Download the PDF: Advent, Christmas, & Epiphany: A Guide for Pastors and Churches. See also: Introduction to the Church’s Liturgical Calendar (article and handout).
The Season
Christmas is a 12-day season of celebration that begins on Christmas Day (always December 25). Christmas, also called the Feast of our Lord’s Nativity, means “Mass on Christ’s Day” or “the Lord’s Supper on Christ’s Day.” It is a time for Christ’s body, the Church, to joyfully celebrate the Word’s incarnation in a body, especially by eating his body in the bread of the Eucharist (1 Corinthians 10:16–17). The cry of “Come, Lord Jesus!” gives way to the confession that “Christ has come!” (1 John 4:2) and deepens the Church’s confidence that Christ will come again. The feast ends on January 5, the day before the Epiphany.
Color and Decorations
The color of Christmas is white (and sometimes gold), symbolizing the purity and glory of Christ, the spotless sacrificial Lamb and incarnate Son of God.
- Communion tablecloth — Plain White Tablecloth
- Communion table overlay — Trinity Cross (white)
- Banners — Maltese Jacquard (white)
- Banner poles — Banner Hanger Set 24″ 2 pk
- Pulpit scarf — Maltese Jacquard (white)
- Lectern Bible bookmark — Maltese Jacquard (white)
- Nativity set — Michael Adams’ Nine-Piece Nativity Set
Lighting of the Candles
The candles which are lit on each Sunday of Advent lead to the lighting of the white Christ candle on Christmas Eve. All the candles are lit on Christmas Eve and every service during the Christmas season.
For more information and links to where to buy an Advent candlestick and candles, see our “Guide to Celebrating Advent as a Church.”
Nativity Set (“Manger Scene”)
Some churches display a nativity set throughout Advent but wait until Christmas Eve to place baby Jesus in the manager. This is a good place to include children in the service.
Sample Liturgy
- Coming soon
Collects (Prayers) and Scripture Readings
A collect (pronounced “cah· lect”) is a short prayer to unite the thoughts and intentions of God’s gathered people. For collects and Scripture readings for each service of the Christmas season, see here:
Music
Check your church’s hymnal for a “Christmas” section. For examples of fitting hymns, contemporary songs, choruses, and metrical Psalms for use during the Christmas season, see here:
- Christmas Hymns, Songs, and Metrical Psalms — Christmas music for corporate worship, categorized with suggestions for liturgical use
- A Christmas Playlist from Holy Joys — great for prelude
Preaching
- Preach from one of the texts in the Lectionary, or other passages about the incarnation.
- Preaching should be characterized by exultation and encourage deep contemplation of the meaning of the incarnation.
Creeds and Confessions
- Whole Counsel of God — Question 30 on the Incarnation
- Apostles’ Creed — “Born of the Virgin Mary”
- Nicene Creed — “For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.”
- 39 Articles of Religion, 2: “The Son, which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, and of one substance with the Father, took Man’s nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance: so that two whole and perfect Natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God, and very Man.”
- The Athanasian Creed is sometimes used on Christmas Day.
Visual Guide
For a visual guide to Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, download the PDF: Advent, Christmas, & Epiphany: A Guide for Pastors and Churches.
