Advent Devotional 2021

Read and/or listen to daily meditations written by members of the Seminary community. Scroll down to learn more about the various ways you can read the daily messages.

Download and print the PDF version of this year's Advent Devotional. DOWNLOAD

Nov. 28, 2021 | The Rev. Caitlin Rohrer Werth ’10 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Nov. 29, 2021 | The Rev. Michelle Wahila ’05 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Nov. 30, 2021 | The Rev. Dr. Graham Deans ’06 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 1, 2021 | Brenda Henry ’17 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 2, 2021 | The Rev. Alice L. Phillips ’94 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 3, 2021 | The Rev. John Bower ’00 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 4, 2021 | The Rev. Beth Creekpaum ’10 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 5, 2021 | The Rev. Michael Haddox ’12 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 6, 2021 | The Rev. Jeff Eddings ’08 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 7, 2021 | Judy Zimmerman Herr ’82 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 8, 2021 | Jon Mathieu ’21 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 9, 2021 | The Rev. Alan D. Olson ’14 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 10, 2021 | The Rev. Samantha Lowery-Coggins ’20 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 11, 2021 | The Rev. Lawrence James Lalama ’93 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 12, 2021 | The Rev. Ben Phipps ’15 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 13, 2021 | Sarah Knapp ’21 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 14, 2021 | The Rev. Carolyn Cranston '99 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 15, 2021 | The Rev. Will Scott ’12 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 16, 2021 | The Rev. Rebecca L. Dix ’15/’17 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 17, 2021 | The Rev. Dr. Mark Whitsel ’04/’18 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 18, 2021 | The Rev. Paula Cooper ’10/’13 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 19, 2021 | The Rev. Lee Platt ’02 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 20, 2021 | Rose Schrott ’21 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 21, 2021 | The Rev. Michael J. Wallace ’14 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 22, 2021 | Amanda Horan ’20 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 23, 2021 | The Rev. Gregory Steible ’14 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 24, 2021 | Will Robbins ’21 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Dec. 25, 2021 | The Rev. Dave Dack ’11 | Online | PDF | Scripture Audio | Devotional Audio

Advent Resoruce Kit 2021

BIG BOOK OF ADVENT

The Seminary’s 2021 “Big Book of Advent Devotionals—Year 2” gives you a valuable resource for personal and corporate Spiritual formation during the Advent season. Each section includes multiple biblical passages from the daily lectionary, reflections based on those passages, and accompanying prayers based on each reflection. 

DOWNLOAD THE BIG BOOK OF ADVENT—YEAR 2 (WORD Doc)

 

Renaming the Advent Candles

In this liturgy, the Rev. Jeff Eddings '08 renames the traditional Advent candles of hope, peace, love, and joy to spaciousness, contemplation, commitment, and imagination. Consider using these weekly readings this year as you light the Advent candles in your church.

DOWNLOAD THE LITURGY

 

Awaiting His Advent Actively

In her blog post "Awaiting His Advent Actively," Dr. Edith Humphrey, William F. Orr Professor Emerita, writes "Advent, or the Fast of the Nativity, is a time of waiting:  preparing for when we will joyfully celebrate, yet again, Christ’s nativity (His first Advent!) and waiting with patience for when He will come again in glory at his second promised Advent.  Consider this stirring and demanding passage from Colossians 3:4-11, prescribed for Divine Liturgy this week, that captures the kind of “active waiting” to which we are called."

ACCESS THE BLOG

 

Advent Hymn

The Rev. Dr. Graham D. S. Deans '06 has written a new Advent hymn to the tune of Menuet Gothique. Use this as a congregational hymn, sung by your church choir, or even special music.

DOWNLOAD THE LYRICS

DOWNLOAD THE SHEET MUSIC

 

We also encourage you to use these resources, previously included in our Advent Resource Kits.

THE BRIGHTEST STAR: CHILDREN’S SERMON

The Rev. Jeremy Collins ’14 shares this children’s sermon for use in your Christmas Eve or Christmas Day worship service.

DOWNLOAD CHILDREN'S SERMON

 

YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT! A STUDY OF MICAH

Just what kind of savior is Jesus—the kind we want, or the kind we need? In this brief lesson from the prophet Micah, James A. Kelso Professor Emertus of Hebrew and Old Testament the Rev. Dr. Steven Tuell helps us understand the kind of distance Jesus bridges in order to set us on the right path. Consider incorporating it into your celebration of communion during Advent.

DOWNLOAD MICAH STUDY

 

ADVENT MUSIC FOR GUITAR

The SYI Guitar Hymnal is available for a wide range of guitar players and musical environments. The SYI Guitar Hymnal coordinates with the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal. This resource presents as many as five versions of 33 different Advent/Christmas hymns and facilitates guitar accompaniment of congregational hymns in neo-traditional worship, in addition to blended or contemporary settings. Visit this music resource to see all that's available! This free resource is a service of the Seminary's Miller Summer Youth Institute. .

ACCESS ADVENT MUSIC FOR GUITAR

 

"WHAT IS ADVENT?" VIDEO

Share this video with your youth group, Bible study, or congregation to help answer the question "What is Advent?"

 

A PICTORIAL NARRATIVE OF THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS

This Advent slideshow contains many historic lantern slides of Christmas-related scenes from the Holy Land collected by former PTS professor of biblical archaeology Melvin Grove Kyle. Use this PowerPoint slideshow, which includes captions from the Bible, as a background for your Advent worship services, Christmas fellowship gatherings, or Sunday School classes. Pairing the show with the Borys Heade Wassail Quire Christmas carols provides a festively meaningful atmosphere at your Advent and Christmas services and celebrations.

DOWNLOAD THE POWERPOINT After clicking "Download the PowerPoint," be sure to "Save As" to enable editing and picture viewing.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

 

For even more Advent resources, visit the Seasonal Resources - Advent section of our website. 

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