Prepare: An Advent Devotional

By Fellows Bethany

In the over-commercialized and over-busy Christmas season, it’s easy for Christians to lose focus on the Advent journey. Prepare provides a four-week resource to help us listen to God’s call to faithfulness in Jesus being made flesh in our world. When we hear that call, how do we hope and pray and change and live differently? Daily, five-minute devotions include an Advent scripture verse, a reflection, and a prayer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chalice Press
• Release date: Aug 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9780827231832

Book preview

Copyright

Copyright ©2019 by Chalice Press.

Bible quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (CEB) are taken from the Common English Bible, ©copyright 2012 by Common English Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIRV are from the New International Reader’s Version. Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Cover art: Adobe Stock

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Contents

Copyright

A Letter to Readers

First Week of Advent

Week 1 Sunday: Keeping Watch

Week 1 Monday: Turning Our Hope

Week 1 Tuesday: For Whom

Week 1 Wednesday: Imagining God’s Promise

Week 1 Thursday: Creating Space

Week 1 Friday: Light in the Dark

Week 1 Saturday: Hungering for Hope

Second Week of Advent

Week 2 Sunday: Tell the Truth in Prayer

Week 2 Monday: Called by Name

Week 2 Tuesday: Worry and Wonder

Week 2 Wednesday: Together We See

Week 2 Thursday: Drawing the Circle Wide

Week 2 Friday: Seeing the Impossible

Week 2 Saturday: Making a Way

Third Week of Advent

Week 3 Sunday: Clearing the Way

Week 3 Monday: Blind Spots

Week 3 Tuesday: Singing a New Song

Week 3 Wednesday: Patience

Week 3 Thursday : A Wonderful Change

Week 3 Friday: Refined Anew

Week 3 Saturday: Ready and Joyful

Fourth Week of Advent

Week 4 Sunday: Shared Ground

Week 4 Monday: Flesh and Bone

Week 4 Tuesday: Wounded Joy

Week 4 Wednesday: Called to Belong

Week 4 Thursday: Living Promise

Week 4 Friday: Embodied Faith

Week 4 Saturday: A New Day

CHRISTMAS DAY: In the Flesh

Candlelighting Services: First Week of Advent

Candlelighting Services: Second Week in Advent

Candlelighting Services: Third Week in Advent

Candlelighting Services: Fourth Week in Advent

Candlelighting Services: Christmas Eve or Day

About the Contributors

About Bethany Fellowships

A Letter to Readers

Dear Reader,

We unpack the family ornaments from the attic, we acquire a tree and string lights. We sing carols at church and in the car. We get out the recipes that came from Grandma and bake sweets we only eat once a year.

All of this seasonal magic takes preparation—presents are thoughtfully selected, purchased, and wrapped. The calendar requires careful attention, in order to juggle Christmas gatherings and extra commitments. The grocery list is carefully curated to make sure you forget none of the family favorites. If you’re really good, you’ll do all of this before the mall and the baking aisle of the grocery story look like the after scene from an apocalypse movie.

I’ve been thinking about what it means to prepare. Both Advent