Looking for Advent devotional recommendations? Whether you’re seeking a contemplative practice, a deep dive into Scripture, or a resource for your whole congregation, these newly released devotionals offer meaningful ways to journey through Advent and into the new year.
For a contemplative Advent
Give Me a Word: The Promise of an Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year
Christine Valters Paintner
Broadleaf, 197 pages
Published Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Online abbess and spiritual director Christine Valters Paintner invites us into a year-long journey, beginning with Advent. Give Me a Word re-introduces the ancient spiritual practice of asking “the wise presences in your life for your own life-giving word.” By taking on a posture of receiving, we open ourselves to a word to guide us in the new year—examples from Paintner’s community include space, release, embodiment, amazement and pray.
It’s common in many churches to offer a “star word” at Epiphany; Paintner simply offers a self-guided (and Divinely inspired) process to arrive at a word—and getting there is half the fun. The first ten days of her approachable guide suggest practices to receive the word, but she’s not in a rush. Readers are invited to return to these practices until a word emerges organically. Give Me a Word includes 30 daily devotions, perfect for delighting in this December or savoring in the year ahead.
A scholarly yet accessible option
A Child is Born: A Beginners Guide to Nativity Stories
Amy-Jill Levine
Abington Press, 152 pages
Published August 19, 2025
With witty asides and clever puns, New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine reminds us that the Jesus tradition springs from a long line of nativity stories. In A Child is Born, she covers significant territory, including Isaac and Ishmael, Moses, Samson and Samuel, before tracing the line to the heir of these traditions: Jesus.
She draws out the nuances, for example, wrestling with the inherent disconnect between using the same Greek word (translated as handmaiden, servant or slave) to describe Mary’s self-identification as God’s “handmaid” as well as to the enslaved woman Hagar who was denied the free will to refuse Abraham. Levine treats Hagar tenderly, lifting up her role in birthing and protecting her son Ishmael, comparing her to Mary as well as to modern women in “need of compassion and resources.”
Levine organizes her work for a four-week study, with sufficient content for those seeking daily reading. She does not include prayers or questions to ponder – small groups will find these in the associated leader’s guide and DVD featuring Levine. A Child is Born is an ideal choice for these groups, or for individuals whose Advent study engages the heart—by way of the head.
For Advent…and beyond
A Year of Faith and Philosophy: Exploring Spiritual Growth Through the Liturgical Cycle
Vance G. Morgan
Church Publishing, 240 pages
Published October 7, 2025
Philosophy professor, blogger and Episcopal convert Vance Morgan has been “seduced” by the liturgical worship of his adopted denomination. A Year of Faith and Philosophy begins with Advent and dips into Sunday lectionary readings (for seasons A, B and C), exploring the seasons of the church year, alongside their scriptures. Morgan clearly loves the Biblical stories, and his warm reflections followed by a simple question are perfect for individual study. The best part? Christmas morning is just the beginning, as he continues the journey from Christmastide to Reign of Christ Sunday.
An all-around choice, for individuals or groups
The Advent Tree: Meeting Jesus in God’s Big Story
Kara Eidson
Westminster John Knox, 144 pages
Published September 15, 2025
Pastor Kara Eidson draws on the ancient tradition of the Jesse tree, which traces Jesus’ familial (and royal) line to King David’s father, Jesse. By offering a daily Scripture reading, short reflection and thoughtful questions, she shows how Jesus’ story begins in the “dark void” of Genesis. Eidson mines stories from the Hebrew Bible to reveal hints of Jesus, as well as timeless truths about God, humanity, and the relationships we share.
The Advent Tree is a strong choice for individuals and small groups looking for a scriptural deep dive. It covers a lot of biblical territory, supported by worship resources (on the publisher’s website) and family devotions that educate and encourage connection (such as inviting children to “talk with (their) grown-ups about what makes them feel at peace.”) Eidson’s warm prayers and contemplative questions speak to the heart, while illustrator Kelli Cooper’s simple yet evocative drawings beg to be colored, creating an Advent devotional for the heart and mind.
Perfect for congregations – the Presbyterian Outlook’s offering
Draw Near: Lighting the Advent Path with Hope, Peace, Joy & Love
Teri McDowell Ott
The Presbyterian Outlook Foundation, 2025
“Advent begins not with sentiment but with summons—a call to wake up, to notice the beauty, the ache, the holy presence woven into our days,” writes Outlook editor Teri McDowell Ott. With thoughtful reflections, gorgeous art, and tender drawings from children, Draw Near: Lighting the Advent Path with Hope, Peace, Joy & Love is an ideal choice for congregations.
It’s a digital offering, so devotions can be emailed daily to congregation members, printed into a single booklet, inserted into Sunday bulletins or all of the above. McDowell Ott selects one of the Sunday or daily lectionary passages, drawing a connection to weekly worship, and each devotion includes a prayer and thought to ponder. My role with the Outlook clearly gives me an affection (or bias, if I’m being less polite) for my team’s work. Yet I’m not alone—as a guest preacher in Chicagoland churches, I’m often approached by a gushing congregation member, eager to share how much the Outlook’s devotions inspire them!
Pre-order link coming soon!
