Ideas for Advent & Christmas 2020
As we all contemplate these next liturgical seasons in our virtual spaces, I have been thinking of ways to engage virtually. Instead of mourning what we cannot do this season, let’s focus on the way that virtual church provides new gifts. There is an intimacy that can be created on zoom – especially as people share a part of their homes and life that is not usually seen together when we meet at a church building. There are also new opportunities not limited by distance or cost. This is the year of acknowledging what we have lost, and what we have gained.
Advent
Maybe more than any other year, this year we need the season of Advent to be spiritually rich with time for both sorrow and joy. Families with children often have many ways to celebrate and mark the season, but don’t forget about the adults in congregations who may be facing a season without visiting family and may be feeling more isolated than ever. Here are suggestions:
- Have an Advent study! There are many resources available, but this is often a staple of our adult formation that feels even more important now. Advent is a Pilgrimage according to this article. Or take a virtual pilgrimage to the Holy Land during Advent with this Episcopal Church. I especially recommend Living Well through Advent 2020: Practicing Hope from Living Compass. Printed books are offered for free this year as well as the downloadable leader guide, or sign up for daily emails instead of books.
- Family faith formation in Advent is also crucial. Candle Press has a wonderful, free downloadable Family Advent resource. Here is an article on Advent at Home in Community from a church that couldn’t meet in its building so created Advent gatherings while apart. There are lessons for all of us this year.
- Here are some fun ways of connecting faith at home with outreach with these really fun ideas like sidewalk chalk and Christmas rocks.
Advent Traditions:
- Utilize an Advent Calendar! Perhaps encourage the whole church to participate in Advent Word, or download a calendar such as this one to color in, or use the Presiding Bishop’s Way of Love Advent calendar. Click here for even more Advent calendar ideas.
- Encourage people to make Advent Wreaths at Home – however they want to make it – using 4 candles and any other set up they want to create. Provide prayers for each week and encourage your community to share photos of their creations.
- Use a Creche set! Encourage everyone to set up a creche set in their home. Each week of Advent different figures can be set out or added and the magi can slowly be moved around the room where they can “arrive” at the manger on Epiphany. Here is a downloadable creche set to color and cut out.
Enhancing our Virtual Advent & Christmas in the Liturgy
- Have a theme each week of Advent and encourage participants to create virtual zoom backdrops for each week of Advent according to the theme.
- Have members share a photo of their Advent Calendars or creche sets. These could be put into a slide show to play during prelude or postlude. Perhaps those that are separated from family members would contribute a photo to a slide show for prayers set to music as a time to remember those we are separated from.
- Even if we aren’t in our church buildings, show a photo of the creche set up in the church, and move the wise men closer each week. The photos will help us understand the journey and take it with each other.
- On Christmas Eve, have everyone bring a candle with them to light during Silent Night. Everyone can be instructed to turn down their lights and light a candle at the same time while Silent Night is sung or played. Click here if you are looking for short, intergenerational services especially for families with young children that include everything for free.
- Have a virtual Christmas or Epiphany Pageant! Scripts can be sent out ahead of time and parts assigned to all ages. Let folks come up with their own costumes – and a shepherd’s head covering, a tinsel halo, or crown will do – and perhaps send out virtual backdrops for the different “scenes”. Or have families record different scenes and send in, then put together for a pageant. Another idea is to send out parts of the story and have people put together photos or a film to illustrate it using Legos, a diorama, a creche set, or live action. Click here for more ideas. And for even more resources on virtual pageants, this site is great.
- Perhaps more than ever, this is a good year to have a “Blue Christmas” service as many people face the loss of loved ones to Covid and other tragedies this past year. Godspace has suggestions for meaningful remembrances in 2020 as well as the Clergy Leadership Institute liturgy resources. The Episcopal Church has a page dedicated to The Good News of Lament which offers many great resources. I especially recommend Trauma Informed Priorities for Adult Christian Formation.
Virtual Coffee Hour and Social Outreach
- Use a discussion prompt at the virtual coffee hour each week to encourage people to share family traditions. Perhaps these are family stories of Christmases past, a tradition for celebrating the season, or perhaps a special food of the season.
- Have a virtual recipe swap with cookie recipes, or some other family recipe. Perhaps someone would offer to record themselves doing a cooking demonstration of something that makes the season special for them.
- Pick a service project as a church that allows folks to get involved, even when social distancing. Perhaps a collection of some sort for a local group. It might also work well to have a project that everyone can work on. Click here for ideas during a pandemic.
Celebrating Epiphany
- Looking ahead and continuing the celebration through Epiphany, I recommend this idea of Epiphany Bags and Chalking the Door.