Advent and Christmas

Looking for some inspiration this Advent and Christmas? We have pulled together a range of resources, creative ideas and media to bring the season to life. We have a few Christmas and Advent ideas on our Pinterest boards too - check them out here

Kiwi Advent  Illustrations

4 original designs for LOVE, JOY, HOPE & PEACE, illustrated by our Strandz team.

Find out more...

Advent

​Advent Calendars​

• Advent Calendar​ (Busted Halo)
• Advent Conspiracy 
• Advent Spiral ​(Good God Ideas) 
• An Aotearoa Advent Circle (SUNZ)

 All-Age Advent

•  Something is coming Advent resource (Intergen AU) ​*NEW*

• Christmas on the Move, our travelling nativity​ resource
• Engage Together - Advent: Lectionary-based Children’s Talk + Multi-age activities for Sundays in Advent ​

Advent Prayers

• Advent Candle prayers for the 4 Advent weeks (Theresa Cho)
• Advent Candle prayers (Theresa Cho)
• Advent Prayer Stations (Building Faith)

Advent at home​

• Our Strandz Journey Through Advent Packs
• 2017 Multi-Age Advent Ideas for Households (United Methodist Church)​
• Advent Candle image with prayers​
• Jesus Storybook Bible: Advent readings using this great book, by Zondervan.​​

Jesse Trees

• Jesse Tree (SUNZ)

Christmas on the Move

Christmas on the Move is a free printable resource with Bible Characters and a nativity set to make. Use it as a family activity at home or amongst your congregation - it can also be used in church. Join Mary and Joseph on their journey towards Bethlehem, as we journey towards Christmas. ​

Download the Christmas on the Move resource pack, nativity files, colouring poster, and prayers

check out Christmas on the move

Meri Kirihimete - Christmas in New Zealand

There are some great New Zealand produced media, including those great videos from New Zealand churches. More videos can be found on our Christmas Media page

Intergenerational

All Age Talks and Stories

• Rags to Riches - An intergenerational all age service (SUNZ) *NEW*​
• Intergenerational Christmas resource (mainly Ministries) ​*NEW*
• ​A Very Chocolate Christmas - creative nativity story using 35 types of chocolate found in NZ
• Dramatic Presentation linking Christmas to Easter
• Lost Sheep have a whole bunch of Christmas stories, with downloadable images/powerpoints and scripts. Great for an all age service where you want some vibrant images.
  
• The Grinch can't steal our Christmas (SUNZ)
• Christmas Family Faith Trail (UCA)

Messy Church

• Messy Church do a 'Messy Christmas' Book - you can buy the books at Bible Society NZ or download the resource online

For Epiphany ideas, check out our special Epiphany page

Christingle

Christingles are festive celebrations taking place in communities every year. They get their name from the objects lit during the ceremony - oranges decorated with red tape, sweets and a candle. The Children's Society have resources, downloads and guides to help you run a smooth Christingle this year. (NB: Extra safety precautions needed when having candle flames near flammable face coverings and hand sanitisers.)

• Download a free Christingle starter pack from the Children's Society with everything you need to know
• How to make a Christingle
• Christingle at home
• Muddy Church Christingle

Nativities and Pageants

• *NEW* Impromptu Nativity (Bible Society UK)
• ​Why do a Christmas pageant? (Build Faith)
• Pop-up Nativity (Bible Society UK)
• The Night Before Christmas (Word file download)
• Messy Nativity (Messy Church book)
• Gingerbread nativity (Messy Church)
• The Certainty of Christmas (SUNZ)
  ​- Full Resource available here
  - Skit script
  - Spelling out CHRISTMAS activity ​
• A Zoom Nativity script (Flame Creative)

Script Downloads

• Interactive Christmas Drama
• Christmas Story
• An Impromptu Nativity
• Christmas Box Story
• Christmas Box Story instructions
• A Sensory Christmas experience service outline, with 5 Candle Station Scripts

Bible Society Christmas Resources

Media

There are so many amazing Christmas videos and media, and we have put them on their own Christmas media page

Make + Create

Printable and Crafts

• ​*NEW* Christmas magazine downloads (Anglican Dioceses of Christchurch)
• Nativity Story Stones
• Printable Nativity (Made by Joel) 
• Paper Angel Printable
• 21 Printable Nativity Scene Resources
• Lost Sheep Nativity Bookmarks
• Nativity Story Stones
• Crochet your own Nativity Scene  
• Preschool Nativity Packs
• Lego Nativity Activity

Bible Paper Toys: The Nativity Story
​© Didier Martin mylittlehouse.org - for personal use only

• Book 1: The Nativity Figures [12mb.pdf]
• Book 2: The Nativity House [15mb.pdf]
• Book 3: The Shepherds [15mb.pdf]
• Book 4: Plants [7.5mb.pdf]
• Book 5: Animals [11mb.pdf]
• All template files [53mb.pdf] ​

Making a difference this Christmas

Compassionate Christmas
You might like to think about 'doing christmas differently' with one of the following:

• Christian World Service - The Joy of Giving, alternative gifts for Christmas. These could be a great fundraiser for Christmas services, nativity plays and Advent events.
• Angel Tree (Prison Fellowship, NZ)

Compassionate Advent

• Christmas Bowl Advent Resources​

Songs

Games + Activities

• Here is a Christmas Puzzle and Activity book we put together - great to hand out to visiting kids over the Christmas weekend
• Human Christmas Trees
• A twist on ​Pass the Parcel - a fun way to retell the christmas story, from our friends at Resourced!
• Journey to Christmas board-game and instructions​
• Family Time Podcast: Christmas Episodes (Salvation Army NZ)