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.

How can your church can get involved?

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

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 below 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.

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.

Resources will be available to help you to bring Gifted to life by:

• Supporting your church congregations, core members and local communities
• Meeting people unaffiliated with our churches who may be spiritual seekers.

Resources

• Church leaders’ Worship Services package, from Advent to Epiphany (pdf, online only)
  • Blue Christmas liturgy
  • Children’s activities
  • Advent candle liturgies
• Small group guide for weekly engagement with Gifted’s themes (pdf, online only)
• Newcomer-friendly Church training on Zoom in Sept/Oct - register here
• Poster for announcing your Christmas services
• 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
• Postcards for you to advertise your own services
• Digital assets package including social media templates and graphics for you to use on your own website and social media

Available from early September from Methodist Publishing.

Sing the good news of Gifted

You are invited to celebrate Christmas as one Methodist Church with an exciting, new collaborative Christmas music video.

Come together with singers, choirs and bands across the Connexion for the Methodist Church’s Christmas single. Here’s how you join in:

• Learn our new version of Joy to the World (a demo will be provided)
• Gather a group to learn the song and sing together – this could be an existing choir or singing group, or a group gathered especially for this, from your church, small group, community project, youth group, etc!
• Record and film yourselves singing along – with whatever methods you have available: mobile, sound desk, camera, etc. (Guidance can be provided.)

If you’re interested in hearing more, or would like to be involved, please email Ben Lawrence at: LawrenceB@methodistchurch.org.uk

Check out one of last year's Christmas singles below

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