Advent Devotional 2022

Read and/or listen to daily meditations written by members of the Seminary community.

Download and print the PDF version of the 2022 Advent Devotionals. DOWNLOAD

With thanks to William Hammond, friend of the Seminary, for lending his voice to this year's audio devotionals.

Advent Resouce Kit 2022

Prepared by the Rev. Erik Hoeke, Writer
Based on Sunday Lectionary Readings - Year A
Four Sundays in Advent plus Christmas Eve

“KEEP AWAKE!”

We know worship planning can be challenging, especially in special seasons like Advent and Christmas. But Advent also offers opportunity to follow a worship series through the four Sundays and Christmas Eve/Day.

This Advent, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary invites you to worship with the theme “Keep Awake!” as you and your congregation prepare for the coming of Christ. This is our gift to you: a collaborative worship resource kit, prepared by members of our community, which follows the Sunday Lectionary Readings for 2022 (Year A). The kit includes weekly hymns, liturgies, and prayers for worship. Additionally, use the sermon starters to focus your thoughts, and use the adult study reflections for personal or small group Bible study. The weekly themes are:

NOV. 27 WAKE UP!: THE ALTERNATIVE TO ANXIETY OR APATHY

Don’t let Christmas worries weigh you down. Invite your congregation into watchful waiting and living.

DEC. 4 MORE THAN WINDOW DRESSING: HOW TO HEED THE WILD CALL OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

The coming of Christ is an invitation to change our hearts and lives. What changes do you need to make in preparation for Christmas?

DEC. 11 BLESSED AS YOU ARE: WHAT MARY’S CALL STORY TEACHES US

What would it look like to live as one who is already blessed by God? What would it mean to see all persons as God’s blessed and favored people?

DEC. 18 MORE THAN EXPECTED: REMAINING ATTENTIVE TO ALL THAT GOD BRINGS

Faced with moral quandaries, deep divisions, and questions of religious devotion, how will we respond with complete and total trust in the living God who comes to live among us?

DEC. 24/25 READY OR NOT: STANDING AT THE THRESHOLD

Part of the good news of Christmas is that Jesus comes even if we aren’t perfectly ready for it. Step across the threshold and into worship of Christ, the newborn king!

HYMN SUGGESTIONS

Access these hymn suggestions for your upcoming worship services, prepared by the Rev. Kendra Buckwalter Smith '12/'13, director of the worship program at PTS.

Download Hymn Suggestions

OFFERING PRAYERS

Select from these offering prayers written by the Rev. Scott Paul-Bonham, transitional pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor, Mich., and PTS Doctor of Ministry student in Creative Writing and Public Theology.

Download Offering Prayers

OPENING LITURGIES

We invite you to use these opening liturgies offered by the Rev. Joann White, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Saranac Lake, N.Y., and PTS Doctor of Ministry student in Creative Writing and Public Theology.

Download Opening Liturgies

SERMON STARTERS

Wondering where to start as you prepare your sermons for the season? Consider these starters written by the Rev. Erik Hoeke, writer at PTS. They also can be used as personal or group devotionals.

Download Sermon Starters

STUDY GUIDES

Each of these weekly study guides provides a reflection on the four Lectionary passages and offers discussion questions. These guides are written by Dr. Shan Overton, director of the Center for Writing and Learning Support (Week 1); the Rev. Dr. Steven Tuell, James A. Kelso Professor Emeritus of Hebrew and Old Testament (Week 2); the Rev. Andrew Greenhow, Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Board of Directors (Week 3); and Katelyn Fisher ‘18/’22, administrative assistant for the Center for Adaptive and Innovative Ministry (Week 4).

Download Study Guide Week 1

Download Study Guide Week 2

Download Study Guide Week 3

Download Study Guide Week 4

WREATH LITURGIES

As you light the wreath candles this Advent, use these liturgies as written by the Rev. Tom Moore ‘07/’10, pastor of Center Presbyterian Church, McMurray, Pa.

Download the Wreath Liturgies

BIG BOOK OF ADVENT - YEAR 1

This compendium of devotionals follows the Daily Lectionary readings for Advent 2022. In this resource, you will find one or more devotionals and accompanying prayers on each of the passages.

Download the Big Book of Advent - Year 1

For even more Advent resources, visit the Seasonal Resources - Advent section of our website.

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