Let’s put together our yearly list of Advent resources!
(Btw, I oddly can’t seem to add pictures to my blog. I mean to fix it, but I haven’t had time to yet. Sorry if you miss ’em.)
Most of these Advent resources are for purchase rather than free. <Shrug> They can also be for ideas. 🙂 They are in no particular order.
Advent Devotions
- Rev. Weedon has put together an Advent devotional. Go here for details.
- Heidi Goehmann and Sarah Baughman have teamed up to offer Make Ready: An Advent Devotional. There’s the book that’s linked and an online Facebook component that you can check out & join here.
- Stephenie Hovland is offering Jesus’ Family Tree: Praying through Advent with the Jesse Tree. (Here’s a Youtube introduction, in case that interests you.) Kindle version here. It’s written for families and children ages 6 to 10.
- Lisa Clark, through CPH, also has a children’s book, Jesse Tree: Jesus’ Family Tree, for children 4 and up.
- Steadfast Lutherans offers Now, At the Last, and Unto Eternity: 2020 Advent, by Joshua Scheer, Marcus Baikie, Travis Berg, Andrew Richard, and Daniel Hinto,.
- Hope of Christmas Past, Present & Yet to Come: Daily Prayers for Advent by Stephenie Hovland (I think from last year) and Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Daily Prayers for Advent
Jesse Tree Themed Options
- A Lutheran deaconess published The Jesse Tree: Devotions for the Season of Advent in 2017. It’s only 28-pages so it isn’t some big time commitment.
- CPH has a who kit & caboodle, Jesse Tree: Family Activity Kit, including an adult devotional, a kid’s picture book, 26 ornaments to make, a tree stand & instructions. Looks priced well and there’s a video to show how it all comes together. 🙂 Though I’ve heard it can be a two person job getting the tree together.
Advent Wreath Options
Here’s something cool! An Advent Wreath Pattern (PDF)! And here is a magnetic Advent wreath for children. 🙂 Both from a Lutheran source.
Cards & Customs
I’ve been impressed by Lutheran company Pure Joy Creative. They have cards, Advent calendars, etc. I’ll link to their Advent/Christmas stuff here. Plus, of course, Ad Crucem & Emmanuel Press.
Gift Ideas
- CPH has put together “The Essential Christmas Library for Families,” and I do have to say that I’ve really liked several of those books, including Sacred Songs of Christmas. It used to come with a CD although I’m not sure that it still does. (NEAT! It comes with a free download of the 19 songs!) (This also includes the Counting to Christmas.)
- Art work, folks! I know you’re probably seeing encouragement to buy local. That’s certainly great, but let’s support our artistic community also.
- Edward Riojas. I think I even heard his Madonna and Child may be on a Christmas sale.
- Agnus Dei Liturgical Art. Kelly has also started an Etsy shop, so here’s a link to that also.
- Ad Crucem! This is also great for ornaments, Christian tree topper, and so many, many other things!
- I’ve only very recently found out about this one! A Lutheran pastor/artist with tendencies toward iconic style! T & J Church Arts
- I’m sure there are many more. Check out this page for Lutheran Etsy shops and more.
- ALSO! New book just available from Australian Lutheran Jake Zabel: Choirs of Angels. Interesting! I haven’t seen it yet but it seems well timed and a very interesting topic.
- Sure, I’ll include the CPH 2020 Christmas Gift Guide, too, and I’ve heard their “Black Friday”/ Christmas sale prices start today. Yay!
Books. We May As Well List Books!
- I keep meaning to write up a review of a Lutheran Christmas children’s book, Ariel: The Curious Cat of Christmas, by Michael Martin! I’ll try to get that done this week.
- A Christmas Carol (Annotated) with forward by Sam Schuldheisz
- Luther at the Manger: Christmas Sermons on Isaiah 9:6
- Messiah: The Greatest Sermon Ever Sung by Tony Pittenger & illustrated by Jonathan Mayer (Ok. Messiah is neither Christmas-only nor Christmas-primarily. It is, however, a common performed around Christmas time, especially here in the States.)
- And this one I really loved: Scrooge and the Question of God’s Existence! (I reviewed that here.)
- PLUS my awesome friend just put together Timeless Treasures: Four Public Domain Texts That Still Delight, which include commentary and the following:
- Impending Changes by Lisa Stapp
- The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
- Aunt Cyrilla’s Christmas Basket by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyck
AWESOME!! What have I forgotten? Feel free to add more to the comments below.
I aspire to catch up on some reviews from when my computer wasn’t working. Other than that, I’d like to post festive suggestions for what to do to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas. Ideas you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them! Likewise, if there are great books by Lutheran authors, you be sure to bring them to my attention.
Thanks! Happy reading & writing!
