The United Methodist Publishing House and the Upper Room have produced books and resources to help churches and individuals prepare for Advent in a spirit of hope during this unprecedented time of uncertainty and anxiety. As we face ongoing uncertainty about the future, we look for hope in the promise of Jesus' coming. The resources cover a variety of topics and themes for individual or small group study or in classrooms.
The Christmas Letters
In The Christmas Letters, Magrey deVega invites you to hear about the miracle of Christ’s birth from those who first told the story. The letters in the New Testament, known as the Epistles, contain the first attempts by the church to understand and celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation. They point us to the origins of what we believe about Jesus, fully human and fully divine. By spending time with these holy, ancient words this Advent, you’ll come to know the meaning of Christ’s coming like never before. This resource is available in paperback or ebook formats. Readers can also purchase a leader guide or DVD.
On the Way to Bethlehem: An Advent Study
On the Way to Bethlehem follows the long journey to Christmas. Author Rob Fuquay provides insight into the geographical and historical significance of Rome, Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem, along with the important characters through whom the Christmas drama unfolds. You will be drawn into those places in a way that helps you experience the spiritual truths each location holds. The reflection we give in these places prepares the heart and soul to experience wonder, awe, mystery, and joy. This resource is available in paperback or ebook formats. Readers can also purchase a leader guide or DVD.
Advent A Calendar of Devotions 2024
Advent: A Calendar of Devotions 2024 provides daily devotions to help you prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. This annual favorite is a wonderful resource for churches to give to each family to help them observe Advent. Each day’s reading, from the first Sunday of Advent to Christmas Day, is based on the Revised Common Lectionary and includes the Scripture, a short devotion, and a brief prayer or practice. The devotional is printed with a larger font for ease of reading. This resource is available in print or ebook formats.
Season's Greeting: Christmas Letters from Those Who Were There
Rediscover the beloved Christmas story this year through the words of those who were there. From King Herod to the Magi, the Innkeeper, the midwife -- and even Jesus himself -- hear the dramatic stories of the Bible characters forever changed by the miracle that took place in Bethlehem so long ago. In the Advent devotional Season's Greetings, meet twelve biblical characters -- some well-known, others less so -- who share what Christmas meant to them through personal letters written to 21st-century readers. As we hear the multiple perspectives of what Jesus' birth and life meant for these characters of old, we're invited to ask what it means for us, now, today. Each chapter ends with a prayer, reflection questions, and journaling prompts, making this new resource an enriching Advent companion for individuals, small groups, and church leaders alike. Whether you love Christmas or doubt the reason for the season, Season's Greetings has a letter for you. Hear with new ears the story that changed the world with this Advent devotional for all of us. Order a paperback copy today.
Calling All Angels: An Advent Study of Fearlessness and Strength
Step into Advent with this captivating study and devotional, where angelic encounters come to life, echoing the timeless message of overcoming fear. Life can be daunting, filled with uncertainty and fears. It wasn't any different two thousand years ago when Jesus was born. An aged priest is told he is about to become a father for the first time. A young woman is told she is going to give birth - outside the protection of marriage. A simple carpenter is asked to believe the impossible. A group of shepherds' night on a hill is interrupted by a bright host of angels in the sky. Yet, each of these encounters begins with the same refrain: do not be afraid. In this captivating Advent study and devotional, pastor Erin Wathen challenges us to take this timeless message and apply it to our lives today. Calling All Angels asks us to contemplate what would change in our relationships, vocations, congregations, and communities if we have the courage to overcome our fears like Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, and the Shepherds in the story. Order a paperback copy today.
The Marvel and Miracle of Advent: Recapturing the Wonder of Jesus Living with Us
Remember when your eyes used to well up with tears whenever you sang, Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king that first Sunday after Thanksgiving? What happened to the starry eyes we used to have only for Jesus? One of my mentors, pastor and professor Scotty Smith, wryly observes that far too many Christ-followers are like Cinderella with amnesia. We've forgotten that the supernatural scaffolding of our belief system isn't a human construct but is instead a divine love story wherein the King of all kings willingly sets aside His scepter in Glory, shrugs into a suit of skin, and condescends to be born in a cattle trough in order to capture our fickle human hearts. If a warm embrace and a double shot of caffeine got married and had a baby, it would be this Bible study because participants will be both enveloped in the Living Hope of Christ Incarnate and compelled to share that hope with other image bearers! This resource is available as study guide with code to stream videos. You can also purchase a DVD with the videos.
Fully Human, Fully Divine: An Advent Devotional for the Whole Self
Fully Human, Fully Divine is an invitation to an embodied Advent. Over the course of four weeks, it encourages us to embrace the experience of the Advent season fully, with our whole selves and remember that Jesus showed us what it meant to be both fully human and fully divine. It challenges us to live right here, right now as we await the birth of the Christ Child, the embodiment of God’s presence in our midst. Each chapter covers one week of Advent and each week focuses on one of the following themes: Slow Down and Hope, Simplify for Peace, Sit with Joy, and Savor God’s Love. Within each week are a rotation of daily practices including breath prayer, mindful movement, lectio divina, visio divina (which utilizes beautiful, colorful works of art each week), Christian meditation, creative contemplation, and practicing presence. The book also includes tips on contemplation beyond Christmas, suggestions for small groups and small-group leaders, and advice on creating safe sacred space for small groups. The resource is available in hardback, paperback or ebook formats.
An Unlikely Advent: Extraordinary People of the Christmas Story
In this four-week study, Rachel Billups focuses on the experiences of four sets of often overlooked characters in the Nativity story and guides readers through the themes of hope, love, joy, and peace by sharing the stories of Elizabeth and Zechariah, Herod, the Magi, and the shepherds. Each set of unexpected characters has something to teach about living faithfully on the journey to Christmas. This resource is available in paperback or ebook formats. Readers can also purchase a leader guide or DVD.
Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation
In Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation, Bishop Will Willimon introduces you to the God who does just that, bringing heaven to earth and changing everything. In Advent we celebrate and anticipate the earth-shaking, life-transforming good news that God is coming to us. Watch out. Get ready. God is on the way. This resource is available in paperback or ebook formats. Readers can also purchase a leader guide, DVD, and sermon series download.
Experiencing Christmas: Christ in the Sights and Sounds of Advent
Everything seems different at the end of the year. We put lights on our houses to dispel the growing darkness, Christmas music floods local radio stations, apple cider and cranberry sauce are again on the menu, and wrapping paper and tape are always ready. Things just look, smell, and taste differently during the Advent and Christmas season, and these differences are a sign to us that God is about to do something radical and different. Christmas is when God surrounded the divine with senses of his own. That first noel was when God had eyes to see suffering, ears to hear our cries, and hands to hold those in need, and all of these senses were bundled in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. What signs do you see during the Advent and Christmas season that point you to the divine? This resource is available in paperback or ebook formats. Readers can also purchase a leader guide, DVD and worship series.
Light from Afar: An Advent Devotional from Around the World
Advent is celebrated differently throughout the world. Some cultures barely observe the waiting and focus on the Christmas celebration. Light from Afar is a daily Advent devotional that illuminates the season through the unforgettable stories and reflections of four writers from around the world. Authors Nadiyka Gerbish (Ukraine), Joel Bengbeng (Philippines), Cláudio Carvalhaes (Brazil), and Sidwell Mokgothu (South Africa) share cultural and religious traditions of the Advent season in their daily reflections. Each day's meditation includes a scripture reading, a prayer, an opportunity for reflection, and a link to a song from the author’s home country. This resource is available in print.
Advent: A Season of Surprises
The season of Advent marks the beginning of a new year, according to the Christian calendar. Advent is a season filled with similar expectations, only they aren’t found in new resolutions. They are found through new and surprising realities. In this five-week devotional guide, the Rev. Scott Chrostek helps readers prepare their hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. This resource is perfect for individuals, small groups, or entire congregations. This resource is available in paperback.
Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist
The Rev. Adam Hamilton explores the Advent themes of John’s life and ministry, and how John calls all followers of Jesus to prepare our hearts for his coming. In each of the Gospels, the story of Jesus is intertwined with that of his cousin John, the one whom the prophets foretold would come to “prepare the way of the Lord.” When we hear the message of John the Baptist, it makes us and our world ready to receive Christ. Each week has a different lesson for each week of Advent. This resource is available in hardcover, large print, or ebook formats. Readers can also purchase a leader guide, leader kit, DVD, a worship series and/or media download.
The Angels of Christmas
The Rev. Susan Robb explores the four angelic visits surrounding the birth of Jesus with Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. In this study, the reader will explore the visits and dive deep into the history of the angel Gabriel–and other angels–in the Old Testament. The Angels of Christmas uses these four angelic appearances to discuss God’s presence in history and our lives today. The messages of the angels hold meaning for listeners both then and now. The book is available in both paperback and ebook formats. Along with the book itself, readers can also purchase a DVD, leader guide and/or leader kit.
Philip J. Brooks is a writer and content developer with the leader communications team at United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.