Resources

Worship during Advent

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. ...

from The Worship Sourcebook, p. 421 (Listen to a reading of the complete quote)

Worship Service Outlines
Worship Service Outlines for Advent Worship
Howard Vanderwell and Norma de Waal Malefyt
Worship Service Outlines for Weekday Advent Worship
Carrie Steenwyk
Worship Service Outlines for Lessons and Carol Services
Calvin College Campus Choir

Resources from The Worship Sourcebook:
Parts D and E of The Worship Sourcebook, pp. 423-491, offer sample prayers and other worship resources for each act of worship during Advent and Christmas, including the Call to Worship, Opening Responses, Confession and Assurance, Prayers for Illumination, the Lord's Supper, and Blessing/Benediction.

Articles
Planning Ahead for Advent
Howard Vanderwell and Norma de Waal Malefyt
Preparing for Advent and the Christian Year
Howard Vanderwell and Norma de Waal Malefyt
Praying the Lord's Prayer During Advent
John D. Witvliet
Isaiah in Christian Liturgy: Recovering Textual Contrasts
John D. Witvliet

Book Compilation
Proclaiming the Christmas Gospel: Ancient Sermons and Hymns for Contemporary Christian Inspiration (Baker, 2004)

John D. Witvliet and David Vroege offer this outstanding collection of Christmas messages from giants of the Christian faith, such as John Calvin, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, Bernard of Clairvaux, and more. Each classic sermon includes a brief introduction to and interpretation of the message, along with an appropriate hymn text. Layreaders will appreciate the wisdom and insight that these beautiful sermons impart for devotional reflection and pastors and teachers will find wonderful classic ways to express the meaning of Christmas to contemporary listeners.

Related Resources for This Book:
-Vital Worship Feature Story: Ancient Christmas Sermons: Making the old, old story new again
-Interview with John Witvliet about this book at ChristianityToday.com
-article by David Vroege in Reformed Worship

Visual Arts
Visuals for Advent
Visuals for Worship (Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2006)
Bulletin Covers

Sermon Series Guides
The Gifts of Christmas
Micah's Hope
Preparing the Way
The Songs of Advent
When God Breaks In ...

Resources from the Center for Excellence in Preaching
Advent 2008 resources for preaching
Advent 2007 resources for preaching
Advent 2006 resources for preaching
Advent 2005 resources for preaching

Resources from Reformed Worship magazine
Advent resources for worship

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shortcut URLs: www.calvin.edu/worship/advent or www.adventworship.info