Advent Resources

Assembled here are some resources to help you enter into Advent, to pay attention to what God is doing, even in the shadows and the waiting.  ​May they bless you.

What is Advent?
Advent explained in two minutes...
 Local Opportunities - 

Advent Evening Prayer at LNPC
Saturdays, December 8th (Peace), and 22nd (Love), 5:00 pm
Sung liturgy and candlelit prayer stations.
​A service of rest for all ages.

 Excellent Advent Books and articles- 

Forget Red and Green, Make it a Blue holiday instead, by Diana Butler Bass, Washington Post

Putting the "vent" back into Advent,  by Beth Merrill Neel 
(ONLINE ARTICLE)

Night Visions, by Jan Richardson 

The Season of the Nativity, by Sybil MacBeth

Preparing for Christmas, by Richard Rohr

Watch for the Light: Readings for Christmas and Advent, 
with excerpts from Annie Dillard, Henri Nouwen, C.S. Lewis, Dorothy Day, and more.

God in the Manger: Reflections on Advent, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas, by Ann Voscamp


Online Devotionals- 

Following the Star
Free online daily devotional with verses, music and reflections.

Adventword-  A Global Advent Calendar
Word-a-day Advent devotional. You get a word each day.

Advent Door
Weekly advent blog with lovely art and reflections by Jan Richardson.
Advent Conspiracy
Resources for helping Christmas and Advent be meaningful, e.g., giving more presence and less presents. See the video below and follow the link for more ideas and info.

Activities and Practices - 

Christmas Pre-tox
The Christmas Pretox is a pre-emptive strike on stress and busyness.  To help us slow down and focus on the right things. To give us some soul space. To re-dress the balance of a Christmas season which sees us spend more, eat more, drink more and get stressed more than any other time of year.

Christmas by Heart
Learn the Christmas story (Luke 2:1-20) by heart in twelve days. December 1 - 12, a daily video is posted at faithandwonder.com to help you to learn the Christmas story for telling at home, church, or as a personal prayer practice.  Fun and fascinating way to embody the story (for all ages).

Reverse Advent Calendar
An easy idea for giving and sharing in Advent
Advent Photo-a-Day Challenges -

Take a photo each day and post it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  
Downloadable Advent Calendars & Resources-

Illustrated Advent for Families 2018
Advent devotionals, coloring sheets, a nativity and Advent calendar for $10.

Making an Advent Calendar
Mark the day-by-day journey to Christmas by praying/drawing on a blank calendar template. Pray for a person or write and meditate on an Advent word each day. Just the small amount of time it takes to fill the space with doodles and color each day can create a time of quiet, reflection, and listening to God.  Great for adults and kids!

Ideas for Living Joyfully: Forty Days of Celtic Advent and the Twelve Days of Christmas 2018
Printable Activity Calendar - great for adults (and kids too)

Advent Calendar 2018
Daily Advent calendar to color with scripture.

Churchwide Experiences - 

​Advent Waiting Experience
Whole worship experience of Advent Prayer stations designed by Lilly Lewin - downloadable with signs and instructions for setting up a worship space.
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