Advent Resources for Devotion

November 30 marks the first day in Advent. I don’t know about you, but every year, halfway through December I think about how I wish I had been more intentional about reflecting and engaging in the deep meaning of the season - the coming of Jesus, our Messiah into the world. Instead of prayerful, hopeful expectation and waiting, I find myself rushed and preoccupied in the midst of holiday preparations, shopping, social events, and travel.

God wants to meet us in this season and we want to provide some resources to help. On Saturday, November 29, we will have an Advent quiet day from 9:30 am to 1 pm in the sanctuary. Carolyn Carney will facilitate a time of retreat where we can prepare our hearts through reflection and prayer.

Another way to help foster intentional reflection is using an Advent devotional. Here are some recommendations that you can check out and get a copy of before November 30 rolls around:

God with Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, contributors include Scott Cairns, Emilie Griffin, Richard John Neuhaus, Kathleen Norris, Eugene Peterson and Luci Shaw. “Great for an All Angels’ crowd, full of art, great, thoughtful writing and marvelous prayers and reflections.” (Carolyn’s endorsement!)

Another Carolyn pick, Simply Wait: Cultivating the Stillness of Advent, by Pamela Hawkins. This resource is also good and helpful in guiding reflection for the reader, rather than artistic prose.

Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas. This is a daily devotional that includes writings from Johann Christoph Arnold to Dorothy Day, from Madeline L’Engle (former All Angels’ parishioner) to Karl Barth, from Thomas Aquinas to Henri Nouwen, from Master Eckhart to Philip Yancey.

Additional Resources:

Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri Nouwen

Advent and Christmas with Thomas Merton

Preparing for Jesus: Meditations on the Coming of Christ, Advent, Christmas and the Kingdom by Walter Wangerin, Jr.