By W. David O. Taylor, C4SO’s Scholar in Residence: Arts, Media, Culture
I’ve been collecting Advent devotionals over the years, and here are a few of them (in no particular order) that might help you journey well through this season of Advent. If you know of any other good devotional resources, let me know.
Firstborn: Art for Advent by Poor Bishop Hooper
The #AdventWord Global Advent Calendar
It’s an innovative way to engage in the season of Advent with people all over the world. Simply respond to the daily meditation emailed to you with images and prayers that speak to your heart. Your images and prayers will appear in the Advent Calendar with others from around the world.An Advent Devotional by the Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church
This devotional includes an Advent Worship Service for Families.Christianity Today’s Advent Devotional
Over the 4 weeks of Advent, the devotional guide “The Eternal King Arrives” will look at the themes of Jesus’ prophetic inauguration, God’s plan for redemption, and the Eternal King’s arrival into the world as a human through signs and wonders.Cru’s Advent Devotional
The Savior is Here: Advent Study. As our awareness for the first coming of Christ is heightened, our longing and expectation for his second advent should increase as well. Beginning four Sundays before Christmas we focus on advent, a season of reflection and longing for the coming King.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Advent Devotional
Each section contains a number of different elements: a painting, Scripture passage, written reflection, questions, and a guided prayer. I encourage you to see each component as an opportunity to converse with God. Take the time to step away from distraction and allow God to meet you through this work. Enjoy His presence with you and respond as He leads. It is more important that you engage with Him than whether you get through all the content. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring you to a place of rest, refreshment, and transformation in His way and at His pace.I Am Mary: Advent Devotional
From the first Sunday of Advent through Christmas Day, each daily devotion includes a scripture verse, a reflection, and a prayer. I Am Mary also features an Advent candlelighting service as a free download. Best-selling author and minister Carol Howard Merritt leads us on a remarkable Advent journey with the blessed ordinary girl who becomes the holy and revered Mother of God.The Common Rule Advent Devotional
The Common Rule – Advent Edition! is a seasonal version of The Common Rule which provides a set of daily and seasonal practices for celebrating the King that has come and waiting for the King that will come again.
Lectionary Poetry – Advent Week 1 (Year A) by The Englewood Review of Books
A diverse range of classic and contemporary poems to accompany the Sunday lectionary readings through Advent (and beyond)!Biola University’s Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts Advent Devotional.
Join us daily for the CCCA’s popular Advent Project, an online resource with scripture, devotionals, art, video, and music–as we remember the mystery of the incarnation and the Word made flesh.Paraclete Press’ book All Creation Waits. The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings by Gayle Boss
We’re very excited to offer our best-selling Advent devotional, All Creation Waits, as an e-subscription.What Can’t Wait: A Sanctified Art
This is a bundle of 8 multimedia resources for you to use in your worship and ministry to draw near to God throughout the season of Advent. The Draw Near theme emerged for us in our group study of the Revised Common Lectionary texts for Advent Year C, particularly the gospel texts for each week. It helps us name our individual and collective longing for God’s closeness and for a world made new.Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
Mary and Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Simeon, shepherds, wise men from the east, a legion of angels, and even King Herod—all play their parts in the Gospel narratives that speak of the Savior’s incarnation. Explore the many ways their lives were touched as God became one of us, for each of us, in The Coming King.ADVENT DEVOTIONS from the Reformed Church in America
The Jesse Tree explores the lineage of Jesus in preparation for Christmas. This year’s Advent devotions follow the Jesse Tree. Join us as we reflect on Abraham, David, Rahab, and others, tracing God’s plan as it unfolds toward the birth of the Christ child. Devotions are available in both English and Spanish.Advent Conspiracy
Advent Conspiracy was founded on the radical idea that we can celebrate Christmas humbly, beautifully, and generously. Advent is the story of a wondrous moment when God entered our world to make things right. It is the greatest story ever told and it changes everything—including the way we celebrate Christmas.On the Road to Bethlehem
Advent Reflections for 2018 Written by the Oblates and Sisters of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine.Advent Devotional by World Vision International
Our prayer is that this Advent these few simple resources will provide you with ways to help your faith communities become more aware of the violence that is happening to children, and encourage them to start breaking the silences that have surrounded those forms of violence against children, whether they are in their neighbourhood or further afield in the global community.Kids Reads Truth Advent Bundle with Conversation Cards
This bundle includes a Story and Scripture Book, 25 conversation cards to help you countdown to Christmas while exploring the biblical story of Jesus’s birth, and an ornament set. Celebrate our Savior each day by reading Scripture, answering age-appropriate discussion questions, and completing a fun activity.The Bible in Advent by Fuller Missional Formation
This Advent, consider using our free guide and scripture readings to help you and your community engage Advent afresh by simply listening to the Bible together. Gather with your family, an existing group, or start a new group and delight in the mysteries of anticipation and joy. These are simple tools to help you pause, and reflect.The Light Has Come: Prayer Cards for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
Our collection of 25 cards includes familiar themes such as Joy and Peace or Mary and Joseph, but also less familiar ones, such as Fear and Doubt, Sorrow and Refugees, and the Fantastical and the Mundane. These prayer cards invite individuals, families and small groups to experience the nativity narratives in a fresh way, in hopes of discovering a story that truly heals and restores our broken world.If you try any of these resources, be sure to let me know what you think!
In addition to being C4SO’s Scholar in Residence for Arts, Media, Culture, the Rev. Dr. W. David O. Taylor is Associate Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary and the author of several books, including Glimpses of the New Creation: Worship and the Formative Power of the Arts, Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life, and A Body of Praise: Understanding the Role of Our Physical Bodies in Worship. He is @wdavidotaylor on Twitter and @davidtaylor_
