Advent and Christmas Resources

Together, all districts, circuits, local churches and fellowships of the Methodist Church are invited to remind people of their inherent worth and beauty – not because of what they’ve done, or what they can give – but because of who they are.

Gifted:

• is for everyone in our churches and beyond: both believers rejoicing at God’s gift of Jesus, and those who might find the season more wearying than wonderful.
• reaches out to people longing for transformation but feeling stuck. For those searching for something more, something real – but unsure where to look.

Gifted is the Methodist Church's open invitation, speaking the good news to people that they matter. That they are Beloved. Created with infinite care. A gift to the world, just as they are.

Sign up for our weekly Advent emails

One email, each week throughout Advent, bringing you some spiritual nourishment at this busy time of year.

How can your church can get involved?

This Christmas, we’re encouraging churches to share the good news of Gifted – and embody it!

Worship resources

Download your Gifted resources, available in both PDF and HTML formats at the links below, in time for the festive season.

Physical products

• Poster for announcing your Christmas services – order on the Methodist Publishing website.
• Download the poster to print locally
• Download the Welsh poster to print locally
• Thank you 'gift' cards to let people in our communities know they are the gift, with space for Methodists to write their personal message thanking the recipient for being the gift they are – order on the Methodist Publishing website. Please note, these are a costed item: £2.50 for a pack of 10.
• Postcards for you to advertise your own services – order on the Methodist Publishing website.
• Download the postcard to print locally
• Download the Welsh postcard to print locally

Share the good news of Gifted

Gifted aims to reach many people this Christmas: from core members of Methodist churches following Sunday preaching throughout Advent, to the general public seeing posters outside local churches or social media posts.

Wherever people hear about Gifted, whether on a Sunday morning or on a social media advert, they will hear the same good news message.

Watch our Gifted webinar to hear how to your community can get involved and learn more about the resources available.

• Newcomer-friendly Church training on Zoom in September and October to help you get ready to welcome visitors this Christmas:
  • 24 September 10:30am Part 1 and 16 October 1pm Part 2

Embody the good news of Gifted

Think about how your own church community already is, and can be, a gift to the people around you.

What do your neighbours most need this season – and how might you offer it, with generosity and grace?

You can:

• Write thank you cards to unaffiliated people in your community, declaring “you are a gift because…”
  • We've created cards just for this purpose. See the resources list to order.
• Offer your church and its activities as the gift. That might mean lots of things you already do:
  • Creating warm, welcoming spaces where people can simply be – with no expectations.
  • Offering food, music, storytelling, or silence – gifts of presence and beauty.
  • Making space in your services for vulnerability, for doubt, for grief as well as joy.

Singing the good news of Gifted

We are so excited to announce the upcoming release of our collaborative Christmas carol, a new version of 'Joy to the World'.

Local churches were invited to participate by gathering groups to sing along and join in together. A huge thank you to all who took part.

The single will be released in November ahead of the busy Christmas season. Check back here to find the link or follow us on your favourite streaming service.

Tell your good news stories for Gifted

Tell us your own church stories to put local expressions of Methodism at the heart of Gifted this Christmas.

Submit your stories relating to Gifted's theme of:

“You are a gift. You have been Made With Love.”

For example:

• Of an individual who has been experiencing some form of challenge in their life (poverty, loneliness, bereavement, etc); who has discovered a new identity within the outreach work of your church; and who has found belonging hope and faith within their new community.
• Real and authentic expressions of the local church at its best.
• Stories of either practical solutions or spiritual growth and change.

To submit your stories, please email the Digital team at: digital@methodistchurch.org.uk