Description
The weeks leading up to Christmas are often filled with shopping lists, travel plans and year-end responsibilities. In the midst of the busyness, Attending to Advent invites readers to pause and enter more deeply into the story of Christ’s birth.
Originally published in 2022, this daily devotional features poetry and prose reflections curated and written by Presbyterian Outlook Editor/Publisher Teri McDowell Ott alongside contributing editors Kathryn Lester-Bacon and Arlin Buyert. Updated in 2026 to remove calendar-specific dates, this edition is designed to be used year after year.
Each week explores a different figure in the Nativity story — Mary, Joseph, Herod, the Christ child and Emmanuel — offering fresh theological insight into familiar passages. Along the way, the devotions connect the biblical narrative with contemporary questions about parenting, power, violence, vulnerability, hope and God’s ongoing work in the world.
These digital devotions can be emailed to your congregation, printed as a complete booklet or distributed one week at a time. We ask that you do not post the material publicly outside of your congregation (on your website or social media, for instance).
Inside this devotional, you’ll find:
- Daily Scripture readings centered on the Advent narratives.
- Poetry and prose reflections from Presbyterian Outlook editors and contributors.
- Prayers to help you slow down and prepare your heart for Christmas.
- Five themed sections exploring Mary, Joseph, Herod, the Christ child and Emmanuel.
Want to see for yourself? Read our sample.
Why choose Attending to Advent?
The Christmas story is filled with ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. Mary receives an impossible calling. Joseph wrestles with uncertainty. Herod clings to power. A vulnerable child changes the course of history.
These devotions invite readers to linger with each of these characters and discover how their stories continue to speak into our own lives. Whether you’re reading on your own, with your family or as part of a congregation, Attending to Advent offers a thoughtful companion for the season of waiting.
Product details
Format: Digital download (PDF)
Originally published: 2022
Updated: 2026 with calendar-neutral language for year-after-year use
Sample
Curious about the devotional? Read our sample.
Digital download — What do I get when I order?
You are purchasing a digital copy of this devotional.
Your purchase includes:
- A complete devotional in regular print (PDF)
- A complete devotional in large print (PDF)
- Individual weekly PDFs in regular print
- Individual weekly PDFs in large print
The weekly files make it easy to email each week’s devotions to your congregation, include them in church communications or print only what you need. The complete files are ideal for creating booklets or reading on a tablet or computer.
We hope Attending to Advent helps you and your congregation slow down, attend to the story of Christ’s birth and prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ.
Questions?
Email [email protected] with questions or to inquire about presbytery pricing.
