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Advent Devotional
2023 Advent Resource Kit
Hanging of the Greens Service
Use all or part of this order of worship from a hanging of the greens service at PTS in 2022, to make decorating the church building an act of worship.
Download Hanging of the Greens Service
Consider these child-friendly activities to involve the kids in your church in various hanging of the greens festivities.
Download Hanging of the Greens Child-Friendly
Service of Lessons and Carols
Use all or part of this order of worship from a service of lessons and carols at PTS in 2022, using music and Scriptures to celebrate the joy of the Advent and Christmas season.
Download Service of Lessons and Carols
Longest Night Worship Resources
In recent years, many churches have chosen to offer a Service of the Longest Night or Blue Christmas service. The idea is to create a space to sit with the less cheerful emotions of the holidays—not to wallow in sadness but to find hope amidst the pain. Use these resources from PTS Communications Strategist the Rev. Erik Hoeke to plan your service.
Download Longest Night Worship Resources
Advent Hymns
The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Sterling ’88/’98 wrote an Advent hymn as an alternative to what he calls an abundance of “depressing ones.” Anyone is free to use it, as long as they give credit to the author.
The Rev. Dr. Graham D. S. Deans '06 has written a new Advent hymn to the tune of Menuet Gothique. Use this as a congregational hymn, sung by your church choir, or even special music.
Big Book of Advent - Year 2
This compendium of devotionals follows the Daily Lectionary readings for Advent 2023. In this resource, you will find one or more devotionals and accompanying prayers on each of the passages.
Download the Big Book of Advent - Year 2
We also encourage you to use these resources, previously included in our Advent Resource Kits.
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.
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.
ADVENT LITANY
This litany, drawing on scripture and reflecting on the season of Advent, was written by the Seminary’s Worship Director the Rev. Kendra Buckwalter Smith and can be used in corporate worship or group devotional settings.
WREATH LITURGIES
As you light the wreath candles this Advent, use these liturgies as written by the Rev. Tom Moore ‘07/’10, pastor of Center Presbyterian Church, McMurray, Pa.
For even more Advent resources, visit the Seasonal Resources - Advent section of our website.
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