Imagination and Inspiration Key to Christmas Fund Advent Resources Created by CHHSM’s Berry

Once again, the Pension Boards UCC (PB) and the UCC Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM) have partnered to bring churches and related agencies this year’s Christmas Fund Advent resources, including the four weeks of Advent, plus Christmas Eve.

The 2024 set of resources, which will be available soon from the Pension Boards, have been created by the Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry, CHHSM’s associate for advocacy and leadership development. The resources include not only the regular liturgical elements — Litany of the Advent Candle, Prayer of Confession, Words of Assurance, Invitation to the Offering, and Prayer of Dedication — but also a children’s moment. Additionally, this year’s resource set includes weekly Advent spiritual exercises for adults and teens that can be shared after worship during coffee hour, to begin youth group, during adult Bible study, etc. All of the elements are based on the Advent lectionary readings.

“I was thrilled to be asked to write the liturgical resources for the Christmas Fund again,” said Berry. “What was most exciting about this year’s resources, though, is that we added a few unique elements that further enrich engagement and experience of the Advent themes.”

The Pension Boards also asked Berry to create a short video sermon for the Sunday after Christmas. The video sermon, based on Luke 2:41-52, can be played in lieu of a sermon, or the transcript can be used as “sermon seeds” to help pastors write their own sermons. 

Children’s Moments: Deep-Sea Theology

The children’s moments are centered on various elements of the deep sea. Each includes photos and/or enchanting artwork created by Berry. There also is a DIY Advent wreath ritual using the project’s original art.

“Each week, there is a different deep-sea creature that illuminates and illustrates the theme for that week, like the dancing yeti crab for the week on joy, for example,” Berry said. “And although I was writing these for a children’s audience, the messages and scriptural connections are relevant for all ages.”

“It was such a fun experience for me to communicate these big themes of hope, peace, joy, and love in an accessible way and at a time where there is so much reason for despair and distress,” she added. “My son, Cameron, helped me make the DIY Advent wreath to see if it would actually work. That became a really meaningful experience for us both.”

Enriching Teen and Adult Exercises

The teen and adult spiritual exercises include short activities inspired by poetic exercises and forms — but instead of poems, the exercises use the weekly lectionary reading. They are intended to help adults and teens more deeply engage with the lectionary readings.

“Advent is a season rich with meaning, and so creating new ways to go deeper with the readings felt like a wonderful opportunity,” Berry said. “We hope all of these resources support everyone in the congregation to dive deeper into Advent, be more present with what they find, and share more easily the ways Spirit is moving in their lives.”

All Christmas Fund worship resources will be available at christmasfund.org by the end of September. The Pension Boards also plans to email all UCC churches with a link to the resources. To be added to the e-mail list, contact erathjen@pbucc.org.

“CHHSM is thrilled to partner once again with the Pension Boards in creating these meaningful Advent resources in conjunction with the annual Christmas Fund,” said Jamar Doyle, president and CEO of CHHSM. “Elyse Berry has created an imaginative and inspirational set of resources for every age. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Pension Boards well into the future.”