Get ready for Advent and Christmas with these resources, including the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Advent
Photo: Kerstin Wellekötter
Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. The term ‘advent’ derives from the Latin word ‘adventus’, meaning "coming" which is a translation of the Greek word ‘parousia’.
Advent symbolizes anticipation and hope with the expectant arrival of Jesus Christ and of his second coming.
Dates
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, the Sunday nearest to 30 November, and lasts until Christmas Eve. In Eastern Christianity, Advent is referred to as the Nativity Fast and differs in length and observances.
Resources
Resources for Advent can be found below together with links to other organisations and churches who also provide materials for this festive period.
Advent and Christmas 2023
Resources are becoming available for Advent and Christmas 2023, including the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Advent and Christmas 2022
Resources are available for Advent and Christmas 2022, including the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Advent and Christmas 2021
Resources are available for Advent and Christmas 2021.
Advent and Christmas 2020
Resources are available for Advent and Christmas 2020, including the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, and those from Action for Children, CAFOD, Christian Aid, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, Christian Aid Scotland, the Church in Wales, Hope and the Methodist Church. Plus there is material from previous years: A World in […]
Advent and Christmas 2019
Resources were available for Advent and Christmas 2019, including the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, and those from CAFOD, Christian Aid, Church Mission Society, Church Urban Fund, Embrace the Middle East and Hope. Plus there was material from previous years: A World in Waiting – Advent hope in an economic crisis, ALTERnativity and Advent […]
Advent and Christmas 2018
Resources are available for Advent and Christmas, including the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, and material from ALTERnativity, the Bible Society, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Church of England, Church of Scotland, Church Urban Fund, Hope, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) and more. Plus you can still download A World in […]
Advent and Christmas 2017
Resources for Advent and Christmas include the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, and material from the Bible Society, CAFOD, Christian Aid, the Church Urban Fund, Hope and Premier. Plus you can still download A World in Waiting – Advent hope in an economic crisis. Advent and Christmas 2017 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols […]
Advent 2016
Resources for Advent include the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, and material from the Bible Society, CAFOD, Christian Aid and the Church Urban Fund. Plus you can still download A World in Waiting – Advent hope in an economic crisis. Advent 2016 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Download Festival of Nine Lessons and […]
Advent 2015
Resources for Advent include the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, plus material from A Rocha, Bible Society, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Church Urban Fund and others. Plus you can still download A World in Waiting – Advent hope in an economic crisis. Advent 2015 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Download Festival of Nine Lessons […]
