A Stable Lamp Is Lighted: Advent 2025 Resources from ELCA World Hunger
This Advent, ELCA World Hunger invites congregations and households to prepare room—for reflection, generosity, and neighborly love—with its 2025 Advent theme, A Stable Lamp Is Lighted.
The new Advent Calendar, Study Guide, and Action Guide are now available at ELCA.org/our-work/relief-and-development/elca-world-hunger/wh-advent. These free resources help individuals and communities embrace the Advent season as a time of warmth, hospitality, and justice-seeking love.
Inspired by Richard Wilbur’s hymn, A Stable Lamp Is Lighted, this year’s theme calls us to create spaces of care and reflection amid a world longing for peace. “The simple act of making a hospitable, warm, cozy place — even in a stable — moves the sky, the stars and the stones to tremble,” writes ELCA World Hunger.
Advent Calendar
The interactive calendar features an 11″x17″ standing nativity scene ready to color throughout the season, daily activities, Scripture, prayers, and hymns. Each day offers opportunities for reflection and generosity, including “Stocking the Streets” — a hands-on way to care for unhoused neighbors — and giving options through ELCA Good Gifts, which support the church’s work to end hunger and poverty.
Advent Study Guide
The three-session Advent Study Guide accompanies ELCA World Hunger’s new short documentary, Intersections: Justice Ministry With ELCA Partners. Each session includes Scripture, reflection questions, and opportunities for discussion and action. The study invites participants to explore the root causes of hunger and poverty and see how God works through the church’s partnerships to bring justice and hope. DOWNLOAD 2025 ADVENT STUDY | ORDER 2025 ADVENT STUDY
Action Guide for Congregations
This year’s Action Guide for Congregations offers ways to engage all ages in the Advent theme through worship, education, and community projects. From craft activities to social media graphics and bulletin inserts, these materials make it easy for congregations to participate. DOWNLOAD ACTION GUIDE | ORDER ACTION GUIDE
All Advent 2025 resources from ELCA World Hunger are free, with free shipping, and can be downloaded or ordered for your congregation.
“We prayerfully invite your household and congregation to light your own stable lamp to warm you for your ministry under the starry sky and among the crying stones.”
Visit ELCA World Hunger: Advent Resources to download or order the Advent Calendar, Study Guide, Action Guide, and supporting materials.
Congregational Resources for the 2025 Advent Season
Helpful resources to get your congregation more involved with the Advent theme for 2025m A Stable Lamp Is Lighted.
ELCA Good Gifts Catalog. The 24-page ELCA Good Gifts catalog offers many ways to honor friends and loved ones with gifts that will make a difference in the world. With more than 60 giving options – from 10 little chicks to help a family escape poverty to a scholarship to help a young leader attend an ELCA seminary – there’s something for everyone on your list. The catalog is also a great resource for your congregation. Sunday school classes, youth groups and adults can use it for special fundraising events. Shop the catalog online at ELCA.org/goodgifts.
“Stocking the Streets” Bags. Use these instructions to participate in ELCA World Hunger’s “Stocking the Streets” activity this Advent. “Stocking the Streets” is an effort by ELCA World Hunger and your community to care for all our neighbors, some of whom lack a roof over their heads. A “Stocking the Streets” bag includes the items most frequently requested by individuals facing homelessness. .149MB. Download here.
Social Media Graphics. Use these social media graphics to invite others to join ELCA World Hunger for Advent, share instructions for the “Stocking the Streets” activity, share the theme verses for each session of the Advent study, and invite people to share photos of their colored Advent nativity scenes. There are sizes suitable for Facebook, Instagram and stories. 29MB. Download here.
Bulletin Inserts. This bulletin insert can be distributed in your congregation to learn more about the new ELCA World Hunger Advent resources and the “Stocking the Streets” activity. .509MB. Download here.
Powerpoint Slides. These PowerPoint slides can be used in your congregation to learn more about the new ELCA World Hunger Advent resources and the “Stocking the Streets” activity. You can also customize the blank slide with information about your congregation’s participation in the ELCA World Hunger Advent activities. 23MB. Download here.