From the Manger
Hunger is a universal human experience, drawing attention to our most basic needs for food and nourishment and our more complex needs—peace, liberation, and meaning in this life. So, it’s no wonder the story of Jesus—the one who came to feed the hungry—begins, ends, and centers around food.
From the Manger gathers around the birth story in Luke 2, embracing the playful symbolism of a newborn Jesus being laid down to sleep in a feeding trough in a town called “House of Bread.” Beginning Advent with the birth of Jesus may feel a bit unconventional. Still, we hope this liturgical dissonance will invite you to reflect on the life-sustaining hope, peace, joy, and love Jesus brings and notice how the baby born in a bread town continues to feed a hungry world today.
Overview of Session Themes
Advent Week 1: Hope
Luke 2:1–7
When Jesus was born, he was placed in a feeding trough in Bethlehem, the “House of Bread.” Amy-Jill Levine reminds us that the manger connects not only to the Last Supper but to all moments where Jesus shares meals. Jesus begins his ministry by feeding the hungry and understanding their needs. Without food, hope withers. On this first Advent Sunday, hope grows from the manger, symbolizing that where Jesus is, hope is found. May we find hope easily this season.
Advent Week 2: Peace
Luke 2:8–16
At Jesus’ birth, angels declared peace on earth, knowing people longed for it. Without peace, justice and love are impossible. In our turbulent world, peace is more essential than ever. On this second Advent Sunday, peace grows from the manger. As Jesus grew, he spread peace, greeting others with, “Peace be with you,” and urging his followers to do the same. May we seek, declare, and create peace.
Advent Week 3: Joy
Luke 2:8–20
Advent stirs our hunger for joy, leading us to reflect on our blessings. The shepherds, filled with joy after meeting Jesus, spread it to all they met. Like Zacchaeus, we are moved to share this joy. Joy inspires us to care for our families and communities. On this third Advent Sunday, joy grows from the manger, touching Mary, Joseph, and even the animals. May we feel this joy too.
Advent Week 4: Love
Luke 2:25–35
When Simeon saw baby Jesus, he recognized God’s fulfilled promises. God’s love, embodied in Jesus, reflects the connection within the Trinity, which we also seek. Jesus, filled with love and compassion, taught people to love one another. On this fourth Advent Sunday, love grows from the manger. As we celebrate Jesus’ birth, may God’s love for others grow within us.
Christmas
Luke 2:10–12
Jesus is born! Hope, peace, joy, and love spring forth from the manger, growing as Jesus grew. He lived by feeding, healing, freeing, and comforting others. This Christmas, we are called to join him in these acts, sharing this great news with those around us. May this message of hope and love guide us throughout the year.
From the Manger — An Advent Hymn
Listen to the full-length extended version of our new Advent hymn, From the Manger. You can also listen to it on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Help us by sharing it and getting the word out. You can also access the song on CCLI's SongSelect website here.
Now the Messiah is unveiled,
embodied for the world to see.
So all creation can be fed,
love will be found in the breaking of bread.
From the manger, love grows.
He will be God With Us.
From the Manger on Organ & Piano
We've intentionally designed this song in the style of a traditional hymn, making it easy for congregations to sing. Whether your church is led by a single pianist, an organist, or a full worship band, "From the Manger" can seamlessly fit into your Advent worship plans with the hymn sheet, sheet music, and chord chart. Listen to some tutorial videos below with Piano + Vocals and Organ + Vocals.
Make the Most of Your Budget and Simplify Your Advent Planning
To make your Advent planning easier, we’ve created three convenient bundles. While you can still purchase each product individually, these bundles offer a great way to stay within your budget.
- Advent at Church Bundle: Perfect materials to use with all ages in your congregation, including resources for worship, preaching, Sunday school, and youth group.
- Advent at Home Bundle: Ideal for those focusing on resources to send home with families and congregants.
- Everything Bundle: Ready to fully embrace the From the Manger theme? This bundle includes everything you need.
Pricing for most products is based on church membership size, with tiers for 1–100 members, 101–500 members, and 501+ members.
ADVENT at CHURCH
Starting at $104.99
Coloring Page and Poster
Advent Hymn
Liturgy & Commentary
Children’s Moments
Interactive Worship Bulletins
Children’s Curriculum
Youth/Intergenerational Curriculum
ADVENT at HOME
Starting at $63.99
Advent for Families
Advent Devotional
Advent Calendar
BONUS: From the Manger Coloring Page
EVERYTHING BUNDLE
Starting at $157.99
Everything included in the Advent at Church Bundle
Everything included in the Advent at Home Bundle
Advent at Home—Save 20%
Buy Everything—Save 25%
Everything included in both the Advent at Church and Advent at Home Bundles.
Don't Need a Bundle? Buy Individual Products
Advent for Families
Reflections, memory-making activities, prayers, and more. Bite-sized and meaningful, this is a perfect resource for the busy family. Audio versions of the reflections will also be available.
Advent Devotional
Thought-provoking reflections on the scripture from our theme. This devotional is perfect for youth, college students, and adults of any age.
Advent Calendar
An Advent Calendar to accompany you through your Advent journey provides a wealth of ideas for fun and memorable activities for the Advent season.
Coloring Page and Poster
Invite your community into a collaborative art project and color a coloring page or a large coloring poster. The illustration features our From the Manger logo.
Advent Hymn: From the Manger
Sheet music and chord charts for our Advent song. This song is available to stream as a fully-produced song you’ll want in your Advent and Christmas playlists, and available as a singable church-friendly version.
Liturgy & Scripture Commentary
Liturgy includes nearly 100 prayers & litanies connected to our From the Manger theme. Scripture commentaries written by the Rev. Dr. Jeehei Park—Assistant Professor of New Testament at the Seminary of the Southwest—will assist with your Advent worship planning.
Children’s Moments
Five children's moments leader guides and full-color illustrations to use during your Advent worship services.
Interactive Worship Bulletins
Five interactive worship bulletins following our From the Manger theme provide many new activities and ways for people of all ages—not only children—to engage and stay connected during worship.
Children’s Curriculum
Take a break from your regular curriculum during Advent and use the accompanying From the Manger curriculum. This will help give young people another opportunity to connect with your Advent theme.
Youth/Intergenerational Curriculum
Perfect for use with your youth ministry or in an intergenerational setting, this resource guides groups through sharing and conversation around the topics of our From the Manger theme.
Lent 2025: Bread of Life
Hungry for more of the story?
This theme continues during Lent 2024 with Bread of Life. Coming later this year!
Hunger is something we all experience. It draws our attention to our most basic needs for food and nourishment and our more complex needs, like peace, liberation, and meaning in this life. So perhaps it's no surprise that Jesus, the one whose birth story begins by exclaiming he would be found in a manger—a feeding trough—calls himself the “Bread of Life.”
Our Lenten theme, Bread of Life, recounts the ways Jesus came to feed people, highlighting Gospel stories of when Jesus ate with wedding guests, his disciples, religious leaders, tax collectors, and thousands of followers at a time. We’ll explore how Jesus not only fed their bellies, but he fed their souls with good news, stories of redemption, and parables that showed the way of heaven. People left Jesus’ presence with full hearts and stomachs. Bread of Life provides you with what you need to set the table so your congregation and community may be nourished, both in body and spirit.
Meet the Contributors
In addition to our Illustrated Ministry staff, who are deeply involved in the creation of these resources, we also partner with talented writers and creatives from across the country. Below, you can learn more about some of the contributors to our From the Manger resources.
Rev. Dr. Jeehei Park
Writing (Scripture Commentary)
Jeehei is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. She is the author of All Citizens of Christ: A Cosmopolitan Reading of Unity and Diversity in Paul's Letters (Brill, 2023). She loves watching tennis. She is an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church.
Daniela Gamba
Illustration
Daniela is a digital illustrator and painter based in New England. She earned a BFA in Illustration from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and specializes in character art, digital paintings, and editorial illustration. More of her projects can be found at danielagamba.com.
Lauren Gibbs-Beadle
Writing (Children's Curriculum)
Lauren is an educator, creative, and parent. She draws upon her Filipino heritage, radical educators, and her experiences as a queer, biracial, neurodivergent woman of color. She has a B.A. in Asian American Studies/Education from Wellesley and an M.Ed. in Social Justice Education from UCLA. Lauren has over 20 years of experience in schools and churches and is currently the Director of Children’s Ministries at FirstPres Hayward. She lives in Castro Valley, CA with her partner, four kids, and a menagerie of animals.
Rev. Arianne Braithwaite Lehn
Writing (Worship Bulletins)
Arianne is a mother, one half of a clergy couple, writer, and ordained minister with the Presbyterian Church (USA). She and her family live in Wilmette, Illinois. Arianne is the author of Ash and Starlight: Prayers for the Chaos and Grace of Daily Life. You can connect with Arianne and her writing at ariannebraithwaitelehn.com.
Rev. Erika Marksbury
Writing (Advent Devotional)
Erika is mom to two wise and wonderful teenagers, and pastor at the First Baptist Church of McMinnville, a creative, progressive, thoughtful congregation. She earned her Ph.D. listening to birth stories and studying birth rituals, and remains fascinated by all the ways people make meaning.
Rev. Amanda Meisenheimer
Writing (Advent for Families, Worship Liturgy, From the Manger song)
Amanda is the pastor of Church on the Hill in Flushing, New York. With a focus on intragenerational and therapeutic approaches to ministry and curriculum, Amanda is passionate about blending spirituality and creativity. She also dabbles in music, poetry, and watercolor. Amanda and her two children make their home in Flushing.
Rev. Mariah Newell
Writing (Youth/Intergenerational Curriculum)
Mariah is the Minister to Children and Families at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, TX. Mariah loves to make Scripture come alive for the kids and youth she serves with creative games, stories, and analogies. In her free time, Mariah likes to cook, garden, travel, hike, and have good conversations with friends. She gets to do life with her husband, Evan, and their fun-loving dog Ellie!
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