Youth Advent Playlist

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What is Advent? The Episcopal Church Glossary says:

The first season of the church year, beginning with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continuing through the day before Christmas. The name is derived from a Latin word for "coming." The season is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity, and for the final coming of Christ "in power and glory."

In the 1930s, the Episcopal Church circulated this poster

Have you ever thought of the Holy Family, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, as refugees?Fr. James Martin, S.J. wrote this article in 2017, and it is as timely today.

Watch

The Bible Project’s video on the Birth of Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke.

This spoken word about the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of the Christ Child.

On Chuck knows Church, this Methodist minister with a sense of humor explains churchy traditions in super short videos. Learn about the Advent wreath and its candles in this clip. 

The Skit Guys ask, What if there were 4 wisemen? What is the perfect gift? What do you do if your nativity set is missing the baby Jesus?

Participate

Check out upcoming Youth Events.

Listen

I Sing of  A Maiden, sung by King’s College Cambridge

Lessons and Carols Started in the late 1800's, this Advent season service is an Anglican tradition celebrated around the world. The service, traditionally held near the beginning of Advent, is a mixture of scripture reading and choral arrangements. The service will be available—for viewing and for download— on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m, from Sewanee: The University of the South.

Create

Spend this Advent intentionally serving others. This DIY Advent Calendar tutorial is full of ideas to count down the days to Christmas by blessing others. Instead of getting chocolates every day in an Advent calendar, you are giving, and showing God’s love, in small ways every single day.

Pray and Reflect

It is important to prioritize time for prayer to our lives, to feel centered, grounded, and steadied. Advent is a new beginning, and a perfect time to start or renew a spiritual discipline like prayer. Make Anglican/Episcopalian Prayer Beads, also calledAnglican Rosaries. 

The Work of Christmas, by Howard Thurman

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

Are gifts the main reason for the season in your family? Would your Christmas be “ruined” without getting more stuff? How can you shift your focus to blessing others instead of buying new possessions?

1. Here are 33 eco-friendly decorating and gift giving ideas
2. Make homemade Christmas cards for your postal workers, sanitation services, grocery deliveries, and neighbors.
3. Write a poem for every member of your family.
4. Keep water bottles, packages of socks, gift cards for nearby affordable restaurants, in the car ready to give to those on street corners.
5. Visit local Little Free Libraries to swap books.
6. Make nonprofit donations instead of tangible gifts.
7. How about a goat for Christmas? Not for you, but for someone else. Episcopal Relief and Development has lots to choose from!