by Gail Godwin
First published 2014
While countless books guide Christians through Lent, quality resources for Advent remain scarce. Godwin addresses this gap by assembling fifty devotional readings for the four weeks before Christmas. The collection draws from an ecumenical range of voices spanning centuries, from medieval mystics like Meister Eckhart and Bernard of Clairvaux to modern writers including Sylvia Plath, Annie Dillard, and C.S. Lewis. Theologians like Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer appear alongside poets such as T.S. Eliot and John Donne. Each piece invites reflection on Christmas themes and Jesus's significance beyond the holiday season itself. The anthology serves readers who seek alternatives to commercial holiday culture, offering substance for those rediscovering Advent's spiritual dimensions. Whether read straight through or consulted daily, these selections provide depth for holiday preparation that transcends shopping and decoration.
Genres: christian, religion, inspirational, devotional
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Period: Medieval, Modern
344 pages · Hardcover · Plough Publishing House