Advent Resource Round-Up

I don’t know about you, but I feel like this year I’ll still be recovering from Thanksgiving leftovers while we light the first Advent candle on Sunday.

Whether it’s the 60 degree weather or the late Thanksgiving or the general crush of this year, I find myself dizzy at the thought of jumping into the season of waiting that we’re about to enter together. So, as a way of reminding myself of ways I’ve enjoyed a more reflective season, I’ll share my favorite Advent resources here.

Now, fair warning, I’ve found some years that I’m drawn in several directions for which devotion or book to explore. And then find myself dreading the time I’m supposed to be contemplating the dark and the coming light.

Don’t do what I’ve done. Look these over and if one stirs you, try it. Savor it and sip it slow.

If you haven’t celebrated the season of Advent before, or, if it’s confusing, or if you want to learn more, or if you like videos for multimedia learning, The Bible Project does it again. Artful and engaging videos and conversations help you dive into Scripture and understand what it could look like to lean into longing before we celebrate Christmas.

The Wonder of the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.

There are scores of Jesse Tree resources, but the one we’ve used since my daughter was two is this pop- up ornament version. The basic concept of the Jesse tree is tracing Jesus’ family line and allowing the stories to build until His birth. The devotional that comes with this one is a little abstract for littles sometimes, but the opening one a day is really appealing and can be used to choose which story to tell each day.

Illustrated Ministry Advent Guides: Illustrated Ministry has a whole collection of Advent resources for families and faith communities. We’ve used their Lenten materials as a family and will be using their Advent worship curriculum for two weeks in December as a intergenerational-Sunday-school time. If you like printable resources instead of digital, these are beautiful and perfect for quiet coloring as a family.

Haphazard by Starlight by Janet Morley I used this book for my daily devotions last year and really enjoyed the poetry. It’s definitely more for literary-lovers, since the reflections are a lot about the poems themselves, but if you are looking for some beauty and breadth of works without having to search, this is a good find.

Honest Advent by Scott Erickson

There was a year I gave this Advent book to everyone I knew. I find Erickson’s work (his Instagram content, large scale works, and this book) to be provocative, gritty, beautiful, and worth contemplating. He’s especially good at reminding us of the human aspect of the coming of Jesus.

Center for Christianity and the Arts Advent Project:

If I had to give an award for best all-around Advent resource, it would be the Advent (or their Lent) project from Biola. You can sign up to get a daily art piece, song, poem and reflection sent right to your inbox. I often return to the art later in the year for prayer nights or visio divina (where you pray after soaking in an image).

We might be a little biased because we are friends with many of the folks who created this incredible project, but I honestly believe, The Seed and Soil Project’s volumes keep getting better and better. We listen to the albums in the car and have learned hymns and scripture without even trying. The liturgies are perfect for our Sunday morning breakfasts and lighting the Advent candles. The song “Restore Us” alone is worth downloading and sharing this free gift to the church.

Look by Laura Alary. I’m a fan of Alary’s explanation of church liturgical seasons for their beautiful illustrations, examples of what practices during the season could be, and inclusion of justice and peace as part of the reflections. More about the season than a daily read, this is a great introduction to the “Advent” word grown-ups keep throwing around this time of year.

Education for Justice’s Poetry as Prayer Advent Book is something I printed out years ago and keep in our Christmas box. When I’m searching for an Advent poem or wanting a way to journal while reflecting, this PDF is a wonderful printable or digital collection to have on-hand.

Bread Is Home is a new guide that came out this year from We Welcome, and I can’t wait to read it. Here’s the description from the website:

“Throughout this Advent season, we will be looking at the hospitality given and received in the story of Christ’s birth. To learn how to apply these lessons to our own lives, we will join our friend Zala—a refugee from Afghanistan now living in Raleigh, North Carolina. Zala lives and breathes hospitality, and she loves sharing her gifts with others. 

This guide, developed in partnership with our friends at Edible Theology, will walk us through a journey toward whole-hearted welcome, and includes recipes and hospitality tips from Zala woven together with reflections on how the hospitality in the original Christmas story invites us to reflect on how we can show welcome in our homes today.”

All Creation Waits by Gayle Boss

I bought this book for our family to use for this year at bedtime. I love the combination of the block printing and animal teachers, as well as the author’s deliberate choice to reflect on winter, dying and rebirth, and nature’s cycles that can teach us about waiting.

And last but definitely not least, an Advent playlist I’ve compiled over years. I was challenged by someone a few years ago to try and listen to Advent music before jumping into Christmas tunes. At the time, I had no idea there even was Advent music, let alone where to find it. There are some incredible projects from artists like Caroline Cobb, Common Hymnal, Porter’s Gate, Sovereign Grace Music, Poured Out Like Wine, Bifrost Arts, Young Oceans, Rain for Roots, Ordinary Time, High Street Hymns, Urban Doxology, Sandra McCracken, and more.

I’ve challenged myself to listen to Advent music only for 2-3 weeks before allowing myself to listen to Christmas music. I’m struck each year by the beauty and longing and cries for Jesus to come and make things right. I figure if my Orthodox neighbors can fast from animal products for 40 days before Christmas, I can listen to songs of waiting for a little while! Feel free to listen to mine and save those you like in your own playlist.

What Advent resources have you found to be enriching and intriguing? Any new ones? Any that never disappoint? Any from unexpected or less heard voices? May we lean into the longing this year and find Christ in the quiet spaces hiding before the holidays.