Advent, Christmas, and Your Church Newsletter

Junk food or nutritious mouthfuls? Is your church newsletter a bulletin board for church programs and activities? Of course it is! And it can also be a tool for spiritual formation and enhancing worship participation with understanding. Beef up your church newsletter for the coming seasons of Advent and Christmas by including some short, inviting, informative, and formative reading for your congregation.

Ritual practices, worship traditions, prayer habits, and family life cycles give glue to the lives of people in our changing culture. Your church newsletter can provide some strong "antioxidants" for your people during the coming festive seasons. Here are some ideas that are readily available.

The United Methodist Book of Worship holds a number of rich interpretive pieces that you can put in your church newsletter and worship folder. Below is a sample outline of what you could do. Adapt it to the actual plans and calendar of your congregation for Advent and Christmas. The United Methodist Publishing House, the publisher of The Book of Worship, gives permission to congregations to reprint these materials for worship and educational purposes. (See page 12 in The Book of Worship.) Be sure to provide credit to the source on your copies. The credi line should read "From The United Methodist Book of Worship Copyright (c) 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House.. All rights reserved Used by permission. November -- What Is Advent?
Adapt #238, The United Methodist Book of Worship

November -- What is an Advent Wreath?
Adapt the red text #261, The United Methodist Book of Worship

November -- Bible Readings for Advent
Print the lectionary readings for Advent, #227, The United Methodist Book of Worship
(Invite reading the texts in conjunction with lighting Advent Wreath candles.)

December -- Praying in Advent
Reprint some of the prayers, 249-256, The United Methodist Book of Worship
(Invite praying one of the prayers as a family each day until Christmas.)

December -- Worship and Prayer for Christmas Adapt #269, The United Methodist Book of Worship

December -- Blessing Your Nativity Scene/Creche
Adapt #280, The United Methodist Book of Worship

Late December -- Getting Ready for Epiphany
Adapt #295, The United Methodist Book of Worship

The reference to family above refers to all configurations of people living in a home -- including a single person.

If your church is predominantly Hispanic, Korean, or some other non-English- speaking group, translate these resources into the common language of your congregation.

If you plan to have any of the special services such as A Festival of Lessons and Carols (284), Las Posadas (266), or Covenant Renewal (Watch Night) (288), use the introductory material for each to interpret the service in the church newsletter. Use the same material in the worship folder -- particularly for those who are visitors.