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Advent & Christmas Web Resources 2015

World AIDS Day – Dec. 1

Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance: Daily devotional Advent calendar, from Dec 1 – Jan 6

Live the Promise: Advent in a Time of AIDS

Advent is a season of hope and expectation set amidst the poverty, violence and injustice of the world. Since AIDS was identified in the early 1980s, the joy of Advent has contrasted sharply with the suffering of millions of people, families and communities at the hands of this disease.

Advent and AIDS both emphasize hope and the transformative power of love.

http://advent.ecumenicaladvocacy.org

Wild Goose Publications (Iona)

http://www.ionabooks.com/e-liturgies-prayers/aids/world-aids-day-december-1st-pl10068.html

The United Church of Canada

http://www.united-church.ca/planning/seasons/aids

The United Methodist Church: Global Ministries

http://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/Calendar/World-AIDS-Day

Advent

The United Church of Canada: Gathering: Resources for Worship Planners.

Current Issue: Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2015-2016

“It’s not just about skin colour, race, ethnicity, language and culture. Interculturalism is recognizing and working with all of the differences within any given congregation.” This definition by Michael Blair, Executive Minister of Communities in Ministry, figures in a collection of reflections and ideas for intercultural worship shared from across the church. They include the score for “Sing to the Colours” by Doreen Lankshear-Smith and two hymns by Lydia Pedersen—one that speaks to First Nations spirituality and one that acknowledges the culture of inner-city worship.

New seasonal worship resources include an Advent candle-lighting liturgy set to popular tunes, and communion liturgies for Advent and Transfiguration Sunday.

http://www.ucrdstore.ca/magazines/gathering

Also from The United Church of Canada: To mark the 30th anniversary of their worship planning magazine “Gathering”, numerous resources have been gleaned from the “best loved” material of earlier Advent/Christmas/Epiphany issues. These include subjects such as Advent Candlelighting, Worship inspired by the Four Directions (Aboriginal), La Posada, Hanging the greens, and Blue Christmas Traditions, and an Advent service that focuses on peace in Palestine/Israel and the end of the occupation.

http://www.united-church.ca/planning/seasons/advent

Kairos: At the time of writing, Kairos does not have a specific Advent resource for 2015, but the 2012 resource, “Seeking Shelter”, and based on Year C of the lectionary is still available.

http://www.kairoscanada.org/product/seeking-shelter/

Anglican Church of Canada: Contemporary language liturgical texts for trial use. Includes texts for Morning and Evening Prayer for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, as well Collects and Seasonal Prayers for Year A and Year B of the lectionary cycle.

http://www.anglican.ca/about/liturgicaltexts/trialuse/

The Presbyterian Church in Canada: Resources include a book study based on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, family devotions, Communion Prayer for Advent, and a Eucharistic Prayer with Sung Responses (Joy to the World).

http://presbyterian.ca/worship/#general-worship-resources

Project Ploughshares: 4 weekly advent prayers, which integrate current headlines on Peace in our World, Peace with the Earth, Peace in our Relationships, and Peace within Ourselves.

http://ploughshares.ca/publications/worship-resources/special-days/

Church of England: Traditional prayers, liturgies as part of “Common Worship”

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/41152/tandsadvent.pdf

Additional resources under the following link:

https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/principal-services/holy-communion/seasonal/advent.aspx

Musiklus: Anthology of music composed by Ron Klusmeier and friends. Requires subscription to download. Organized by season, themes or subject.

http://www.musiklus.com/anthology/

Wild Goose Publications (Iona)

http://www.ionabooks.com/e-liturgies-prayers/advent-christmas.html

Presbyterian World Service & Development

http://presbyterian.ca/pwsd/2015/09/24/advent-2015-liturgies/

Worshiping with Children: Including children in the congregation’s worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary

http://www.worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.ca/2015/07/planning-for-advent-and-christmas-in.html

Additional resources under the following link:

http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.ca/p/lectionary-index.html

Presbyterian Church (USA)

http://www.pcusa.org/resource/advent-daily-calendar-2015-care-gods-creation/

http://www.pcusa.org/resource/lighting-advent-wreath/

The United Methodist Church: Global Ministries

http://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/Calendar/Advent-and-Christmas

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/advent-resource-guide/

Christmas

The Presbyterian Church of Canada: Intergenerational ideas including, “The Christmas Story According to the Four Gospels: A Congregational Event”, new this year.

http://presbyterian.ca/worship/#general-worship-resources

The United Church of Canada: Gathering: Resources for Worship Planners.

Current Issue: Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2015-2016

http://www.ucrdstore.ca/magazines/gathering

Additional resources can be found under the following link:

http://www.united-church.ca/planning/seasons/advent

Anglican Church of Canada: Contemporary language liturgical texts for trial use. Includes texts for Morning and Evening Prayer for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, as well Collects and Seasonal Prayers for Year A and Year B of the lectionary cycle.

http://www.anglican.ca/about/liturgicaltexts/trialuse/

Church of England: Traditional prayers, liturgies, including Resource Material for the Beginning of a New Year, as part of “Common Worship”

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/41153/tandschristmas.pdf

https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/principal-services/holy-communion/presedseasonal/christmas2.aspx

The Presbyterian Church in Canada

http://presbyterian.ca/worship/#seasonal-resources

Musiklus: Anthology of music composed by Ron Klusmeier and friends. Requires subscription to download. Organized by season, themes or subject.

http://www.musiklus.com/anthology/

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/advent-resource-guide/

Celebrations within the Season of Christmas

New Year’s Eve

The Presbyterian Church of Canada

http://presbyterian.ca/worship/#general-worship-resources

The United Methodist Church: Global Ministries

http://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/Calendar/In-Prayer-With-From-Everywhere-to-Everywhere-at-the-Turn-of-the-New-Year