5700 Rudnick Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367 (818) 346-6968 Home > Resources > Book Recommendations > Advent Reading ADVENT READING         The Advent season will soon be upon us. Now that Halloween is over and the Christmas decorations and music have begun I want to try in some way to recapture the season of Advent for those of us who call ourselves Christians. I know I am swimming against the popular culture, but personally I'll take Jesus over the popular culture any day.   A message board outside a church had the following message: "Don't let stress kill you. Let the church help." There are several ways to take that message. At Prince of Peace we are making a concerted effort to "de-stress" the pre- Christmas season. Our traditional "parties" have moved to the 12 days of Christmas (December 25 through January 5). Instead of the Church adding to already overstressed "holiday" schedules this Church will focus on the theme of 'preparation' for the coming of Jesus into our lives. As a part of our "passionate spirituality project" Teresa Boyer has graciously put together a list of books (they are varied because our needs and tastes are varied) that will help us keep the focus of Advent.   I pray that this Christmas as you worship the Lord your Advent preparation will lead you to a sigh of belief that Jesus is born, and not a sigh of relief that Christmas is finally over.   In Christ,   Rand Reasoner+     The following books may be useful for Advent study. All but the final brochure are available through www.amazon.com or www.bn.com Prices are listed for each book. If you order two or more books from Barnes and Noble the shipping is free. You may also use your Reader's Discount card when ordering from Barnes and Noble. These books will be on the Information Table during the Advent Season for anyone wishing to look through them.   General Books Which May Be Useful for Advent Study   Gathered in the Word: Praying the Scripture in Small Groups by Norveen Vest   A beginning primer on lectio divina or "divine reading, Gathered in the Word offers a step-by-step approach to this method of combining prayer and the reading of scripture. With each chapter, Vest also offers an on-going story of a lectio divina group committed to trying the process for one year. There is also an appendix entry on praying scripture alone for those interested in practicing lectio on an individual basis. $8.10 at Barnes and Noble or $9.00 at Amazon.   Patience: How We Wait Upon the World by David Baily Harned   Patience is a Christian virtue and a Fruit of the Spirit. It is both spiritual gift and a product of human discipline. This book is an in-depth study on what patience is and is not. Harned offers examples of individuals who have lived the patient life, from the 3rd century Stoic Tertullian to the 20th century Christian philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard. Harned believes that each of us is "created for waiting, for waiting upon others and being waited upon." His book is useful for anyone wishing to deeply explore the subject of patience. $12.95 at Barnes and Noble or $10.36 at Amazon   Praying Our Experiences by Joseph F. Schmidt   "I don't know how to pray." For anyone who has ever felt or expressed this statement or for those who would like to enrich their current prayer life, Schmidt's small book is an accessible aide that puts complex ideas into everyday language. He writes, "Praying our experiences is the practice of reflecting on and entering honestly into our everyday experiences in order to become aware of God's word in them and to offer ourselves through them to God." With chapters on Notions of Prayer, Self-Knowledge. Writing, Sacred Scripture, Ministry, and Faith this book is a short study on how to begin and continue to pray. It is appropriate for individual or small-group study. $5.95 at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon   Song of the Seed: A Monastic Way of Tending the Soul by Macrina Wiederkehr   For those who long to bring the peace and focus of a retreat into their daily lives, Song of the Seed will "support your longing to do the daily things deeply. It is a book for spiritual maintenance." There are three ten-day "at-home retreats" which consist of daily study of scripture, meditation, and prayer. This book is also appropriate for individuals as well as small groups. $10.80 at Barnes and Noble or $9.60 at Amazon   Advent Books and Meditations   Advent Moments: Preparing Your Heart for the Coming King by C. Neil Strait and Stan Toler   The authors write that Advent "comes with anticipation but is so many times gone with disappointment - disappointment that we didn't stop to savor its meaning and grasp its hope." The daily devotions offer a short scripture passage, reflection, prayer, and a meditation for each day of Advent. This book of daily reflections, prayers, and meditations makes use of contemporary language and thought as a means for interpreting biblical passages. $7.99 at Barnes and Noble or $8.99 at Amazon   Advent Thirst... Christmas Hope: Prayer and Meditation for the Journey by Anita M. Constance, S.C.   This book is most appropriate for individuals willing and able to incorporate journaling into their Advent study. Each daily offering includes a biblical passage, reflection, prayer, and questions regarding the spiritual life. For example, a passage and reflection on prayer would be followed by the questions, "Am I open to God with my needs, or do I fear disappointment? Am I uncomfortable with the silence of God at times? What must I hear so that I might trust that God is near?" There is space for writing a personal reflection after each question. $4.95 at Barnes and Noble or $5.95 at Amazon   The Mystery of Holy Night by Dietrich Bonhoeffer   Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran minister who was executed in the concentration camp of Flossenburg at age 39. This beautiful, small book offers short excerpts from Bonhoeffer's letters, sermons, and poetry, some of which were written in prison as he awaited execution. The reflections are interspersed with reproductions of paintings depicting Advent scenes. This book does not have daily meditations or readings, but it could be used in conjunction with one of the Advent devotionals. $14.95 At Barnes and Noble or $11.96 at Amazon   Season of Promises: Praying Through Advent with Julian of Norwich, Thomas a Kempis, Caryll Houselander, Thomas Merton, Brother Lawrence, and Max Picard by Mitch Finley.   Finley writes that "Advent is the season of promises, filled with spiritual riches for those ready to accept its blessings. Only if we dive deeply into Advent will Christmas deliver its deepest blessings." He has assembled daily reflections from three modern and three ancient spiritual texts. The reflections are followed by a meditation and/or a short prayer for each day of Advent. This is a wonderful devotional to use in conjunction with one of the general contemplative books listed above. It is also an excellent source for those unable to commit a great deal of time to Advent study. $4.95 at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon   Who Will Summon the Dawn? Reflections for Advent 2001 by Megan McKenna   This small brochure is similar to the devotionals we at Prince of Peace use at Lent. It follows the lectionary readings for the church year which are to be read from one's own Bible. There is a short reflection for each day of Advent, which is to be read after the scriptural readings. This brochure also contains liturgies for family rituals such as Candle-Lighting, Christmas Tree Blessing, and an Epiphany House Blessing. It may be useful to note, as an incentive or a warning, that this brochure is published by the Pax Christi USA which is the national Catholic peace movement. Though the majority of reflections are apolitical there is a politically liberal slant to a few of the others. This work is ideal for those who want to use the lectionary readings as part of their daily study, but need help tying the readings together into a theme. $2.50 plus mailing fee. Ordered through Pax Christi USA