Advent - Christmas Worship, Resources & Activities
|
In Community of Christ, the Advent Season is a season of waiting in expectation for the coming of light into a darkened world in the form of the infant Jesus. Advent is spent anticipating and spiritually preparing for the arrival of the Christ-child. Scriptures, symbols, and hymns help make Advent a time of expectation of Christ’s birth, rather than a frenzy of holiday tasks.
|
2023 Advent Season
December 3rd – 1st Sunday of Advent – LOVE December 10th – 2nd Sunday of Advent – PEACE December 17th – 3rd Sunday of Advent – HOPE December 24th - 4th Sunday of Advent – JOY December 25th – Christmas Day |
Advent Wreath - Candles
Topeka Community of Christ Advent Candles
|
The Advent season begins four Sundays before Christmas and is observed each Sunday until Christmas Day. An Advent wreath with four candles and one Christ candle in the center is used to observe the weeks of Advent. One candle is lit each week until all are burning brightly on Christmas Day.
During the Advent season, Christians prepare themselves spiritually for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The lighting of the Advent wreath candles symbolizes the growing anticipation and hope as Christmas Day draws nearer. Each candle on the wreath represents a different aspect of the season. The Advent Wreath candles represent love, peace, hope and joy. The Christ candle, which is placed in the center, is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to represent the arrival of Jesus Christ. |
Guest Ministry from our Christmas Eve Worship Service
In addition to lighting the candles, many people also participate in other traditions during Advent. |
Some may choose to read daily devotions or passages from the Bible, while others may attend special church services or sing Christmas hymns.
The Christmas Story in the Bible
While the Bible contains many scripture references to the birth of Jesus. The Christmas story is found in two books of the New Testament. Luke 2:1-20 KJV Matthew 1:18 – 2:23 KIV
Overall, the Advent season is a time of reflection, preparation, and celebration for Christians around the world. |
Online Advent - Christmas Activities
Topeka CofChrist Ministry Facebook Group
Topeka CofChrist Ministry Facebook Group
|
This Facebook group is your destination for Community of Christ Online Advent - Christmas Season Ministry, Worship and Activities. In this Facebook group you will find direct clickable links to:
Topeka Community of Christ Congregation
Online congregation events, such as our Sunday Worship Service livestream and other congregation Advent & Christmas activities. Community of Christ
Online Advent Worship activities and other online ministries produced by Community of Christ. Check the EVENTS section of our Topeka CofChrist Ministry Facebook group page for links to Advent Worship Services and Activities produced by Community of Christ affiliate organizations. |
If you are not a member of this private Facebook group and would like to participate in these activities, please request to join this group through your Facebook account. 
Click Icon for Topeka CofChrist Ministry Facebook Group
|
Advent - Christmas Hymns
THE BEYOND THE WALLS CHOIR - PUBLIC LIBRARY
Youtube Music Videos, including Christmas Hymns
THE BEYOND THE WALLS CHOIR - PUBLIC LIBRARY
Youtube Music Videos, including Christmas Hymns
|
All the videos are published under the standard YouTube license. You can use these videos on your online and in-person services and events as long as (1) no major edits are made and (2) the intended use is not for profit. Learn to sing the different parts in the CHOIR PRACTICE page. Thank you for listening to the Beyond the Walls Choir and sharing our music!
The Topeka Community of Christ congregation utilizes the Beyond the Walls Choir Youtube videos in our worship.
|
|
All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz.
|
00:00 The Christmas Song (with Erika Nielsen, cello)
02:42 On Jordan's Banks the Baptist's Cry 04:11 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, Veni, Emmanel) 07:23 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 10:06 O Come, All Ye Faithful 13:05 Silent Night! Holy Night! 16:00 What Child Is This (Greensleeves) 18:20 Angels We Have Heard on High (Les Anges dans nos campagnes) 20:56 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day 23:27 We Three Kings of Orient Are 26:44 Silvery Star, Precious Star 29:16 O Little Town of Bethlehem 33:10 Joy to the World! 34:47 Away in a Manger 37:27 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice 39:18 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 42:20 Hallelujah, from Handel's Messiah 46:36 A Short Organ Suite on Favorite Christmas Carols, by Carl G. L. Bloom |
Project Zion Podcast
Percolating on Faith: Christmas
|
The Christmas story is one we are familiar with, but what do the 4 separate gospels actually say about the nativity scene? What is tradition? What is the context? How do the stories differ? Tony and Charmaine are here to walk us through the Christmas story as part of our Percolating on Faith series.
Host: Carla Long Guest: Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith |
|
Project Zion Podcast
Advent Reflections from Scott Murphy
Advent Reflections from Scott Murphy
Community of Christ: "Make Space"
|
Amidst the clamor of confusion and despair that can crowd our senses in these times, Spiritual Formation Minister Katie Harmon-McLaughlin urges us in this sermon to make space for the prophetic voice this Advent season.
From the "Witness the Word" November 2021 release. Scriptures: Matthew 3:3, Matthew 3:12, Mark 10:51 |
|
The Real Work of Christmas
|
Christmas is usually filled with presents, baking, and decorating. But have you ever heard about the REAL work of Christmas? What Christmas calls us to do? What Christmas pushes us toward? After the tinsel and ornaments are put away, the REAL work of Christmas begins.
|
|
Practices of Discipleship for Advent
|
Advent is a season of familiarity, and yet the very nature of Advent is expectant waiting and preparation for what is to come, be it known or unknown. We fall into familiar rhythms of the season in various forms of preparation and celebration. We live in the promise of hope, love, joy, and peace claimed in God’s gift of Jesus the Christ child. We journey in our own way toward the manger and find renewed hope in what can be.
|
Advent is a perfect time to prayerfully consider how we are being formed as disciples of Jesus Christ.
How are we preparing to receive the peace of Jesus Christ? How are we preparing to live, love, and share the peace of Jesus Christ? Consider new ways to incorporate practices which renew the significance of Advent and invigorate your journey of discipleship. The following practices of discipleship can be adapted for use as personal spiritual formation or with families, small study groups, and congregations.
| ||
Meaning of Epiphany
January 6th 2024 - Epiphany Sunday
January 6th 2024 - Epiphany Sunday
|
Epiphany is commonly defined as an experience of sudden and striking insight. In the Christian tradition, Epiphany celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. It is the twelfth day after Christmas. Scripture recognizes the journey of the Three Kings, Wisemen or Magi who followed a star to honor the newborn king with their treasure.
Scripture Reference: Matthew 2:1-12 NRSV |
|
Project Zion Podcast
Percolating on Faith: Epiphany
|
Our Percolating on Faith crew is taking a look at Epiphany! This is an important day in the Christian community and marks the end of the Christmas season. Hear more about the history and its significance in today’s world from our spunkiest guests, Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith.
Host: Carla Long Guest: Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith |
|
Who Were the Magi?
Centre Place Lecture
Centre Place Lecture
|
|
The Gospel of Matthew tells us that "magi" from the East brought gifts to the infant Jesus following a mysterious star. Western Christianity commemorates this event with the feast of Epiphany, on January 6. What do we know about these wise men? Where did they come? Were they kings or Zoroastrian priests? Is there any evidence of a new star? We'll look at all these and other questions to reveal the meaning of this story from a mythological and theological view point.
|