11 minute read
Advent
The Art of Christmas: Meditations on the Birth of Jesus Jane Williams Jane’s meditations on the birth of Jesus take you deep into the story of the original Christmas as depicted in some of the world’s greatest paintings. These profoundly perceptive reflections on the different ways in which artists have imagined the Nativity will deepen and refresh your appreciation of the real meaning of Christmas, and the message of love, joy and peace that it speaks to all the world.
Music of Eternity: Meditations for Advent with Evelyn Underhill Dr Robyn Wrigley-Carr Beloved spiritual writer Evelyn Underhill believed that God does not just come to us at special times, but is always coming to us. But how do we recognise His coming and make ourselves open to it? In Music of Eternity, Robyn Wrigley-Carr shares a series of meditations exploring the nature of God’s comings. Skilfully weaving together Underhill’s writings with the psalms and short prayers, she shows how, as Christians, we can embrace God’s comings and be transformed by them in order to better love others. These Christian meditations will help you make the most of the Advent season and be more able to connect with God at all times.
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Illustrated in stunning full colour, with famous and lesser-known Western masterpieces, and presented in a small, easily portable format, The Art of Christmas is ideal Advent reading for all art lovers, but also makes a wonderful Christmas gift. Jane Williams’ insightful meditations will not only help you rediscover the spiritual heart of Christmas, but will also give you a deeper, expanded appreciation of the skill and mastery behind these masterful paintings.
News of Great Joy: The Church Times Christmas Collection Each year, the Christmas double issue of the Church Times offers a feast of seasonal reading. News of Great Joy draws together the best Christmas writing by outstanding authors and poets over twenty years to create an ideal Christmas gift and a wealth of material for all who preach or lead worship at Christmas. Including contributions from John Barton, Barbara Brown Taylor, Margaret Barker, Evelyn Underhill, Stephen Cottrell, Tom Wright and more.
The Archbishop of York’s Advent Book 2021
An Advent Book of Days: Meeting the Characters of Christmas Gregory K. Cameron An Advent Book of Days tells the stories of all the characters and creatures that make up the Christmas story, with daily prayers and reflections based on their experiences. Fully illustrated in colour, this rich, seasonal companion combines the Bible, history, art and legend to explore the story of the incarnation.
Pb | 112 pgs | CANTERBURY PRESS REF 5231 RRP £9.99 Aslan £8.99
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The Dawn of Redeeming Grace: Daily Devotions for Advent
Sinclair B. Ferguson An Advent devotional for Christmas that will stir hope and inspire worship. As dawn broke on that first Christmas morning, the sun rose on a new era: God’s king had come to earth to bring about His kingdom. Join Sinclair Ferguson as he opens up the first two chapters of Matthew’s Gospel in these daily devotions for Advent. Each day’s reflection is full of insight and application, and will help you to arrive at Christmas Day awed by God’s redeeming grace and refreshed by the hope of God’s promised king.
Pb | 160 pgs | GOOD BOOK COMPANY REF 5254 RRP £7.99 Aslan £6.99
Lighted Windows: An Advent Calendar for a World in Waiting Margaret Silf As we approach the Christmas season we prepare to celebrate the coming to earth of someone who really does make a difference. At this season the ‘windows’ of our human experience can change from rows of faceless panes, perhaps grimy with dirt, into lighted windows that open up new possibilities and coax us into a place where rejoicing might be possible. The journey mapped out in this book is an invitation to look into some of these lighted windows, and discover a few reflections of what we wait for, and long for - reflections of God’s guidance, His call to trust Him and live by His wisdom.
Hb | 160 pgs | BRF REF 1143 RRP £7.99 Aslan £5.99
Celebrating Christmas: Embracing Joy Through Art and Reflections Amy Boucher Pye & Leo Boucher Grab a cuppa and sink into a cosy chair as a father-daughter duo leads you into the celebration of Christmas through their art and reflections. Considering not only the story of Mary and Joseph journeying to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, but also our modern-day expressions of Christmas, they bring light and life to what can be a fraught and exhausting season. A book perfect for giving as a gift or using oneself to foster joy and peace.
Hb | 128 pgs | BRF REF 5232 RRP £9.99 Aslan £7.99 See also 7 Ways to Pray on page 12!
The Birth of Christ: Celebrating the Nativity A grand combination of Gospel Text, illustration and music to capture the great story of the birth of Christ. From the Annunciation to Simeon's Prophecy, The Birth of Christ features thirty-four paintings, drawings and etchings from Rembrandt's best known masterpieces in oils, to intimate pen and ink drawings and delicate sepia sketches. This display of beautiful, sensitive and worshipful art will inspire you to engage with the story like never before. The accompanying CD contains a variety of choral music, incorporating a wide variety of classic and contemporary favourites such as: Joy to the World and The First Noel.
The Word Was God: Short Reflections for Advent Andy John A gentle way to walk through the busy days leading to Christmas, with encouragement to slow down and savour the words of one of the best-loved seasonal Bible readings. Refreshment for heart and soul, and inspiration for sharing the good news of Jesus' birth.
Pb | 112 pgs | BRF REF 5077 RRP £6.99 Aslan £5.25
The Whole Christmas Story: An Advent Adventure Through Genesis, Revelation, and Points in Between Jo Swinney The Christmas season with all its glitter and promise can throw our brokenness into stark relief. And our pain is not soothed by the overconsumption of mulled wine and cheese or another set of overpackaged toiletries. Advent offers us the chance to come again to the manger, to sit and wonder at the birth of God’s son Jesus, and to receive His gift of shalom – wholeness, healing and peace.
Pb | 144 pgs | BRF REF 5233 RRP £8.99 Aslan £7.49
Into the Heart of Advent: Twenty-five Conversations with Jesus Penelope Wilcock Imagine meeting up with Jesus for a coffee and some heart-to-heart conversation. What would you say to Him? What might he say to you? Penelope Wilcock invites you to listen in on twenty-five conversations she's had with Jesus about the Christian journey and the meaning of Advent. Get ready to be surprised and challenged, as you hear Jesus' own take on the original Christmas and what it means for our world twenty centuries later.
The Prince of Peace in a World of Wars: Applying the Message of God’s Love to a Needy World David Kerrigan The biblical title 'The Prince of Peace' leaves us in no doubt that God's purpose in Jesus Christ is to bring peace - universal peace, both with God and with our neighbours. But have we really understood what this peace might look like, especially in a world of wars and suffering? David Kerrigan sees the coming of Jesus at Christmas as central to the divine plan to bring peace to the world.
Pb | 144 pgs | BRF REF 2351 RRP £8.99 Aslan £6.99
Advent for Everyone: A Journey Through Luke Tom Wright Join Tom Wright on a journey through Luke, as he explores the Gospel themes of faith, repentance, justice and celebration. Within each of these themes, Wright offers daily readings and meditations for a week, beginning with the Sunday reading in the Revised Common Lectionary, and ending with stimulating questions for personal reflection or group discussion.
A Shaking Reality: Daily Reflections for Advent Peter B. Price Inspired by Father Alfred Delp, who wrote a meditation titled The Shaking Reality of Advent while imprisoned by the Nazis during WWII, Bishop Peter B. Price has written a series of reflections and prayers to be read on each day of Advent. Each reflection is written that we may be 'shaken and brought to a realisation of our selves' in order to gain a new understanding of God's promise of redemption and release.
Pb | 160 pgs | DLT REF 2396 RRP £9.99 Aslan £7.99
The Adventure of Christmas: 25 Simple Family Devotions for December Ed Drew These simple 10-minute family devotions for Advent, with graphic-novel-style illustrations, explore the Gospel accounts of the first Christmas in an engaging way, and will help families keep Christ at the heart of their celebrations. With all the Bible passages and questions already laid out, you can lead these devotions without needing any extra time to prepare, making family devotional time an achievable joy, not an unrealistic burden. There are different sets of questions for 3-4s, 5-7s, 7-12s, teens and even parents, so the whole family can enjoy looking at the Bible together.
Pb | 128 pgs | GOOD BOOK COMPANY REF 5256 RRP £6.99 Aslan £5.99 See also Meals With Jesus on page 17!
Wake Up to Advent!
John Sentamu 'It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.' Paul's words of encouragement to the Christians in Rome are the springboard for the Archbishop of York's Advent book. Basing his reflections on the readings and prayers in the Book of Common Prayer, Archbishop Sentamu offers fresh spiritual food for the Advent journey - pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Humbug and Happiness
Sheila Jacobs An Advent course based on the Alastair Sim movie A Christmas Carol. Each session includes timing references for watching scenes from the movie, and questions for reflection for groups, activities and prayers.
Pb | 112 pgs | DLT REF 2898 RRP £6.99 Aslan £5.99 Image of the
Invisible: Daily Bible readings from Advent to Epiphany Amy Scott Robinson How does an invisible God reveal Himself to us in Scripture and in Jesus? Amy Scott Robinson, a poet and storyteller, answers this question with imagination and a close reading of the text.
Pb | 160 pgs | BRF REF 2899 RRP £8.99 Aslan £6.99
Repeat the Sounding Joy
Christopher Ash An Advent journey through Luke 1-2, bringing these familiar passages to life with insight, colour and depth.
Pb | 160 pgs | GOOD BOOK COMPANY REF 2904 RRP £7.99 Aslan £5.99 Freedom is Coming:
From Advent to Epiphany with the Prophet Isaiah Nick Baines Nick invites you to think about what it meant for people in Isaiah's day to live in exile, and how the prophet encouraged them to keep faith despite the hopelessness.
Pb | 144 pgs | SPCK REF 2902 RRP £9.99 Aslan £7.99
Unexpected Jesus:
Cover to Cover Advent Study Guide During Advent season, we often imagine what it was like to welcome Jesus into the world on that silent night. But what if everything was not as it seems? What if looking closely at the scriptures overturns our expectations of Advent and Christmas in a way that changes us forever?
Pb | 112 pgs | CWR REF 3423 RRP £6.99 Aslan £5.49 Tidings of Comfort & Joy
Pam Rhodes In this bestselling collection, Songs of Praise's Pam Rhodes brings together carols, poems, Scripture and inspiration, sharing festive memories and exploring the resonance of the Christmas story in her trademark heartwarming style.
Pb | 256 pgs | HODDER & STOUGHTON
REF 1833 RRP £9.99 Aslan £7.50 Comings and
Goings: Retracing the Christmas Story Through Place and Time Gordon Giles Life involves many ‘comings and goings’, as we journey along the path of faith, guided by the Holy Spirit. This book invites us to make a journey through time, from the end to the very beginning of all things.
Derek Tidball A look at 4 songs sung at the birth of Jesus as recorded in Luke's Gospel, offering a fresh approach to the Christmas story with a focus on Jesus as the fulfilment of Old Testament promises and patterns.
Pb | 128 pgs | BRF REF 1672 RRP £6.99 Aslan £4.99
At Home in Advent: A Domestic Journey from Advent to Epiphany Gordon Giles Following on from the success of At Home in Lent, Gordon Giles takes a journey through Advent to Christmas and beyond in the company of familiar seasonal and domestic objects and experiences. Focusing on the everyday stuff we typically associate with this time of year, including some things not so festive, he reflects on their spiritual significance, meaning and message in today's world. Beginning with chapters on journeying and travel, the book moves though major Advent themes of expectation, waiting, mortality and hope, to the joy of incarnation and salvation.
Pb | 192 pgs | BRF REF 3422 RRP £8.99 Aslan £6.99
Barefoot Ways: Praying Through Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Stephen Cherry Especially helpful for people with a heavy workload - whether lay or ordained, Barefoot Ways offers the reader a poetic, prayerful meditation for every day of December and January. It connects with the spiritual themes of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany and takes the reader from the first days of a new Christian year to the feast of Candlemas on February 2nd.
