Advent is coming, and it’s time to get the words out of storage.
Maybe you’ve seen them engraved in the material of an Advent wreath, embroidered on ribbons hung by each candle, or appliqued on banners for the sanctuary walls. Hope. Peace. Joy. Love.
These words weave their way through the season of Advent, inviting us to prepare for the arrival of Jesus, the Word Made Flesh. They have a sense of familiarity, like heirlooms passed down the generations. And just like heirlooms, the original meaning and impact can be dulled by a patina of too much familiarity.
How about a polishing cloth?
This year, Barn Geese Worship’s Advent series More Than Words helps these four Advent themes sparkle and adds the themes of care, faith, and justice to complete the extended season. The series dives into scripture from the Revised Common Lectionary to explore how each Advent word invites us, challenges us, and prepares us for Jesus’ arrival, drawing us closer to the God who is even now drawing closer to us.
Overview of the weekly themes
This series includes seven weeks of material, perfect for congregations that observe an extended Advent season and for preachers who want to explore the themes of Advent waiting and preparation even before December arrives. This series can easily adapt to the needs of your community.
November 10: Care
November 17: Faith
November 24: Justice
December 1: Hope
December 8: Peace
December 15: Joy
December 22: Love
December 25: Christmas
What’s included in the series?
If you purchase the Basics, you receive the Preachers’ Notes, Children’s Message Starters, Words for Worship, hymn suggestions, and the original hymn “More Than Words.” All other items are included in the Bundle or are available to purchase à la carte.
Preachers’ Notes: Preaching commentaries explore connections between each week’s lectionary texts and the More Than Words theme.
Children’s Message Starters: Kid-friendly connections to the week’s theme help to jump-start your brainstorm for a children’s message. Also included: weekly coloring pages to complement your children’s messages!
Words for Worship: Fresh texts for Advent worship include Greeting & Invocation, Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Forgiveness, Advent Wreath-Lighting, weekly Prayers of the Day/Prayers of Illumination, Offering Prayer, Eucharistic Prayer, Prayer After Communion, and Sending. Also includes a new hymn written for this worship series, entitled “More Than Words.”
Hymns: The original hymn “More Than Words” explores the thematic interplay of each of the seven Advent words as gifts from God. As God’s love is magnified for us, we magnify it like Mary, too. Crunchy clustered chords toward the end of the refrain evoke the angelic presence of the Annunciation, which hovers in the background of Mary’s Magnificat. Meanwhile, weekly hymn suggestions provide musical pairings to match theme, message, and music.
Advent Devotions: This take-home resource could be used to accompany the lighting of the household Advent wreath. Arranged around a weekly lectionary text, it guides users into exploring the weekly themes of care, faith, justice, hope, peace, joy, and love. This download also includes a social media suite with a daily devotional graphic for churches to post.
An Advent & Christmas Pageant: An intergenerational pageant opens on John the Baptist, the self-designated Biggest Fan of Jesus, who is confused about why a Christmas pageant mentions him at all! The pageant romps through the stories that surround Jesus’ birth, following the gospels right up through the night of Jesus’ nativity.
More Than Words: now live in the Market Stall!
Want to get a sense of More Than Words before you buy? Celebrate the brevity of our short series sample by clicking the button below.
See value in our volubility? Click the button to head to the More Than Words Market Stall and purchase the full-length series.