From the Manger Liturgy & Commentary
From the Manger Liturgy & Commentary is a digital product. No physical product will be shipped. Your purchase includes one Single-Entity license. Learn about Multi-Entity licenses here.
Hunger is a universal human experience, drawing attention to both our basic needs for nourishment and deeper needs for peace, liberation, and meaning. From the Manger reflects on the playful symbolism of Jesus being laid in a feeding trough in Bethlehem, the “House of Bread,” inviting us to consider how the baby born in a bread town continues to feed a hungry world today. This Advent resource is designed to inspire, empower, and nourish your community and can be used on its own or alongside other From the Manger products.
From the Manger Liturgy and Commentary includes nearly 100 prayers and litanies to assist with your Advent worship planning. For the four weeks of Advent and for Christmas, we also include a Scripture commentary written by the Rev. Dr. Jeehei Park, Assistant Professor of New Testament at the Seminary of the Southwest, to assist in sermon planning.
We know how daunting it can be to prepare for all of the Advent and Christmas services during such a busy season in the church and the world. One of our goals at Illustrated Ministry is to always make your job easier. We hope these prayers, litanies, and commentary will help assist with your Advent sermon and worship planning.
For each of the four Sundays of Advent, as well as a Candlelight Service and a Children and Families Service, we provide you with the following:
- Call to Worship
- Opening Prayer
- Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy
- Additional Prayer
- Call & Prayer of Confession
- Assurance of Pardon
- Prayer of Illumination
- Prayers of the People
- Prayer for the Offering
- Communion (Invitation to the Table, Great Thanksgiving, Words of Institution)
- Prayer Following Communion
- Affirmation
- Charge and Benediction
How You Can Use It
For those adopting the From the Manger theme across their entire church, having access to all the liturgical materials (ready to use or adapt) will save significant preparation time. Additionally, Rev. Dr. Jeehei Park’s insightful commentary offers valuable guidance for your Advent sermon-writing process.
The flexibility of the From the Manger liturgical materials allows you to tailor each element to fit the unique needs of your congregation, ensuring an engaging and meaningful Advent experience for all. Whether you choose to use the materials as-is or make adaptations, these resources will foster a sense of connection and anticipation within your church community, helping everyone journey together toward the celebration of Christ’s birth.
What You Will Receive
After your purchase, you’ll receive a link to download your PDF file. You can open it directly on most devices, but for the best experience, we recommend downloading on a computer. You'll also receive a link to the Media Kit in the PDF. Please refer to the information included in the PDF on best practices for sharing our products with your community.