This was written to be used as a responsive prayer during the lighting of advent candles. The leader says the bits in normal text and the congregation responds with the text in bold. It can add some depth to the ritual of lighting the candles, whilst being simple enough for all...
The aim of this idea is to symbolise Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem; to help people to get to know each other better and to encourage worship outside of church walls. Basic idea: Mary and Joseph need accommodation – so a household in the church community offers to...
This one is for all you Blue Peter fans out there … it is designed to remind people of the kingship of Jesus, that the tiny baby in the manger is the Prince of Peace, with infinite power to change lives and set the dark on fire*. For to us a...
Chloe Axford has provided us with our first creative worship idea for Christmas 2009. Remember that we'd love to hear your ideas too, and hopefully share them among our web community; so send them in today! This Christmas meditation using candles, music and readings is based on the traditional tenebrae service, usually...
This simple interactive Advent candle liturgy involves the whole congregation and uses the whole church. It offers an alternative take on the traditional lighting of the Advent crown on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Beforehand set up an “Advent candle” station in each of the four corners of the...
Here is a simple reflection on the meaning of advent, using purple ribbon. Reflection: Advent, from the Latin adventus, meaning arrival or coming, is a chance for us to slow down and take time to prepare for Jesus’ birth at Christmas. It is an opportunity for us to reflect quietly on what...
This is an alternative take on an Advent liturgy - reminding people the true reasons why we should look forward to the Christmas season. It is tastefully accompanied by appropriate images on this PowerPoint. Its great to have some work by Kieran posted, as he designed this website for us! Do...
We're so excited about these 10 beautiful Christmas fractal pics Richard Lyall has just provided (under a Creative Commons Licence, see the note in the zip file). Below are some thumbnails, but download the zip file to get the full glory. These are great for adding some visual, abstract creativity into...
These are three seamless loops around Christmas themes, which you can use behind songwords, in meditations or however else your creativity invents! Richard has given other seamless loops before (click here and here to get them all) and we've found them really inspiring and cringe-free. He shares them on a Creative...
This creative meditation on the theme of exile is designed to be used with a congregation during a church service, but it could work equally well in a youth group or small group setting. It has been linked with a Christmas reading (Jesus, Mary and Joseph’s flight to Egypt - Matthew...
This is a reflective Bible study on the themes of Epiphany; the Magi and the Star of Bethlehem. It was written for my mum's small group, and we're never in shape for anything too difficult on a Wednesday morning, so the discussion questions aren't too complex. Part of the reflection...
Our lovely friend and engageworship.org band bassist, Sunil Chandy, has put three original choir arrangements of Christmas Carols on his website - (The Angel Gabriel, God Rest Ye and O Come, O Come Emmanuel) for free! So if your singers are looking for a challenge to surprise and excite Carol Service...
These three interwoven monologues tell the Christmas story from the point of view of a shepherd, a king and an angel. The drama is based on Luke 2: 8-20 and Matthew 2: 1-12 and aims to bring out the contemporary themes of economic uncertainty, difficult relationships, celebrity culture and the...
We're really excited by this instrumental/remix version of Silent Night - "reimagined to reflect the grit and the glory". It's very urban, processed and unexpected, reminding us of William Orbit and Aphex Twin. And Sunil is sharing it for free! Download the mp3 from the box above (you need to...
We just wrote these for our service on the Sunday before Christmas, so thought we'd share them with you. You can use them to lead prayers in church, remembering that Jesus was born into poverty and disadvantage, and turning this into intercession for those considered 'the least' in our world. Jesus Christ,...
This is a very simple idea, but one we've used a few different ways and always got a lot of positive feedback about. The basic premise is singing out your prayer, using a few lines from an existing Christmas Carol (or other hymn or song would work). At a number of...
We're pleased to share this great new Christmas song by Gavin Ball - mp3, sheet music and backing track all available for FREE on RESOUNDworship.org right now! And as a special Christmas present, we've made a video you can download and stick in as a last-minute insert into your Christmas services. Enjoy, and...
This act of worship is designed to encourage people to think beyond the cradle and to put the Resurrected Christ into the Christmas story. Activity: As the service begins and you give notices, welcome, sing etc. have people come and place baubles in the manger. Then at the time you want to...
A liturgical lament for advent. Its intention is to refocus and cause abandonment, surrender; stir desperation for and intimacy with God. Isaiah 21:12-14 (MSG) 11-12A Message concerning Edom: A voice calls to me from the Seir mountains in Edom, "Night watchman! How long till daybreak? How long will this night last?" The...
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. John 1:1 Christmas is nice, isn't it? Cute little baby, furry donkey, sparkly lights and a carol or two. There's nothing quite so traditional in our culture, both inside and outside the church. We...
If you’re involved with service and worship planning in your church, you’ve probably had your Christmas services all planned out since September (thinking about Christmas towards the end of August has been part of our lives for the last seven years of church work; all part of the fun!). However, some...
What are the Magi doing in the Christmas story - they're a bit mysterious, don't you think? And for that matter, what is a magi, or a mage? Probably best to clear up a bit confusion first. We tend to lump the Magi in with everyone else in our nativity scenes....
