Thanks for your interest in the Advent Resource Kit from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary! Explore the resources below and let us know how you found them helpful in your worship. E-mail us at .
Big Book of Advent Devotionals - Year 2
The Seminary's “Big Book of Advent Devotionals - Year 2” gives you a valuable resource for personal and corporate Spiritual formation during the Advent season. From Day 1 through Christmas Day, each section includes multiple biblical passages from the daily lectionary, reflections based on those passages, and accompanying prayers based on each reflection. Seminary alumnae/i, faculty, staff, Board members, and students since 2008 have contributed to this resource as a means of blessing you not only in this Advent season but also in those to come!
DOWNLOAD THE BIG BOOK OF ADVENT DEVOTIONALS - YEAR 2
Music Selections by Borys Hede Wassayle Quire
Recorded at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Borys Hede Wassayle Quire provides a number of Christmas selections for your free use. Sign along, use a tune as a prelude, or play the songs in the background during a festive gathering. Selections include:
- Ding Dong, Merrily on High (G. R. Woodward)
- God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (Trad. English)
- Sans Day Carol (Trad. Cornish)
- Noel Nouvelet (Trad. French)
- Sussex Carol (Trad. English)
- Joseph lieber, Joseh mein (Trad. German)
- I Saw Three Ships (Trad. English)
Advent Litany
This litany, drawing on scripture and reflecting on the season of Advent, was written by the Seminary’s Worship Director the Rev. Kendra Buckwalter Smith and can be used in corporate worship or group devotional settings.
Advent Wreath: Origins and Uses
Explore the history and tradition of using Advent wreaths in personal and corporate worship. Read aloud the weekly devotions and prayers written by members of the Pittsburgh Seminary community.
DOWNLOAD THE ADVENT WREATH GUIDE
A Pictorial Narrative of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus
This Advent slideshow contains many historic lantern slides of Christmas-related scenes from the Holy Land collected by former PTS professor of biblical archaeology Melvin Grove Kyle. Use this PowerPoint slideshow, which includes captions from the Bible, as a background for your Advent worship services, Christmas fellowship gatherings, or Sunday School classes. Pairing the show with the Borys Heade Wassail Quire Christmas carols provides a festively meaningful atmosphere at your Advent and Christmas services and celebrations.
DOWNLOAD THE POWERPOINT After clicking "Download the PowerPoint," be sure to "Save As" to enable editing and picture viewing.
"What is Advent?" Video
Share this video with your youth group, Bible study, or congregation to help answer the question "What is Advent?"
Advent Music for Guitar
The SYI Guitar Hymnal is available for a wide range of guitar players and musical environments. This first iteration of the SYI Guitar Hymnal coordinates with the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal. The resource presents as many as five versions of 33 different Advent/Christmas hymns, and facilitates guitar accompaniment of congregational hymns in neo-traditional worship in addition to blended or contemporary settings. Visit this new music resource to see all that's available! This free resource is a service of the Seminary's Miller Summer Youth Institute. Have feedback about the Guitar Hymnal? Let us know: .
PowerPoint
Consider adapting this template for your worship service. Insert your Scripture passage, Call to Worship, hymns, announcements, or whatever else you may need! After clicking "Download the PowerPoint," be sure to "Save As" to enable editing and picture viewing.