Showing results for "Advent, Advent" in Religion & Spirituality

We tend to think of Advent as the season of anticipation before Christmas—and while it is that, it's also much more. Throughout its history, the church has observed Advent as a preparation not only for the first coming of Christ in his incarnation but also for his second coming at the last day. It's also about a third coming: the coming of Christ to meet us in our present moment, to make us holy by his Word and Sacrament. Priest and writer Tish Harrison Warren explores all three of these "comings" of Christ and invites us into a deeper experience of the first season of the Christian year.

Daily Advent devotions that will help you to slow down and appreciate the wonder of Christmas. These straightforward, short, and profound Advent readings have been edited from talks given by much-loved Bible teacher, Dr. R.C. Sproul, helping readers to benefit from his enduring insight and...

Join Tom Wright on a journey with the Apostles, exploring the New Testament themes of thankfulness, patience, humility and joy.

Sanctify your time by meditating on the wisdom of the Church Fathers with Advent and Christmas with the Church Fathers: A Seven-Week Retreat on the Mystery and the Meaning of the Incarnation, a timeless guide to preparing your heart for the coming of Christ. This unique devotional pairs the ancient wisdom of the early Church with the liturgical rhythm of Advent and Christmas, offering profound insights into the incarnation and birth of Our Lord.

Do you long for a more honest, imaginative, and Scripture-rich companion for the Advent season? A devotional willing to acknowledge the darkness of exile and the brokenness you see around and within, so you might rejoice more fully in the arrival of Jesus, the Light of the World? In Advent for...

Twenty-five short readings for December 1 to Christmas Day, read by the author. Each grows from a passage in the New Testament, takes about a minute, and leaves one idea to carry through the day: the light of God is already in you, and it has always been there. Plain enough for a child, deep...

In an ideal world, Advent would be spent in quiet contemplation, meditating upon the wonder of the Christ-child, and anticipating his return as our saviour. Instead, we enter arguably the busiest month of the year. Have we booked time off to see the kids' Nativity play? What's the secret Santa budget? And who became a vegetarian this year? Perhaps, though, it is this busyness which can be the key to a deeper connection with Christ. Perhaps these Christmas 'trimmings' have the potential to teach us more about God.

In this widely popular, exciting story for the advent season, listeners follow 10-year-old Jotham across Israel as he searches for his family. Though he faces thieves, robbers, and kidnappers, Jotham also encounters the wise men, shepherds, and innkeepers until at last he finds his way to the Savior born in Bethlehem. 

World-renowned liturgical theologian Fr. John Baldovin, S.J. explores the richness of two of our most vital liturgical seasons: Advent and Christmas. This essential and inspiring audio course is perfect for pastors, deacons, and laypersons alike. Baldovin captures the spirit of Advent through...

25 Devotional Readings for Advent and Christmas. In a world that's difficult to make sense of, and a season that's so often overtaken by consumerism, here you'll find heart-stirring illustrations and thought-provoking meditations designed to show you the raw, powerfully sacred story of Christmas...

Contemplative readings for Advent.

The Advent Podcast is a daily devotional podcast intended to mute the noise of the holiday season by diving deep into God’s Holy Word . Join us daily to light the Advent candles, sing a carol, read Scripture, share a reflection, and pray together. This can be done in the car, on the treadmill, or sitting around your family’s Advent wreath. You can even partner this podcast with your own family traditions.

What if Advent is not merely a sentimental countdown to Christmas but a summons to deeper awakening? In Preparing for Christmas, Richard Rohr invites readers to explore beyond the nostalgia of the holiday and into the true cosmic meaning of the Incarnation. Organised around the daily Scripture...

When we picture the first Advent, we see Mary and Joseph huddled by a manger. We picture Gabriel, magi, and shepherds tending their flocks. A shining star against a midnight sky. But this harmonized version has lifted the Advent story out of its context--those who experienced the first Advent had to travel through great darkness to reach the hope that shining star announced. Trusted scholar and community organizer Kelley Nikondeha takes us back, to where the landscape of Palestine is once again the geographic, socioeconomic, and political backdrop for the Advent story.

The Advent of Divine Justice is Shoghi Effendi's gift to the North American believers. In it, Shoghi Effendi outlines our destiny and mission while focusing our attention on the challenges, opportunities, and requisites for success in our endeavors to serve the Cause of Baha'u'lláh. He pays particular attention to the specific ills afflicting our community which must be conquered through "moral rectitude", "complete freedom from prejudice", and observance of "absolute chastity".

Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is one of the titans of church history. Works such as his "Confessions" and "On the Trinity" have earned him a place as one of “the Doctors of the Church,” responsible for shaping and defending Christian doctrine throughout the centuries. Yet Augustine was also pastor. Week by week, year by year, he shepherded his flock by preaching to them the Good News. In this short collection, listeners will find seventeen Advent homilies in which Augustine expounded from his pulpit the wonders of Christ’s incarnation for the everyday Christians in his congregation.

Prepare your spirit for the Savior's coming and magnify your joy this holiday season as you spend the days of Advent and Christmas with your heart and mind intentionally fixed on Jesus. Enjoy more peaceful moments this holiday season with Jesus Listens—for Advent and Christmas. This devotional...

During Christmas, homes are filled with good food, welcoming family, and lively cheer. Streets are lined with lights and sprinkled with snow. Amid this season of beauty, even Christians can become distracted, keeping Jesus at an unintentional distance. How can Christians effectively prepare their hearts for the arrival of their King and worship him the way he deserves? O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Jonathan Gibson presents a 40-day devotional liturgy guiding listeners through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany—helping them keep their eyes fixed on Christ.

Jesus’ arrival on earth changed the course of history forever. Not only for those who lived in the first century, but for those of us in the twenty-first century as well. The miracle and marvel of the Advent season demonstrates that we are precious to Him. He’s not a distant God. He is...