Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas – the coming of Christ. It is a time that recalls the coming of Jesus to the little town of Bethlehem, but more so, it prepares our hearts and minds to encounter Christ in the world today.

Christmas invites us to see and proclaim light in the world. It is a time to celebrate the gift of the birth of Jesus, but more so, to share in the good news of Emmanuel, God with us, here in this time and place.

The Centre offers resources for meaningful worship for this important season of the Church year. It is a season of great joy, hope, love and peace. Discover new songs, nativities, liturgies and prayers that invite God’s presence in our lives and celebrate God’s presence made known to us once more.

May your worship share hope with the world.

Worship Online with one of our Partners

Contemplative Prayer

This resource comes from St Andrew’s by the Sea Uniting Church in Glenelg, SA.

The Sacrament of a Cup of Coffee

This resource explores a Cup of Coffee as a sacrament (an outward, visible sign of an inward, invisible grace).

Hands

This resource explores the use of our hands in life and in worship. This is a reflection on the story of Thomas who looked for the scars in Jesus’ hands.

Worship with your Backyard

This is a resource that is designed to be used in a garden. It includes sensory elements and scripture readings as part of worshipping with the whole creation.

Worship on the Sofa

This is a resource that is designed to be used in a home with a family or as an individual. It includes links to music, artworks and poetry.

Godly Baking

This is a resource that is designed to be used in a home with a family or as an individual. It includes links to music, artworks and poetry.

Music Resources

Art Resources

Guided Meditations

These are resources for guided meditation.

Prayers and Poetry for times of Isolation

The Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts is celebrating more than ten years of ministry.

Now is the time to have some relaxing fun and to enjoy the company of kindred spirits at the CMLA Celebratory Dinner.

On the 3-course menu will be great food from the team at Nunyara, views of the city lights on a late spring evening, offerings from MiniM choir and Subtle Bricks and other musicians. A silent auction will be part of the festivities too.

Come and join the celebrations and fundraising dinner.

Date: Sunday 14th November 2021

Venue: Nunyara Conference Centre, Belair, SA

Time: 5.30pm – 9.30 pm

Cost: $70 per person or book a table of 12 for $750 – a great reason to bring friends with you.

Enquiries to Sharonne Price on 0417811517, sharonneprice@gmail.com or Anne at the Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts  admin@cmla.org.au

Songwrite is an invitation to make space for

• creativity
• connection
• contemplation
• community

Songwrite is a Uniting Church gathering for crafting new songs for contemporary worship. It is open to aspiring songwriters, beginners, and those who have already been making music for worship. Whether you write words or music or both, Songwrite is a space for working on new songs. There’s no expectation. This weekend offers the gift of space and encouragement.

Songwrite started in 2013 as a national initiative of the Uniting Church, and has been held in Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane. This event will be held in multiple locations, linked digitally for parts of the program.

The heart of Songwrite is a weekend community who listen to God’s creative Spirit, learn from one another, and support each other in writing new music. The weekend includes community worship and prayer, input from experienced songwriters, space to be creative – solo or with others, and mentors for feedback and guidance.Each Songwrite gathering around the country will have its own local program. There will be opportunities to link together online during the weekend for learning songwriting, worshipping and sharing music. Some Songwrite venues will also include the opportunity to have your songs put into a musical score, and to make a simple recording of your song.

Guest Songwriter: Malcolm Gordon

Malcolm is a singer-songwriter, worship leader, and teaches worship leaders. He is a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Malcolm is a wonderful songwriter whose songs have been sung in New Zealand, Australia and overseas. He also collaborates with others in music and art projects. He is currently completing a PhD in the area of music and worship. Malcolm was previously been a key contributor at Songwrite.

Malcolm’s music: malcolmgordon.bandcamp.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/onevoicetv

One Voice website: www.onevoice.org.nz

Resources from South Australia

Here are a few more resources for this year.

Advent Calendars

Advent calendars don’t have to be the same every year. Check out some of these alternate ways to count down to Christmas.

This resource includes: Reverse Advent Calendars, Advents Acts of Love and Joy, Smart Phone Advent Calendar, A Virtual Advent Wreath, and Watery Advent.

Nativities

Having a Christmas Nativity play during a Covid Christmas can be quite tricky. Don’t let your shepherds get closer than 1.5 metres to the baby! 

This resource includes: A Nativity Hunt, Managing a Nativity in a Covid-Safe Way, Out of the Box Christmas

Carols

Here are some ideas of how others are offering carols and carol services within the current restrictions:

• Take the carols to the community with wandering carollers – those singing will be the ones setting the distance
• Choose a location that will fit all the people you expect – eg a park or garden, Campbelltown Uniting Church is doing carols in their carpark.
• If using your building, ask people to book in so you can organise appropriate seating
• If you livestream your worship, you might like to include the link to your service on any publicity you use to promote your Christmas service.

Blue Christmas

Many churches have a tradition of a Blue Christmas or Service of Solace that gives people a quiet space to recognise that Christmas may hold grief and loss and/or a lack of enthusiasm for what is often a stressful and hyped-up time of year. There are many resources available for such a service.

CMLA has ‘Quieter Christmas Service’ in Right-side-up Christmas.

It’s amazing what happens in 9 months! After sharing in the experience of CMLA’s conference last year, Libby Byrne and Malcolm Gordon, key presenters at the conference, have continued to collaborate and brought into being a beautiful artwork. Libby, a gifted artist and theologian, and Malcolm, a talented musician and minister, each enhanced the work of the other in Sink Like a Stone. 

This piece draws upon the artwork Libby painted in community that was shaped by communal reflection throughout the conference. Libby then created a series exploring the themes. Malcolm’s song, inspired by reflection and the time together, explores the transformative waters and the storm, peace and rest offered within them.

As this strange year of adaptation, change, and challenges unfolds, Sink Like a Stone, offers each of us an opportunity for reflection on how we are shaped and an invitation to renewal.

Malcolm and Libby’s collaboration reminds us that community draws new creativity and reflection; stirs us to new thinking and opens possibilities. What a gift it is to share in life together.

We are delighted when the Centre can facilitate such creativity and innovation amongst our community of artists.

Click here to read more about Libby’s journey and the process.

Resources from the Covenanting Committee of South Australia

Each year the Covenanting Committee provides excellent resources to support congregations to celebrate Reconciliation Sunday.

Walking to Corroboree

This beautiful children’s book was written and illustrated by Anne Kerr and Rhanee Tsetsakos. In this video, Rhanee reads the story and also teaches language.

Contemplative Prayer

This resource come from the St Andrews by the Sea Uniting Church community.