As we prepare to celebrate of the birth of Jesus this Advent, we encourage churches to consider making the most of what this season offers.
Advent Activity Calendar
This year, the Indiana Conference is offering an activity calendar to help church leaders and congregants explore the Advent season. The calendar includes prompts for individuals to do each day—like pray for someone or read a scripture—to help congregants remain focused on positivity this season. We encourage you to download the calendar and share it with friends, family, and neighbors.
Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem: Tuesdays, Dec. 1-22
You are invited to join Conference leadership and author Rev. Todd Outcalt for a Tuesday afternoon focus on joy and the miracle of Christ’s birth through Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem: Daily Devotions for Advent and Christmas. With leadership provided by Bishop Trimble alongside pastors Oscar Ramos-Gallardo, Marcy Patrick, and Pete Ward, we’ll gather for a devotional focus designed to bring you rest and encouragement in the midst of this season. Meetings will be held Tuesdays, December 1-22 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). For the Zoom link, contact Luska.Natali@inumc.org.
Bishop’s Christmas Offering for Children
As part of the 2020 Bishop’s Christmas Offering for Children, churches can find engaging children’s sermon videos for each Sunday in Advent. Children can learn about the different sources of light in our world, including the love of Jesus Christ, as well as the importance of giving to the most vulnerable children in our midst.
Watch the sermons>>
Give online>>
Cokesbury Advent Studies
The Cokesbury Bookstore is offering a wide array of Advent study materials, from the new “Incarnation” series by Rev. Adam Hamilton to the “Because of Bethlehem” collection by famed author Max Lucado. If you can’t decide, Cokesbury provides an Advent Studies Comparison Chart with a synopsis of each study, as well as the price.
Customizable Advent Resources
Local churches can order customizable banners, signs, invitation cards and postcards for Advent from United Methodist Communications. The resources are available in a variety of designs and languages.