Advent devotional suggestions from UPC’s librarian, Sue Dryer:

The Advent Jesse Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at ChristmasHardcover– July 1, 2010 by Dean Lambert Smith The Advent Jesse Tree offers 25 devotions for each day from December 1st to December 25th, Christmas Day... The day Christians celebrate that God's purpose was finally revealed in the coming of the savior, Jesus Christ. Each devotion traces the heritage of Jesus through the stories and prophecies of the Old Testament. This book enables individuals and families to engage in a more meaningful celebration of the Christmas season. These daily Advent devotions are written in two versions (one for children and one for adults) including a scripture, a story and commentary, questions to ask, a prayer, and a song. Each devotional story is paired with a representative symbol that traces the heritage of Jesus… Such as a lamb, a dove, a rainbow, a heart, a star, etc. Children and their parents can utilize the symbolic line art printed with each daily devotion to craft meaningful ornaments. These symbols coincide with the prayers, memory verses, questions for children, and songs found in the devotions for that day.

Finally, on Christmas day, your tree will be filled with reminders of 25 Bible stories that led up to Christ’s birth. Hardcover $14 on Amazon. ***************************************************************** Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and ChristmasHardcover– September 22, 2014 by Includes writings by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, Sylvia Plath, J. B. Phillips, Friedrich Wilhelm Foerster, , , Kathleen Norris, , St. , , Isaac Penington, Madeleine L’Engle, Alfred Delp, Loretta Ross-Gotta, William Stringfellow, J. Heinrich Arnold, , Philip Britts, Jane Kenyon, John Howard Yoder, Emmy Arnold, Karl Barth, Oscar Romero, William Willimon, Johann Christoph Arnold, Gail Godwin, Leonardo Boff, G. M. Hopkins, Evelyn Underhill, Dorothy Day, Brennan Manning, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, , Annie Dillard, Martin Luther, St. , Giovanni Papini, Dorothee Soelle, C. S. Lewis, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Philip Yancey, J. T. Clement, , Eberhard Arnold, Ernesto Cardenal, T. S. Eliot, John Donne, Gian Carlo Menotti and Jürgen Moltmann.

$17 on Amazon ****************************************************************************

The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent2014 by John Piper

The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas2013 by Ann Voskamp Voskamp reaches back into the pages of the Old Testament to explore the lineage of Jesus -- the greatest gift --- through the majestic advent tradition of "The Jesse Tree," each day featuring its own exquisite ornament highlighting the Biblical story (free download of each of the 25 ornaments available from Voskamp's website, annvoskamp.com ).

Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, The Greatest Gift retraces the epic pageantry of mankind, from Adam to the Messiah, with each day's profound reading pointing to the coming promise of Christ, so that come Christmas morning you find that the season hasn't blurred past you but your heart's fully unwrapped the greatest gift you've always yearned for.

$13 Amazon

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Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ 2016 by Timothy Keller Even people who are not practicing Christians think they are familiar with the story of the nativity. Every Christmas displays of Baby Jesus resting in a manger decorate lawns and churchyards, and songs about shepherds and angels fill the air. Yet despite the abundance of these Christian references in popular culture, how many of us have examined the hard edges of this biblical story?

In his new book Timothy Keller takes readers on an illuminating journey into the surprising background of the nativity. By understanding the message of hope and salvation within the Bible’s account of Jesus’ birth, readers will experience the redeeming power of God’s grace in a deeper and more meaningful way. $14 Amazon, also in CD format

************************************************************************** Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent 2012 by Richard Rohr

"Advent is not about a sentimental waiting for the Baby Jesus," Richard Rohr asserts. Advent is a time to focus our expectations and anticipation on “the adult Christ, the Cosmic Christ,” who challenges us to empty ourselves, to lose ourselves, to surrender.

Richard Rohr’s Scriptural reflections for Advent are the perfect preparation for the Christmas season. This beautiful redesign provides daily reflections for the Advent season, along with each day's Scripture readings and questions for reflection.

$7 paperback on Amazon

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Goodness and Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas, 2015 by Michael Leach 45 readings. Authors include Harper Lee, Kathleen Norris, Frederick Buechner, Maya Angelou, , James Martin, and Marianne Williamson.

$10 Amazon

************************************************************** Georgetown University--sign up using link below to have access to 2016 devotional https://missionandministry.georgetown.edu/advent

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Arts and Faith Video Advent Study http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/advent/arts-and-faith-advent Prepare for Christmas and deepen your experience of the Advent season this year with Arts & Faith: Advent. Each week we’ll provide a video commentary about a work of art inspired by the Sunday Scriptures. Use these videos to take a new look at this season of hope and preparation through the lens of sacred art. For your convenience, video transcripts are included. Commentary is by Daniella Zsupan-, assistant professor of liturgy, catechesis, and evangelization at Loyola University New Orleans. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in liturgy from St. John’s University in Collegeville, a master’s degree in religion and the arts from Yale Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in theology and education from Boston College. Her unique background in faith and art brings to life a new way of celebrating Advent and understanding the season on a more personal level.

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Pittsburgh Theological Seminary http://www.pts.edu/UserFiles/File/PDFs/Advent%20Devotional%202016/Advent%20Devotional %202016%20-%20Print.pdf

Download printed copy; read and listen online, sign up to receive daily emails.

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Christianity Today Advent Devotionals in many formats: http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2016/november/my-special-gift-to-you- free-downloadable-advent-devotional.html