Review on Advent and the Holidays

The fifth Sunday of the month is approaching, and usually we do a book review for this week. However, I decided to offer a slightly different format, as the book we are diving into is not your typical piece of Christian literature or commentary. Along with providing a brief synopsis and analysis of this book, I will also be providing a resource list for different devotionals and activities for the whole family around the winter holiday season. These resources I have found to be timeless and meaningful that helped me center on Christ and themes surrounding His love and goodness.

This holiday season has been a difficult one for me and our family. We are grieving the loss of a family member, as this will have been our first Thanksgiving and Christmas without them. There has been much reflection and grieving of the various tragedies and social unrest happening in our nation, our churches, and around the world. On top of that, there has been much unpacking and deconstructing of faith traditions within my personal walk with God, in response to all of these things. Needless to say, it was difficult for us to really get into the “Christmas cheer”. However, I found that through this devotional book, as well as other resources, that I was able to reconcile the reality that sometimes it is okay to celebrate with a tone of somber and lament. God continues to meet us where we are in whatever season we find ourselves in.

Growing up, my faith tradition did not focus on the season of Advent. Frankly, I had never really heard of it or considered the importance of it until I was in college. I was introduced to celebrating Advent by one of my favorite authors, Sarah Bessey, who provided an awesome devotional on her blog. For those that don’t know, Advent is a season observed by many Christians as a time of reflecting on the anticipation and waiting on the coming of Christ. Usually, it is observed the four weeks leading up to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve. Each week a candle is lit, representing themes surrounding Advent and the birth of Christ: hope, peace, joy, and love. The Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve, culminating the anticipation of the coming of Jesus. There are various ways to observe this season through the use of Advent wreaths, colored candles, and liturgies. Each denomination offers a different perspective and method of practice, but the intention is all the same. Advent is about the waiting, the anticipation, and the longing of Christ coming to redeem the world. Just as the Jews in the Bible, awaited the the birth of the Messiah, we also remember that we are also in waiting for His return.

This year I came across an interesting devotional book to help me observe Advent. Mandalas, Candles, and Prayers: A Simply Centered Advent by Sharon Seyfarth Garner provides an awesome outlet to explore new ways of reflecting, praying, worshipping, and centering on Christ’s love for us. It is a unique devotional coloring book, guiding one through contemplative prayer and reflection. The book is inclusive to all, whether you are experiencing the practice of observing Advent for the first time or have been celebrating for many years. She offers a brief introductory guide in the beginning, outlining the importance of why we take time to observe this season and also giving a practical guide in how one might want to observe it through the use of candles and liturgy. She also goes into a little background of the designs of mandalas and designs, what they represent, and how this can usher one into contemplative prayer. I found this to be quite helpful, as sometimes I notice that in times of mourning, it is difficult to get into the practice of prayer. As a creative person, the coloring provided me with permission to focus my mind and heart on God, without always feeling the need to have eloquent words to say. It also made my prayer life more interactive with God, as the coloring allowed me to open up to listening to what God had to say.

The book provides a weekly devotional that reflects on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. Garner offers of a short liturgy to follow that can be used for one person or can be incorporated with a group. There is a mandala design, along with a guide on what to focus on for prayer for every day of the week. A detailed devotional for reflection is also included for each week. All of it culminates to a great wrap up devotional for Christmas Eve.

In conclusion, this book provides a great resource, catering to a broad range of people. It’s easy to use, opens up doors to creatively connecting with God, and also can be used for personal reflection, as well as opportunities to connect with community. One can expect to see new perspectives being cultivated, as well as discipline being introduced for those that have trouble taking time out of the day to center focus on Christ. The reminder to go back and complete the coloring of the mandalas each day, facilitated that desire to keep the hope alive that is found in our Savior.

You can find this book in most major bookstores, including its publishing home, Upper Room, located in Nashville, TN. You can also purchase it on Amazon.com and other online sites.

Below is a list of other great Advent/Christmas resources that I found helpful:

• Sarah Bessey’s Advent Devotionional Series: http://sarahbessey.com/advent-hope/

• 25 Advent Meditations (John Piper): https://www.desiringgod.org/great-joy

• Advent Devotional Guide: Preparing For the Coming of Christ: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/advent-devotional-guide-preparing-for-the-coming-of-christ/

• The Liturgists (podcast): http://www.theliturgists.com/advent/

• For the Love with Jen Hatmaker Podcast (Series 4: Episode 4- Wise Men Bring Gifts of Boundaries at the Holidays with Henry Cloud and John Townsend): http://jenhatmaker.com/episode-04-cloud-and-townsend