Resources on... Christmas 2011

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(*Member of the Evangelical Alliance)

Resources for outreach or themed church services 

Breakout Trust have produced "It's a Boy" a DVD that is suitable for use at evangelistic events that have a Christmas theme. £9.99 from www.breakout.org.uk

Bible Society* have created "Christmas Unwrapped" www.christmasunwrapped.org.uk which features a short animated video of the Christmas story as told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke that can be added to church websites. There are also longer illustrated readings that can be downloaded for use during Christmas services http://bit.ly/cAnVzw

CMS have developed Share the Light advent resource. Share the Light is about taking time at Christmas to share the light of Jesus with our local community. The basic idea is to literally give light (a candle) to someone, pray for them, and invite them to be part of a Share the Light service at your church. Candles, prayer cards and booklets are available from www.cms-shop.org.uk A Share the light video and resources for services can be downloaded from
www.cms-uk.org/default.aspx?tabid=241

CPO (Christian Publishing & Outreach)* offer a full range of Christmas promotional and advertising materials for your church's outreach service which can be overprinted with church details; they also have evangelistic tracts and booklets that can be given out at events. 
For more information or to order a catalogue visit www.cpo.org.uk or phone 01903 263354.

Engage (a Care for the Family initiative) has produced resources for toddler groups with a Christmas theme. www.engagetoday.org.uk/playtime/resources/run-a-Christmas-event
or Tel: 029 2081 0800

The Good Book Company have Advent calendar packs which include a booklet with Bible readings for each day. They also produce evangelistic tracts, books and DVD's on Christmas themes.
For more information or to order visit www.thegoodbook.co.uk or phone 0333 123 0880.

Grove Books have published 'The Christmas Stories in Faith and Preaching' by John Proctor which looks at the distinctive emphases between biblical accounts of the Christmas story to open up some much needed fresh ideas for exposition and celebration. Published by Grove Books; ISBN 1851743820. Also available as an e-book. They also have a selection of Church of England resources for themed services at Christmas. For more information or to order visit www.grovebooks.co.uk or phone 01223 464748. 

Kevin Mayhew Publishers have a large range of resources for advent and Christmas services including musical plays, art and craft ideas, ideas for school assemblies and collections of reflections and prayers. For more information see www.kevinmayhew.com or phone 0845 388 1634

Lifewords UK* have a dedicated Christmas website with a huge variety of resources
For more information or to order visit www.sgmlifewords.com/christmas/ or phone 020 7730 2155.

Livability* have produced a resource entitled Neighbourhood Nativity that is intended to enable your church to show it takes disability and poverty seriously. The resource makes it possible for everyone in the church to be involved in telling the Christmas story. It is available as a download or a DVD from http://eauk.co/tGXCC2

Paperless Christmas developed by the Bible Reading Fellowship have a Jesus and Mary road movie that you could play in your church youth group or at Christmas themed evangelistic events. They also have resources to accompany each episode of the story that are aimed at teachers and church youth group leaders www.paperlesschristmas.org.

Philo Trust* has What's the point of Christmas tract by J John that can be bought individually or as a pack for handing out at events. They also have a number of other tracts suitable for handing out at Christmas events.
For more information or to order visit www.philotrust.com or phone 01923 287777

RUN Video has produced some Christmas themed downloadable Christmas themed videos clips for use in outreach events www.runvideo.org.uk/videostore

The Scripture Union* has a free Nativity service download that includes a short vox pop video, service outline and Bible talk. www.scriptureunion.org.uk/SU_Core/Light/FreeNativityService/65744.id 
They also have a number of free downloadable resources for schools www.scriptureunion.org.uk/resource/OutlineArchive/2003/Christmas/3206.id as well as books and DVD's for all ages including material for those that need material in simpler language they can be purchased from www.scriptureunion.org.uk 

Spurgeon's: The Great Escape is Spurgeons' Christmas DVD telling the Christmas story as you've never seen it before!  It's supported by downloadable all-age resources including talk outlines, ideas for school assemblies and church services.  To view a trailer, order a DVD and download resources go towww.spurgeons.org/christmas or phone 01933 412412

The Stapleford Centre* provide Christmas teaching resources for school assemblies with ready-made lesson plans and activity sheets, Christmas plays, story books and more, for primary and secondary school ages.
For more information or to order visit www.stapleford-centre.org/bookshop or phone 0115 939 6270.

Tearfund's* First Christmas free Christmas resources include an easy to stage nativity play, craft activities for children, notes for a Christmas talk and a 3 minute film from Nepal available from http://www.tearfund.org/christmas

Unlock has resources aimed at urban churches including a resource, Nechells Unlocks Christmas designed for use with groups of urban, oral learners from outside of the church in the run up to Christmas.
http://www.unlock-urban.org.uk/resources_projects.php

Special activities

Advent Conspiracy
What if Christmas became a world changing event again?
http://www.adventconspiracy.org

ACAT (Action by Christians Against Torture).
ACAT provide a list of prisoners all over the world for you to send Christmas cards to (available for a small donation for non-members of ACAT).
For more information visit  www.acatuk.org.uk   or email uk.act@googlemail.com or phone 01752 843417.

The Prison Fellowship* Angel Tree project.
Angel Tree is the Prison Fellowship's project which sends Christmas presents to children of prisoners in the UK.
For more information visit www.prisonfellowship.org.uk or phone 0207 799 2500

Operation Christmas Child*, run by Samaritan's Purse, collects and distributes gift-filled boxes to children in various developing countries around the world. This year it will also be possible to fill boxes online via Shoebox World.
For more information www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk or phone 0870 011 2002

Simplify developed by the Evangelical Alliance
Suggestions for how to have a Jesus centred Christmas that is less materialistic, more generous and more ethical.
www.eauk.org/simplify/christmas/index.cfm

Toybox * have information and suggestions on how to run special festive themed fundraising events for children living on the streets in Latin America.
http://www.toybox.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/festive-fun.aspx

The Children Society produce resources for church services and children and youth activities around the theme of the Christingle (meaning 'Christ Light') as a symbol of the Christian Faith. For more information visit www.childrenssociety.org.uk or phone 0207 7841 4400

Volunteering
Contact your local salvation Army Division or your nearest City Mission to see if they have any vacancies for volunteers to serve others in their community during the Christmas season.

A list of city missions is available at: www.eden.co.uk/directory/city_missions_26.html or contact the British Association of City Missions phone 01273 503344

Salvation Army Directory of Divisional HQ's snipurl.com/1enf5x   

Alternative presents

Christmas gift cards or gift tokens
Many charities offer Christians the opportunity to select gifts on behalf of their family and friends to send them to those in desperate need. 
Some creative gift ideas include: Bicycles for pastors; goats, pigs, cows or chickens for poor families; Bibles for believers; winter coats for those in need; Bible training for young believers; seed kits for farmers; blankets; medical for street children; and more.

Some Christian charities you can contact are:

The Toy Box Charity*
www.toybox.org.uk
Tel: 0845 466 0010

Samaritan's Purse*:
www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/buy-a-gift
Tel: 020 8559 2044

Send a Cow:
www.sendacowgifts.org.uk/christmas

World Share*:
www.worldshare.org.uk
Tel: 01302 775209

World Vision:
www.musthavegifts.org/Worldvision/Default.aspx 
Tel: 0845 600 6446

Fairtrade products
Looking out for fairly-traded Christmas presents and decorations when you shop can make a difference to more than just one person.
You can view the online catalogues and/or order one from the organisations below.

Traidcraft:
www.traidcraft.co.uk 
Tel: 0191 491 0591

Tearcraft*:
www.tearcraft.org or email tearcraft@prolog.uk.com
Tel: 0845 218 3960 

Ethical Superstore:
www.ethicalsuperstore.com

Fairwind Fairtrade:
Supply Fairtrade Christmas trees and decorations as wells as gifts.
www.fairwindonline.com

Other

Evangelical Alliance Resources

Advent Prayer Guide
This year's annual Advent Prayer Guide focuses on getting ready for the arrival of the King. The Prayer Guide can be used by individuals, small groups, in the workplace and adapted for use in church services. Each day will have a Bible reading, a reflection and prayer points.
For more information or to download visit www.eauk.org/adventprayer

Christmas fact and Figures
An interesting collection of surveys, quotes and stats on Christmas, ideal for sermons and talks put together by the Evangelical Alliance's Information and Resources Centre.
Visit: www.eauk.org/resources/info/statistics/christmas-quotes-surveys-and-statistics.cfm
 

Christmas cards
It is worth remembering that many charities produce their own Christmas cards to raise funds. Why not contact your favourite charity to ask whether they have cards for sale?  Always check the percentage given to the designated charity in high street selections, as it may be minimal.

Biblelands have a huge range of cards including many the feature Bible verses.
For more information or to order visit www.biblelands.co.uk or phone 01227 811646.

For more information visit gnfc.org.uk/shop/christian-christmas-cards.html

Scripture Union* has a range of "Bible Friends" Christmas cards available from www.scriptureunion.org.uk/Shop/Seasonal/Christmas/10008.id

* Member of Evangelical Alliance.

NB   This list does not claim to be comprehensive and it is inevitable that there will be other excellent resources that we have missed, please email info@eauk.org to let us know about the resources we have missed.