Sunday 21 December 2025
Advent and Christmas Resources
Join ‘Gifted’ with resources to support your worship, welcome, and witness.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading
Lighting of Advent candles
Useful hymns (using verses as appropriate).
*Advent candles tell their story (StF 165)
‘Christmas is coming!’ The Church is glad to sing (StF 166)
God whose almighty word (StF 106)
*Light a candle in a darkened place (StF 174)
Light of the world, you stepped down in darkness (StF 175)
Like a candle flame, flickering small in our darkness (StF 176)
Longing for light, we wait in darkness (“Christ, be our light!”) (StF 706)
Round orange, round orange (StF 184) a Christingle carol
Also see Advent hymns in the hymns section of the resource hub
Isaiah 7: 10-16
*Emmanuel, Emmanuel (StF 198)
Heal us, Immanuel! Hear our prayer (StF 650)
Let earth and heaven combine (StF 208)
*Like a candle flame, flickering small in our darkness (StF 176)
O come, O come, Immanuel (StF 180)
Sing of a God in majestic divinity (StF 13)
The Angel Gabriel from heaven came (StF 187)
There's a light upon the mountains (StF 188)
Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19
Hymns echoing psalmist’s theme
Faithful One, so unchanging (StF 628)
God of my faith, I offer you my doubt (StF 629)
How long, O Lord, will you forget an answer to my prayer (StF 630)
Listening God, you hear us when we cannot speak (StF 524)
My heart is full of Christ, and longs (StF 506)
Romans 1: 1-7
God has spoken – by his prophets (StF 157)
Hail! Holy, holy, holy Lord (StF 9)
Matthew 1: 18-25
*Emmanuel, Emmanuel (StF 198)
Into the darkness of the world (StF 173)
*Like a candle flame, flickering small in our darkness (StF 176)
Long ago, prophets knew Christ would come (StF 178)
When a young unmarried couple (StF 220)
Who would think that what was needed (StF 222)
A prayer that we may walk in love
Lord God, may we walk in love.
May we walk slowly, step by step, so that we can be still in your presence.
May we walk sometimes in silence, so that we can know rest and peace.
May we walk with a spring in our step, and go forward with joy.
May we walk gazing outwards, seeing the beauty of the world around us.
May we walk looking more widely, conscious of other people and their needs.
May we walk in faith, knowing that you are beside us on every path that we take.
May we walk in love. Amen.
Catherine James, local preacher, Derby Circuit
A contemplative breath prayer - Alternative Prayer
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
(Breathe in) New every morning is your love.
(Breathe out) Great is your faithfulness
A contemplative breath prayer
Alternative versions of You are a gift
Other versions coming soon
Cantonese with BSL
Dubbed into English with BSL