent Wreath Blessing, Rev. Bosco Peters, Liturgy, 2009.
• Worship Planning:
  • Planning for Advent, Year C, Taylor Burton-Edwards, UMC GBOD.
  • Advent Candle Lighting Songs and other general Advent suggestions, Advent 1C, 2009, annotated suggestions from Natalie Sims, Singing from the Lectionary.
  • Worship During Advent, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Calvin College.
  • Advent Resources, prayers, liturgies, etc, Katherine Hawker, Outside the Box.
  • Advent Resources & Alternate Liturgies, Wellsprings of the Gospel.
  • Advent Prayer Service, Debi Tyree, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • Advent and Christmas Worship Resources, John van de Laar, Sacredise.
  • "The Places of Christmas," Six Weeks of Service Plans for Advent and Christmas, Margaret Dijkjuis, Reformed Worship.
  • "Ordered for Impact: Using the Revised Common Lectionary's Scripture Choices for a Rich Celebration of the Incarnation," Fritz West, Reformed Worship.
  • "Figures of Faith: A Series of Children's Messages for Advent," Laura Venhuizen, Reformed Worship.
  • Wellspring Liturgies for Advent & Christmas, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • Ideas for Worship from "On the Move," a publication of The Joint Board of Christian Education of Australia and New Zealand. At The Billibong, Jeff Shrowder.
  • Worship Resources by Lisa Frenz, Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, Portland, OR.
  • Advent Worship Resources, Peter L. Haynes.
  • Prayers on a theme of The Advent, Christian Prayers & Resources inspired by the Celtic Christian Church.
  • Inclusive Language Seekers Liturgies from Seekers Church:
    • "Who's Got the Power?" (2007)
    • "The Days are Surely Coming" (2006)
    • "Binding Up the Brokenhearted" (2005)
    • "hoping to be fed...our hands serving" (2004)
    • "What Are We Waiting For?" (2003)
• "Blue Christmas" / Longest Night
  • Blue Christmas/Longest Night Worship With Those Who Mourn, Resources from General Board of Discipleship, United Methodist Church.
  • "Blue Christmas" service, remembering loved ones. Rev. Kent C. Miller, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Denton TX.
  • A Christmas Liturgy in a Minor Key, Gary L. Lake Dillensnyder.
  • "Blue Christmas C: For Those Who Find Rejoicing Hard Work," Ann Scull, Mustard Seeds.
  • "Blue Christmas," Ann Fontaine, Episcopal Cafe, 2007.
  • "Blue Christmas: Space to Bring Our Sadness to God," Rev. Diane Hendricks,
  • Worship Resources, Longest Night, (includes litanies, "artistic elements," etc), Rev. Nancy Townley, Free Resources, Cokesbury Worship Connection.
  • A Blue Christmas Service, Whole People of God, Wood Lake Books.
  • "Blue Christmas," poetry by Sami Martasian, United Methodist Church GBOD.
  • At Bass Mitchell's Homilies by E-mail:
    • Worship Remembering Those We Miss at Christmas, Rev. Kent C. Miller.
    • "The Candle," story for Blue Christmas service, Rev. Jane Fry.
• Hanging of the Greens Liturgies:
  • A Hanging of the Greens Service, Daniel Benedict, United Methodist Church GBOD.
  • Hanging of the Greens: First Sunday of Advent, Process & Faith.
  • Hanging of the Greens Service, Moore's Chapel United Methodist Church.
  • Hanging of the Christmas Green: A Service for the Beginning of Advent, Monte Nabors and Kelly Yates, Dennis Bratcher, CRI Voice.
  • Hanging of the Greens: A Celebration of the Advent Season, Denzel Nonhof.
  • Hanging of the Greens: An Advent Worship Service, Wrightsboro Baptist Church, North Carolina.
  • Hanging of the Greens, St John's Lutheran Church, Lewistown, PA.
  • How to Organize a Hanging of the Greens Party at Church, Ariana Cherry-Shearer, eHow.
  • "Adorning Your House, God": Hymn for Hanging of the Greens, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, tune: AFTON, United Methodist Church GBOD.
  • Advent Wreath Blessing, Rev. Bosco Peters, Liturgy, 2009.
• Artwork, Ornaments, Crafts, Music, Multimedia
  • "Four Hymns for Advent, Year C," F. Richard Garland, United Methodist Church GBOD, 2009.
  • Films and Visual Liturgy (most commercial, though some free samples) at The Work of the People.
  • Four New Advent Hymns for Lectionary B Set to Familiar Tunes, F. Richard Garland, 2008. United Methodist Church GBOD.
  • Hymn and Song Suggestions, suggestions for Advent, 2008, Natalie Sims, Singing from the Lectionary.
  • Links to art images at The Text This Week's Art Concordance:
    • visitation
    • Mystical/Liturgical/Enthroned Madonna
    • last judgment
    • annunciation
    • John the Baptist
  • Jacob's Well Advent Films and mp3 sermons.
  • Four Advent Hymns with Lectionary Texts (Year A), F. Richard Garland, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • "Advent Watch": An Advent Call to Worship, Linda Ridener Dickson and George August Mann.
  • Jesse Tree Ornaments, downloadable brochure from King of Peace Episcopal Church.
  • Traditional Hymns for Blended and Contemporary Worship Volume One: Advent-Christmas-Epiphany, by Dean McIntyre, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • Advent and Christmas Resources, Reflections on the Daily scripture readings for Advent. Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.
  • "Prepare, Prepare," a hymn for Advent by John Kleinheksel. United Methodist Church Board of Global Ministries.
  • "'Tis Winter Now, the Fallen Snow," a hymn for Advent by John Kleinheksel. United Methodist Church Board of Global Ministries.
  • "The Lord's Messiah Comes,", a hymn for Advent by Rev David Beswick, Uniting Church in Australia.
  • "A Star Shone Bright: An Advent Hymn," F. Richard Garland, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • Alternate Tunes for LBW Advent Hymns, Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
  • CHURCH PowerPoint, Advent, Rev. Dorothy Okray. Free PowerPoint slides for Worship Services.
  • Karaoke Advent Hymns and Sacred Images for Meditation at iucc.org.
  • "Adorning Your House, God": Hymn for Hanging of the Greens, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, tune: AFTON, United Methodist Church GBOD.
  • "O Wondrous Mystery," an Advent/Christmas Hymn for Children, Richard Turner, ST MICHAEL, UMC GBOD.
  • Advent Blog & Site Badge, Rev. Bosco Peters, Liturgy, 2009.
  • "Contemplating Christmas: Finding Quiet in a Season of Mystery and Hope," video by Jan Richardson, 2009.
• Devotionals, Daily Readings, Advent Calendars
  • Praying through Advent, Butch Odom, Hope and Healing.org.
  • Advent Reflections, Rev. Kirsten Klepfer, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, 2009.
  • Advent Devotions, 2008. Goshen College.
  • The Advent Door: Entering a Contemplative Christmas, Jan Richardson, 2008.
  • "Unexpected and Mysterious," Advent Devotional, 2008. Luther Seminary.
  • Advent Reflections: From Despair to Hope, Safiyah Fosua, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • 2009 Advent Devotions will be available during Advent at The Upper Room.
  • Praying Advent, The Collaborative Ministry Office, Creighton University.
  • Celebrating Advent in the Home, downloadable brochures from King of Peace Episcopal Church.
  • Advent/Christmas Devotionals, Lutheran Hour Ministries.
  • Yahoo's list of Online (Virtual) Advent Calendars.
  • The Days of Waiting, thoughts on the message of Advent, explorefaith.org.
  • Advent Daily Devotional, at iucc.org.
• Articles
  • "Advent, Year C: A Season to Flashbacks and Previews," Safiyah Fosua, UMC GBOD, 2009.
  • "Advent in the Southern Hemisphere," Rev. Bosco Peters, New Zealand.
  • "Blue Christmas," Ann Fontaine, Episcopal Cafe, 2007.
  • "A Modest Proposal for Advent/Christmas Peace," Taylor Burton-Edwards, Safiyah Fosua, and Dean McIntyre, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship, 2006.
  • "Where Did the Season of Advent Come From?" Daniel Benedict, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • "What To Do about Advent," Rev. Roland McGregor, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • "Advent Speaks to the Power of Smallness," Joan Chittister, National Catholic Reporter, 2003.
  • "Why I'm an Advent Christian," Ronald Klug. BeliefNet.
  • "Advent - Close Encounters of a Liturgical Kind," Chris Armstrong, Christian History 2002.
  • "Advent," Volume 3, 2000, McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry.
  • Four Themes for Advent, Culham College Institute.
  • The Season of Advent, at Ken Collins Web Site: Holy Days and Holidays.
  • Advent, Wikipedia.
  • Advent, from the Catholic Encyclopedia.
  • "Advent: 'Waiting for' and 'Hastening' - Faith & Spirituality," Margo Ritchie, New Catholic Times, 2002.
  • "Vision of Peace Shimmers in Advent Scripture," Emilie Griffin, National Catholic Reporter, 2001.
  • "Waiting for God," Molly Marsh, Sojourners, 2002.
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  • Bartlett, David, "Preaching the Advent Texts," Journal for Preachers, 2006. (Year C)
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  • Brown, Sally A., "Hold the Chicken Soup: Preaching Advent Hope," Journal for Preachers, 2006.
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  • Brueggemann, Walter, "Advent: Departure and Homecoming," Journal for Preachers, 2007.
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  • Byars, Ronald P., "An Advent Gift: The Eschatological Promise," Interpretation, 2008.
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  • Charles, Gary W., "Diving into Wonderland: Preaching Revelation in the Mainline Pulpit," Journal for Preachers, 2006.
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  • Dyrness, William, "'Hope that Is Seen Is not Hope': Visual Explorations of Advent," Interpretation, 2008.
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  • González, Catherine Gunsalus, "Advent and Eschatology," Journal for Preachers, 2005. (Year A)
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  • González, Catherine Gunsalus, "Preaching the Advent Lectionary," Journal for Preachers, 2003. (Year C)
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  • Johnson, Abby Arthur, "Keep Your Lamps Burning: Advent in the Arctic," Theology Today, 1985.
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  • Kay, James F., "Preaching in Advent," Journal for Preachers, 1989.
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  • Long, Thomas G., "Imagine There's No Heaven: The Loss of Eschatology in American Preaching," Journal for Preachers, 2006.
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  • Lowry, James S., "Introducing the Luke Cycle: Advent Preaching for Year C," Journal for Preachers, 1997.
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  • Montgomery, Stephen R., "Beyond Fear, Fundamentalism, and Fox News: The Active Hope of Advent," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
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  • O'Day, Gail R., "Back to the Future: The Eschatological Vision of Advent," Interpretation, 2008.
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  • Sayles, Guy, "Preaching Advent Hope While Millions Are Reading the Left Behind Series," Journal for Preachers, 2004.
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  • Sparks, O. Benjamin, "On Earth Peace, Goodwill: Preaching on Peace During Advent and Christmas," Journal for Preachers, 1982.
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  • Witvliet, John D., "'Sing to the Lord No Threadbare Song': Theological Angularity in the Face of Advent Sentimentality," Interpretation, 2008.
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