Dear friends in Christ,
It’s hard to believe, but Advent starts next month! Maybe for you, like me, this season is sneaking in when you weren’t looking. Kind of ironic, no?
To savor this season, it might help to get ready for Advent. The Advent of Advent, if you will. This helps us make space for a time to prepare our hearts and minds to meet Jesus—to meet him at Christmas, when he comes again in glory, and even in our everyday lives. It’s all about preparing for Jesus.
Of course you don’t have to buy a thing. You can do some scripture reflection and prayer on your own. You might like to invite some friends or your church to join you in journeying through the season with AdventWord. This free daily devotion for the season invites you to linger over particular words from the Advent scriptures. By the way, it’s a great way to share your faith on social media! You can post a photo related to each word throughout Advent.
Forward Movement has a whole set of Advent books and resources for you, and so do many other publishers. You might enjoy a new title from Forward Movement this year, Gospel Voices: Advent with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The authors are Tina Francis, Jerusalem Jackson Greer, Deon K. Johnson, and Marshall Jolly.
Or to stretch your creative muscles as you make your way through the season, check out Slow Down. Quiet. It’s Advent!, 2026 colorable Advent calendar posters by Jay Sidebotham. You and your family can color each day’s image, with encouragement for reflection and activities along the way. These ship in packs of 25, so buy one and share them with people at your church—or get your church to share them with each family of the parish.
There’s no right or wrong way to observe Advent, but I hope you will make an intentional choice to keep the season. We at Forward Movement would love to be your companions on the way.
Yours faithfully,
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
More from our ministry:
Don’t forget to register for the Renewing Discipleship conference. If you register before October 20, you’ll get a special Early Bird Rate of just $195!
Do you want to offer a course introducing Christian faith and practice to members of your congregation? Let Cedar at Forward Movement break it down for you in this recorded webinar.
Suggested reading: Scripture resources for disciples of all ages