Seasonal Church Resources

THANKSGIVING

Search the internet for Indigenous recipes to add to the Thanksgiving meal. Go to firstnations.com for a list of tasty suggestions.

Read children age-appropriate books telling the story of Thanksgiving from the Native American perspective. Even better is to read books written by Indigenous authors. Go to ypsilibrary.org/2018/11/thanksgiving-books-authenticity-and-accuracy

Talk with older children about the definitions of “pilgrim,” “savages,” “colonizer” and “native.” Offer a mealtime grace that is from the Native American tradition or another tradition. Visit thesacredscience.com/the-art-of-blessing-your-food

Discover whose land you are on and learn of those who came before you. Do a search at library.chatham.edu/whoseland

For Thanksgiving worship, go beyond interfaith dialogs or counting blessings. Rather, craft a Thanksgiving service that not only educates, but one that commits to walking alongside Indigenous siblings. Visit the PC(USA)’s Native American Ministries Facebook page facebook@nativeamericanpcusa

ADVENT/CHRISTMAS/EPIPHANY RESOURCES

Lutheran World Relief

Lutheran World Relief has created FREE, easy-to-use resources based on the RCL Advent texts from the Gospel of Luke, at: https://lwr.org/advent-resources • 4 weeks of new sermon illustrations (complete with photos and video) • 4 powerful videos to highlight your congregation’s love in action around the world
• 4-week small group Bible study guide
• Candle lighting litany

ELCA World Hunger Advent Resources

New resources are now available from ELCA World Hunger to enrich the life of your congregation this Advent season. As congregations across the ELCA creatively find new ways to worship online and in person and continue to support the work of important ministries, including ELCA World Hunger, we are eager to equip leaders with useful resources this season including: Advent Calendar, Study Guide and Action Guide. Find them https://elca.org/hungeradvent

The United Methodist Church Reimagined Advent:  Discover the Liberating Christ - R Squared: https://r-squared.squarespace.com/premium-resources/p/advent2021?fbclid=IwAR2K3Jf2j-dsr8J2kNF5_Mtcu5cXbfqi1rudb9DGdx7FM08wWuIU-0vT1Gg

Sharing the Christmas Story, Sharing Our Faith: Advent Studies for Every Church: https://nccumc.org/mediacenter/advent-resources-for-2021

Living Compass Wellness Advent Devotional: https://www.livingcompass.org/advent

Luther Seminary Advent Devotional https://www.luthersem.edu/godpause/lenten-devotional/

Practical Resources for Churches online Advent/Christmas resource list 

        Churches Beyond Borders releases devotional inspired by United Nations anti-violence efforts: Working alongside the United Nations’ “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, the four member churches of Churches Beyond Borders (including the ELCA) have compiled a 16-day devotional focusing on the campaign’s theme opposing intersectional violence against women: https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/church-beyond-borders-joint-devotions-2021.pdf?_ga=2.269178929.1313650226.1636476675-1053086710.1617651782

For Youth: 

Sanctified Art: https://sanctifiedart.org/adventchristmas-resources (cost based on congregation size)
https://sanctifiedart.org/close-to-home-advent-bundle-year-c

Children’s Church / Sunday School / Activity Time Lessons
for Advent 2021 http://www.intermountainministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Our-Watchful-Waiting-Advent-Curriculum-with-CFC-2021.pdf

The Heart That Grew Three Sizes: Finding Faith in the Story of the Grinch by Matt Rawle
https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791017323/

RANDOM IDEAS from our rostered ministers:

• Bring recorded Christmas programs from Lutheran universities to your congregation, especially
  for a 7 week Advent
• Try a 12Noon Advent service for people who don’t want to drive at night.
• Dec.1, first Wednesday in Advent, is World AIDS day. Possible theme. (start for 4 week Advent)
• Advent card/calendar: Vermont Christmas Company Advent Calendar Cards--religious
  assortment.

HOW MANY SERVICES CHRISTMAS WEEKEND? Some answers:
• St. Mark's Tacoma: 12/24 1 online, 3 in person, 1 4:30pm families with younger children will be
only live streamed; 12/25 in person; 12/26 online only.
• Good Shepherd Olympia: Christmas Eve -- early, child-friendly service TBD; perhaps also 7 pm
festival worship, 9 pm Celtic contemplative Christmas Eve; Christmas Day -- no worship; Dec. 26
-- music mostly
• Galilean, Ocean Shores: 1 in-person Christmas Eve: Lessons, Carols, and candlelight. No
Christmas Day service (not this congregation's tradition). Normal hybrid service on Sunday the
26th.

If you have other ideas to share, feel free to email them to the Synod Office at swwsyndo@plu.edu.