In Luke’s telling of the Christmas story, startled shepherds are the first to hear that good news of great joy given to all people. Since then, through generations and generations, across the world, we keep sharing this Good News, receiving signs from God that, in the coming of Jesus Christ, we have received the greatest gift of all.
The Episcopal Church wants to help you and your congregation share that Good News with each other and your neighborhoods, especially this Advent and Christmas. Find our free resources based on invitation, the Way of Love, racial reconciliation, faith formation, and more below.
About the 2025 Advent and Christmas Resources
AdventWord
Forward Movement convenes another year of AdventWord, an inspirational online Advent calendar featuring a daily prompt word selected from the Sunday lectionary readings. Email subscribers and social media followers receive a daily meditation and visual image inspired by the day’s word, and are invited to share their own personal reflections, art, poetry, or other creative expression. Downloadable bulletin inserts are available for churches to encourage participation at home. Learn more at adventword.org.
We hope you’ll join us each day of Advent in posting the Advent Word and to social media, along with a graphic and some text exploring your thoughts on the word. If you need some help with graphics, we have three sets of Canva templates (available in English and Spanish), sized for Instagram/Facebook and Instagram Stories linked below. Make sure to use #Episcopal and #AdventWord on your posts so others can see them.
English
Español
A Sign for You: Customizable Advent and Christmas Videos
The Episcopal Church’s Office of Communication is proud to present a downloadable video piece for use by your congregation. The video, available in English, Spanish, and French, can be customized through Canva. Instructions and video files can be found in each language.
Collect Artwork for Advent and Christmas
You can find artwork from Episcopalian artists for Advent and Christmas collects on their respective lectionary pages, along with suggested social media text. Click the thumbnails below to visit each occasion’s page and find high-resolution images.
Advent
Christmas
The collects for the Christmas season were designed by Jason Franklin, a designer and communications director who helps Episcopal churches and organizations share their stories through thoughtful design and branding. His work can be found at franklinian.com.
Resources for Invitation and Gratitude
Update Your Church’s Service Times
Add seasonal service times, descriptions, and languages to your church’s pin on the Episcopal Asset Map. You don’t need a log-in to suggest the change; just find your Episcopal place, click on it, and select “Suggest an Update.” Need help updating more? Check out our video playlist from Episcopal Relief & Development.
United Thank Offering Christmas Gratitude Game
There are so many things to give thanks for during the Christmas season and UTO wants to help you and your friends/family share your Christmas stories of gratitude this holiday season. Just print out the cards and game board and gather round to share your stories as you work your way to the end of the game.
Printable Letter to Santa
If you’re looking for a way to help a child you love think about their Christmas list differently, then we’ve got a free printable for you! This one-page letter offers fill-in-the-blank areas. One way to show Santa how nice you’ve been this year is to tell him what you’re grateful for! Next, there are categories for gifts the child might like. (We love that it asks them to think about something to share…this can be a gift they donate or something they can share with a relative or neighbor.)
Resources for Racial Reconciliation
Preparing to Become Beloved Community
Organized around the four sections of the Becoming Beloved Community labyrinth (telling the truth, repairing the breach, practicing the way, proclaiming the dream), this Advent curriculum can help your small group or congregation to engage in racial reconciliation and reflect on Jesus’ coming among us. Available in English, Spanish, and French. Note: Advent 2025 occurs in Year A.
‘Prophetic Voices’ Podcast Series: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community
Across our church and our society, we are having profound dialogues about race, truth, justice, and healing. “Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community” explores where that dialogue intersects with our faith. Join us and our invited guests as we share prophetic voices and explore the lectionary through the lens of social justice. Available in English.
Resources for Faith Formation
Lesson Plans That Work
Designed to follow the Revised Common Lectionary, these lesson plans are written by experienced church school teachers using practical approaches to respond to the needs of volunteer teachers. Available in English.
D365
These devotions are written by ministers, professors, students, teachers, missionaries, denominational leaders, and others who work with and care for students. Typically, an author writes on a single theme for one week. In these devotions, you will read honest struggles and questions, all in the context of real faith. As you read the thoughts of the writers, think about your own response to the Scripture for the day. Let the writer’s words serve as background for your own conversation with God. D365 will highlight the season of Advent with the theme, “Following the Star.” D365.org is a joint partnership of The Episcopal Church Office for Youth Ministries, Presbyterian Youth and Triennium Office and Ministries of the Presbyterian Church USA, and the Congregational Life Office of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Available in English and Spanish.
Advent Wreath Video
The Advent wreath, a visual symbol marking the Advent season’s progress, originated as a domestic devotion opportunity for household prayer and is now often included in community worship spaces. While there are many different ways to make an Advent wreath, Jerusalem Greer from Good News Gardens created this video making a wreath using items found in creation. Gather with friends, family, a small group, or others to watch this video and build your own wreath. You can find more information here and an Advent wreath blessing appropriate for your congregation here. Available in English.
Resources from Episcopal Migration Ministries
Las Posadas
Las Posadas, which means “The Inns,” is a traditional Advent/Christmas celebration in Latin America, particularly Mexico, and among many Mexican Americans. Episcopal Migration Ministries offers this resource as an invitation to congregations to relive the experience of Mary and Joseph as they traveled in search of hospitality and welcome. This adaptation of Las Posadas invites you to imagine the experiences of individuals seeking asylum or refugee status. How are we called to welcome our neighbors? (Available in English and Spanish.
An Advent Prayer Vigil for Refuge and Home
This prayer vigil liturgy, offered by Episcopal Migration Ministries, is an excellent way to remember those fleeing persecution, war, and seeking safety, just as Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus did.
Advent: Stories of Movement and Migration
Advent: Stories of Movement and Migration,” a podcast series from the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, features audio stories, discussion guides, and more.
Journeying the Way of Love: Advent Curriculum
Journeying the Way of Love: Four-session Advent Curriculum
For the season of Advent, “Journeying the Way of Love” offers four sessions to be explored as we await the coming of Christ by moving through the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke. Luke’s gospel provides a pattern for understanding how we can live the Way of Love as individuals, as families and friends, as a community, and out in the world. The sessions are specially designed for use during the Christian formation hour before or after worship. Facilitation instructions accommodate small or large groups. Available in English, Spanish, and French.
From Our Partners
Advent Toolkit
Join Episcopal Relief & Development each week in Advent to create, learn and pray. There are DIY projects for families and communities that will take you from Advent to Christmas and through Epiphany. You will find: DIY wreath ideas with prayers and reflections, DIY creche ideas and information about St. Nicholas. There is also a guide to hosting an alternative gift market and our Gifts for Life catalog.
St. Nicholas Day
Download this resource from Episcopal Relief & Development to learn about and celebrate St. Nicholas Day.