Advent Devotional

I wrote this year’s Church of the Brethren advent devotional. You can find more information here, including the link for where to purchase it, and links for the Spotify and YouTube playlists: https://www.brethren.org/messenger/playlists/playlist-advent-devotional/

I have created extra introductions to each week, meant to be used on Sundays to tie the themes of the weeks together and to tie them to the advent candles. I’ll be posting those here (and linking on Facebook), so bookmark and come back on Sundays! You are welcome to repost, link or copy to use with groups as desired.

I also accidentally wrote an extra devotional that will show up here on December 23.

I wrote this with congregations in my area in mind especially, several of whom don’t use the blue Hymnal. Here’s a list of hymn alternatives for use with the Celebration Hymnal. The blue Hymnal songs will fit more closely, since I wrote the devotional specifically to dovetail with those songs, but I think you will find resonances in the alternatives below, too.

I highly recommend reading the full scripture (aloud in a group if you can) and listening to (or singing) the song for each day! I also highly recommend continuing all the way to Epiphany (January 6)!

Celebration Hymnal Alternates

Dec 1 – Arise, Shine (241)

Dec 2 – Joyful, joyful, we adore you (271)

Dec 3 – (same) Come, thou long-expected Jesus (244)

Dec 4 – Thou Didst Leave thy throne (292)

Dec 5 – Worthy, you are worthy (260)

Dec 6 – I heard the bells on Christmas day (267)

Dec 7 – Once in Royal David’s City (286)

Dec 8 – The Birthday of a King (284)

Dec 9 – Of the Father’s Love Begotten (240)

Dec 10 – (same) O come o come Immanuel (245)

Dec 11 – One Small child (280)

Dec 12 – (same) O Little town of bethlehem (250)

Dec 13 – (same) it came upon a midnight clear (251)

Dec 14 – (same) Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (289)

Dec 15 – (same) O come all ye faithful (249)

Dec 16 – O Hearken Ye (247)

Dec 17 – Angels from the realms of glory (259)

Dec 18 – (same) Praise the one who breaks the darkness (293)

Dec 19 – O Thou Joyful, O Thou Wonderful (282)

Dec 20 – God So Loved the world (350)

Dec 21 – (same) Joy to the world (270)

Dec 22 – (same) Silent night (253)

Dec 23 (bonus) – Spirit of God, Descend upon my heart (390)

Dec 23 – O the deep deep love of Jesus (352)

Dec 24 – (same) Away in a manger (262)

Dec 25 – (same) Jesus!

Dec 26 – (same) Angels we have heard on high (278)

Dec 27 – (same) while shepherds watched (272)

Dec 28 – (same) Good Christian men, rejoice (273)

Dec 29 – (same) Lo How a Rose (255)

Dec 30 – Love Has Come! (256)

Dec 31 – (same) Break forth o beauteous (264)

Jan 1 – O Holy Night (285)

Jan 2 – Sing we now of Christmas (275)

Jan 3 – Go Tell it on the Mountain (258)

Jan 4 – (same) What Child is this (281)

Jan 5 – Infant Holy, infant Lowly (279)

Jan 6 – How great our joy (269)