Singing the Faith offers several new hymns for Advent and you may like to consider presenting familiar ones in a different way. 

Valerie Ruddle offers some suggestions.

Advent candles

Diminishing candles indicate the passing of time better than ones that burn more slowly, so use slender candles on the Advent wreath and light the same one first each week.

Advent candles tell their story (Mark Earey) - 165
One verse per week. Sing it, talk about it, sing it again. Allow time for what it says to be taken in.

Christmas is coming (John Bell) - 166
Best as an accumulating song, adding a verse every week. Alternately, read the verses, sing the choruses.

Light a candle in a darkened place (Claire Stainsby) - 174
Another progressive song. Use as solo or choir item the first week, after which everyone will be ready to join in. Prepare young children to sing ‘So let it burn’ at each verse end.

Other songs

Focus on a verse or two rather than always singing the whole hymn. Doing more with less can create a greater impact.

Sing we the King (Charles Silvester Horne) - 185
Just verse one and chorus to remind ourselves that, even in Advent, Jesus is not an unborn baby now! He is with us!

Longing for light (Bernadette Farrell) - 706
Use verses 1 and 2 and the chorus.

There’s a light upon the mountains (Henry Burton) - 188
Take a verse a week and highlight a single word from it.
For example, v.1 - waiting, v.2 - expectation, v.3 - barriers, v.4 - meet.

Praise to the God who cheers the way (Jan Berry) - 183
A new hymn to a delightful tune that is probably already known (see StF 509)

Prayer responses

A sung response allows more time for reflection than a hastily said ‘Hear our prayer’.

Come, Lord Jesus, come (Francesca Leftley) - 168
Take it slowly as a prayer response, with brief spoken prayers between the verses. The descant can be played by flute or recorder to some verses. Alternately, vocalise with ‘ah’ or sing ‘Come, Lord Jesus’ to every bar.

O come, O come, Immanuel - 180
Sing the refrain only, as a response in unison or harmony.

Alleluia - 755 and 756
One of these settings could be used as a response to prayers of adoration or thanksgiving.

Read

Words read can sometimes make a greater impact than when sung.

Wild and lone the prophet’s voice (Carl Daw) - 189
Invite various sections of the congregation to read the first half of each verse, with everyone joining in each second half, followed by space for reflection as the tune is played quietly.

Magnificat - 793
Use women/men for dark/light print. All say the Gloria

Visuals

Prepare cut-outs for colouring and sticking, to build a series of pictures or one large composite picture to illustrate the aspects of Advent or other topical hymn.

Colours of day (Sue McClellan & others) - 167
Throughout Advent, gradually build a ‘Spread the Word’ frieze to stretch around the church by Christmas Day, showing local outreach activities.

Movement

People of all ages like a bit of body movement occasionally.

Long ago prophets knew (Fred Pratt Green) - 178
Add some movement to the refrain as a circle dance or in the pews:

Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring - step, close, step, close, etc; repeat in opposite direction
When he comes, when he comes - look upwards, raise arms and lower them slowly
Who will make him welcome - then turn on the spot.

Make way, make way (Graham Kendrick) - 264
Verses: face a partner and offer right and left hand alternately as you move around the circle (grand chain)
Chorus: face partner and clap (two bars), then turn your partner (two bars). Repeat.