On the Shelf
By Ellen Johanson
Advent Resources
By the time you read this, Advent will be right around the corner…but in the world of resource centers, thinking about Advent starts early as in late summer/early fall. We look for new resources, share best practices, review bible studies, books, music and pageants because we know that our church members will soon be asking for suggestions of what’s new and what to do to celebrate the start of the liturgical year.
Advent is primarily a time of waiting – but that doesn’t mean it is a time of inactivity.
Here are a few resources you may want to incorporate into your observation of Advent.
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Matt & Lucy’s Version Births: A Christmas Pageant
Matt & Lucy’s Version Births is based on the Christmas stories in Matthew and Luke. Produced by Living the Questions, this resource offers a progressive view of the stories showing that they are not historical narratives, but instead are the creative work of two evangelists intent on showing the world why Jesus was such a special person. The two CDs together include a music disk with vocal and instrumental music of all the songs in the pageant and a CD-ROM with PDF files of scripts, production notes and sheet music. E-mail the Regional Media Center for the availability of this resource.
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The King is Born (D2270)
An animated story about the birth of Jesus based on The Bible. Includes English and Spanish subtitles and supplementary activity book. E-mail the Regional Media Center for the availability of this resource.
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Advent Calendar on DVD (D4676)
Just pop the DVD in your player and gather round for a fun and informative family into the meaning of Advent and Christmas. The DVD contains 25 mini-documentaries each about 3-minutes long explaining the symbols, sights, and sounds of Advent. The DVD also includes daily bible readings, a coloring book, scripts and music. E-mail the Regional Media Center for the availability of this resource.
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Advent A to Z (NEW!) – RESOURCE IS AVAILABLE, LINK COMING SOON
This book explores an Advent-related word that begins with a successive letter of the alphabet for each day between December 1 through 26. The activities (discussion starters, games, crafts, meditations, journaling, outreach projects and devotions) based on each day’s word are ideal for parents teaching their children about Advent. If you, or your church family, are looking for ways to connect during the hectic holiday season, this book can help you strengthen your bonds with one another and with God as you explore the characters, themes and symbols of the season in which we prepare for Jesus’ birth and God’s promised realm. E-mail the Regional Media Center for the availability of this resource.
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Storytellers: The Life of Mary (D4887)
A bible study that unfolds Mary’s life and transforms it for a 21st century audience. With powerful lessons, this bible study examines Mary’s life in a way you would never expect. Each clip on this DVD walks down Mary’s road of faith as she journeys through a life of unbelievable events that usher in Jesus Christ. Per Molly Fraser of Light of the Hill UMC (Puyallup, Wash.), “This is a great resource for an Advent Study. It’s easy to lead as everything needed is included and it stimulated conversation.” E-mail the Regional Media Center for the availability of this resource.
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Advent Conspiracy (D4510)
Do you think “Consumerism” has stolen the heart and soul of Christmas? Are you fed up, burned out, or dreading the arrival of Christmas? Would you like to join others who are choosing to make Christmas what it should be–a joyous celebration of Jesus’ birth rather than a retail frenzy? In four compelling sessions this video invites individuals and churches to substitute compassion for consumerism by practicing four simple, but powerful countercultural concepts: worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all. E-mail the Regional Media Center for the availability of this resource.
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Advent Reflections: You Shall Have a Song (B1002) (NEW!)
This book can be used by individuals for daily devotions or as a Bible Study in a small group. Activities provide hands-on ways to celebrate the Advent season. Examine four songs from the Bible based on these passages of scripture: Psalm 96, Isaiah 42:1-9, Luke 1:46-55 and Philippians 2:5-11.. E-mail the Regional Media Center for the availability of this resource.
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The Meaning is in the Waiting (Book) (NEW!) – RESOURCE IS AVAILABLE, LINK COMING SOON
The spiritual practice of waiting is vital to well-being and is an ancient spiritual discipline, yet it is something we moderns/post-moderns deplore. In this book, author Paula Gooder, helps us relearn the skill of waiting and invites us to engage the biblical people that are central to the Advent story—people who exemplified waiting upon God for wisdom–giving joy and meaning to life. Good for individual devotions. E-mail the Regional Media Center for the availability of this resource.
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The Journey: A Season of Reflections (D5098)
This little booklet can be used as part of the larger book/DVD study by Adam Hamilton or it can be used as a personal devotional booklet for Advent. It contains 28 short devotions to guide you through this holy season. E-mail the Regional Media Center for the availability of this resource.
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This edition of On the Shelf will be available in Channels 67, November 2013 – COMING SOON.
Ellen Johanson serves as the Regional Media Center Manager.
