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Advent Devotional
Big Book of Advent Devotionals—Year 2
The Seminary’s 2019 “Big Book of Advent Devotionals—Year 2” gives you a valuable resource for personal and corporate Spiritual formation during the Advent season. Each section includes multiple biblical passages from the daily lectionary, reflections based on those passages, and accompanying prayers based on each reflection.
DOWNLOAD THE BIG BOOK OF ADVENT—YEAR 2 (WORD Doc)
A Christmas Eve Reflection: “Living out the Gospel of Grace, Reconciliation in Rwanda”
Use this Christmas Eve reflection by PC(USA) mission co-worker the Rev. Kay Day ’97, serving in Rwanda, to inform your perspective on the reconciliation with God and each other made possible by Jesus Christ.
Lessons and Carols
Director of the Worship Program the Rev. Kendra Buckwalter Smith ’12/’13 shares "An Advent Service of Lessons and Carols" bulletin, which your church may want to follow this year.
DOWNLOAD LESSONS AND CAROLS BULLETIN
Picturing Advent
Directors of the Miller Summer Youth Institute the Revs. Erin ’05 and Derek ’05/’17 Davenport offer this workbook, pairing passages from Luke with paintings by master artists, as a four-week study through Advent for your Sunday School program, Bible Study, private devotions, or just for fun!
Advent Sermons
These sermons—one by the Rev. Dr. Susan Moudry ’10, of The UMC’s Western PA conference, and one by the Rev. Bala Khyllep, associate director of the World Mission Initiative, provide a hope-filled outlook on the season and the world at this time of year. Consider sharing the Rev. Khyllep’s message with your congregation at the beginning of Advent and the Rev. Moudry’s in your worship service or Bible Study group on Christmas Eve or any time during the week before December 25th.
The Brightest Star: Children’s Sermon
The Rev. Jeremy Collins ’14 shares this children’s sermon for use in your Christmas Eve or Christmas Day worship service.
You Can’t Always Get What You Want! A Study of Micah
Just what kind of savior is Jesus—the kind we want, or the kind we need? In this brief lesson from the prophet Micah, James A. Kelso Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament the Rev. Dr. Steven Tuell helps us understand the kind of distance Jesus bridges in order to set us on the right path. Consider incorporating it into your celebration of communion during Advent.
Heart Like a Bell Poem
Use this brief poem by Director of the Center for Writing and Learning Support Dr. Shan Overton in your Advent bulletin as a meditative invitation to quiet one’s heart and shift one’s focus while awaiting the start of your worship service(s).
We also encourage you to use these resources, previously included in our Advent Resource Kits.
Advent Music for Guitar
The SYI Guitar Hymnal is available for a wide range of guitar players and musical environments. The SYI Guitar Hymnal coordinates with the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal. This resource presents as many as five versions of 33 different Advent/Christmas hymns and facilitates guitar accompaniment of congregational hymns in neo-traditional worship, in addition to blended or contemporary settings. Visit this music resource to see all that's available! This free resource is a service of the Seminary's Miller Summer Youth Institute. Have feedback about the Guitar Hymnal? Let us know: SYIMusic@pts.edu.
ACCESS ADVENT MUSIC FOR GUITAR
"WHAT IS ADVENT?" VIDEO
Share this video with your youth group, Bible study, or congregation to help answer the question "What is Advent?"
The Twelve Questions of Advent Quiz
Take this Advent Quiz with your family around the dinner table, give it to your high-school or adult Sunday school class, discuss it in your Bible Study group, or test your knowledge on your own and perhaps learn something new about this special time of the year.
Cookie Activity for Kids
Everyone loves Christmas cookies—especially children! Make these holiday-titled recipes for your Sunday school students—or with them!—and tell the associated biblical stories as you share in sampling these sweets on Sunday morning—and throughout the Advent season.
POWERPOINT
Consider adapting this template for your worship service. Insert your Scripture passage, call to worship, hymns, announcements, or whatever else you may need! After clicking "Download the PowerPoint," be sure to "Save As" to enable editing and picture viewing.
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Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of students for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.
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