St. Mary’s would like to set you and your family on a brighter and lighter path towards Advent and Christmas. With the flurry of activities from parties to holiday shopping to preparing our homes and getting ready for family visits, the time of Advent too easily becomes about stressing, planning and buying. Take the time to explore these resources and incorporate them into your own daily or weekly practices throughout the season of Advent.
Resources from St. Mary’s:
Advent Brochure – Want to know what’s a happening at St. Mary’s this season? Need inspiration on how to incorporate this season into your life? Looking for new practices? Download a PDF version or pick up a hard copy in Dover Lounge.
Advent Wreath Service – This service includes readings and prayers for when you and your family gather around the Advent Wreath at home.
Online Devotionals and Readings:
Make Ready the Feast. The Episcopal Church is offering resources focusing on Make Ready The Feast. Daily from Advent 1 (November 27) through Christmas Day (December 25), Make Ready The Feast will highlight one scripture citation and one recipe with background information.
Advent for You – The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia gives weekly offerings to you in the hopes that they may inspire you to be still and know Christ’s presence in your life- during, before and after Advent.
2017 Household Advent Devotionals from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and Forma – offers simple Advent devotionals for individuals and families. You will find a brief overview of the Scriptural themes for each week, ideas for deepening your experience, and some short prayers and rituals to make your Advent experience complete.
“Liberated by God’s Grace” – Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joined the leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in preparing Advent Devotions for the upcoming liturgical season.
Online Advent Calendar created by the world – Christians across the world are being invited to celebrate the season of Advent through an interactive, multilingual online calendar. It allows people around the globe to create together an advent calendar with images shared by their mobile phones.
Advent Videos to Watch:
Advent in 2 Minutes – Not quite sure how to explain what exactly Advent is? This video by Busted Halo can help.
Advent Video – “Advent is coming (and we saved you a seat)” St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Cypress, Texas invites people to slow down and rediscover the meaning of Advent and Christmas.
The Episcopal Church has a number of videos featuring messages from the Presiding Bishop and examples of ways to celebrate Lessons & Carols.
At-Home Practices: Advent Calendars, Traditions and Activities
Advent Activities for Families and Kids – One of a variety of resource and activity lists available from Mustard Seed Associates, including, Celebrate with Simplicity This Christmas and Advent Candle Light Liturgy.
Advent Spirals – Week by Week discussion questions to ask while sitting around the Advent Wreath. Download week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4.
Printable Advent Calendar for Kids
Advent Calendar from the National Gallery
Tired of your Elf on a Shelf? Here are some alternative ideas…
Learn about the Kindness Elves.
Have you heard of the Good Deeds Manger? Here is another set that can be purchased? Want to make your own? Here is another at home version that you can make with a sock and a brown paper bag!
Countdown Chains:
Names of Jesus Countdown chain to print.
Easy Countdown chain with Advent poem.
A Time for Countdown Chain with Scripture references.
Advent Books to Read:
For Adults:
Advent with Evelyn Underhill edited by Christopher L. Webber
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas (Plough Publishing House)
Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas: God With Us Edited By Greg Pennoyer & Gregory Wolfe
Light Upon Light Compiled by Sarah Arthur
Love Came Down: Anglican Readings for Advent and Christmas compiled by Christopher L. Webber
Toddler Board Books:
Who’s Coming to Our House by Joseph Slate
The Story of Christmas by Vivien French
Good Night Manger by Laura Sassi
One Night in Bethlehem by Jill Roman Lord
The First Noel (musical board book)
Preschool:
Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd Jones
Just Right for Christmas by Birdie Black
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anne Dewdney
Humphrey’s First Christmas by Carol Heyer
Cock-a-Doodle Christmas by Will Hillenbrand
Cat in the Manger by Michael Foreman
Christmas in the Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
B is for Bethlehem by Isabel Winer
Elementary Age:
Gifts of the Heart by Patricia Polacco
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston
The Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray
If you are Missing Baby Jesus by Jean Gietzen
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
Clown of God by Tomie de Paola (All of Tomie de Paola’s Christmas books are wonderful reads!)