- About
- Admissions
- Academics
- Resources
- Enhance Your Education
- Barbour Library
- Field Education
- Writing Center
- Give
Advent Devotional
2022 Advent Resource Kit
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
About Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.
Become a Student
Certificate Programs
- Graduate Certificate in Adaptive and Innovative Ministry
- Graduate Certificate in Ministry
- Graduate Certificate in Missional Leadership
- Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies
- Graduate Certificate in Urban Ministry
- Spiritual Formation Certificate
Special Programs
- Center for Adaptive and Innovative Ministry
- Continuing Education
- Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology
- Miller Summer Youth Institute
- Metro-Urban Institute
- World Mission Initiative
- Zeitah Excavations
Faculty
In addition to their on-campus duties, our faculty are experts in their fields and are available to preach and teach. Learn more about their topics of research and writing and invite them to present at your congregation or gathering.
Events
The Seminary hosts a wide range of events—many of them free!—on topics of faith including church planting, mission, vocation, spiritual formation, pastoral care and counseling, archaeology, and many more. Visit our calendar often for a listing of upcoming events.
Visit PTS
Interested in the Seminary? Come visit us!
Stay in Touch with PTS
Sign-up to receive the Seminary's newsletters: Seminary News (monthly), Center for Adaptive and Innovative Minsitry (monthly), Continuing Education (monthly), World Mission Initiative (monthly), Metro-Urban Institute (quarterly), and Kelso Museum. Alums, there's also one for you!