Advent resources

Having looked at various aspects of preparing for Christmas, surely the most important is preparing ourselves to encounter Immanuel - God with us - afresh this year. Many Christian publishers have ranges of Advent books - daily meditations or readings to use in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day (and often beyond to Epiphany). These include: BRF, CWR, and the Good Book Company. Last year the Church Times ran a review of Advent books.

There are also free web resources:

• Lifewords have a Christmas site which is loaded with useful resources for church and community (powerpoints and screensavers, audio downloads, invites, service and assembly outlines) all free to download and adapt for your own context
  
• Lifewords are also publishing Advent devotionals (1-12 December) which you can receive by email or read on the Advent blog
  
• Scripture Union publish a free to download Advent Bible Reading Guide
• The Evangelical Alliance offer an Advent Prayer Guide for 2007
• rejesus offers three short meditations on the Nativity and a range of other Christmas resources (including Christmas carol karaoke!)
• The ReSource website has some Poems for Advent
• The Cyber Hymnal can provide you with the words (and music) of many Advent hymns and Christian Aid have a Carol Sheet to download